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

If you moved from Sao Tome and Principe to Malta, and you’d need to navigate life in English and Maltese. You’ll also switch from driving on the right to the left.

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Key Indicator Comparison

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

Is it safe?

Homicide rate United Nations SDG Indicators, 2023

per 100,000 people per year

ST
3.2
MT
0.6
Road traffic deaths United Nations SDG Indicators, 2021

per 100,000 people per year

ST
11.7
MT
1.9

Malta 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
MT
$5,706
Doctors per 10,000 people United Nations SDG Indicators, 2021

affects wait times and access to care

ST
4.9
MT
42.8

Sao Tome and Principe generally does better on health & wellbeing, though Malta 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
MT
21.0
CO₂ emissions per capita World Bank, 2024

tonnes of CO₂ emitted per person per year

ST
0.6t
MT
3.2t

Sao Tome and Principe generally does better on environment, though Malta 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
MT
43.0
Water stress level United Nations SDG Indicators, 2021

higher means greater strain on freshwater supply

ST
1.9%
MT
78.3%

Malta 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%
MT
3.1%
GDP per capita The World Factbook, 2023

a broad measure of economic output per person

ST
$5,500
MT
$57,200

Malta 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
MT
83.2 yrs
Infant mortality The World Factbook, 2022

deaths per 1,000 live births — lower is better

ST
44.4
MT
4.5

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

Sao Tome and Principe passport

Sao Tome and Principe passport holder visiting Malta

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

Malta passport holder visiting Sao Tome and Principe

Visa Free
Malta 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 Malta?

With 43.0 fixed broadband subscriptions per 100 people, Malta 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 Malta.

Is Malta safe for expats?

Malta performs significantly better than Sao Tome and Principe across all safety metrics. The homicide rate in Malta is 0.6 per 100,000 people, compared to 3.2 in Sao Tome and Principe.

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

Sao Tome and Principe generally does better on health & wellbeing, though Malta leads in doctors per 10,000 people. There are 42.8 doctors per 10,000 people in Malta, compared to 4.9 in Sao Tome and Principe. Malta scores 85 on the WHO universal health coverage index (Sao Tome and Principe: 59).

What language do they speak in Malta?

The official languages in Malta are English and Maltese. In Sao Tome and Principe, the official language is Portuguese.

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At a Glance

ST MT
Population 217,164 464,186
Currency São Tomé and Príncipe Dobra (STD) Euro (€)
Languages Portuguese English, Maltese
Driving side Right Left
Calling code +239 +356
Time zones 1 1
Emergency number 112