Moving to South Africa from Burkina Faso
What to Expect
Everything you need to know before relocating from Burkina Faso to South Africa — costs, safety, healthcare, and practical first steps.
If you moved from Burkina Faso to South Africa, and you’d need to navigate life in Afrikaans, English, Northern Sotho, Southern Ndebele, Southern Sotho, Swazi, Tsonga, Tswana, Venda, Xhosa and Zulu. You’ll also switch from driving on the right to the left. Expect a noticeable climate shift — Pretoria averages 77°F vs 95°F in Ouagadougou, making it significantly cooler.
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Key Indicator Comparison
Key indicators for anyone considering a move from Burkina Faso to South Africa.
Is it safe?
per 100,000 people per year
South Africa performs significantly better than Burkina Faso across all safety metrics.
How's the healthcare?
annual government + private spending per person
affects wait times and access to care
WHO index from 0–100 measuring essential service access
per 100,000 people — a proxy for mental health support
Burkina Faso generally does better on health & wellbeing, though South Africa leads in doctors per 10,000 people.
What about the environment?
deaths attributable to air pollution per 100k people
tonnes of CO₂ emitted per person per year
Burkina Faso generally does better on environment, though South Africa leads in air pollution deaths.
Will I have good infrastructure?
fixed broadband subscriptions — key for remote work
higher means greater strain on freshwater supply
annual consumption — reflects grid capacity
South Africa generally does better on infrastructure, though Burkina Faso leads in water stress level.
What are the job prospects?
percentage of the labour force without work
a broad measure of economic output per person
Burkina Faso generally does better on employment & economy, though South Africa leads in gdp per capita.
Is it good for families?
average years of life at birth
deaths per 1,000 live births — lower is better
government spending on education as % of GDP
percentage of adults who can read and write
South Africa 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.
Avg. annual high / low
Avg. annual high / low
| Months | Ouagadougou | Pretoria |
|---|---|---|
| Jan–Mar | 96°/67°F (36°/20°C) | 83°/64°F (28°/18°C) |
| Apr–Jun | 99°/78°F (37°/26°C) | 72°/48°F (22°/9°C) |
| Jul–Sep | 89°/72°F (32°/22°C) | 72°/47°F (22°/8°C) |
| Oct–Dec | 95°/67°F (35°/20°C) | 79°/60°F (26°/15°C) |
View all months
| Month | Ouagadougou | Pretoria |
|---|---|---|
| Jan | 91°/62°F (32.9°/16.5°C) | 84°/65°F (29.0°/18.1°C) |
| Feb | 96°/66°F (35.8°/19.1°C) | 84°/64°F (28.7°/18.0°C) |
| Mar | 101°/74°F (38.3°/23.5°C) | 81°/62°F (27.3°/16.6°C) |
| Apr | 103°/80°F (39.3°/26.4°C) | 77°/56°F (24.8°/13.1°C) |
| May | 100°/79°F (37.7°/26.1°C) | 72°/48°F (22.4°/8.7°C) |
| Jun | 94°/75°F (34.7°/24.1°C) | 67°/41°F (19.6°/5.2°C) |
| Jul | 90°/73°F (32.1°/22.8°C) | 68°/42°F (19.8°/5.3°C) |
| Aug | 88°/72°F (31.1°/22.2°C) | 72°/47°F (22.3°/8.2°C) |
| Sep | 90°/72°F (32.5°/22.4°C) | 76°/53°F (24.4°/11.8°C) |
| Oct | 96°/73°F (35.6°/23.0°C) | 77°/57°F (25.2°/14.0°C) |
| Nov | 97°/67°F (35.9°/19.6°C) | 79°/60°F (26.0°/15.4°C) |
| Dec | 92°/62°F (33.4°/16.9°C) | 82°/63°F (27.9°/17.0°C) |
Data:
Agence Nationale de la Météorologie du Burkina Faso,
South African Weather Service
Visitor Visa Requirements
Short-stay tourist visa rules between Burkina Faso and South Africa. To live, work, or study long-term in South Africa, you'll need a separate residence or work visa — check South Africa's immigration authority.
Burkina Faso passport holder visiting South Africa
Visa Required
South Africa passport holder visiting Burkina Faso
Visa Online (e-Visa)Data: Henley Passport Index. Check with the destination country's embassy for the most current requirements.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I work remotely from South Africa?
Internet is rarely the blocker — South Africa has 3.3 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 South Africa safe for expats?
South Africa performs significantly better than Burkina Faso across all safety metrics.
How is healthcare in South Africa compared to Burkina Faso?
Burkina Faso generally does better on health & wellbeing, though South Africa leads in doctors per 10,000 people. There are 8.1 doctors per 10,000 people in South Africa, compared to 1.5 in Burkina Faso. South Africa scores 71 on the WHO universal health coverage index (Burkina Faso: 40).
What's the weather like in South Africa compared to Burkina Faso?
The average high temperature in Pretoria is 77°F, compared to 95°F in Ouagadougou. Pretoria receives around 27.0 in of rainfall per year, while Ouagadougou gets 29.3 in.
What language do they speak in South Africa?
The official languages in South Africa are Afrikaans, English, Northern Sotho, Southern Ndebele, Southern Sotho, Swazi, Tsonga, Tswana, Venda, Xhosa and Zulu. In Burkina Faso, the official language is French.
Compare further: Burkina Faso vs. South Africa
At a Glance
BF
|
ZA
|
|
|---|---|---|
| Population | 21,935,389 | 57,516,665 |
| Currency | CFA Franc BCEAO (F CFA) | South African Rand (ZAR) |
| Languages | French | Afrikaans, English, Northern Sotho, Southern Ndebele, Southern Sotho, Swazi, Tsonga, Tswana, Venda, Xhosa, Zulu |
| Driving side | Right | Left |
| Calling code | +226 | +27 |
| Time zones | 1 | 1 |
| Emergency number | — | 10111 |