Moving to United Kingdom from Ethiopia

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What to Expect

Everything you need to know before relocating from Ethiopia to United Kingdom — costs, safety, healthcare, and practical first steps.

If you moved from Ethiopia to United Kingdom, and you’d need to navigate life in English. You’ll also switch from driving on the right to the left. Expect a noticeable climate shift — London averages 60°F vs 74°F in Addis Ababa, making it significantly cooler.

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Who Else Is Making This Move?

How many people actually move from Ethiopia to United Kingdom, based on official data.

Living there in 2020
15,278 ↑ 13% vs 2015

people born in Ethiopia live in United Kingdom · UN DESA

Who's moving to United Kingdom?

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

Foreign-born population · UN DESA (2020)

Key Indicator Comparison

Key indicators for anyone considering a move from Ethiopia to United Kingdom.

Is it safe?

Homicide rate United Nations SDG Indicators, 2020

per 100,000 people per year

ET
8.6
GB
1.0
Road traffic deaths United Nations SDG Indicators, 2021

per 100,000 people per year

ET
17.7
GB
2.4

United Kingdom performs significantly better than Ethiopia across all safety metrics.

How's the healthcare?

Healthcare spending per person World Bank, 2024

annual government + private spending per person

ET
$86
GB
$6,606
Doctors per 10,000 people United Nations SDG Indicators, 2022

affects wait times and access to care

ET
1.1
GB
31.7

Ethiopia generally does better on health & wellbeing, though United Kingdom 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

ET
46.0
GB
13.0
CO₂ emissions per capita World Bank, 2024

tonnes of CO₂ emitted per person per year

ET
0.1t
GB
4.2t

Ethiopia generally does better on environment, though United Kingdom 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
GB
41.4
Water stress level United Nations SDG Indicators, 2021

higher means greater strain on freshwater supply

ET
32.3%
GB
14.3%

United Kingdom performs significantly better than Ethiopia across all infrastructure metrics.

What are the job prospects?

Unemployment rate The World Factbook, 2023

percentage of the labour force without work

ET
3.5%
GB
4.1%
GDP per capita The World Factbook, 2023

a broad measure of economic output per person

ET
$2,800
GB
$54,100

Ethiopia generally does better on employment & economy, though United Kingdom leads in gdp per capita.

Is it good for families?

Life expectancy The World Factbook, 2022

average years of life at birth

ET
68.2 yrs
GB
81.9 yrs
Infant mortality The World Factbook, 2022

deaths per 1,000 live births — lower is better

ET
33.5
GB
3.8

United Kingdom performs significantly better than Ethiopia across all family life metrics.

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

London Rain: 22.0 in/yr (558 mm)
60° / 46°F

Avg. annual high / low

Months Addis Ababa London
Jan–Mar 76°/48°F (24°/9°C) 49°/38°F (9°/3°C)
Apr–Jun 75°/51°F (24°/11°C) 64°/48°F (18°/9°C)
Jul–Sep 71°/50°F (21°/10°C) 72°/56°F (22°/13°C)
Oct–Dec 73°/46°F (23°/8°C) 53°/43°F (12°/6°C)
View all months
Month Addis Ababa London
Jan 75°/46°F (24.0°/8.0°C) 47°/38°F (8.1°/3.1°C)
Feb 75°/48°F (24.0°/9.0°C) 47°/37°F (8.6°/2.7°C)
Mar 77°/50°F (25.0°/10.0°C) 53°/40°F (11.6°/4.6°C)
Apr 75°/52°F (24.0°/11.0°C) 58°/43°F (14.6°/5.9°C)
May 77°/52°F (25.0°/11.0°C) 65°/48°F (18.1°/8.9°C)
Jun 73°/50°F (23.0°/10.0°C) 70°/53°F (21.0°/11.8°C)
Jul 70°/50°F (21.0°/10.0°C) 74°/57°F (23.4°/13.7°C)
Aug 70°/50°F (21.0°/10.0°C) 74°/57°F (23.1°/13.8°C)
Sep 72°/50°F (22.0°/10.0°C) 68°/53°F (20.0°/11.4°C)
Oct 73°/48°F (23.0°/9.0°C) 60°/48°F (15.5°/8.8°C)
Nov 73°/45°F (23.0°/7.0°C) 52°/42°F (11.3°/5.8°C)
Dec 73°/45°F (23.0°/7.0°C) 47°/38°F (8.4°/3.4°C)

Data: Ethiopian Meteorological Institute (EMI) Ethiopian Meteorological Institute (EMI), Met Office Met Office

Visitor Visa Requirements

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

Ethiopia passport

Ethiopia passport holder visiting United Kingdom

Visa Online (e-Visa)
Ethiopia passport holders need to apply for an e-Visa before travelling to United Kingdom.
United Kingdom passport

United Kingdom passport holder visiting Ethiopia

Visa on Arrival
United Kingdom 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 United Kingdom?

Internet is rarely the blocker — United Kingdom has 41.4 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 United Kingdom safe for expats?

United Kingdom performs significantly better than Ethiopia across all safety metrics. The homicide rate in United Kingdom is 1.0 per 100,000 people, compared to 8.6 in Ethiopia.

How is healthcare in United Kingdom compared to Ethiopia?

Ethiopia generally does better on health & wellbeing, though United Kingdom leads in doctors per 10,000 people. There are 31.7 doctors per 10,000 people in United Kingdom, compared to 1.1 in Ethiopia. United Kingdom scores 88 on the WHO universal health coverage index (Ethiopia: 35).

What's the weather like in United Kingdom compared to Ethiopia?

The average high temperature in London is 60°F, compared to 74°F in Addis Ababa. London receives around 22.0 in of rainfall per year, while Addis Ababa gets 45.9 in.

What language do they speak in United Kingdom?

The official language in United Kingdom is English. In Ethiopia, the official language is Amharic.

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At a Glance

ET GB
Population 113,656,596 67,791,400
Currency Ethiopian Birr (ETB) British Pound Sterling (£)
Languages Amharic English
Driving side Right Left
Calling code +251 +44
Time zones 1 9
Emergency number 911 999