Moving to Latvia from Papua New Guinea

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What to Expect

Considering a move from Papua New Guinea to Latvia? Here's how the two compare on cost, climate, safety, and more.

If you moved from Papua New Guinea to Latvia, and you’d need to navigate life in Latvian. You’ll also switch from driving on the left to the right. Expect a noticeable climate shift — Riga averages 50°F vs 88°F in Port Moresby, making it significantly cooler.

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Key Indicator Comparison

The numbers behind daily life in Latvia compared to Papua New Guinea.

Is it safe?

Homicide rate United Nations SDG Indicators, 2023

per 100,000 people per year

PG
9.4
LV
2.5
Road traffic deaths United Nations SDG Indicators, 2021

per 100,000 people per year

PG
14.9
LV
9.8

Latvia performs significantly better than Papua New Guinea across all safety metrics.

How's the healthcare?

Healthcare spending per person World Bank, 2023

annual government + private spending per person

PG
$133
LV
$3,034
Doctors per 10,000 people World Bank, 2023

affects wait times and access to care

PG
0.6
LV
34.0

Latvia generally does better on health & wellbeing, though Papua New Guinea leads in healthcare spending per person.

What about the environment?

Air pollution deaths United Nations SDG Indicators, 2019

deaths attributable to air pollution per 100k people

PG
38.0
LV
40.0
CO₂ emissions per capita World Bank, 2024

tonnes of CO₂ emitted per person per year

PG
0.5t
LV
3.6t

Papua New Guinea performs better than Latvia across all environment metrics.

Will I have good infrastructure?

Broadband per 100 people World Bank, 2024

fixed broadband subscriptions — key for remote work

PG
0.2
LV
25.8
Water stress level World Bank, 2022

higher means greater strain on freshwater supply

PG
0.1%
LV
1.0%

Latvia generally does better on infrastructure, though Papua New Guinea leads in water stress level.

What are the job prospects?

Unemployment rate World Bank, 2025

percentage of the labour force without work

PG
2.6%
LV
6.6%
GDP per capita World Bank, 2025

a broad measure of economic output per person

PG
$3,020
LV
$26,312

Latvia generally does better on employment & economy, though Papua New Guinea leads in unemployment rate.

Is it good for families?

Life expectancy World Bank, 2024

average years of life at birth

PG
66.3 yrs
LV
76.4 yrs
Infant mortality World Bank, 2024

deaths per 1,000 live births — lower is better

PG
31.3
LV
2.2

Latvia performs significantly better than Papua New Guinea across all family life metrics.

Sources: World Bank (2021–2025), United Nations SDG Indicators (2010–2021), World Health Organization (2024), The World Factbook (2002–2021), Internal Revenue Commission, Papua New Guinea (2016), State Revenue Service, Latvia (2016). How we calculate this

Weather in Latvia vs Papua New Guinea

Monthly averages — select a city to compare.

Port Moresby Rain: 35.4 in/yr (899 mm)
88° / 74°F

Avg. annual high / low

Riga Rain: 24.9 in/yr (633 mm)
50° / 36°F

Avg. annual high / low

Months Port Moresby Riga
Jan–Mar 89°/74°F (32°/24°C) 31°/20°F (0°/-7°C)
Apr–Jun 88°/74°F (31°/23°C) 60°/42°F (15°/6°C)
Jul–Sep 87°/73°F (30°/23°C) 67°/51°F (20°/11°C)
Oct–Dec 90°/74°F (32°/24°C) 41°/31°F (5°/0°C)
View all months
Month Port Moresby Riga
Jan 90°/75°F (32.1°/23.7°C) 28°/18°F (-2.3°/-7.8°C)
Feb 89°/74°F (31.6°/23.5°C) 29°/18°F (-1.7°/-7.6°C)
Mar 89°/74°F (31.4°/23.4°C) 37°/24°F (2.7°/-4.7°C)
Apr 88°/74°F (31.3°/23.5°C) 50°/34°F (9.8°/1.0°C)
May 88°/74°F (31.0°/23.5°C) 61°/43°F (16.2°/5.9°C)
Jun 87°/74°F (30.3°/23.1°C) 68°/50°F (20.1°/10.0°C)
Jul 86°/72°F (29.9°/22.4°C) 71°/54°F (21.7°/12.3°C)
Aug 87°/73°F (30.3°/22.6°C) 70°/53°F (21.0°/11.8°C)
Sep 88°/74°F (31.0°/23.2°C) 61°/46°F (16.3°/8.0°C)
Oct 90°/74°F (32.0°/23.5°C) 51°/39°F (10.4°/4.0°C)
Nov 90°/74°F (32.5°/23.6°C) 39°/31°F (3.9°/-0.5°C)
Dec 90°/75°F (32.4°/23.7°C) 33°/24°F (0.3°/-4.4°C)

Data: Papua New Guinea Meteorological Service Papua New Guinea Meteorological Service, Latvian Environment, Geology and Meteorology Centre Latvian Environment, Geology and Meteorology Centre

Can you move from Papua New Guinea to Latvia?

Short-stay tourist visa rules between Papua New Guinea and Latvia. To live, work, or study long-term in Latvia, you'll need a separate residence or work visa — check Latvia's immigration authority.

Papua New Guinea passport

Papua New Guinea passport holder visiting Latvia

Visa Required
Papua New Guinea passport holders need a visa to enter Latvia.
Latvia passport

Latvia passport holder visiting Papua New Guinea

Visa Online (e-Visa)
Latvia passport holders need to apply for an e-Visa before travelling to Papua New Guinea.

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

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I work remotely from Latvia?

Connectivity is usually fine (Latvia: 25.8 fixed broadband per 100). What actually decides it is legal: does Latvia offer a digital nomad visa, will your employer permit overseas work, and where are you tax-resident?

Is Latvia safe for expats?

Latvia performs significantly better than Papua New Guinea across all safety metrics. The homicide rate in Latvia is 2.5 per 100,000 people, compared to 9.4 in Papua New Guinea.

How is healthcare in Latvia compared to Papua New Guinea?

Latvia generally does better on health & wellbeing, though Papua New Guinea leads in healthcare spending per person. There are 34.0 doctors per 10,000 people in Latvia, compared to 0.6 in Papua New Guinea. Latvia scores 75 on the WHO universal health coverage index (Papua New Guinea: 30).

What's the weather like in Latvia compared to Papua New Guinea?

The average high temperature in Riga is 50°F, compared to 88°F in Port Moresby. Riga receives around 24.9 in of rainfall per year, while Port Moresby gets 35.4 in.

What language do they speak in Latvia?

The official language in Latvia is Latvian. In Papua New Guinea, the official languages are English, Hiri Motu and Tok Pisin.

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At a Glance

PG LV
Population 10,762,817 1,847,785
Currency Papua New Guinean Kina (PGK) Euro (€)
Languages English, Hiri Motu, Tok Pisin Latvian
Driving side Left Right
Calling code +675 +371
Time zones 1 1
Emergency number 000 112