Moving to United States from Burkina Faso

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What to Expect

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

If you moved from Burkina Faso to United States, and you’d need to navigate life in English. Expect a noticeable climate shift — Washington averages 66°F vs 95°F in Ouagadougou, making it significantly cooler.

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Who Else Is Making This Move?

How many people actually move from Burkina Faso to United States, based on official data.

Moved in 2023
840 ↓ 3% vs 2022

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

Who's moving to United States?

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

Foreign-born population · UN DESA (2020)

Key Indicator Comparison

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

Is it safe?

Road traffic deaths United Nations SDG Indicators, 2021

per 100,000 people per year

BF
27.8
US
14.2

United States 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
US
$13,473
Doctors per 10,000 people United Nations SDG Indicators, 2022

affects wait times and access to care

BF
1.5
US
36.1

Burkina Faso generally does better on health & wellbeing, though United States 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
US
14.0
CO₂ emissions per capita World Bank, 2024

tonnes of CO₂ emitted per person per year

BF
0.3t
US
13.6t

Burkina Faso generally does better on environment, though United States 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
US
37.8
Water stress level United Nations SDG Indicators, 2021

higher means greater strain on freshwater supply

BF
7.8%
US
28.2%

United States 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%
US
3.6%
GDP per capita The World Factbook, 2023

a broad measure of economic output per person

BF
$2,500
US
$73,600

United States 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
US
80.6 yrs
Infant mortality The World Factbook, 2022

deaths per 1,000 live births — lower is better

BF
49.4
US
5.2

United States 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

Washington Rain: 41.5 in/yr (1055 mm)
66° / 44°F

Avg. annual high / low

Months Ouagadougou Washington
Jan–Mar 96°/67°F (36°/20°C) 48°/28°F (9°/-2°C)
Apr–Jun 99°/78°F (37°/26°C) 75°/51°F (24°/11°C)
Jul–Sep 89°/72°F (32°/22°C) 85°/62°F (29°/17°C)
Oct–Dec 95°/67°F (35°/20°C) 57°/35°F (14°/2°C)
View all months
Month Ouagadougou Washington
Jan 91°/62°F (32.9°/16.5°C) 42°/24°F (5.8°/-4.5°C)
Feb 96°/66°F (35.8°/19.1°C) 46°/26°F (8.0°/-3.3°C)
Mar 101°/74°F (38.3°/23.5°C) 56°/33°F (13.1°/0.5°C)
Apr 103°/80°F (39.3°/26.4°C) 67°/42°F (19.3°/5.6°C)
May 100°/79°F (37.7°/26.1°C) 75°/51°F (23.9°/10.7°C)
Jun 94°/75°F (34.7°/24.1°C) 84°/61°F (28.8°/16.1°C)
Jul 90°/73°F (32.1°/22.8°C) 88°/65°F (31.1°/18.6°C)
Aug 88°/72°F (31.1°/22.2°C) 87°/64°F (30.3°/17.9°C)
Sep 90°/72°F (32.5°/22.4°C) 79°/56°F (26.3°/13.5°C)
Oct 96°/73°F (35.6°/23.0°C) 68°/44°F (20.1°/6.6°C)
Nov 97°/67°F (35.9°/19.6°C) 58°/35°F (14.2°/1.8°C)
Dec 92°/62°F (33.4°/16.9°C) 46°/27°F (7.8°/-2.7°C)

Data: Agence Nationale de la Météorologie du Burkina Faso Agence Nationale de la Météorologie du Burkina Faso, National Weather Service National Weather Service

Visitor Visa Requirements

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

Burkina Faso passport

Burkina Faso passport holder visiting United States

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

United States passport holder visiting Burkina Faso

Visa Online (e-Visa)
United States 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 United States?

Internet is rarely the blocker — United States has 37.8 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 United States safe for expats?

United States performs significantly better than Burkina Faso across all safety metrics.

How is healthcare in United States compared to Burkina Faso?

Burkina Faso generally does better on health & wellbeing, though United States leads in doctors per 10,000 people. There are 36.1 doctors per 10,000 people in United States, compared to 1.5 in Burkina Faso. United States scores 86 on the WHO universal health coverage index (Burkina Faso: 40).

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

The average high temperature in Washington is 66°F, compared to 95°F in Ouagadougou. Washington receives around 41.5 in of rainfall per year, while Ouagadougou gets 29.3 in.

What language do they speak in United States?

The official language in United States is English. In Burkina Faso, the official language is French.

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At a Glance

BF US
Population 21,935,389 337,341,954
Currency CFA Franc BCEAO (F CFA) United States Dollar ($)
Languages French English
Driving side Right Right
Calling code +226 +1
Time zones 1 11
Emergency number 911