Moving to Iran from Sao Tome and Principe

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What to Expect

A comprehensive look at what changes when you move from Sao Tome and Principe to Iran — from daily expenses to quality of life.

If you moved from Sao Tome and Principe to Iran, and you’d need to navigate life in Persian (Farsi).

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Key Indicator Comparison

How Sao Tome and Principe and Iran stack up on safety, healthcare, jobs, and infrastructure.

Is it safe?

Homicide rate United Nations SDG Indicators, 2014

per 100,000 people per year

ST
3.2
IR
2.4
Road traffic deaths United Nations SDG Indicators, 2021

per 100,000 people per year

ST
11.7
IR
20.6

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

How's the healthcare?

Healthcare spending per person World Bank, 2023

annual government + private spending per person

ST
$355
IR
$1,064
Doctors per 10,000 people United Nations SDG Indicators, 2019

affects wait times and access to care

ST
4.9
IR
15.1

Sao Tome and Principe generally does better on health & wellbeing, though Iran 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
IR
51.0
CO₂ emissions per capita World Bank, 2024

tonnes of CO₂ emitted per person per year

ST
0.6t
IR
9.1t

Sao Tome and Principe generally does better on environment, though Iran 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
IR
12.3
Water stress level United Nations SDG Indicators, 2021

higher means greater strain on freshwater supply

ST
1.9%
IR
81.3%

Sao Tome and Principe generally does better on infrastructure, though Iran leads in broadband per 100 people.

What are the job prospects?

Unemployment rate The World Factbook, 2023

percentage of the labour force without work

ST
14.2%
IR
9.1%
GDP per capita The World Factbook, 2023

a broad measure of economic output per person

ST
$5,500
IR
$16,200

Iran 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
IR
75.2 yrs
Infant mortality The World Factbook, 2022

deaths per 1,000 live births — lower is better

ST
44.4
IR
14.8

Sao Tome and Principe generally does better on family life, though Iran leads in life expectancy.

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

Visitor Visa Requirements

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

Sao Tome and Principe passport

Sao Tome and Principe passport holder visiting Iran

Visa on Arrival
Sao Tome and Principe passport holders can obtain a visa on arrival in Iran.
Iran passport

Iran passport holder visiting Sao Tome and Principe

Visa Online (e-Visa)
Iran passport holders need to apply for an e-Visa before travelling to Sao Tome and Principe.

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

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I work remotely from Iran?

With 12.3 fixed broadband subscriptions per 100 people, Iran can support video calls in major cities. The hard part is paperwork — visa category, employer policy on overseas staff, and tax residency in Sao Tome and Principe and Iran.

Is Iran safe for expats?

Sao Tome and Principe generally does better on safety, though Iran leads in homicide rate. The homicide rate in Iran is 2.4 per 100,000 people, compared to 3.2 in Sao Tome and Principe.

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

Sao Tome and Principe generally does better on health & wellbeing, though Iran leads in doctors per 10,000 people. There are 15.1 doctors per 10,000 people in Iran, compared to 4.9 in Sao Tome and Principe. Iran scores 74 on the WHO universal health coverage index (Sao Tome and Principe: 59).

What language do they speak in Iran?

The official language in Iran is Persian (Farsi). In Sao Tome and Principe, the official language is Portuguese.

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At a Glance

ST IR
Population 217,164 86,758,304
Currency São Tomé and Príncipe Dobra (STD) Iranian Rial (IRR)
Languages Portuguese Persian (Farsi)
Driving side Right Right
Calling code +239 +98
Time zones 1 1
Emergency number 115