Moving to South Africa from Marshall Islands

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What to Expect

A comprehensive look at what changes when you move from Marshall Islands to South Africa — from daily expenses to quality of life.

If you moved from Marshall Islands to South Africa. You’ll also switch from driving on the right to the left.

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Key Indicator Comparison

How Marshall Islands and South Africa stack up on safety, healthcare, jobs, and infrastructure.

Is it safe?

Road traffic deaths United Nations SDG Indicators, 2021

per 100,000 people per year

MH
11.9
ZA
24.5

Marshall Islands performs better than South Africa across all safety metrics.

How's the healthcare?

Healthcare spending per person World Bank, 2023

annual government + private spending per person

MH
$874
ZA
$1,354
Doctors per 10,000 people United Nations SDG Indicators, 2021

affects wait times and access to care

MH
4.6
ZA
8.1

South Africa generally does better on health & wellbeing, though Marshall Islands leads in healthcare spending per person.

What about the environment?

CO₂ emissions per capita World Bank, 2024

tonnes of CO₂ emitted per person per year

MH
0.0t
ZA
6.9t

Marshall Islands performs better than South Africa across all environment metrics.

Will I have good infrastructure?

Broadband per 100 people United Nations SDG Indicators, 2022

fixed broadband subscriptions — key for remote work

MH
2.3
ZA
3.3

South Africa performs significantly better than Marshall Islands across all infrastructure metrics.

What are the job prospects?

Unemployment rate The World Factbook, 2023

percentage of the labour force without work

MH
36.0%
ZA
28.0%
GDP per capita The World Factbook, 2023

a broad measure of economic output per person

MH
$6,800
ZA
$14,300

South Africa performs significantly better than Marshall Islands across all employment & economy metrics.

Is it good for families?

Life expectancy The World Factbook, 2022

average years of life at birth

MH
74.7 yrs
ZA
65.3 yrs
Infant mortality The World Factbook, 2022

deaths per 1,000 live births — lower is better

MH
21.7
ZA
25.9

Marshall Islands performs better than South Africa across all family life metrics.

Data: The World Factbook, United Nations SDG Indicators, World Bank

Visitor Visa Requirements

Short-stay tourist visa rules between Marshall Islands and South Africa. To live, work, or study long-term in South Africa, you'll need a separate residence or work visa — check South Africa's immigration authority.

Marshall Islands passport

Marshall Islands passport holder visiting South Africa

Visa Required
Marshall Islands passport holders need a visa to enter South Africa.
South Africa passport

South Africa passport holder visiting Marshall Islands

Visa on Arrival
South Africa passport holders can obtain a visa on arrival in Marshall Islands.

Data: Henley Passport Index. Check with the destination country's embassy for the most current requirements.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I work remotely from South Africa?

With 3.3 fixed broadband subscriptions per 100 people, South Africa can support video calls in major cities. The hard part is paperwork — visa category, employer policy on overseas staff, and tax residency in Marshall Islands and South Africa.

Is South Africa safe for expats?

Marshall Islands performs better than South Africa across all safety metrics.

How is healthcare in South Africa compared to Marshall Islands?

South Africa generally does better on health & wellbeing, though Marshall Islands leads in healthcare spending per person. There are 8.1 doctors per 10,000 people in South Africa, compared to 4.6 in Marshall Islands. South Africa scores 71 on the WHO universal health coverage index (Marshall Islands: 59).

What language do they speak in South Africa?

The official languages in South Africa are Afrikaans, English, Northern Sotho, Southern Ndebele, Southern Sotho, Swazi, Tsonga, Tswana, Venda, Xhosa and Zulu. In Marshall Islands, the official languages are English and Marshallese.

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At a Glance

MH ZA
Population 79,906 57,516,665
Currency United States Dollar ($) South African Rand (ZAR)
Languages English, Marshallese Afrikaans, English, Northern Sotho, Southern Ndebele, Southern Sotho, Swazi, Tsonga, Tswana, Venda, Xhosa, Zulu
Driving side Right Left
Calling code +692 +27
Time zones 1 1
Emergency number 10111