Moving to France from Samoa

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What to Expect

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

If you moved from Samoa to France, and you’d need to navigate life in French. You’ll also switch from driving on the left to the right. Expect a noticeable climate shift — Paris averages 60°F vs 86°F in Apia, making it significantly cooler.

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Who Else Is Making This Move?

How many people actually move from Samoa to France, based on official data.

Moved in 2023
6 ↓ 45% vs 2022

people moved from Samoa to France · OECD (latest data available)

Who's moving to France?

Top countries of origin for France's foreign-born residents.

Foreign-born population · UN DESA (2020)

Key Indicator Comparison

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

Is it safe?

Homicide rate World Bank, 2023

per 100,000 people per year

WS
6.3
FR
1.3
Road traffic deaths United Nations SDG Indicators, 2021

per 100,000 people per year

WS
9.6
FR
4.7

France performs significantly better than Samoa across all safety metrics.

How's the healthcare?

Healthcare spending per person World Bank, 2024

annual government + private spending per person

WS
$475
FR
$6,868
Doctors per 10,000 people World Bank, 2022

affects wait times and access to care

WS
5.6
FR
32.8

France generally does better on health & wellbeing, though Samoa 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

WS
34.0
FR
10.0
CO₂ emissions per capita World Bank, 2024

tonnes of CO₂ emitted per person per year

WS
1.6t
FR
4.0t

Samoa generally does better on environment, though France leads in air pollution deaths.

Will I have good infrastructure?

Broadband per 100 people World Bank, 2024

fixed broadband subscriptions — key for remote work

WS
0.9
FR
48.9
Internet access United Nations SDG Indicators, 2024

share of households with internet

WS
75.3%
FR
88.7%

France performs significantly better than Samoa across all infrastructure metrics.

What are the job prospects?

Unemployment rate World Bank, 2025

percentage of the labour force without work

WS
5.0%
FR
7.5%
GDP per capita World Bank, 2025

a broad measure of economic output per person

WS
$5,873
FR
$48,986

Samoa generally does better on employment & economy, though France leads in gdp per capita.

Is it good for families?

Life expectancy World Bank, 2024

average years of life at birth

WS
71.8 yrs
FR
83.0 yrs
Infant mortality World Bank, 2024

deaths per 1,000 live births — lower is better

WS
12.3
FR
3.4

France generally does better on family life, though Samoa leads in education spending.

Sources: World Bank (2018–2025), United Nations SDG Indicators (2019–2022), World Health Organization (2024), Ministry of Revenue, Samoa (2016), Direction Générale des Finances Publiques (2016). How we calculate this

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

Paris Rain: 25.6 in/yr (650 mm)
60° / 47°F

Avg. annual high / low

Months Apia Paris
Jan–Mar 87°/75°F (31°/24°C) 48°/38°F (9°/3°C)
Apr–Jun 87°/74°F (30°/23°C) 65°/50°F (18°/10°C)
Jul–Sep 85°/73°F (30°/23°C) 74°/58°F (23°/14°C)
Oct–Dec 87°/74°F (30°/24°C) 52°/43°F (11°/6°C)
View all months
Month Apia Paris
Jan 87°/75°F (30.4°/23.9°C) 44°/36°F (6.9°/2.5°C)
Feb 87°/76°F (30.6°/24.2°C) 47°/37°F (8.2°/2.8°C)
Mar 87°/75°F (30.6°/24.0°C) 53°/41°F (11.8°/5.1°C)
Apr 87°/75°F (30.7°/23.8°C) 58°/44°F (14.7°/6.8°C)
May 87°/74°F (30.4°/23.4°C) 66°/51°F (19.0°/10.5°C)
Jun 86°/74°F (30.0°/23.2°C) 71°/56°F (21.8°/13.3°C)
Jul 85°/73°F (29.5°/22.6°C) 76°/60°F (24.4°/15.5°C)
Aug 85°/73°F (29.6°/22.8°C) 76°/60°F (24.6°/15.4°C)
Sep 86°/74°F (29.9°/23.1°C) 69°/54°F (20.8°/12.5°C)
Oct 86°/74°F (30.1°/23.4°C) 60°/49°F (15.8°/9.2°C)
Nov 87°/74°F (30.3°/23.6°C) 51°/42°F (10.4°/5.3°C)
Dec 87°/75°F (30.5°/23.8°C) 46°/38°F (7.8°/3.6°C)

Data: Météo-France Météo-France

Visitor Visa Requirements

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

Samoa passport

Samoa passport holder visiting France

Visa Free
Samoa passport holders can enter France without a visa.
France passport

France passport holder visiting Samoa

Visa Free
France passport holders can enter Samoa 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 France?

Internet is rarely the blocker — France has 48.9 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 France safe for expats?

France performs significantly better than Samoa across all safety metrics. The homicide rate in France is 1.3 per 100,000 people, compared to 6.3 in Samoa.

How is healthcare in France compared to Samoa?

France generally does better on health & wellbeing, though Samoa leads in healthcare spending per person. There are 32.8 doctors per 10,000 people in France, compared to 5.6 in Samoa. France scores 85 on the WHO universal health coverage index (Samoa: 55).

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

The average high temperature in Paris is 60°F, compared to 86°F in Apia. Paris receives around 25.6 in of rainfall per year, while Apia gets 116.7 in.

What language do they speak in France?

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

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At a Glance

WS FR
Population 219,306 68,720,337
Currency Samoan Tala (WST) Euro (€)
Languages English, Samoan French
Driving side Left Right
Calling code +685 +33
Time zones 1 14
Emergency number — 112