Moving to Sao Tome and Principe from Rwanda

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What to Expect

Considering a move from Rwanda to Sao Tome and Principe? Here's how the two countries compare on cost, climate, safety, and more.

If you moved from Rwanda to Sao Tome and Principe, and you’d need to navigate life in Portuguese.

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Key Indicator Comparison

The numbers behind daily life in Sao Tome and Principe compared to Rwanda.

Is it safe?

Homicide rate United Nations SDG Indicators, 2020

per 100,000 people per year

RW
3.6
ST
3.2
Road traffic deaths United Nations SDG Indicators, 2021

per 100,000 people per year

RW
11.6
ST
11.7

Rwanda generally does better on safety, though Sao Tome and Principe leads in homicide rate.

How's the healthcare?

Healthcare spending per person World Bank, 2023

annual government + private spending per person

RW
$177
ST
$355
Doctors per 10,000 people United Nations SDG Indicators, 2019

affects wait times and access to care

RW
1.2
ST
4.9

Sao Tome and Principe generally does better on health & wellbeing, though Rwanda 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

RW
62.0
ST
85.0
CO₂ emissions per capita World Bank, 2024

tonnes of CO₂ emitted per person per year

RW
0.2t
ST
0.6t

Rwanda performs better than Sao Tome and Principe 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

RW
0.3
ST
2.0
Water stress level United Nations SDG Indicators, 2021

higher means greater strain on freshwater supply

RW
20.2%
ST
1.9%

Sao Tome and Principe performs significantly better than Rwanda across all infrastructure metrics.

What are the job prospects?

Unemployment rate The World Factbook, 2023

percentage of the labour force without work

RW
14.9%
ST
14.2%
GDP per capita The World Factbook, 2023

a broad measure of economic output per person

RW
$3,000
ST
$5,500

Sao Tome and Principe performs significantly better than Rwanda across all employment & economy metrics.

Is it good for families?

Life expectancy The World Factbook, 2022

average years of life at birth

RW
65.8 yrs
ST
67.1 yrs
Infant mortality The World Factbook, 2022

deaths per 1,000 live births — lower is better

RW
26.4
ST
44.4

Sao Tome and Principe generally does better on family life, though Rwanda leads in infant mortality.

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

Visitor Visa Requirements

Short-stay tourist visa rules between Rwanda and Sao Tome and Principe. To live, work, or study long-term in Sao Tome and Principe, you'll need a separate residence or work visa — check Sao Tome and Principe's immigration authority.

Rwanda passport

Rwanda passport holder visiting Sao Tome and Principe

Visa Free
Rwanda passport holders can enter Sao Tome and Principe without a visa.
Sao Tome and Principe passport

Sao Tome and Principe passport holder visiting Rwanda

Visa Free
Sao Tome and Principe passport holders can enter Rwanda without a visa.

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

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I work remotely from Sao Tome and Principe?

Connectivity is usually fine (Sao Tome and Principe: 2.0 fixed broadband per 100). What actually decides it is legal: does Sao Tome and Principe offer a digital nomad visa, will your employer permit overseas work, and where are you tax-resident?

Is Sao Tome and Principe safe for expats?

Rwanda generally does better on safety, though Sao Tome and Principe leads in homicide rate. The homicide rate in Sao Tome and Principe is 3.2 per 100,000 people, compared to 3.6 in Rwanda.

How is healthcare in Sao Tome and Principe compared to Rwanda?

Sao Tome and Principe generally does better on health & wellbeing, though Rwanda leads in healthcare spending per person. There are 4.9 doctors per 10,000 people in Sao Tome and Principe, compared to 1.2 in Rwanda. Sao Tome and Principe scores 59 on the WHO universal health coverage index (Rwanda: 49).

What language do they speak in Sao Tome and Principe?

The official language in Sao Tome and Principe is Portuguese. In Rwanda, the official languages are English, French and Kinyarwanda.

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At a Glance

RW ST
Population 13,173,730 217,164
Currency Rwandan Franc (RWF) São Tomé and Príncipe Dobra (STD)
Languages English, French, Kinyarwanda Portuguese
Driving side Right Right
Calling code +250 +239
Time zones 1 1
Emergency number 112