Moving to Switzerland from Burundi

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What to Expect

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

If you moved from Burundi to Switzerland. Expect a noticeable climate shift — Bern averages 55°F vs 85°F in Bujumbura, making it significantly cooler.

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Who Else Is Making This Move?

How many people actually move from Burundi to Switzerland, based on official data.

Moved in 2023
57 ↑ 217% vs 2022

people moved from Burundi to Switzerland · OECD (latest data available)

Who's moving to Switzerland?

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

Foreign-born population · UN DESA (2020)

Key Indicator Comparison

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

Is it safe?

Homicide rate United Nations SDG Indicators, 2022

per 100,000 people per year

BI
5.8
CH
0.5
Road traffic deaths United Nations SDG Indicators, 2021

per 100,000 people per year

BI
12.3
CH
2.4

Switzerland performs significantly better than Burundi across all safety metrics.

How's the healthcare?

Healthcare spending per person World Bank, 2023

annual government + private spending per person

BI
$100
CH
$10,602
Doctors per 10,000 people United Nations SDG Indicators, 2021

affects wait times and access to care

BI
0.6
CH
44.4

Burundi generally does better on health & wellbeing, though Switzerland 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
CH
10.0
CO₂ emissions per capita World Bank, 2024

tonnes of CO₂ emitted per person per year

BI
0.1t
CH
3.7t

Burundi generally does better on environment, though Switzerland 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
CH
47.1
Water stress level United Nations SDG Indicators, 2021

higher means greater strain on freshwater supply

BI
10.2%
CH
6.5%

Switzerland 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%
CH
4.0%
GDP per capita The World Factbook, 2023

a broad measure of economic output per person

BI
$900
CH
$82,900

Burundi generally does better on employment & economy, though Switzerland leads in gdp per capita.

Is it good for families?

Life expectancy The World Factbook, 2022

average years of life at birth

BI
67.4 yrs
CH
83.2 yrs
Infant mortality The World Factbook, 2022

deaths per 1,000 live births — lower is better

BI
37.8
CH
3.6

Switzerland 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

Bern Rain: 42.8 in/yr (1086 mm)
55° / 41°F

Avg. annual high / low

Months Bujumbura Bern
Jan–Mar 85°/67°F (29°/19°C) 41°/30°F (5°/-1°C)
Apr–Jun 86°/66°F (30°/19°C) 62°/45°F (17°/7°C)
Jul–Sep 86°/64°F (30°/18°C) 70°/53°F (21°/12°C)
Oct–Dec 85°/66°F (29°/19°C) 46°/36°F (8°/2°C)
View all months
Month Bujumbura Bern
Jan 84°/67°F (29.1°/19.2°C) 36°/27°F (2.0°/-2.8°C)
Feb 85°/67°F (29.7°/19.3°C) 40°/29°F (4.2°/-1.9°C)
Mar 85°/67°F (29.3°/19.3°C) 47°/33°F (8.3°/0.6°C)
Apr 85°/67°F (29.2°/19.6°C) 55°/39°F (12.6°/3.7°C)
May 86°/66°F (29.9°/19.1°C) 63°/46°F (17.3°/7.7°C)
Jun 86°/64°F (29.9°/17.6°C) 69°/51°F (20.5°/10.8°C)
Jul 85°/63°F (29.2°/17.2°C) 73°/55°F (23.0°/12.8°C)
Aug 86°/63°F (30.0°/17.4°C) 72°/54°F (22.0°/12.4°C)
Sep 88°/65°F (30.9°/18.6°C) 66°/50°F (18.8°/10.0°C)
Oct 86°/66°F (30.1°/19.1°C) 56°/43°F (13.3°/6.2°C)
Nov 84°/66°F (29.1°/19.1°C) 44°/35°F (6.9°/1.4°C)
Dec 84°/66°F (28.9°/19.1°C) 37°/29°F (2.9°/-1.7°C)

Data: Institut Géographique du Burundi (IGEBU) Institut Géographique du Burundi (IGEBU), MeteoSwiss - Federal Office of Meteorology and Climatology MeteoSwiss - Federal Office of Meteorology and Climatology

Visitor Visa Requirements

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

Burundi passport

Burundi passport holder visiting Switzerland

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

Switzerland passport holder visiting Burundi

Visa on Arrival
Switzerland 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 Switzerland?

Internet is rarely the blocker — Switzerland has 47.1 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 Switzerland safe for expats?

Switzerland performs significantly better than Burundi across all safety metrics. The homicide rate in Switzerland is 0.5 per 100,000 people, compared to 5.8 in Burundi.

How is healthcare in Switzerland compared to Burundi?

Burundi generally does better on health & wellbeing, though Switzerland leads in doctors per 10,000 people. There are 44.4 doctors per 10,000 people in Switzerland, compared to 0.6 in Burundi. Switzerland scores 86 on the WHO universal health coverage index (Burundi: 41).

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

The average high temperature in Bern is 55°F, compared to 85°F in Bujumbura. Bern receives around 42.8 in of rainfall per year, while Bujumbura gets 30.9 in.

What language do they speak in Switzerland?

The official languages in Switzerland are French, Italian, Romansh and Swiss German. In Burundi, the official languages are French and Kirundi.

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At a Glance

BI CH
Population 12,696,478 8,508,698
Currency Burundian Franc (BIF) Swiss Franc (CHF)
Languages French, Kirundi French, Italian, Romansh, Swiss German
Driving side Right Right
Calling code +257 +41
Time zones 1 1
Emergency number 112