Moving to Ethiopia from Belgium

moving to

What to Expect

Considering a move from Belgium to Ethiopia? Here's how the two compare on cost, climate, safety, and more.

If you moved from Belgium to Ethiopia, and you’d need to navigate life in Amharic. Expect a noticeable climate shift — Addis Ababa averages 74°F vs 57°F in Brussels, making it significantly warmer.

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Key Indicator Comparison

The numbers behind daily life in Ethiopia compared to Belgium.

Is it safe?

Homicide rate United Nations SDG Indicators, 2021

per 100,000 people per year

BE
1.1
ET
8.6
Road traffic deaths United Nations SDG Indicators, 2021

per 100,000 people per year

BE
4.6
ET
17.7

Belgium 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

BE
$7,489
ET
$86
Doctors per 10,000 people United Nations SDG Indicators, 2022

affects wait times and access to care

BE
63.9
ET
1.1

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

What about the environment?

Air pollution deaths United Nations SDG Indicators, 2019

deaths attributable to air pollution per 100k people

BE
15.0
ET
46.0
CO₂ emissions per capita World Bank, 2024

tonnes of CO₂ emitted per person per year

BE
7.3t
ET
0.1t

Belgium 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

BE
43.5
ET
0.5
Water stress level United Nations SDG Indicators, 2021

higher means greater strain on freshwater supply

BE
51.9%
ET
32.3%

Belgium generally does better on infrastructure, though Ethiopia leads in water stress level.

What are the job prospects?

Unemployment rate The World Factbook, 2023

percentage of the labour force without work

BE
5.5%
ET
3.5%
GDP per capita The World Factbook, 2023

a broad measure of economic output per person

BE
$63,600
ET
$2,800

Belgium generally does better on employment & economy, though Ethiopia leads in unemployment rate.

Is it good for families?

Life expectancy The World Factbook, 2022

average years of life at birth

BE
81.9 yrs
ET
68.2 yrs
Infant mortality The World Factbook, 2022

deaths per 1,000 live births — lower is better

BE
3.2
ET
33.5

Belgium performs better than Ethiopia across all family life metrics.

Data: Service Public Fédéral Finances, The World Factbook, United Nations SDG Indicators, World Bank

What's the Climate Like?

Monthly averages — select a city to compare.

Brussels Rain: 32.3 in/yr (820 mm)
57° / 44°F

Avg. annual high / low

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

Avg. annual high / low

Months Brussels Addis Ababa
Jan–Mar 45°/34°F (7°/1°C) 76°/48°F (24°/9°C)
Apr–Jun 63°/47°F (17°/8°C) 75°/51°F (24°/11°C)
Jul–Sep 70°/54°F (21°/13°C) 71°/50°F (21°/10°C)
Oct–Dec 50°/40°F (10°/4°C) 73°/46°F (23°/8°C)
View all months
Month Brussels Addis Ababa
Jan 42°/33°F (5.6°/0.7°C) 75°/46°F (24.0°/8.0°C)
Feb 44°/33°F (6.4°/0.6°C) 75°/48°F (24.0°/9.0°C)
Mar 50°/37°F (9.9°/2.9°C) 77°/50°F (25.0°/10.0°C)
Apr 56°/41°F (13.1°/4.8°C) 75°/52°F (24.0°/11.0°C)
May 64°/48°F (17.7°/8.9°C) 77°/52°F (25.0°/11.0°C)
Jun 68°/53°F (20.0°/11.5°C) 73°/50°F (23.0°/10.0°C)
Jul 72°/56°F (22.4°/13.6°C) 70°/50°F (21.0°/10.0°C)
Aug 72°/56°F (22.5°/13.4°C) 70°/50°F (21.0°/10.0°C)
Sep 66°/51°F (18.7°/10.8°C) 72°/50°F (22.0°/10.0°C)
Oct 58°/46°F (14.4°/7.6°C) 73°/48°F (23.0°/9.0°C)
Nov 48°/39°F (9.1°/3.7°C) 73°/45°F (23.0°/7.0°C)
Dec 44°/35°F (6.5°/1.9°C) 73°/45°F (23.0°/7.0°C)

Data: Institut Royal Météorologique Institut Royal Météorologique, Ethiopian Meteorological Institute (EMI) Ethiopian Meteorological Institute (EMI)

Visitor Visa Requirements

Short-stay tourist visa rules between Belgium 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.

Belgium passport

Belgium passport holder visiting Ethiopia

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

Ethiopia passport holder visiting Belgium

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

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?

Connectivity is usually fine (Ethiopia: 0.5 fixed broadband per 100). What actually decides it is legal: does Ethiopia offer a digital nomad visa, will your employer permit overseas work, and where are you tax-resident?

Is Ethiopia safe for expats?

Belgium performs better than Ethiopia across all safety metrics. The homicide rate in Ethiopia is 8.6 per 100,000 people, compared to 1.1 in Belgium.

How is healthcare in Ethiopia compared to Belgium?

Ethiopia generally does better on health & wellbeing, though Belgium leads in doctors per 10,000 people. There are 1.1 doctors per 10,000 people in Ethiopia, compared to 63.9 in Belgium. Ethiopia scores 35 on the WHO universal health coverage index (Belgium: 86).

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

The average high temperature in Addis Ababa is 74°F, compared to 57°F in Brussels. Addis Ababa receives around 45.9 in of rainfall per year, while Brussels gets 32.3 in.

What language do they speak in Ethiopia?

The official language in Ethiopia is Amharic. In Belgium, the official languages are Dutch, French and German.

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At a Glance

BE ET
Population 11,847,338 113,656,596
Currency Euro (€) Ethiopian Birr (ETB)
Languages Dutch, French, German Amharic
Driving side Right Right
Calling code +32 +251
Time zones 1 1
Emergency number 112 911