Moving to Ethiopia from Australia

moving to

What to Expect

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

If you moved from Australia to Ethiopia, and you’d need to navigate life in Amharic. You’ll also switch from driving on the left to the right.

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Key Indicator Comparison

Key indicators for anyone considering a move from Australia to Ethiopia.

Is it safe?

Homicide rate United Nations SDG Indicators, 2022

per 100,000 people per year

AU
0.8
ET
8.6
Road traffic deaths United Nations SDG Indicators, 2021

per 100,000 people per year

AU
4.5
ET
17.7

Australia performs better than Ethiopia across all safety metrics.

How's the healthcare?

Healthcare spending per person World Bank, 2023

annual government + private spending per person

AU
$7,691
ET
$86
Doctors per 10,000 people United Nations SDG Indicators, 2022

affects wait times and access to care

AU
39.8
ET
1.1

Australia generally does better on health & wellbeing, though Ethiopia 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

AU
10.0
ET
46.0
CO₂ emissions per capita World Bank, 2024

tonnes of CO₂ emitted per person per year

AU
14.1t
ET
0.1t

Australia generally does better on environment, though Ethiopia 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

AU
35.1
ET
0.5
Water stress level United Nations SDG Indicators, 2021

higher means greater strain on freshwater supply

AU
4.6%
ET
32.3%

Australia performs better than Ethiopia across all infrastructure metrics.

What are the job prospects?

Unemployment rate The World Factbook, 2023

percentage of the labour force without work

AU
3.7%
ET
3.5%
GDP per capita The World Factbook, 2023

a broad measure of economic output per person

AU
$59,500
ET
$2,800

Ethiopia generally does better on employment & economy, though Australia leads in gdp per capita.

Is it good for families?

Life expectancy The World Factbook, 2022

average years of life at birth

AU
83.1 yrs
ET
68.2 yrs
Infant mortality The World Factbook, 2022

deaths per 1,000 live births — lower is better

AU
3.0
ET
33.5

Australia performs better than Ethiopia across all family life metrics.

Data: Australian Taxation Office, The World Factbook, United Nations SDG Indicators, World Bank

What's the Climate Like?

Monthly averages — select a city to compare.

Canberra Rain: 24.8 in/yr (629 mm)
67° / 44°F

Avg. annual high / low

Addis Ababa Rain: 45.9 in/yr (1165 mm)
74° / 49°F

Avg. annual high / low

Months Canberra Addis Ababa
Jan–Mar 80°/54°F (26°/12°C) 76°/48°F (24°/9°C)
Apr–Jun 61°/39°F (16°/4°C) 75°/51°F (24°/11°C)
Jul–Sep 56°/35°F (13°/1°C) 71°/50°F (21°/10°C)
Oct–Dec 73°/47°F (23°/9°C) 73°/46°F (23°/8°C)
View all months
Month Canberra Addis Ababa
Jan 82°/55°F (27.7°/13.0°C) 75°/46°F (24.0°/8.0°C)
Feb 81°/55°F (27.0°/12.9°C) 75°/48°F (24.0°/9.0°C)
Mar 76°/51°F (24.4°/10.7°C) 77°/50°F (25.0°/10.0°C)
Apr 68°/44°F (19.8°/6.6°C) 75°/52°F (24.0°/11.0°C)
May 60°/38°F (15.4°/3.1°C) 77°/52°F (25.0°/11.0°C)
Jun 54°/34°F (12.1°/0.9°C) 73°/50°F (23.0°/10.0°C)
Jul 52°/32°F (11.2°/-0.2°C) 70°/50°F (21.0°/10.0°C)
Aug 55°/34°F (12.9°/1.0°C) 70°/50°F (21.0°/10.0°C)
Sep 61°/38°F (16.0°/3.1°C) 72°/50°F (22.0°/10.0°C)
Oct 67°/43°F (19.2°/6.0°C) 73°/48°F (23.0°/9.0°C)
Nov 72°/47°F (22.4°/8.5°C) 73°/45°F (23.0°/7.0°C)
Dec 79°/52°F (26.0°/11.2°C) 73°/45°F (23.0°/7.0°C)

Data: Bureau of Meteorology Bureau of Meteorology, Ethiopian Meteorological Institute (EMI) Ethiopian Meteorological Institute (EMI)

Visitor Visa Requirements

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

Australia passport

Australia passport holder visiting Ethiopia

Visa on Arrival
Australia passport holders can obtain a visa on arrival in Ethiopia.
Ethiopia passport

Ethiopia passport holder visiting Australia

Visa Required
Ethiopia passport holders need a visa to enter Australia.

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

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I work remotely from Ethiopia?

Internet is rarely the blocker — Ethiopia has 0.5 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 Ethiopia safe for expats?

Australia performs better than Ethiopia across all safety metrics. The homicide rate in Ethiopia is 8.6 per 100,000 people, compared to 0.8 in Australia.

How is healthcare in Ethiopia compared to Australia?

Australia generally does better on health & wellbeing, though Ethiopia leads in healthcare spending per person. There are 1.1 doctors per 10,000 people in Ethiopia, compared to 39.8 in Australia. Ethiopia scores 35 on the WHO universal health coverage index (Australia: 87).

What's the weather like in Ethiopia compared to Australia?

The average high temperature in Addis Ababa is 74°F, compared to 67°F in Canberra. Addis Ababa receives around 45.9 in of rainfall per year, while Canberra gets 24.8 in.

What language do they speak in Ethiopia?

The official language in Ethiopia is Amharic. In Australia, the official language is English.

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At a Glance

AU ET
Population 26,141,369 113,656,596
Currency Australian Dollar (A$) Ethiopian Birr (ETB)
Languages English Amharic
Driving side Left Right
Calling code +61 +251
Time zones 8 1
Emergency number 000 911