Moving to American Samoa from South Africa
What to Expect
A comprehensive look at what changes when you move from South Africa to American Samoa — from daily expenses to quality of life.
If you moved from South Africa to American Samoa. You’ll also switch from driving on the left to the right.
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Key Indicator Comparison
How South Africa and American Samoa stack up on safety, healthcare, jobs, and infrastructure.
Is it safe?
per 100,000 people per year
American Samoa performs significantly better than South Africa across all safety metrics.
What about the environment?
tonnes of CO₂ emitted per person per year
American Samoa performs significantly better than South Africa across all environment metrics.
Will I have good infrastructure?
share of households with internet
South Africa performs better than American Samoa across all infrastructure metrics.
What are the job prospects?
percentage of the labour force without work
a broad measure of economic output per person
South Africa performs better than American Samoa across all employment & economy metrics.
Is it good for families?
average years of life at birth
deaths per 1,000 live births — lower is better
American Samoa performs significantly better than South Africa across all family life metrics.
Data: The World Factbook, United Nations SDG Indicators, World Bank
Visitor Visa Requirements
Short-stay tourist visa rules between South Africa and American Samoa. To live, work, or study long-term in American Samoa, you'll need a separate residence or work visa — check American Samoa's immigration authority.
South Africa passport holder visiting American Samoa
Visa RequiredData: Henley Passport Index. Check with the destination country's embassy for the most current requirements.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I work remotely from American Samoa?
Working remotely from American Samoa's major cities is generally feasible. The legal layer matters more — visa category, employer policy on overseas employees, and tax residency in South Africa and American Samoa.
Is American Samoa safe for expats?
American Samoa performs significantly better than South Africa across all safety metrics. The homicide rate in American Samoa is 0.0 per 100,000 people, compared to 45.5 in South Africa.
What language do they speak in American Samoa?
The official languages in American Samoa are English and Samoan. In South Africa, the official languages are Afrikaans, English, Northern Sotho, Southern Ndebele, Southern Sotho, Swazi, Tsonga, Tswana, Venda, Xhosa and Zulu.
Compare further: South Africa vs. American Samoa
At a Glance
ZA
|
AS
|
|
|---|---|---|
| Population | 57,516,665 | 45,443 |
| Currency | South African Rand (ZAR) | United States Dollar ($) |
| Languages | Afrikaans, English, Northern Sotho, Southern Ndebele, Southern Sotho, Swazi, Tsonga, Tswana, Venda, Xhosa, Zulu | English, Samoan |
| Driving side | Left | Right |
| Calling code | +27 | +1684 |
| Time zones | 1 | 1 |
| Emergency number | 10111 | — |