Moving to Iceland from Burkina Faso

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What to Expect

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

If you moved from Burkina Faso to Iceland, and you’d need to navigate life in Icelandic. Expect a noticeable climate shift — Reykjavik averages 45°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 Iceland.

Moved in 2020
1 ↓ 67% vs 2019

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

Who's moving to Iceland?

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

Foreign-born population · UN DESA (2020)

Key Indicator Comparison

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

Is it safe?

Road traffic deaths United Nations SDG Indicators, 2021

per 100,000 people per year

BF
27.8
IS
2.4

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

How's the healthcare?

Healthcare spending per person World Bank, 2024

annual government + private spending per person

BF
$224
IS
$6,927
Doctors per 10,000 people United Nations SDG Indicators, 2022

affects wait times and access to care

BF
1.5
IS
45.2

Burkina Faso generally does better on health & wellbeing, though Iceland 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
IS
8.0
CO₂ emissions per capita World Bank, 2024

tonnes of CO₂ emitted per person per year

BF
0.3t
IS
8.5t

Burkina Faso generally does better on environment, though Iceland 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
IS
38.2
Water stress level United Nations SDG Indicators, 2021

higher means greater strain on freshwater supply

BF
7.8%
IS
0.4%

Iceland 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%
IS
3.6%
GDP per capita The World Factbook, 2023

a broad measure of economic output per person

BF
$2,500
IS
$66,500

Iceland performs significantly better than Burkina Faso across all employment & economy metrics.

Is it good for families?

Life expectancy The World Factbook, 2022

average years of life at birth

BF
63.4 yrs
IS
83.6 yrs
Infant mortality The World Factbook, 2022

deaths per 1,000 live births — lower is better

BF
49.4
IS
1.6

Iceland 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

Reykjavik Rain: 31.4 in/yr (798 mm)
45° / 35°F

Avg. annual high / low

Months Ouagadougou Reykjavik
Jan–Mar 96°/67°F (36°/20°C) 37°/28°F (3°/-2°C)
Apr–Jun 99°/78°F (37°/26°C) 48°/38°F (9°/4°C)
Jul–Sep 89°/72°F (32°/22°C) 54°/45°F (12°/7°C)
Oct–Dec 95°/67°F (35°/20°C) 39°/31°F (4°/-1°C)
View all months
Month Ouagadougou Reykjavik
Jan 91°/62°F (32.9°/16.5°C) 35°/27°F (1.9°/-3.0°C)
Feb 96°/66°F (35.8°/19.1°C) 37°/28°F (2.8°/-2.1°C)
Mar 101°/74°F (38.3°/23.5°C) 38°/28°F (3.2°/-2.0°C)
Apr 103°/80°F (39.3°/26.4°C) 42°/33°F (5.7°/0.4°C)
May 100°/79°F (37.7°/26.1°C) 49°/38°F (9.4°/3.6°C)
Jun 94°/75°F (34.7°/24.1°C) 53°/44°F (11.7°/6.7°C)
Jul 90°/73°F (32.1°/22.8°C) 56°/47°F (13.3°/8.3°C)
Aug 88°/72°F (31.1°/22.2°C) 55°/46°F (13.0°/7.9°C)
Sep 90°/72°F (32.5°/22.4°C) 50°/41°F (10.1°/5.0°C)
Oct 96°/73°F (35.6°/23.0°C) 44°/36°F (6.8°/2.2°C)
Nov 97°/67°F (35.9°/19.6°C) 38°/30°F (3.4°/-1.3°C)
Dec 92°/62°F (33.4°/16.9°C) 36°/27°F (2.2°/-2.8°C)

Data: Agence Nationale de la Météorologie du Burkina Faso Agence Nationale de la Météorologie du Burkina Faso, Icelandic Meteorological Office Icelandic Meteorological Office

Visitor Visa Requirements

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

Burkina Faso passport

Burkina Faso passport holder visiting Iceland

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

Iceland passport holder visiting Burkina Faso

Visa Online (e-Visa)
Iceland 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 Iceland?

Connectivity is usually fine (Iceland: 38.2 fixed broadband per 100). What actually decides it is legal: does Iceland offer a digital nomad visa, will your employer permit overseas work, and where are you tax-resident?

Is Iceland safe for expats?

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

How is healthcare in Iceland compared to Burkina Faso?

Burkina Faso generally does better on health & wellbeing, though Iceland leads in doctors per 10,000 people. There are 45.2 doctors per 10,000 people in Iceland, compared to 1.5 in Burkina Faso. Iceland scores 89 on the WHO universal health coverage index (Burkina Faso: 40).

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

The average high temperature in Reykjavik is 45°F, compared to 95°F in Ouagadougou. Reykjavik receives around 31.4 in of rainfall per year, while Ouagadougou gets 29.3 in.

What language do they speak in Iceland?

The official language in Iceland is Icelandic. In Burkina Faso, the official language is French.

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At a Glance

BF IS
Population 21,935,389 357,603
Currency CFA Franc BCEAO (F CFA) Icelandic Króna (ISK)
Languages French Icelandic
Driving side Right Right
Calling code +226 +354
Time zones 1 1
Emergency number 112