Moving to United Kingdom from Burundi

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What to Expect

A comprehensive look at what changes when you move from Burundi to United Kingdom — from daily expenses to quality of life.

If you moved from Burundi to United Kingdom, and you’d need to navigate life in English. You’ll also switch from driving on the right to the left. Expect a noticeable climate shift — London averages 60°F vs 85°F in Bujumbura, making it significantly cooler.

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Who Else Is Making This Move?

Real numbers on people moving from Burundi to United Kingdom, and how the trend has changed.

Living there in 2020
4,265 ↑ 13% vs 2015

people born in Burundi live in United Kingdom · UN DESA

Who's moving to United Kingdom?

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

Foreign-born population · UN DESA (2020)

Key Indicator Comparison

How Burundi and United Kingdom stack up on safety, healthcare, jobs, and infrastructure.

Is it safe?

Homicide rate United Nations SDG Indicators, 2020

per 100,000 people per year

BI
5.8
GB
1.0
Road traffic deaths United Nations SDG Indicators, 2021

per 100,000 people per year

BI
12.3
GB
2.4

United Kingdom 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
GB
$6,606
Doctors per 10,000 people United Nations SDG Indicators, 2022

affects wait times and access to care

BI
0.6
GB
31.7

Burundi generally does better on health & wellbeing, though United Kingdom 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
GB
13.0
CO₂ emissions per capita World Bank, 2024

tonnes of CO₂ emitted per person per year

BI
0.1t
GB
4.2t

Burundi generally does better on environment, though United Kingdom 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
GB
41.4
Water stress level United Nations SDG Indicators, 2021

higher means greater strain on freshwater supply

BI
10.2%
GB
14.3%

United Kingdom generally does better on infrastructure, though Burundi leads in water stress level.

What are the job prospects?

Unemployment rate The World Factbook, 2023

percentage of the labour force without work

BI
0.9%
GB
4.1%
GDP per capita The World Factbook, 2023

a broad measure of economic output per person

BI
$900
GB
$54,100

United Kingdom 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
GB
81.9 yrs
Infant mortality The World Factbook, 2022

deaths per 1,000 live births — lower is better

BI
37.8
GB
3.8

United Kingdom 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

London Rain: 22.0 in/yr (558 mm)
60° / 46°F

Avg. annual high / low

Months Bujumbura London
Jan–Mar 85°/67°F (29°/19°C) 49°/38°F (9°/3°C)
Apr–Jun 86°/66°F (30°/19°C) 64°/48°F (18°/9°C)
Jul–Sep 86°/64°F (30°/18°C) 72°/56°F (22°/13°C)
Oct–Dec 85°/66°F (29°/19°C) 53°/43°F (12°/6°C)
View all months
Month Bujumbura London
Jan 84°/67°F (29.1°/19.2°C) 47°/38°F (8.1°/3.1°C)
Feb 85°/67°F (29.7°/19.3°C) 47°/37°F (8.6°/2.7°C)
Mar 85°/67°F (29.3°/19.3°C) 53°/40°F (11.6°/4.6°C)
Apr 85°/67°F (29.2°/19.6°C) 58°/43°F (14.6°/5.9°C)
May 86°/66°F (29.9°/19.1°C) 65°/48°F (18.1°/8.9°C)
Jun 86°/64°F (29.9°/17.6°C) 70°/53°F (21.0°/11.8°C)
Jul 85°/63°F (29.2°/17.2°C) 74°/57°F (23.4°/13.7°C)
Aug 86°/63°F (30.0°/17.4°C) 74°/57°F (23.1°/13.8°C)
Sep 88°/65°F (30.9°/18.6°C) 68°/53°F (20.0°/11.4°C)
Oct 86°/66°F (30.1°/19.1°C) 60°/48°F (15.5°/8.8°C)
Nov 84°/66°F (29.1°/19.1°C) 52°/42°F (11.3°/5.8°C)
Dec 84°/66°F (28.9°/19.1°C) 47°/38°F (8.4°/3.4°C)

Data: Institut Géographique du Burundi (IGEBU) Institut Géographique du Burundi (IGEBU), Met Office Met Office

Visitor Visa Requirements

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

Burundi passport

Burundi passport holder visiting United Kingdom

Visa Online (e-Visa)
Burundi passport holders need to apply for an e-Visa before travelling to United Kingdom.
United Kingdom passport

United Kingdom passport holder visiting Burundi

Visa on Arrival
United Kingdom 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 United Kingdom?

With 41.4 fixed broadband subscriptions per 100 people, United Kingdom can support video calls in major cities. The hard part is paperwork — visa category, employer policy on overseas staff, and tax residency in Burundi and United Kingdom.

Is United Kingdom safe for expats?

United Kingdom performs significantly better than Burundi across all safety metrics. The homicide rate in United Kingdom is 1.0 per 100,000 people, compared to 5.8 in Burundi.

How is healthcare in United Kingdom compared to Burundi?

Burundi generally does better on health & wellbeing, though United Kingdom leads in doctors per 10,000 people. There are 31.7 doctors per 10,000 people in United Kingdom, compared to 0.6 in Burundi. United Kingdom scores 88 on the WHO universal health coverage index (Burundi: 41).

What's the weather like in United Kingdom compared to Burundi?

The average high temperature in London is 60°F, compared to 85°F in Bujumbura. London receives around 22.0 in of rainfall per year, while Bujumbura gets 30.9 in.

What language do they speak in United Kingdom?

The official language in United Kingdom is English. In Burundi, the official languages are French and Kirundi.

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At a Glance

BI GB
Population 12,696,478 67,791,400
Currency Burundian Franc (BIF) British Pound Sterling (£)
Languages French, Kirundi English
Driving side Right Left
Calling code +257 +44
Time zones 1 9
Emergency number 999