Moving to Zambia from Burundi

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What to Expect

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

If you moved from Burundi to Zambia, and you’d need to navigate life in English. You’ll also switch from driving on the right to the left.

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Who Else Is Making This Move?

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

Living there in 2020
7,018 ↑ 45% vs 2015

people born in Burundi live in Zambia · UN DESA

Who's moving to Zambia?

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

Foreign-born population · UN DESA (2020)

Key Indicator Comparison

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

Is it safe?

Homicide rate United Nations SDG Indicators, 2016

per 100,000 people per year

BI
5.8
ZM
5.2
Road traffic deaths United Nations SDG Indicators, 2021

per 100,000 people per year

BI
12.3
ZM
17.1

Burundi generally does better on safety, though Zambia leads in homicide rate.

How's the healthcare?

Healthcare spending per person World Bank, 2023

annual government + private spending per person

BI
$100
ZM
$244
Doctors per 10,000 people United Nations SDG Indicators, 2022

affects wait times and access to care

BI
0.6
ZM
2.6

Burundi generally does better on health & wellbeing, though Zambia 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
ZM
50.0
CO₂ emissions per capita World Bank, 2024

tonnes of CO₂ emitted per person per year

BI
0.1t
ZM
0.5t

Burundi generally does better on environment, though Zambia 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
ZM
0.4
Water stress level United Nations SDG Indicators, 2021

higher means greater strain on freshwater supply

BI
10.2%
ZM
2.8%

Zambia 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%
ZM
5.9%
GDP per capita The World Factbook, 2023

a broad measure of economic output per person

BI
$900
ZM
$3,700

Zambia 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
ZM
66.3 yrs
Infant mortality The World Factbook, 2022

deaths per 1,000 live births — lower is better

BI
37.8
ZM
37.1

Burundi generally does better on family life, though Zambia leads in infant mortality.

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

Lusaka Rain: 31.4 in/yr (798 mm)
80° / 59°F

Avg. annual high / low

Months Bujumbura Lusaka
Jan–Mar 85°/67°F (29°/19°C) 80°/62°F (27°/17°C)
Apr–Jun 86°/66°F (30°/19°C) 77°/55°F (25°/13°C)
Jul–Sep 86°/64°F (30°/18°C) 79°/55°F (26°/13°C)
Oct–Dec 85°/66°F (29°/19°C) 85°/64°F (29°/18°C)
View all months
Month Bujumbura Lusaka
Jan 84°/67°F (29.1°/19.2°C) 80°/63°F (26.6°/17.1°C)
Feb 85°/67°F (29.7°/19.3°C) 80°/62°F (26.5°/16.8°C)
Mar 85°/67°F (29.3°/19.3°C) 81°/62°F (27.0°/16.6°C)
Apr 85°/67°F (29.2°/19.6°C) 80°/59°F (26.5°/15.1°C)
May 86°/66°F (29.9°/19.1°C) 78°/55°F (25.3°/12.7°C)
Jun 86°/64°F (29.9°/17.6°C) 74°/51°F (23.4°/10.6°C)
Jul 85°/63°F (29.2°/17.2°C) 73°/50°F (23.0°/10.2°C)
Aug 86°/63°F (30.0°/17.4°C) 79°/54°F (25.9°/12.3°C)
Sep 88°/65°F (30.9°/18.6°C) 85°/60°F (29.4°/15.3°C)
Oct 86°/66°F (30.1°/19.1°C) 87°/64°F (30.8°/17.5°C)
Nov 84°/66°F (29.1°/19.1°C) 86°/64°F (29.9°/17.9°C)
Dec 84°/66°F (28.9°/19.1°C) 81°/63°F (27.2°/17.3°C)

Data: Institut Géographique du Burundi (IGEBU) Institut Géographique du Burundi (IGEBU), Zambia Meteorological Department (ZMD) Zambia Meteorological Department (ZMD)

Visitor Visa Requirements

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

Burundi passport

Burundi passport holder visiting Zambia

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

Zambia passport holder visiting Burundi

Visa on Arrival
Zambia 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 Zambia?

Internet is rarely the blocker — Zambia has 0.4 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 Zambia safe for expats?

Burundi generally does better on safety, though Zambia leads in homicide rate. The homicide rate in Zambia is 5.2 per 100,000 people, compared to 5.8 in Burundi.

How is healthcare in Zambia compared to Burundi?

Burundi generally does better on health & wellbeing, though Zambia leads in doctors per 10,000 people. There are 2.6 doctors per 10,000 people in Zambia, compared to 0.6 in Burundi. Zambia scores 56 on the WHO universal health coverage index (Burundi: 41).

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

The average high temperature in Lusaka is 80°F, compared to 85°F in Bujumbura. Lusaka receives around 31.4 in of rainfall per year, while Bujumbura gets 30.9 in.

What language do they speak in Zambia?

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

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At a Glance

BI ZM
Population 12,696,478 19,642,123
Currency Burundian Franc (BIF) Zambian Kwacha (ZMW)
Languages French, Kirundi English
Driving side Right Left
Calling code +257 +260
Time zones 1 1