Moving to Finland from Burkina Faso

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What to Expect

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

If you moved from Burkina Faso to Finland, and you’d need to navigate life in Finnish and Swedish. Expect a noticeable climate shift — Helsinki averages 48°F vs 95°F in Ouagadougou, making it significantly cooler.

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Who Else Is Making This Move?

What the data shows about people moving from Burkina Faso to Finland.

Moved in 2023
1 ↓ 67% vs 2022

people moved from Burkina Faso to Finland · OECD (latest data available)

Who's moving to Finland?

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

Foreign-born population · UN DESA (2020)

Key Indicator Comparison

The numbers behind daily life in Finland compared to Burkina Faso.

Is it safe?

Road traffic deaths United Nations SDG Indicators, 2021

per 100,000 people per year

BF
27.8
FI
4.2

Finland performs significantly better than Burkina Faso across all safety metrics.

How's the healthcare?

Healthcare spending per person World Bank, 2023

annual government + private spending per person

BF
$224
FI
$6,433
Doctors per 10,000 people United Nations SDG Indicators, 2022

affects wait times and access to care

BF
1.5
FI
43.8

Burkina Faso generally does better on health & wellbeing, though Finland 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

BF
84.0
FI
7.0
CO₂ emissions per capita World Bank, 2024

tonnes of CO₂ emitted per person per year

BF
0.3t
FI
5.5t

Burkina Faso generally does better on environment, though Finland leads in air pollution deaths.

Will I have good infrastructure?

Broadband per 100 people United Nations SDG Indicators, 2022

fixed broadband subscriptions — key for remote work

BF
0.1
FI
34.5
Water stress level United Nations SDG Indicators, 2021

higher means greater strain on freshwater supply

BF
7.8%
FI
7.1%

Finland performs significantly better than Burkina Faso across all infrastructure metrics.

What are the job prospects?

Unemployment rate The World Factbook, 2023

percentage of the labour force without work

BF
5.3%
FI
7.2%
GDP per capita The World Factbook, 2023

a broad measure of economic output per person

BF
$2,500
FI
$57,500

Finland generally does better on employment & economy, though Burkina Faso leads in unemployment rate.

Is it good for families?

Life expectancy The World Factbook, 2022

average years of life at birth

BF
63.4 yrs
FI
81.8 yrs
Infant mortality The World Factbook, 2022

deaths per 1,000 live births — lower is better

BF
49.4
FI
2.1

Finland performs significantly better than Burkina Faso across all family life metrics.

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

What's the Climate Like?

Monthly averages — select a city to compare.

Ouagadougou Rain: 29.3 in/yr (744 mm)
95° / 71°F

Avg. annual high / low

Helsinki Rain: 25.6 in/yr (650 mm)
48° / 34°F

Avg. annual high / low

Months Ouagadougou Helsinki
Jan–Mar 96°/67°F (36°/20°C) 29°/18°F (-1°/-8°C)
Apr–Jun 99°/78°F (37°/26°C) 58°/40°F (14°/4°C)
Jul–Sep 89°/72°F (32°/22°C) 65°/49°F (19°/10°C)
Oct–Dec 95°/67°F (35°/20°C) 38°/28°F (3°/-2°C)
View all months
Month Ouagadougou Helsinki
Jan 91°/62°F (32.9°/16.5°C) 27°/17°F (-2.6°/-8.5°C)
Feb 96°/66°F (35.8°/19.1°C) 27°/15°F (-2.9°/-9.3°C)
Mar 101°/74°F (38.3°/23.5°C) 34°/22°F (1.1°/-5.6°C)
Apr 103°/80°F (39.3°/26.4°C) 46°/31°F (7.5°/-0.7°C)
May 100°/79°F (37.7°/26.1°C) 60°/40°F (15.5°/4.4°C)
Jun 94°/75°F (34.7°/24.1°C) 68°/49°F (19.8°/9.3°C)
Jul 90°/73°F (32.1°/22.8°C) 71°/53°F (21.8°/11.8°C)
Aug 88°/72°F (31.1°/22.2°C) 68°/51°F (19.9°/10.7°C)
Sep 90°/72°F (32.5°/22.4°C) 57°/43°F (14.0°/6.1°C)
Oct 96°/73°F (35.6°/23.0°C) 47°/36°F (8.1°/2.2°C)
Nov 97°/67°F (35.9°/19.6°C) 36°/28°F (2.5°/-2.4°C)
Dec 92°/62°F (33.4°/16.9°C) 31°/20°F (-0.8°/-6.6°C)

Data: Agence Nationale de la Météorologie du Burkina Faso Agence Nationale de la Météorologie du Burkina Faso, Finnish Meteorological Institute Finnish Meteorological Institute

Visitor Visa Requirements

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

Burkina Faso passport

Burkina Faso passport holder visiting Finland

Visa Required
Burkina Faso passport holders need a visa to enter Finland.
Finland passport

Finland passport holder visiting Burkina Faso

Visa Online (e-Visa)
Finland passport holders need to apply for an e-Visa before travelling to Burkina Faso.

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

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I work remotely from Finland?

Connectivity is usually fine (Finland: 34.5 fixed broadband per 100). What actually decides it is legal: does Finland offer a digital nomad visa, will your employer permit overseas work, and where are you tax-resident?

Is Finland safe for expats?

Finland performs significantly better than Burkina Faso across all safety metrics.

How is healthcare in Finland compared to Burkina Faso?

Burkina Faso generally does better on health & wellbeing, though Finland leads in doctors per 10,000 people. There are 43.8 doctors per 10,000 people in Finland, compared to 1.5 in Burkina Faso. Finland scores 86 on the WHO universal health coverage index (Burkina Faso: 40).

What's the weather like in Finland compared to Burkina Faso?

The average high temperature in Helsinki is 48°F, compared to 95°F in Ouagadougou. Helsinki receives around 25.6 in of rainfall per year, while Ouagadougou gets 29.3 in.

What language do they speak in Finland?

The official languages in Finland are Finnish and Swedish. In Burkina Faso, the official language is French.

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At a Glance

BF FI
Population 21,935,389 5,601,547
Currency CFA Franc BCEAO (F CFA) Euro (€)
Languages French Finnish, Swedish
Driving side Right Right
Calling code +226 +358
Time zones 1 1
Emergency number 112