Moving to Japan from Burkina Faso

moving to

What to Expect

A comprehensive look at what changes when you move from Burkina Faso to Japan — from daily expenses to quality of life.

If you moved from Burkina Faso to Japan, and you’d need to navigate life in Japanese. You’ll also switch from driving on the right to the left. Expect a noticeable climate shift — Tokyo averages 69°F vs 95°F in Ouagadougou, making it significantly cooler.

Get free moving quotes to Japan

We've teamed up with a vetted network of international movers to help MyLifeElsewhere readers plan their move with confidence. Tell us about your move and get up to 5 free, no-obligation quotes in under 2 minutes.

  • ✅ Up to 5 quotes from screened movers
  • ✅ Licensed and insured providers only
  • ✅ 100% free — you choose who contacts you

Who Else Is Making This Move?

Real numbers on people moving from Burkina Faso to Japan, and how the trend has changed.

Moved in 2023
62 ↑ 72% vs 2022

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

Who's moving to Japan?

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

Foreign-born population · UN DESA (2020)

Key Indicator Comparison

How Burkina Faso and Japan stack up on safety, healthcare, jobs, and infrastructure.

Is it safe?

Road traffic deaths United Nations SDG Indicators, 2021

per 100,000 people per year

BF
27.8
JP
2.7

Japan 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
JP
$5,365
Doctors per 10,000 people United Nations SDG Indicators, 2022

affects wait times and access to care

BF
1.5
JP
26.1

Burkina Faso generally does better on health & wellbeing, though Japan 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
JP
12.0
CO₂ emissions per capita World Bank, 2024

tonnes of CO₂ emitted per person per year

BF
0.3t
JP
7.8t

Burkina Faso generally does better on environment, though Japan 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
JP
37.2
Water stress level United Nations SDG Indicators, 2021

higher means greater strain on freshwater supply

BF
7.8%
JP
36.0%

Japan generally does better on infrastructure, though Burkina Faso leads in water stress level.

What are the job prospects?

Unemployment rate The World Factbook, 2023

percentage of the labour force without work

BF
5.3%
JP
2.6%
GDP per capita The World Factbook, 2023

a broad measure of economic output per person

BF
$2,500
JP
$46,300

Japan 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
JP
84.8 yrs
Infant mortality The World Factbook, 2022

deaths per 1,000 live births — lower is better

BF
49.4
JP
1.9

Japan generally does better on family life, though Burkina Faso leads in education spending.

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

Tokyo Rain: 62.9 in/yr (1598 mm)
69° / 54°F

Avg. annual high / low

Months Ouagadougou Tokyo
Jan–Mar 96°/67°F (36°/20°C) 53°/37°F (12°/3°C)
Apr–Jun 99°/78°F (37°/26°C) 73°/58°F (23°/14°C)
Jul–Sep 89°/72°F (32°/22°C) 85°/72°F (30°/22°C)
Oct–Dec 95°/67°F (35°/20°C) 63°/49°F (17°/9°C)
View all months
Month Ouagadougou Tokyo
Jan 91°/62°F (32.9°/16.5°C) 50°/34°F (9.8°/1.2°C)
Feb 96°/66°F (35.8°/19.1°C) 52°/36°F (10.9°/2.1°C)
Mar 101°/74°F (38.3°/23.5°C) 58°/41°F (14.2°/5.0°C)
Apr 103°/80°F (39.3°/26.4°C) 67°/50°F (19.4°/9.8°C)
May 100°/79°F (37.7°/26.1°C) 74°/58°F (23.6°/14.6°C)
Jun 94°/75°F (34.7°/24.1°C) 79°/65°F (26.1°/18.5°C)
Jul 90°/73°F (32.1°/22.8°C) 86°/72°F (29.9°/22.4°C)
Aug 88°/72°F (31.1°/22.2°C) 88°/74°F (31.3°/23.5°C)
Sep 90°/72°F (32.5°/22.4°C) 82°/69°F (27.5°/20.3°C)
Oct 96°/73°F (35.6°/23.0°C) 72°/59°F (22.0°/14.8°C)
Nov 97°/67°F (35.9°/19.6°C) 62°/48°F (16.7°/8.8°C)
Dec 92°/62°F (33.4°/16.9°C) 54°/39°F (12.0°/3.8°C)

Data: Agence Nationale de la Météorologie du Burkina Faso Agence Nationale de la Météorologie du Burkina Faso, Japan Meteorological Agency Japan Meteorological Agency

Visitor Visa Requirements

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

Burkina Faso passport

Burkina Faso passport holder visiting Japan

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

Japan passport holder visiting Burkina Faso

Visa Online (e-Visa)
Japan 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 Japan?

With 37.2 fixed broadband subscriptions per 100 people, Japan can support video calls in major cities. The hard part is paperwork — visa category, employer policy on overseas staff, and tax residency in Burkina Faso and Japan.

Is Japan safe for expats?

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

How is healthcare in Japan compared to Burkina Faso?

Burkina Faso generally does better on health & wellbeing, though Japan leads in doctors per 10,000 people. There are 26.1 doctors per 10,000 people in Japan, compared to 1.5 in Burkina Faso. Japan scores 83 on the WHO universal health coverage index (Burkina Faso: 40).

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

The average high temperature in Tokyo is 69°F, compared to 95°F in Ouagadougou. Tokyo receives around 62.9 in of rainfall per year, while Ouagadougou gets 29.3 in.

What language do they speak in Japan?

The official language in Japan is Japanese. In Burkina Faso, the official language is French.

Share this

At a Glance

BF JP
Population 21,935,389 124,214,766
Currency CFA Franc BCEAO (F CFA) Japanese Yen (¥)
Languages French Japanese
Driving side Right Left
Calling code +226 +81
Time zones 1 1
Emergency number 110