Moving to Samoa from Tuvalu

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What to Expect

Everything you need to know before relocating from Tuvalu to Samoa — costs, safety, healthcare, and practical first steps.

If you moved from Tuvalu to Samoa.

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Who Else Is Making This Move?

How many people actually move from Tuvalu to Samoa, based on official data.

Living there in 2020
58 ↓ 8% vs 2015

people born in Tuvalu live in Samoa · UN DESA

Who's moving to Samoa?

Top countries of origin for Samoa's foreign-born residents.

Foreign-born population · UN DESA (2020)

Key Indicator Comparison

Key indicators for anyone considering a move from Tuvalu to Samoa.

Is it safe?

Homicide rate United Nations SDG Indicators, 2019

per 100,000 people per year

TV
0.0
WS
6.2
Road traffic deaths United Nations SDG Indicators, 2021

per 100,000 people per year

TV
17.9
WS
9.6

Tuvalu generally does better on safety, though Samoa leads in road traffic deaths.

How's the healthcare?

Healthcare spending per person World Bank, 2023

annual government + private spending per person

TV
$1,671
WS
$474
Doctors per 10,000 people United Nations SDG Indicators, 2021

affects wait times and access to care

TV
12.6
WS
5.5

Samoa generally does better on health & wellbeing, though Tuvalu leads in doctors per 10,000 people.

What about the environment?

CO₂ emissions per capita World Bank, 2024

tonnes of CO₂ emitted per person per year

TV
0.0t
WS
1.6t

Tuvalu performs better than Samoa across all environment metrics.

Will I have good infrastructure?

Broadband per 100 people United Nations SDG Indicators, 2022

fixed broadband subscriptions — key for remote work

TV
4.0
WS
0.8
Internet access The World Factbook, 2021

share of households with internet

TV
49.0%
WS
78.0%

Tuvalu generally does better on infrastructure, though Samoa leads in internet access.

What are the job prospects?

GDP per capita The World Factbook, 2023

a broad measure of economic output per person

TV
$5,200
WS
$6,000
Poverty rate The World Factbook, 2018

share of people below the poverty line

TV
26.3%
WS
21.9%

Samoa performs significantly better than Tuvalu across all employment & economy metrics.

Is it good for families?

Life expectancy The World Factbook, 2022

average years of life at birth

TV
68.4 yrs
WS
75.2 yrs
Infant mortality The World Factbook, 2022

deaths per 1,000 live births — lower is better

TV
28.9
WS
17.0

Samoa performs significantly better than Tuvalu across all family life metrics.

Data: The World Factbook, United Nations SDG Indicators, World Bank

Visitor Visa Requirements

Short-stay tourist visa rules between Tuvalu and Samoa. To live, work, or study long-term in Samoa, you'll need a separate residence or work visa — check Samoa's immigration authority.

Tuvalu passport

Tuvalu passport holder visiting Samoa

Visa on Arrival
Tuvalu passport holders can obtain a visa on arrival in Samoa.
Samoa passport

Samoa passport holder visiting Tuvalu

Visa on Arrival
Samoa passport holders can obtain a visa on arrival in Tuvalu.

Data: Henley Passport Index. Check with the destination country's embassy for the most current requirements.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I work remotely from Samoa?

Internet is rarely the blocker — Samoa has 0.8 fixed broadband subscriptions per 100 people. The real questions are legal: digital nomad visa eligibility, your employer's overseas-work policy, and tax residency in both countries.

Is Samoa safe for expats?

Tuvalu generally does better on safety, though Samoa leads in road traffic deaths. The homicide rate in Samoa is 6.2 per 100,000 people, compared to 0.0 in Tuvalu.

How is healthcare in Samoa compared to Tuvalu?

Samoa generally does better on health & wellbeing, though Tuvalu leads in doctors per 10,000 people. There are 5.5 doctors per 10,000 people in Samoa, compared to 12.6 in Tuvalu. Samoa scores 55 on the WHO universal health coverage index (Tuvalu: 52).

What language do they speak in Samoa?

The official languages in Samoa are English and Samoan. In Tuvalu, the official languages are English and Tuvaluan.

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At a Glance

TV WS
Population 11,544 206,179
Currency Australian Dollar (A$) Samoan Tala (WST)
Languages English, Tuvaluan English, Samoan
Driving side Left Left
Calling code +688 +685
Time zones 1 1