Moving to Belgium from Sao Tome and Principe

moving to

What to Expect

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

If you moved from Sao Tome and Principe to Belgium, and you’d need to navigate life in Dutch, French and German.

Planning this move? Get up to 5 free, no-obligation quotes from vetted international movers. Get free quotes ↓

Get free moving quotes to Belgium

We've teamed up with a vetted network of international movers to help MyLifeElsewhere readers plan their move with confidence. Tell us about your move and get up to 5 free, no-obligation quotes in under 2 minutes.

  • ✅ Up to 5 quotes from screened movers
  • ✅ Licensed and insured providers only
  • ✅ 100% free — you choose who contacts you

Who Else Is Making This Move?

What the data shows about people moving from Sao Tome and Principe to Belgium.

Moved in 2023
10 ↓ 9% vs 2022

people moved from Sao Tome and Principe to Belgium · OECD (latest data available)

Who's moving to Belgium?

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

Foreign-born population · UN DESA (2020)

Key Indicator Comparison

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

Is it safe?

Homicide rate United Nations SDG Indicators, 2021

per 100,000 people per year

ST
3.2
BE
1.1
Road traffic deaths United Nations SDG Indicators, 2021

per 100,000 people per year

ST
11.7
BE
4.6

Belgium performs significantly better than Sao Tome and Principe across all safety metrics.

How's the healthcare?

Healthcare spending per person World Bank, 2023

annual government + private spending per person

ST
$355
BE
$7,489
Doctors per 10,000 people United Nations SDG Indicators, 2022

affects wait times and access to care

ST
4.9
BE
63.9

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

ST
85.0
BE
15.0
CO₂ emissions per capita World Bank, 2024

tonnes of CO₂ emitted per person per year

ST
0.6t
BE
7.3t

Sao Tome and Principe generally does better on environment, though Belgium leads in air pollution deaths.

Will I have good infrastructure?

Broadband per 100 people United Nations SDG Indicators, 2022

fixed broadband subscriptions — key for remote work

ST
2.0
BE
43.5
Water stress level United Nations SDG Indicators, 2021

higher means greater strain on freshwater supply

ST
1.9%
BE
51.9%

Belgium generally does better on infrastructure, though Sao Tome and Principe leads in water stress level.

What are the job prospects?

Unemployment rate The World Factbook, 2023

percentage of the labour force without work

ST
14.2%
BE
5.5%
GDP per capita The World Factbook, 2023

a broad measure of economic output per person

ST
$5,500
BE
$63,600

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

Is it good for families?

Life expectancy The World Factbook, 2022

average years of life at birth

ST
67.1 yrs
BE
81.9 yrs
Infant mortality The World Factbook, 2022

deaths per 1,000 live births — lower is better

ST
44.4
BE
3.2

Belgium performs significantly better than Sao Tome and Principe across all family life metrics.

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

Visitor Visa Requirements

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

Sao Tome and Principe passport

Sao Tome and Principe passport holder visiting Belgium

Visa Required
Sao Tome and Principe passport holders need a visa to enter Belgium.
Belgium passport

Belgium passport holder visiting Sao Tome and Principe

Visa Free
Belgium passport holders can enter Sao Tome and Principe 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 Belgium?

Connectivity is usually fine (Belgium: 43.5 fixed broadband per 100). What actually decides it is legal: does Belgium offer a digital nomad visa, will your employer permit overseas work, and where are you tax-resident?

Is Belgium safe for expats?

Belgium performs significantly better than Sao Tome and Principe across all safety metrics. The homicide rate in Belgium is 1.1 per 100,000 people, compared to 3.2 in Sao Tome and Principe.

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

Sao Tome and Principe generally does better on health & wellbeing, though Belgium leads in doctors per 10,000 people. There are 63.9 doctors per 10,000 people in Belgium, compared to 4.9 in Sao Tome and Principe. Belgium scores 86 on the WHO universal health coverage index (Sao Tome and Principe: 59).

What language do they speak in Belgium?

The official languages in Belgium are Dutch, French and German. In Sao Tome and Principe, the official language is Portuguese.

Share this

At a Glance

ST BE
Population 217,164 11,847,338
Currency São Tomé and Príncipe Dobra (STD) Euro (€)
Languages Portuguese Dutch, French, German
Driving side Right Right
Calling code +239 +32
Time zones 1 1
Emergency number 112