Moving to Latvia 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 Latvia — from daily expenses to quality of life.

If you moved from Sao Tome and Principe to Latvia, and you’d need to navigate life in Latvian.

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Key Indicator Comparison

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

Is it safe?

Homicide rate United Nations SDG Indicators, 2022

per 100,000 people per year

ST
3.2
LV
3.6
Road traffic deaths United Nations SDG Indicators, 2021

per 100,000 people per year

ST
11.7
LV
9.8

Sao Tome and Principe generally does better on safety, though Latvia leads in road traffic deaths.

How's the healthcare?

Healthcare spending per person World Bank, 2023

annual government + private spending per person

ST
$355
LV
$3,034
Doctors per 10,000 people United Nations SDG Indicators, 2021

affects wait times and access to care

ST
4.9
LV
33.8

Sao Tome and Principe generally does better on health & wellbeing, though Latvia 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
LV
40.0
CO₂ emissions per capita World Bank, 2024

tonnes of CO₂ emitted per person per year

ST
0.6t
LV
3.6t

Sao Tome and Principe generally does better on environment, though Latvia 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
LV
26.4
Water stress level United Nations SDG Indicators, 2021

higher means greater strain on freshwater supply

ST
1.9%
LV
1.1%

Latvia performs significantly better than Sao Tome and Principe across all infrastructure metrics.

What are the job prospects?

Unemployment rate The World Factbook, 2023

percentage of the labour force without work

ST
14.2%
LV
6.5%
GDP per capita The World Factbook, 2023

a broad measure of economic output per person

ST
$5,500
LV
$37,800

Latvia 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
LV
75.9 yrs
Infant mortality The World Factbook, 2022

deaths per 1,000 live births — lower is better

ST
44.4
LV
4.8

Latvia 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 Latvia. To live, work, or study long-term in Latvia, you'll need a separate residence or work visa — check Latvia's immigration authority.

Sao Tome and Principe passport

Sao Tome and Principe passport holder visiting Latvia

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

Latvia passport holder visiting Sao Tome and Principe

Visa Free
Latvia 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 Latvia?

With 26.4 fixed broadband subscriptions per 100 people, Latvia 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 Latvia.

Is Latvia safe for expats?

Sao Tome and Principe generally does better on safety, though Latvia leads in road traffic deaths. The homicide rate in Latvia is 3.6 per 100,000 people, compared to 3.2 in Sao Tome and Principe.

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

Sao Tome and Principe generally does better on health & wellbeing, though Latvia leads in doctors per 10,000 people. There are 33.8 doctors per 10,000 people in Latvia, compared to 4.9 in Sao Tome and Principe. Latvia scores 75 on the WHO universal health coverage index (Sao Tome and Principe: 59).

What language do they speak in Latvia?

The official language in Latvia is Latvian. In Sao Tome and Principe, the official language is Portuguese.

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At a Glance

ST LV
Population 217,164 1,842,226
Currency São Tomé and Príncipe Dobra (STD) Euro (€)
Languages Portuguese Latvian
Driving side Right Right
Calling code +239 +371
Time zones 1 1
Emergency number 112