Moving to Sao Tome and Principe from Uganda

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What to Expect

Considering a move from Uganda to Sao Tome and Principe? Here's how the two compare on cost, climate, safety, and more.

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

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Key Indicator Comparison

The numbers behind daily life in Sao Tome and Principe compared to Uganda.

Is it safe?

Homicide rate United Nations SDG Indicators, 2022

per 100,000 people per year

UG
8.8
ST
3.2
Road traffic deaths United Nations SDG Indicators, 2021

per 100,000 people per year

UG
16.0
ST
11.7

Sao Tome and Principe performs significantly better than Uganda across all safety metrics.

How's the healthcare?

Healthcare spending per person World Bank, 2023

annual government + private spending per person

UG
$139
ST
$355
Doctors per 10,000 people United Nations SDG Indicators, 2022

affects wait times and access to care

UG
1.7
ST
4.9

Sao Tome and Principe generally does better on health & wellbeing, though Uganda leads in healthcare spending per person.

What about the environment?

Air pollution deaths United Nations SDG Indicators, 2019

deaths attributable to air pollution per 100k people

UG
60.0
ST
85.0
CO₂ emissions per capita World Bank, 2024

tonnes of CO₂ emitted per person per year

UG
0.2t
ST
0.6t

Uganda performs better than Sao Tome and Principe 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

UG
0.1
ST
2.0
Water stress level United Nations SDG Indicators, 2021

higher means greater strain on freshwater supply

UG
5.8%
ST
1.9%

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

What are the job prospects?

Unemployment rate The World Factbook, 2023

percentage of the labour force without work

UG
2.8%
ST
14.2%
GDP per capita The World Factbook, 2023

a broad measure of economic output per person

UG
$2,800
ST
$5,500

Uganda generally does better on employment & economy, though Sao Tome and Principe leads in gdp per capita.

Is it good for families?

Life expectancy The World Factbook, 2022

average years of life at birth

UG
69.0 yrs
ST
67.1 yrs
Infant mortality The World Factbook, 2022

deaths per 1,000 live births — lower is better

UG
30.4
ST
44.4

Uganda generally does better on family life, though Sao Tome and Principe leads in education spending.

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

Visitor Visa Requirements

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

Uganda passport

Uganda passport holder visiting Sao Tome and Principe

Visa Online (e-Visa)
Uganda passport holders need to apply for an e-Visa before travelling to Sao Tome and Principe.
Sao Tome and Principe passport

Sao Tome and Principe passport holder visiting Uganda

Visa Online (e-Visa)
Sao Tome and Principe passport holders need to apply for an e-Visa before travelling to Uganda.

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

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I work remotely from Sao Tome and Principe?

Connectivity is usually fine (Sao Tome and Principe: 2.0 fixed broadband per 100). What actually decides it is legal: does Sao Tome and Principe offer a digital nomad visa, will your employer permit overseas work, and where are you tax-resident?

Is Sao Tome and Principe safe for expats?

Sao Tome and Principe performs significantly better than Uganda across all safety metrics. The homicide rate in Sao Tome and Principe is 3.2 per 100,000 people, compared to 8.8 in Uganda.

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

Sao Tome and Principe generally does better on health & wellbeing, though Uganda leads in healthcare spending per person. There are 4.9 doctors per 10,000 people in Sao Tome and Principe, compared to 1.7 in Uganda. Sao Tome and Principe scores 59 on the WHO universal health coverage index (Uganda: 49).

What language do they speak in Sao Tome and Principe?

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

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At a Glance

UG ST
Population 46,205,893 217,164
Currency Ugandan Shilling (UGX) São Tomé and Príncipe Dobra (STD)
Languages English, Swahili Portuguese
Driving side Left Right
Calling code +256 +239
Time zones 1 1
Emergency number 999