Moving to Laos from Sao Tome and Principe
What to Expect
Considering a move from Sao Tome and Principe to Laos? Here's how the two compare on cost, climate, safety, and more.
If you moved from Sao Tome and Principe to Laos, and you’d need to navigate life in Lao.
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Key Indicator Comparison
The numbers behind daily life in Laos compared to Sao Tome and Principe.
Is it safe?
per 100,000 people per year
Sao Tome and Principe performs better than Laos across all safety metrics.
How's the healthcare?
annual government + private spending per person
affects wait times and access to care
WHO index from 0–100 measuring essential service access
share of adults with obesity
per 100,000 people — a proxy for mental health support
Sao Tome and Principe generally does better on health & wellbeing, though Laos leads in healthcare spending per person.
What about the environment?
deaths attributable to air pollution per 100k people
tonnes of CO₂ emitted per person per year
Sao Tome and Principe generally does better on environment, though Laos leads in air pollution deaths.
Will I have good infrastructure?
fixed broadband subscriptions — key for remote work
higher means greater strain on freshwater supply
share of households with internet
Sao Tome and Principe generally does better on infrastructure, though Laos leads in internet access.
What are the job prospects?
percentage of the labour force without work
a broad measure of economic output per person
share of people below the poverty line
Laos generally does better on employment & economy, though Sao Tome and Principe leads in gdp per capita.
Is it good for families?
average years of life at birth
deaths per 1,000 live births — lower is better
government spending on education as % of GDP
percentage of adults who can read and write
Sao Tome and Principe performs better than Laos across all family life metrics.
Sources: World Bank (2017–2025), United Nations SDG Indicators (2019–2021), World Health Organization (2024), The World Factbook (2021). How we calculate this
Visitor Visa Requirements
Short-stay tourist visa rules between Sao Tome and Principe and Laos. To live, work, or study long-term in Laos, you'll need a separate residence or work visa — check Laos's immigration authority.
Sao Tome and Principe passport holder visiting Laos
Visa on Arrival
Laos passport holder visiting Sao Tome and Principe
Visa Online (e-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 Laos?
Connectivity is usually fine (Laos: 2.7 fixed broadband per 100). What actually decides it is legal: does Laos offer a digital nomad visa, will your employer permit overseas work, and where are you tax-resident?
Is Laos safe for expats?
Sao Tome and Principe performs better than Laos across all safety metrics.
How is healthcare in Laos compared to Sao Tome and Principe?
Sao Tome and Principe generally does better on health & wellbeing, though Laos leads in healthcare spending per person. There are 3.3 doctors per 10,000 people in Laos, compared to 4.6 in Sao Tome and Principe. Laos scores 52 on the WHO universal health coverage index (Sao Tome and Principe: 59).
What language do they speak in Laos?
The official language in Laos is Lao. In Sao Tome and Principe, the official language is Portuguese.
