Moving to Samoa from United Kingdom

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What to Expect

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

If you moved from United Kingdom to Samoa. Expect a noticeable climate shift — Apia averages 86°F vs 60°F in London, making it significantly warmer.

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Who Else Is Making This Move?

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

Living there in 2020
20 ↓ 13% vs 2015

people born in United Kingdom 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 United Kingdom to Samoa.

Is it safe?

Homicide rate United Nations SDG Indicators, 2020

per 100,000 people per year

GB
1.0
WS
6.2
Road traffic deaths United Nations SDG Indicators, 2021

per 100,000 people per year

GB
2.4
WS
9.6

United Kingdom performs better than Samoa across all safety metrics.

How's the healthcare?

Healthcare spending per person World Bank, 2024

annual government + private spending per person

GB
$6,606
WS
$474
Doctors per 10,000 people United Nations SDG Indicators, 2022

affects wait times and access to care

GB
31.7
WS
5.5

United Kingdom generally does better on health & wellbeing, though Samoa 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

GB
13.0
WS
34.0
CO₂ emissions per capita World Bank, 2024

tonnes of CO₂ emitted per person per year

GB
4.2t
WS
1.6t

United Kingdom generally does better on environment, though Samoa leads in co₂ emissions per capita.

Will I have good infrastructure?

Broadband per 100 people United Nations SDG Indicators, 2022

fixed broadband subscriptions — key for remote work

GB
41.4
WS
0.8
Internet access The World Factbook, 2021

share of households with internet

GB
97.0%
WS
78.0%

United Kingdom performs better than Samoa across all infrastructure metrics.

What are the job prospects?

Unemployment rate The World Factbook, 2023

percentage of the labour force without work

GB
4.1%
WS
9.8%
GDP per capita The World Factbook, 2023

a broad measure of economic output per person

GB
$54,100
WS
$6,000

United Kingdom generally does better on employment & economy, though Samoa leads in top income tax rate.

Is it good for families?

Life expectancy The World Factbook, 2022

average years of life at birth

GB
81.9 yrs
WS
75.2 yrs
Infant mortality The World Factbook, 2022

deaths per 1,000 live births — lower is better

GB
3.8
WS
17.0

United Kingdom performs better than Samoa across all family life metrics.

Data: HM Revenue & Customs, The World Factbook, United Nations SDG Indicators, World Bank

What's the Climate Like?

Monthly averages — select a city to compare.

London Rain: 22.0 in/yr (558 mm)
60° / 46°F

Avg. annual high / low

Apia Rain: 116.7 in/yr (2965 mm)
86° / 74°F

Avg. annual high / low

Months London Apia
Jan–Mar 49°/38°F (9°/3°C) 87°/75°F (31°/24°C)
Apr–Jun 64°/48°F (18°/9°C) 87°/74°F (30°/23°C)
Jul–Sep 72°/56°F (22°/13°C) 85°/73°F (30°/23°C)
Oct–Dec 53°/43°F (12°/6°C) 87°/74°F (30°/24°C)
View all months
Month London Apia
Jan 47°/38°F (8.1°/3.1°C) 87°/75°F (30.4°/23.9°C)
Feb 47°/37°F (8.6°/2.7°C) 87°/76°F (30.6°/24.2°C)
Mar 53°/40°F (11.6°/4.6°C) 87°/75°F (30.6°/24.0°C)
Apr 58°/43°F (14.6°/5.9°C) 87°/75°F (30.7°/23.8°C)
May 65°/48°F (18.1°/8.9°C) 87°/74°F (30.4°/23.4°C)
Jun 70°/53°F (21.0°/11.8°C) 86°/74°F (30.0°/23.2°C)
Jul 74°/57°F (23.4°/13.7°C) 85°/73°F (29.5°/22.6°C)
Aug 74°/57°F (23.1°/13.8°C) 85°/73°F (29.6°/22.8°C)
Sep 68°/53°F (20.0°/11.4°C) 86°/74°F (29.9°/23.1°C)
Oct 60°/48°F (15.5°/8.8°C) 86°/74°F (30.1°/23.4°C)
Nov 52°/42°F (11.3°/5.8°C) 87°/74°F (30.3°/23.6°C)
Dec 47°/38°F (8.4°/3.4°C) 87°/75°F (30.5°/23.8°C)

Data: Met Office Met Office

Visitor Visa Requirements

Short-stay tourist visa rules between United Kingdom 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.

United Kingdom passport

United Kingdom passport holder visiting Samoa

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

Samoa passport holder visiting United Kingdom

Electronic Travel Authorisation
Samoa passport holders need an electronic travel authorisation (ETA) to enter United Kingdom.

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?

United Kingdom performs better than Samoa across all safety metrics. The homicide rate in Samoa is 6.2 per 100,000 people, compared to 1.0 in United Kingdom.

How is healthcare in Samoa compared to United Kingdom?

United Kingdom generally does better on health & wellbeing, though Samoa leads in healthcare spending per person. There are 5.5 doctors per 10,000 people in Samoa, compared to 31.7 in United Kingdom. Samoa scores 55 on the WHO universal health coverage index (United Kingdom: 88).

What's the weather like in Samoa compared to United Kingdom?

The average high temperature in Apia is 86°F, compared to 60°F in London. Apia receives around 116.7 in of rainfall per year, while London gets 22.0 in.

What language do they speak in Samoa?

The official languages in Samoa are English and Samoan. In United Kingdom, the official language is English.

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At a Glance

GB WS
Population 67,791,400 206,179
Currency British Pound Sterling (£) Samoan Tala (WST)
Languages English English, Samoan
Driving side Left Left
Calling code +44 +685
Time zones 9 1
Emergency number 999