Moving to Burkina Faso from Canada

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What to Expect

Everything you need to know before relocating from Canada to Burkina Faso — costs, safety, healthcare, and practical first steps.

If you moved from Canada to Burkina Faso. Expect a noticeable climate shift — Ouagadougou averages 95°F vs 55°F in Toronto, making it significantly warmer.

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Key Indicator Comparison

Key indicators for anyone considering a move from Canada to Burkina Faso.

Is it safe?

Homicide rate World Bank, 2023

per 100,000 people per year

CA
2.0
BF
1.2
Road traffic deaths United Nations SDG Indicators, 2021

per 100,000 people per year

CA
4.7
BF
27.8

Canada generally does better on safety, though Burkina Faso leads in homicide rate.

How's the healthcare?

Healthcare spending per person World Bank, 2024

annual government + private spending per person

CA
$7,646
BF
$224
Doctors per 10,000 people World Bank, 2023

affects wait times and access to care

CA
28.2
BF
1.5

Burkina Faso generally does better on health & wellbeing, though Canada 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

CA
8.0
BF
84.0
CO₂ emissions per capita World Bank, 2024

tonnes of CO₂ emitted per person per year

CA
14.0t
BF
0.3t

Canada generally does better on environment, though Burkina Faso leads in co₂ emissions per capita.

Will I have good infrastructure?

Broadband per 100 people World Bank, 2024

fixed broadband subscriptions — key for remote work

CA
42.5
BF
0.8
Water stress level World Bank, 2022

higher means greater strain on freshwater supply

CA
3.7%
BF
7.8%

Canada performs better than Burkina Faso across all infrastructure metrics.

What are the job prospects?

Unemployment rate World Bank, 2025

percentage of the labour force without work

CA
6.9%
BF
3.5%
GDP per capita World Bank, 2025

a broad measure of economic output per person

CA
$55,698
BF
$1,148

Canada generally does better on employment & economy, though Burkina Faso leads in unemployment rate.

Is it good for families?

Life expectancy World Bank, 2024

average years of life at birth

CA
82.1 yrs
BF
61.3 yrs
Infant mortality World Bank, 2024

deaths per 1,000 live births — lower is better

CA
4.7
BF
43.6

Canada generally does better on family life, though Burkina Faso leads in education spending.

Weather in Burkina Faso vs Canada

Monthly averages — select a city to compare.

Toronto Rain: 32.8 in/yr (834 mm)
55° / 42°F

Avg. annual high / low

Ouagadougou Rain: 29.3 in/yr (744 mm)
95° / 71°F

Avg. annual high / low

Months Toronto Ouagadougou
Jan–Mar 34°/23°F (1°/-5°C) 96°/67°F (36°/20°C)
Apr–Jun 64°/49°F (18°/10°C) 99°/78°F (37°/26°C)
Jul–Sep 76°/61°F (24°/16°C) 89°/72°F (32°/22°C)
Oct–Dec 46°/35°F (8°/2°C) 95°/67°F (35°/20°C)
View all months
Month Toronto Ouagadougou
Jan 30°/19°F (-1.1°/-7.3°C) 91°/62°F (32.9°/16.5°C)
Feb 32°/21°F (-0.2°/-6.3°C) 96°/66°F (35.8°/19.1°C)
Mar 40°/28°F (4.6°/-2.0°C) 101°/74°F (38.3°/23.5°C)
Apr 52°/39°F (11.3°/3.8°C) 103°/80°F (39.3°/26.4°C)
May 65°/50°F (18.5°/9.9°C) 100°/79°F (37.7°/26.1°C)
Jun 74°/59°F (23.5°/14.8°C) 94°/75°F (34.7°/24.1°C)
Jul 80°/64°F (26.4°/17.9°C) 90°/73°F (32.1°/22.8°C)
Aug 78°/63°F (25.3°/17.3°C) 88°/72°F (31.1°/22.2°C)
Sep 69°/56°F (20.7°/13.2°C) 90°/72°F (32.5°/22.4°C)
Oct 57°/45°F (13.8°/7.3°C) 96°/73°F (35.6°/23.0°C)
Nov 45°/36°F (7.4°/2.2°C) 97°/67°F (35.9°/19.6°C)
Dec 35°/25°F (1.8°/-3.7°C) 92°/62°F (33.4°/16.9°C)

Data: Meteorological Service of Canada Meteorological Service of Canada, Agence Nationale de la Météorologie du Burkina Faso Agence Nationale de la Météorologie du Burkina Faso

Can you move from Canada to Burkina Faso?

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

Canada passport

Canada passport holder visiting Burkina Faso

Visa Online (e-Visa)
Canada passport holders need to apply for an e-Visa before travelling to Burkina Faso.
Burkina Faso passport

Burkina Faso passport holder visiting Canada

Visa Required
Burkina Faso passport holders need a visa to enter Canada.

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

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I work remotely from Burkina Faso?

Internet is rarely the blocker — Burkina Faso has 0.8 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 Burkina Faso safe for expats?

Canada generally does better on safety, though Burkina Faso leads in homicide rate. The homicide rate in Burkina Faso is 1.2 per 100,000 people, compared to 2.0 in Canada.

How is healthcare in Burkina Faso compared to Canada?

Burkina Faso generally does better on health & wellbeing, though Canada leads in doctors per 10,000 people. There are 1.5 doctors per 10,000 people in Burkina Faso, compared to 28.2 in Canada. Burkina Faso scores 40 on the WHO universal health coverage index (Canada: 91).

What's the weather like in Burkina Faso compared to Canada?

The average high temperature in Ouagadougou is 95°F, compared to 55°F in Toronto. Ouagadougou receives around 29.3 in of rainfall per year, while Toronto gets 32.8 in.

What language do they speak in Burkina Faso?

The official language in Burkina Faso is French. In Canada, the official languages are English and French.

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At a Glance

CA BF
Population 41,651,653 24,074,580
Currency Canadian Dollar (CA$) CFA Franc BCEAO (F CFA)
Languages English, French French
Driving side Right Right
Calling code +1 +226
Time zones 6 1
Emergency number 911 —