Moving to Japan from Ethiopia

moving to

What to Expect

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

If you moved from Ethiopia to Japan, and you’d need to navigate life in Japanese. You’ll also switch from driving on the right to the left.

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Who Else Is Making This Move?

What the data shows about people moving from Ethiopia to Japan.

Moved in 2023
342 ↑ 109% vs 2022

people moved from Ethiopia to Japan · OECD (latest data available)

Who's moving to Japan?

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

Foreign-born population · UN DESA (2020)

Key Indicator Comparison

The numbers behind daily life in Japan compared to Ethiopia.

Is it safe?

Homicide rate United Nations SDG Indicators, 2022

per 100,000 people per year

ET
8.6
JP
0.2
Road traffic deaths United Nations SDG Indicators, 2021

per 100,000 people per year

ET
17.7
JP
2.7

Japan performs significantly better than Ethiopia across all safety metrics.

How's the healthcare?

Healthcare spending per person World Bank, 2023

annual government + private spending per person

ET
$86
JP
$5,365
Doctors per 10,000 people United Nations SDG Indicators, 2022

affects wait times and access to care

ET
1.1
JP
26.1

Japan generally does better on health & wellbeing, though Ethiopia 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

ET
46.0
JP
12.0
CO₂ emissions per capita World Bank, 2024

tonnes of CO₂ emitted per person per year

ET
0.1t
JP
7.8t

Ethiopia generally does better on environment, though Japan 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

ET
0.5
JP
37.2
Water stress level United Nations SDG Indicators, 2021

higher means greater strain on freshwater supply

ET
32.3%
JP
36.0%

Japan generally does better on infrastructure, though Ethiopia leads in water stress level.

What are the job prospects?

Unemployment rate The World Factbook, 2023

percentage of the labour force without work

ET
3.5%
JP
2.6%
GDP per capita The World Factbook, 2023

a broad measure of economic output per person

ET
$2,800
JP
$46,300

Japan generally does better on employment & economy, though Ethiopia leads in top income tax rate.

Is it good for families?

Life expectancy The World Factbook, 2022

average years of life at birth

ET
68.2 yrs
JP
84.8 yrs
Infant mortality The World Factbook, 2022

deaths per 1,000 live births — lower is better

ET
33.5
JP
1.9

Japan generally does better on family life, though Ethiopia leads in education spending.

Data: Ethiopian Revenues and Customs Authority, The World Factbook, United Nations SDG Indicators, World Bank

What's the Climate Like?

Monthly averages — select a city to compare.

Addis Ababa Rain: 45.9 in/yr (1165 mm)
74° / 49°F

Avg. annual high / low

Tokyo Rain: 62.9 in/yr (1598 mm)
69° / 54°F

Avg. annual high / low

Months Addis Ababa Tokyo
Jan–Mar 76°/48°F (24°/9°C) 53°/37°F (12°/3°C)
Apr–Jun 75°/51°F (24°/11°C) 73°/58°F (23°/14°C)
Jul–Sep 71°/50°F (21°/10°C) 85°/72°F (30°/22°C)
Oct–Dec 73°/46°F (23°/8°C) 63°/49°F (17°/9°C)
View all months
Month Addis Ababa Tokyo
Jan 75°/46°F (24.0°/8.0°C) 50°/34°F (9.8°/1.2°C)
Feb 75°/48°F (24.0°/9.0°C) 52°/36°F (10.9°/2.1°C)
Mar 77°/50°F (25.0°/10.0°C) 58°/41°F (14.2°/5.0°C)
Apr 75°/52°F (24.0°/11.0°C) 67°/50°F (19.4°/9.8°C)
May 77°/52°F (25.0°/11.0°C) 74°/58°F (23.6°/14.6°C)
Jun 73°/50°F (23.0°/10.0°C) 79°/65°F (26.1°/18.5°C)
Jul 70°/50°F (21.0°/10.0°C) 86°/72°F (29.9°/22.4°C)
Aug 70°/50°F (21.0°/10.0°C) 88°/74°F (31.3°/23.5°C)
Sep 72°/50°F (22.0°/10.0°C) 82°/69°F (27.5°/20.3°C)
Oct 73°/48°F (23.0°/9.0°C) 72°/59°F (22.0°/14.8°C)
Nov 73°/45°F (23.0°/7.0°C) 62°/48°F (16.7°/8.8°C)
Dec 73°/45°F (23.0°/7.0°C) 54°/39°F (12.0°/3.8°C)

Data: Ethiopian Meteorological Institute (EMI) Ethiopian Meteorological Institute (EMI), Japan Meteorological Agency Japan Meteorological Agency

Visitor Visa Requirements

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

Ethiopia passport

Ethiopia passport holder visiting Japan

Visa Required
Ethiopia passport holders need a visa to enter Japan.
Japan passport

Japan passport holder visiting Ethiopia

Visa on Arrival
Japan passport holders can obtain a visa on arrival in Ethiopia.

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

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I work remotely from Japan?

Connectivity is usually fine (Japan: 37.2 fixed broadband per 100). What actually decides it is legal: does Japan offer a digital nomad visa, will your employer permit overseas work, and where are you tax-resident?

Is Japan safe for expats?

Japan performs significantly better than Ethiopia across all safety metrics. The homicide rate in Japan is 0.2 per 100,000 people, compared to 8.6 in Ethiopia.

How is healthcare in Japan compared to Ethiopia?

Japan generally does better on health & wellbeing, though Ethiopia leads in healthcare spending per person. There are 26.1 doctors per 10,000 people in Japan, compared to 1.1 in Ethiopia. Japan scores 83 on the WHO universal health coverage index (Ethiopia: 35).

What's the weather like in Japan compared to Ethiopia?

The average high temperature in Tokyo is 69°F, compared to 74°F in Addis Ababa. Tokyo receives around 62.9 in of rainfall per year, while Addis Ababa gets 45.9 in.

What language do they speak in Japan?

The official language in Japan is Japanese. In Ethiopia, the official language is Amharic.

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At a Glance

ET JP
Population 113,656,596 124,214,766
Currency Ethiopian Birr (ETB) Japanese Yen (¥)
Languages Amharic Japanese
Driving side Right Left
Calling code +251 +81
Time zones 1 1
Emergency number 911 110