Moving to Samoa from Burkina Faso

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What to Expect

Everything you need to know before relocating from Burkina Faso to Samoa — costs, safety, healthcare, and practical first steps.

If you moved from Burkina Faso to Samoa, and you’d need to navigate life in English and Samoan. You’ll also switch from driving on the right to the left.

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Key Indicator Comparison

Key indicators for anyone considering a move from Burkina Faso to Samoa.

Is it safe?

Road traffic deaths United Nations SDG Indicators, 2021

per 100,000 people per year

BF
27.8
WS
9.6

Samoa 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
WS
$474
Doctors per 10,000 people United Nations SDG Indicators, 2022

affects wait times and access to care

BF
1.5
WS
5.5

Burkina Faso generally does better on health & wellbeing, though Samoa 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
WS
34.0
CO₂ emissions per capita World Bank, 2024

tonnes of CO₂ emitted per person per year

BF
0.3t
WS
1.6t

Burkina Faso generally does better on environment, though Samoa 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
WS
0.8
Internet access The World Factbook, 2021

share of households with internet

BF
22.0%
WS
78.0%

Samoa 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%
WS
9.8%
GDP per capita The World Factbook, 2023

a broad measure of economic output per person

BF
$2,500
WS
$6,000

Samoa 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
WS
75.2 yrs
Infant mortality The World Factbook, 2022

deaths per 1,000 live births — lower is better

BF
49.4
WS
17.0

Samoa 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

Apia Rain: 116.7 in/yr (2965 mm)
86° / 74°F

Avg. annual high / low

Months Ouagadougou Apia
Jan–Mar 96°/67°F (36°/20°C) 87°/75°F (31°/24°C)
Apr–Jun 99°/78°F (37°/26°C) 87°/74°F (30°/23°C)
Jul–Sep 89°/72°F (32°/22°C) 85°/73°F (30°/23°C)
Oct–Dec 95°/67°F (35°/20°C) 87°/74°F (30°/24°C)
View all months
Month Ouagadougou Apia
Jan 91°/62°F (32.9°/16.5°C) 87°/75°F (30.4°/23.9°C)
Feb 96°/66°F (35.8°/19.1°C) 87°/76°F (30.6°/24.2°C)
Mar 101°/74°F (38.3°/23.5°C) 87°/75°F (30.6°/24.0°C)
Apr 103°/80°F (39.3°/26.4°C) 87°/75°F (30.7°/23.8°C)
May 100°/79°F (37.7°/26.1°C) 87°/74°F (30.4°/23.4°C)
Jun 94°/75°F (34.7°/24.1°C) 86°/74°F (30.0°/23.2°C)
Jul 90°/73°F (32.1°/22.8°C) 85°/73°F (29.5°/22.6°C)
Aug 88°/72°F (31.1°/22.2°C) 85°/73°F (29.6°/22.8°C)
Sep 90°/72°F (32.5°/22.4°C) 86°/74°F (29.9°/23.1°C)
Oct 96°/73°F (35.6°/23.0°C) 86°/74°F (30.1°/23.4°C)
Nov 97°/67°F (35.9°/19.6°C) 87°/74°F (30.3°/23.6°C)
Dec 92°/62°F (33.4°/16.9°C) 87°/75°F (30.5°/23.8°C)

Data: Agence Nationale de la Météorologie du Burkina Faso Agence Nationale de la Météorologie du Burkina Faso

Visitor Visa Requirements

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

Burkina Faso passport

Burkina Faso passport holder visiting Samoa

Visa on Arrival
Burkina Faso passport holders can obtain a visa on arrival in Samoa.
Samoa passport

Samoa passport holder visiting Burkina Faso

Visa Online (e-Visa)
Samoa 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 Samoa?

Internet is rarely the blocker — Samoa has 0.8 fixed broadband subscriptions per 100 people. The real questions are legal: digital nomad visa eligibility, your employer's overseas-work policy, and tax residency in both countries.

Is Samoa safe for expats?

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

How is healthcare in Samoa compared to Burkina Faso?

Burkina Faso generally does better on health & wellbeing, though Samoa leads in doctors per 10,000 people. There are 5.5 doctors per 10,000 people in Samoa, compared to 1.5 in Burkina Faso. Samoa scores 55 on the WHO universal health coverage index (Burkina Faso: 40).

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

The average high temperature in Apia is 86°F, compared to 95°F in Ouagadougou. Apia receives around 116.7 in of rainfall per year, while Ouagadougou gets 29.3 in.

What language do they speak in Samoa?

The official languages in Samoa are English and Samoan. In Burkina Faso, the official language is French.

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At a Glance

BF WS
Population 21,935,389 206,179
Currency CFA Franc BCEAO (F CFA) Samoan Tala (WST)
Languages French English, Samoan
Driving side Right Left
Calling code +226 +685
Time zones 1 1