Moving to Zambia from Portugal
What to Expect
Everything you need to know before relocating from Portugal to Zambia — costs, safety, healthcare, and practical first steps.
If you moved from Portugal to Zambia, and you’d need to navigate life in English. You’ll also switch from driving on the right to the left. Expect a noticeable climate shift — Lusaka averages 80°F vs 69°F in Lisbon, making it significantly warmer.
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Key Indicator Comparison
Key indicators for anyone considering a move from Portugal to Zambia.
Is it safe?
per 100,000 people per year
per 100,000 people per year
Portugal performs better than Zambia across all safety metrics.
How's the healthcare?
annual government + private spending per person
affects wait times and access to care
WHO index from 0–100 measuring essential service access
per 100,000 people — a proxy for mental health support
Portugal generally does better on health & wellbeing, though Zambia leads in healthcare spending per person.
What about the environment?
deaths attributable to air pollution per 100k people
tonnes of CO₂ emitted per person per year
Portugal generally does better on environment, though Zambia leads in co₂ emissions per capita.
Will I have good infrastructure?
fixed broadband subscriptions — key for remote work
higher means greater strain on freshwater supply
annual consumption — reflects grid capacity
Portugal generally does better on infrastructure, though Zambia leads in water stress level.
What are the job prospects?
percentage of the labour force without work
a broad measure of economic output per person
the highest marginal rate on personal income
Zambia generally does better on employment & economy, though Portugal leads in gdp per capita.
Is it good for families?
average years of life at birth
deaths per 1,000 live births — lower is better
government spending on education as % of GDP
percentage of adults who can read and write
Portugal performs better than Zambia across all family life metrics.
Data: Autoridade Tributária e Aduaneira, The World Factbook, United Nations SDG Indicators, World Bank
What's the Climate Like?
Monthly averages — select a city to compare.
Avg. annual high / low
Avg. annual high / low
| Months | Lisbon | Lusaka |
|---|---|---|
| Jan–Mar | 61°/48°F (16°/9°C) | 80°/62°F (27°/17°C) |
| Apr–Jun | 71°/56°F (22°/13°C) | 77°/55°F (25°/13°C) |
| Jul–Sep | 81°/63°F (27°/17°C) | 79°/55°F (26°/13°C) |
| Oct–Dec | 65°/53°F (18°/12°C) | 85°/64°F (29°/18°C) |
View all months
| Month | Lisbon | Lusaka |
|---|---|---|
| Jan | 58°/47°F (14.5°/8.2°C) | 80°/63°F (26.6°/17.1°C) |
| Feb | 60°/48°F (15.6°/9.0°C) | 80°/62°F (26.5°/16.8°C) |
| Mar | 64°/50°F (17.6°/9.9°C) | 81°/62°F (27.0°/16.6°C) |
| Apr | 66°/52°F (19.1°/11.1°C) | 80°/59°F (26.5°/15.1°C) |
| May | 71°/55°F (21.7°/13.0°C) | 78°/55°F (25.3°/12.7°C) |
| Jun | 77°/60°F (24.8°/15.6°C) | 74°/51°F (23.4°/10.6°C) |
| Jul | 81°/63°F (27.4°/17.4°C) | 73°/50°F (23.0°/10.2°C) |
| Aug | 82°/64°F (27.9°/17.7°C) | 79°/54°F (25.9°/12.3°C) |
| Sep | 80°/63°F (26.4°/17.0°C) | 85°/60°F (29.4°/15.3°C) |
| Oct | 72°/58°F (22.4°/14.6°C) | 87°/64°F (30.8°/17.5°C) |
| Nov | 64°/52°F (17.8°/11.2°C) | 86°/64°F (29.9°/17.9°C) |
| Dec | 59°/48°F (14.8°/8.9°C) | 81°/63°F (27.2°/17.3°C) |
Data:
Instituto Português do Mar e da Atmosfera,
Zambia Meteorological Department (ZMD)
Visitor Visa Requirements
Short-stay tourist visa rules between Portugal and Zambia. To live, work, or study long-term in Zambia, you'll need a separate residence or work visa — check Zambia's immigration authority.
Portugal passport holder visiting Zambia
Visa Free
Zambia passport holder visiting Portugal
Visa RequiredData: Henley Passport Index. Check with the destination country's embassy for the most current requirements.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I work remotely from Zambia?
Internet is rarely the blocker — Zambia has 0.4 fixed broadband subscriptions per 100 people. The real questions are legal: digital nomad visa eligibility, your employer's overseas-work policy, and tax residency in both countries.
Is Zambia safe for expats?
Portugal performs better than Zambia across all safety metrics. The homicide rate in Zambia is 5.2 per 100,000 people, compared to 0.8 in Portugal.
How is healthcare in Zambia compared to Portugal?
Portugal generally does better on health & wellbeing, though Zambia leads in healthcare spending per person. There are 2.6 doctors per 10,000 people in Zambia, compared to 57.7 in Portugal. Zambia scores 56 on the WHO universal health coverage index (Portugal: 88).
What's the weather like in Zambia compared to Portugal?
The average high temperature in Lusaka is 80°F, compared to 69°F in Lisbon. Lusaka receives around 31.4 in of rainfall per year, while Lisbon gets 29.6 in.
What language do they speak in Zambia?
The official language in Zambia is English. In Portugal, the official language is Portuguese.
