Moving to Canada from Eritrea

moving to

What to Expect

Considering a move from Eritrea to Canada? Here's how the two compare on cost, climate, safety, and more.

If you moved from Eritrea to Canada. Expect a noticeable climate shift — Ottawa averages 52°F vs 74°F in Asmara, making it significantly cooler.

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Who Else Is Making This Move?

What the data shows about people moving from Eritrea to Canada.

Moved in 2023
10,680 ↑ 39% vs 2022

people moved from Eritrea to Canada · OECD (latest data available)

Who's moving to Canada?

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

Foreign-born population · UN DESA (2020)

Key Indicator Comparison

The numbers behind daily life in Canada compared to Eritrea.

Is it safe?

Homicide rate United Nations SDG Indicators, 2023

per 100,000 people per year

ER
14.6
CA
2.0
Road traffic deaths United Nations SDG Indicators, 2021

per 100,000 people per year

ER
17.7
CA
4.7

Canada performs significantly better than Eritrea across all safety metrics.

How's the healthcare?

Healthcare spending per person World Bank, 2024

annual government + private spending per person

ER
$87
CA
$7,646
Doctors per 10,000 people World Bank, 2023

affects wait times and access to care

ER
0.9
CA
28.2

Canada generally does better on health & wellbeing, though Eritrea leads in healthcare spending per person.

What about the environment?

Air pollution deaths United Nations SDG Indicators, 2019

deaths attributable to air pollution per 100k people

ER
78.0
CA
8.0
CO₂ emissions per capita World Bank, 2024

tonnes of CO₂ emitted per person per year

ER
0.2t
CA
14.0t

Eritrea generally does better on environment, though Canada leads in air pollution deaths.

Will I have good infrastructure?

Broadband per 100 people World Bank, 2024

fixed broadband subscriptions — key for remote work

ER
0.2
CA
42.5
Water stress level World Bank, 2022

higher means greater strain on freshwater supply

ER
11.2%
CA
3.7%

Canada performs significantly better than Eritrea across all infrastructure metrics.

What are the job prospects?

Unemployment rate World Bank, 2025

percentage of the labour force without work

ER
6.0%
CA
6.9%
Poverty rate The World Factbook, 2008

share of people below the poverty line

ER
50.0%
CA
9.4%

Eritrea generally does better on employment & economy, though Canada leads in poverty rate.

Is it good for families?

Life expectancy World Bank, 2024

average years of life at birth

ER
68.9 yrs
CA
82.1 yrs
Infant mortality World Bank, 2024

deaths per 1,000 live births — lower is better

ER
24.7
CA
4.7

Canada performs significantly better than Eritrea across all family life metrics.

What's the Climate Like?

Monthly averages — select a city to compare.

Asmara Rain: 20.9 in/yr (532 mm)
74° / 48°F

Avg. annual high / low

Ottawa Rain: 37.1 in/yr (943 mm)
52° / 34°F

Avg. annual high / low

Months Asmara Ottawa
Jan–Mar 75°/44°F (24°/7°C) 27°/10°F (-3°/-12°C)
Apr–Jun 77°/51°F (25°/11°C) 64°/45°F (18°/7°C)
Jul–Sep 72°/51°F (22°/10°C) 75°/55°F (24°/13°C)
Oct–Dec 71°/46°F (22°/8°C) 41°/25°F (5°/-4°C)
View all months
Month Asmara Ottawa
Jan 73°/42°F (22.6°/5.6°C) 21°/4°F (-6.1°/-15.3°C)
Feb 75°/44°F (23.9°/6.7°C) 25°/8°F (-4.1°/-13.3°C)
Mar 77°/47°F (25.1°/8.5°C) 36°/19°F (2.2°/-7.1°C)
Apr 76°/50°F (24.5°/9.9°C) 51°/33°F (10.8°/0.6°C)
May 77°/52°F (25.2°/10.9°C) 66°/46°F (19.1°/7.7°C)
Jun 77°/52°F (25.1°/11.2°C) 75°/55°F (23.8°/12.7°C)
Jul 71°/53°F (21.8°/11.4°C) 80°/60°F (26.5°/15.4°C)
Aug 71°/53°F (21.6°/11.4°C) 77°/57°F (24.9°/14.1°C)
Sep 74°/48°F (23.2°/8.7°C) 67°/48°F (19.5°/9.1°C)
Oct 71°/48°F (21.8°/8.8°C) 54°/37°F (12.5°/3.0°C)
Nov 71°/46°F (21.6°/7.5°C) 41°/27°F (4.8°/-2.8°C)
Dec 71°/43°F (21.7°/6.2°C) 27°/12°F (-3.0°/-11.1°C)

Data: Civil Aviation Authority Civil Aviation Authority, Meteorological Service of Canada Meteorological Service of Canada

Visitor Visa Requirements

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

Eritrea passport

Eritrea passport holder visiting Canada

Visa Required
Eritrea passport holders need a visa to enter Canada.
Canada passport

Canada passport holder visiting Eritrea

Visa Required
Canada passport holders need a visa to enter Eritrea.

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

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I work remotely from Canada?

Connectivity is usually fine (Canada: 42.5 fixed broadband per 100). What actually decides it is legal: does Canada offer a digital nomad visa, will your employer permit overseas work, and where are you tax-resident?

Is Canada safe for expats?

Canada performs significantly better than Eritrea across all safety metrics. The homicide rate in Canada is 2.0 per 100,000 people, compared to 14.6 in Eritrea.

How is healthcare in Canada compared to Eritrea?

Canada generally does better on health & wellbeing, though Eritrea leads in healthcare spending per person. There are 28.2 doctors per 10,000 people in Canada, compared to 0.9 in Eritrea. Canada scores 91 on the WHO universal health coverage index (Eritrea: 45).

What's the weather like in Canada compared to Eritrea?

The average high temperature in Ottawa is 52°F, compared to 74°F in Asmara. Ottawa receives around 37.1 in of rainfall per year, while Asmara gets 20.9 in.

What language do they speak in Canada?

The official languages in Canada are English and French. In Eritrea, the official languages are Arabic, English and Tigrinya.

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At a Glance

ER CA
Population 3,607,003 41,651,653
Currency Eritrean Nakfa (ERN) Canadian Dollar (CA$)
Languages Arabic, English, Tigrinya English, French
Driving side Right Right
Calling code +291 +1
Time zones 1 6
Emergency number — 911