Moving to Benin from Samoa

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What to Expect

Everything you need to know before relocating from Samoa to Benin — costs, safety, healthcare, and practical first steps.

If you moved from Samoa to Benin, and you’d need to navigate life in French. You’ll also switch from driving on the left to the right.

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Key Indicator Comparison

Key indicators for anyone considering a move from Samoa to Benin.

Is it safe?

Road traffic deaths United Nations SDG Indicators, 2021

per 100,000 people per year

WS
9.6
BJ
24.8

Samoa performs better than Benin across all safety metrics.

How's the healthcare?

Healthcare spending per person World Bank, 2023

annual government + private spending per person

WS
$474
BJ
$138
Doctors per 10,000 people United Nations SDG Indicators, 2022

affects wait times and access to care

WS
5.5
BJ
2.0

Benin generally does better on health & wellbeing, though Samoa leads in doctors per 10,000 people.

What about the environment?

Air pollution deaths United Nations SDG Indicators, 2019

deaths attributable to air pollution per 100k people

WS
34.0
BJ
77.0
CO₂ emissions per capita World Bank, 2024

tonnes of CO₂ emitted per person per year

WS
1.6t
BJ
0.5t

Samoa generally does better on environment, though Benin leads in co₂ emissions per capita.

Will I have good infrastructure?

Broadband per 100 people United Nations SDG Indicators, 2022

fixed broadband subscriptions — key for remote work

WS
0.8
BJ
0.2
Internet access The World Factbook, 2021

share of households with internet

WS
78.0%
BJ
34.0%

Samoa performs better than Benin across all infrastructure metrics.

What are the job prospects?

Unemployment rate The World Factbook, 2023

percentage of the labour force without work

WS
9.8%
BJ
1.4%
GDP per capita The World Factbook, 2023

a broad measure of economic output per person

WS
$6,000
BJ
$3,800

Samoa generally does better on employment & economy, though Benin leads in unemployment rate.

Is it good for families?

Life expectancy The World Factbook, 2022

average years of life at birth

WS
75.2 yrs
BJ
62.2 yrs
Infant mortality The World Factbook, 2022

deaths per 1,000 live births — lower is better

WS
17.0
BJ
55.8

Samoa performs better than Benin across all family life metrics.

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

What's the Climate Like?

Monthly averages — select a city to compare.

Apia Rain: 116.7 in/yr (2965 mm)
86° / 74°F

Avg. annual high / low

Porto-novo Rain: 47.0 in/yr (1194 mm)
None° / None°F

Avg. annual high / low

Months Apia Porto-novo
Jan–Mar 87°/75°F (31°/24°C)
Apr–Jun 87°/74°F (30°/23°C)
Jul–Sep 85°/73°F (30°/23°C)
Oct–Dec 87°/74°F (30°/24°C)
View all months
Month Apia Porto-novo
Jan 87°/75°F (30.4°/23.9°C)
Feb 87°/76°F (30.6°/24.2°C)
Mar 87°/75°F (30.6°/24.0°C)
Apr 87°/75°F (30.7°/23.8°C)
May 87°/74°F (30.4°/23.4°C)
Jun 86°/74°F (30.0°/23.2°C)
Jul 85°/73°F (29.5°/22.6°C)
Aug 85°/73°F (29.6°/22.8°C)
Sep 86°/74°F (29.9°/23.1°C)
Oct 86°/74°F (30.1°/23.4°C)
Nov 87°/74°F (30.3°/23.6°C)
Dec 87°/75°F (30.5°/23.8°C)

Data: Agence Nationale de la Meteorologie (METEO BENIN) Agence Nationale de la Meteorologie (METEO BENIN)

Visitor Visa Requirements

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

Samoa passport

Samoa passport holder visiting Benin

Visa Online (e-Visa)
Samoa passport holders need to apply for an e-Visa before travelling to Benin.
Benin passport

Benin passport holder visiting Samoa

Visa on Arrival
Benin passport holders can obtain a visa on arrival in Samoa.

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

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I work remotely from Benin?

Internet is rarely the blocker — Benin has 0.2 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 Benin safe for expats?

Samoa performs better than Benin across all safety metrics.

How is healthcare in Benin compared to Samoa?

Benin generally does better on health & wellbeing, though Samoa leads in doctors per 10,000 people. There are 2.0 doctors per 10,000 people in Benin, compared to 5.5 in Samoa. Benin scores 38 on the WHO universal health coverage index (Samoa: 55).

What's the weather like in Benin compared to Samoa?

The average high temperature in Porto-novo is None°F, compared to 86°F in Apia. Porto-novo receives around 47.0 in of rainfall per year, while Apia gets 116.7 in.

What language do they speak in Benin?

The official language in Benin is French. In Samoa, the official languages are English and Samoan.

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At a Glance

WS BJ
Population 206,179 13,754,688
Currency Samoan Tala (WST) CFA Franc BCEAO (F CFA)
Languages English, Samoan French
Driving side Left Right
Calling code +685 +229
Time zones 1 1