Moving to Portugal from Burkina Faso

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What to Expect

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

If you moved from Burkina Faso to Portugal, and you’d need to navigate life in Portuguese. Expect a noticeable climate shift — Lisbon averages 69°F vs 95°F in Ouagadougou, making it significantly cooler.

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Key Indicator Comparison

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

Is it safe?

Road traffic deaths United Nations SDG Indicators, 2021

per 100,000 people per year

BF
27.8
PT
7.2

Portugal 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
PT
$4,928
Doctors per 10,000 people United Nations SDG Indicators, 2022

affects wait times and access to care

BF
1.5
PT
57.7

Burkina Faso generally does better on health & wellbeing, though Portugal 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
PT
10.0
CO₂ emissions per capita World Bank, 2024

tonnes of CO₂ emitted per person per year

BF
0.3t
PT
3.3t

Burkina Faso generally does better on environment, though Portugal 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
PT
43.5
Water stress level United Nations SDG Indicators, 2021

higher means greater strain on freshwater supply

BF
7.8%
PT
12.3%

Portugal 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%
PT
6.5%
GDP per capita The World Factbook, 2023

a broad measure of economic output per person

BF
$2,500
PT
$41,700

Portugal 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
PT
81.5 yrs
Infant mortality The World Factbook, 2022

deaths per 1,000 live births — lower is better

BF
49.4
PT
2.5

Portugal 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

Lisbon Rain: 29.6 in/yr (751 mm)
69° / 55°F

Avg. annual high / low

Months Ouagadougou Lisbon
Jan–Mar 96°/67°F (36°/20°C) 61°/48°F (16°/9°C)
Apr–Jun 99°/78°F (37°/26°C) 71°/56°F (22°/13°C)
Jul–Sep 89°/72°F (32°/22°C) 81°/63°F (27°/17°C)
Oct–Dec 95°/67°F (35°/20°C) 65°/53°F (18°/12°C)
View all months
Month Ouagadougou Lisbon
Jan 91°/62°F (32.9°/16.5°C) 58°/47°F (14.5°/8.2°C)
Feb 96°/66°F (35.8°/19.1°C) 60°/48°F (15.6°/9.0°C)
Mar 101°/74°F (38.3°/23.5°C) 64°/50°F (17.6°/9.9°C)
Apr 103°/80°F (39.3°/26.4°C) 66°/52°F (19.1°/11.1°C)
May 100°/79°F (37.7°/26.1°C) 71°/55°F (21.7°/13.0°C)
Jun 94°/75°F (34.7°/24.1°C) 77°/60°F (24.8°/15.6°C)
Jul 90°/73°F (32.1°/22.8°C) 81°/63°F (27.4°/17.4°C)
Aug 88°/72°F (31.1°/22.2°C) 82°/64°F (27.9°/17.7°C)
Sep 90°/72°F (32.5°/22.4°C) 80°/63°F (26.4°/17.0°C)
Oct 96°/73°F (35.6°/23.0°C) 72°/58°F (22.4°/14.6°C)
Nov 97°/67°F (35.9°/19.6°C) 64°/52°F (17.8°/11.2°C)
Dec 92°/62°F (33.4°/16.9°C) 59°/48°F (14.8°/8.9°C)

Data: Agence Nationale de la Météorologie du Burkina Faso Agence Nationale de la Météorologie du Burkina Faso, Instituto Português do Mar e da Atmosfera Instituto Português do Mar e da Atmosfera

Visitor Visa Requirements

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

Burkina Faso passport

Burkina Faso passport holder visiting Portugal

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

Portugal passport holder visiting Burkina Faso

Visa Online (e-Visa)
Portugal 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 Portugal?

Connectivity is usually fine (Portugal: 43.5 fixed broadband per 100). What actually decides it is legal: does Portugal offer a digital nomad visa, will your employer permit overseas work, and where are you tax-resident?

Is Portugal safe for expats?

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

How is healthcare in Portugal compared to Burkina Faso?

Burkina Faso generally does better on health & wellbeing, though Portugal leads in doctors per 10,000 people. There are 57.7 doctors per 10,000 people in Portugal, compared to 1.5 in Burkina Faso. Portugal scores 88 on the WHO universal health coverage index (Burkina Faso: 40).

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

The average high temperature in Lisbon is 69°F, compared to 95°F in Ouagadougou. Lisbon receives around 29.6 in of rainfall per year, while Ouagadougou gets 29.3 in.

What language do they speak in Portugal?

The official language in Portugal is Portuguese. In Burkina Faso, the official language is French.

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At a Glance

BF PT
Population 21,935,389 10,242,081
Currency CFA Franc BCEAO (F CFA) Euro (€)
Languages French Portuguese
Driving side Right Right
Calling code +226 +351
Time zones 1 2
Emergency number 112