Moving to Zimbabwe from Sao Tome and Principe
What to Expect
Considering a move from Sao Tome and Principe to Zimbabwe? Here's how the two compare on cost, climate, safety, and more.
If you moved from Sao Tome and Principe to Zimbabwe, and you’d need to navigate life in Chewa, Chibarwe, English, Kalanga, Khoisan, Ndau, Northern Ndebele, Shona, Sotho, Tonga, Tsonga, Tswana, Venda, Xhosa and Zimbabwean Sign Language. You’ll also switch from driving on the right to the left.
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Key Indicator Comparison
The numbers behind daily life in Zimbabwe compared to Sao Tome and Principe.
Is it safe?
per 100,000 people per year
per 100,000 people per year
Sao Tome and Principe performs better than Zimbabwe 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 Zimbabwe 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 Zimbabwe 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 performs better than Zimbabwe across all infrastructure metrics.
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
Zimbabwe 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 generally does better on family life, though Zimbabwe leads in infant mortality.
Data: The World Factbook, United Nations SDG Indicators, World Bank
Visitor Visa Requirements
Short-stay tourist visa rules between Sao Tome and Principe and Zimbabwe. To live, work, or study long-term in Zimbabwe, you'll need a separate residence or work visa — check Zimbabwe's immigration authority.
Sao Tome and Principe passport holder visiting Zimbabwe
Visa on Arrival
Zimbabwe 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 Zimbabwe?
Connectivity is usually fine (Zimbabwe: 1.3 fixed broadband per 100). What actually decides it is legal: does Zimbabwe offer a digital nomad visa, will your employer permit overseas work, and where are you tax-resident?
Is Zimbabwe safe for expats?
Sao Tome and Principe performs better than Zimbabwe across all safety metrics. The homicide rate in Zimbabwe is 6.7 per 100,000 people, compared to 3.2 in Sao Tome and Principe.
How is healthcare in Zimbabwe compared to Sao Tome and Principe?
Sao Tome and Principe generally does better on health & wellbeing, though Zimbabwe leads in healthcare spending per person. There are 1.7 doctors per 10,000 people in Zimbabwe, compared to 4.9 in Sao Tome and Principe. Zimbabwe scores 55 on the WHO universal health coverage index (Sao Tome and Principe: 59).
What language do they speak in Zimbabwe?
The official languages in Zimbabwe are Chewa, Chibarwe, English, Kalanga, Khoisan, Ndau, Northern Ndebele, Shona, Sotho, Tonga, Tsonga, Tswana, Venda, Xhosa and Zimbabwean Sign Language. In Sao Tome and Principe, the official language is Portuguese.
Compare further: Sao Tome and Principe vs. Zimbabwe
At a Glance
ST
|
ZW
|
|
|---|---|---|
| Population | 217,164 | 15,121,004 |
| Currency | São Tomé and Príncipe Dobra (STD) | Zimbabwean Dollar (ZWL) |
| Languages | Portuguese | Chewa, Chibarwe, English, Kalanga, Khoisan, Ndau, Northern Ndebele, Shona, Sotho, Tonga, Tsonga, Tswana, Venda, Xhosa, Zimbabwean Sign Language |
| Driving side | Right | Left |
| Calling code | +239 | +263 |
| Time zones | 1 | 1 |
| Emergency number | — | 999 |