Moving to Iceland from Burundi

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What to Expect

Everything you need to know before relocating from Burundi to Iceland — costs, safety, healthcare, and practical first steps.

If you moved from Burundi to Iceland, and you’d need to navigate life in Icelandic. Expect a noticeable climate shift — Reykjavik averages 45°F vs 85°F in Bujumbura, making it significantly cooler.

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Key Indicator Comparison

Key indicators for anyone considering a move from Burundi to Iceland.

Is it safe?

Homicide rate United Nations SDG Indicators, 2022

per 100,000 people per year

BI
5.8
IS
1.1
Road traffic deaths United Nations SDG Indicators, 2021

per 100,000 people per year

BI
12.3
IS
2.4

Iceland performs significantly better than Burundi across all safety metrics.

How's the healthcare?

Healthcare spending per person World Bank, 2024

annual government + private spending per person

BI
$100
IS
$6,927
Doctors per 10,000 people United Nations SDG Indicators, 2022

affects wait times and access to care

BI
0.6
IS
45.2

Burundi generally does better on health & wellbeing, though Iceland 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

BI
71.0
IS
8.0
CO₂ emissions per capita World Bank, 2024

tonnes of CO₂ emitted per person per year

BI
0.1t
IS
8.5t

Burundi generally does better on environment, though Iceland 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

BI
0.0
IS
38.2
Water stress level United Nations SDG Indicators, 2021

higher means greater strain on freshwater supply

BI
10.2%
IS
0.4%

Iceland performs significantly better than Burundi across all infrastructure metrics.

What are the job prospects?

Unemployment rate The World Factbook, 2023

percentage of the labour force without work

BI
0.9%
IS
3.6%
GDP per capita The World Factbook, 2023

a broad measure of economic output per person

BI
$900
IS
$66,500

Iceland generally does better on employment & economy, though Burundi leads in unemployment rate.

Is it good for families?

Life expectancy The World Factbook, 2022

average years of life at birth

BI
67.4 yrs
IS
83.6 yrs
Infant mortality The World Factbook, 2022

deaths per 1,000 live births — lower is better

BI
37.8
IS
1.6

Iceland performs significantly better than Burundi 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.

Bujumbura Rain: 30.9 in/yr (786 mm)
85° / 66°F

Avg. annual high / low

Reykjavik Rain: 31.4 in/yr (798 mm)
45° / 35°F

Avg. annual high / low

Months Bujumbura Reykjavik
Jan–Mar 85°/67°F (29°/19°C) 37°/28°F (3°/-2°C)
Apr–Jun 86°/66°F (30°/19°C) 48°/38°F (9°/4°C)
Jul–Sep 86°/64°F (30°/18°C) 54°/45°F (12°/7°C)
Oct–Dec 85°/66°F (29°/19°C) 39°/31°F (4°/-1°C)
View all months
Month Bujumbura Reykjavik
Jan 84°/67°F (29.1°/19.2°C) 35°/27°F (1.9°/-3.0°C)
Feb 85°/67°F (29.7°/19.3°C) 37°/28°F (2.8°/-2.1°C)
Mar 85°/67°F (29.3°/19.3°C) 38°/28°F (3.2°/-2.0°C)
Apr 85°/67°F (29.2°/19.6°C) 42°/33°F (5.7°/0.4°C)
May 86°/66°F (29.9°/19.1°C) 49°/38°F (9.4°/3.6°C)
Jun 86°/64°F (29.9°/17.6°C) 53°/44°F (11.7°/6.7°C)
Jul 85°/63°F (29.2°/17.2°C) 56°/47°F (13.3°/8.3°C)
Aug 86°/63°F (30.0°/17.4°C) 55°/46°F (13.0°/7.9°C)
Sep 88°/65°F (30.9°/18.6°C) 50°/41°F (10.1°/5.0°C)
Oct 86°/66°F (30.1°/19.1°C) 44°/36°F (6.8°/2.2°C)
Nov 84°/66°F (29.1°/19.1°C) 38°/30°F (3.4°/-1.3°C)
Dec 84°/66°F (28.9°/19.1°C) 36°/27°F (2.2°/-2.8°C)

Data: Institut Géographique du Burundi (IGEBU) Institut Géographique du Burundi (IGEBU), Icelandic Meteorological Office Icelandic Meteorological Office

Visitor Visa Requirements

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

Burundi passport

Burundi passport holder visiting Iceland

Visa Required
Burundi passport holders need a visa to enter Iceland.
Iceland passport

Iceland passport holder visiting Burundi

Visa on Arrival
Iceland passport holders can obtain a visa on arrival in Burundi.

Data: Henley Passport Index. Check with the destination country's embassy for the most current requirements.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I work remotely from Iceland?

Internet is rarely the blocker — Iceland has 38.2 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 Iceland safe for expats?

Iceland performs significantly better than Burundi across all safety metrics. The homicide rate in Iceland is 1.1 per 100,000 people, compared to 5.8 in Burundi.

How is healthcare in Iceland compared to Burundi?

Burundi generally does better on health & wellbeing, though Iceland leads in doctors per 10,000 people. There are 45.2 doctors per 10,000 people in Iceland, compared to 0.6 in Burundi. Iceland scores 89 on the WHO universal health coverage index (Burundi: 41).

What's the weather like in Iceland compared to Burundi?

The average high temperature in Reykjavik is 45°F, compared to 85°F in Bujumbura. Reykjavik receives around 31.4 in of rainfall per year, while Bujumbura gets 30.9 in.

What language do they speak in Iceland?

The official language in Iceland is Icelandic. In Burundi, the official languages are French and Kirundi.

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At a Glance

BI IS
Population 12,696,478 357,603
Currency Burundian Franc (BIF) Icelandic Króna (ISK)
Languages French, Kirundi Icelandic
Driving side Right Right
Calling code +257 +354
Time zones 1 1
Emergency number 112