Moving to United States from Burundi

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What to Expect

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

If you moved from Burundi to United States, and you’d need to navigate life in English. Expect a noticeable climate shift — Washington averages 66°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 States, and how the trend has changed.

Moved in 2023
440

people moved from Burundi 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

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

Is it safe?

Homicide rate United Nations SDG Indicators, 2022

per 100,000 people per year

BI
5.8
US
6.4
Road traffic deaths United Nations SDG Indicators, 2021

per 100,000 people per year

BI
12.3
US
14.2

Burundi performs better than United States across all safety metrics.

How's the healthcare?

Healthcare spending per person World Bank, 2023

annual government + private spending per person

BI
$100
US
$13,473
Doctors per 10,000 people United Nations SDG Indicators, 2021

affects wait times and access to care

BI
0.6
US
36.1

Burundi 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

BI
71.0
US
14.0
CO₂ emissions per capita World Bank, 2024

tonnes of CO₂ emitted per person per year

BI
0.1t
US
13.6t

Burundi 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

BI
0.0
US
37.8
Water stress level United Nations SDG Indicators, 2021

higher means greater strain on freshwater supply

BI
10.2%
US
28.2%

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

a broad measure of economic output per person

BI
$900
US
$73,600

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

deaths per 1,000 live births — lower is better

BI
37.8
US
5.2

United States 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

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

Avg. annual high / low

Months Bujumbura Washington
Jan–Mar 85°/67°F (29°/19°C) 48°/28°F (9°/-2°C)
Apr–Jun 86°/66°F (30°/19°C) 75°/51°F (24°/11°C)
Jul–Sep 86°/64°F (30°/18°C) 85°/62°F (29°/17°C)
Oct–Dec 85°/66°F (29°/19°C) 57°/35°F (14°/2°C)
View all months
Month Bujumbura Washington
Jan 84°/67°F (29.1°/19.2°C) 42°/24°F (5.8°/-4.5°C)
Feb 85°/67°F (29.7°/19.3°C) 46°/26°F (8.0°/-3.3°C)
Mar 85°/67°F (29.3°/19.3°C) 56°/33°F (13.1°/0.5°C)
Apr 85°/67°F (29.2°/19.6°C) 67°/42°F (19.3°/5.6°C)
May 86°/66°F (29.9°/19.1°C) 75°/51°F (23.9°/10.7°C)
Jun 86°/64°F (29.9°/17.6°C) 84°/61°F (28.8°/16.1°C)
Jul 85°/63°F (29.2°/17.2°C) 88°/65°F (31.1°/18.6°C)
Aug 86°/63°F (30.0°/17.4°C) 87°/64°F (30.3°/17.9°C)
Sep 88°/65°F (30.9°/18.6°C) 79°/56°F (26.3°/13.5°C)
Oct 86°/66°F (30.1°/19.1°C) 68°/44°F (20.1°/6.6°C)
Nov 84°/66°F (29.1°/19.1°C) 58°/35°F (14.2°/1.8°C)
Dec 84°/66°F (28.9°/19.1°C) 46°/27°F (7.8°/-2.7°C)

Data: Institut Géographique du Burundi (IGEBU) Institut Géographique du Burundi (IGEBU), National Weather Service National Weather Service

Visitor Visa Requirements

Short-stay tourist visa rules between Burundi 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.

Burundi passport

Burundi passport holder visiting United States

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

United States passport holder visiting Burundi

Visa on Arrival
United States 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 States?

With 37.8 fixed broadband subscriptions per 100 people, United States 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 States.

Is United States safe for expats?

Burundi performs better than United States across all safety metrics. The homicide rate in United States is 6.4 per 100,000 people, compared to 5.8 in Burundi.

How is healthcare in United States compared to Burundi?

Burundi 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 0.6 in Burundi. United States scores 86 on the WHO universal health coverage index (Burundi: 41).

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

The average high temperature in Washington is 66°F, compared to 85°F in Bujumbura. Washington receives around 41.5 in of rainfall per year, while Bujumbura gets 30.9 in.

What language do they speak in United States?

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

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At a Glance

BI US
Population 12,696,478 337,341,954
Currency Burundian Franc (BIF) United States Dollar ($)
Languages French, Kirundi English
Driving side Right Right
Calling code +257 +1
Time zones 1 11
Emergency number 911