Moving to Burkina Faso from France

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What to Expect

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

If you moved from France to Burkina Faso. Expect a noticeable climate shift — Ouagadougou averages 95°F vs 60°F in Paris, making it significantly warmer.

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Key Indicator Comparison

The numbers behind daily life in Burkina Faso compared to France.

Is it safe?

Road traffic deaths United Nations SDG Indicators, 2021

per 100,000 people per year

FR
4.7
BF
27.8

France performs better than Burkina Faso across all safety metrics.

How's the healthcare?

Healthcare spending per person World Bank, 2024

annual government + private spending per person

FR
$6,868
BF
$224
Doctors per 10,000 people United Nations SDG Indicators, 2022

affects wait times and access to care

FR
33.4
BF
1.5

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

FR
10.0
BF
84.0
CO₂ emissions per capita World Bank, 2024

tonnes of CO₂ emitted per person per year

FR
4.0t
BF
0.3t

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

Will I have good infrastructure?

Broadband per 100 people United Nations SDG Indicators, 2022

fixed broadband subscriptions — key for remote work

FR
49.4
BF
0.1
Water stress level United Nations SDG Indicators, 2021

higher means greater strain on freshwater supply

FR
21.6%
BF
7.8%

France generally does better on infrastructure, though Burkina Faso leads in water stress level.

What are the job prospects?

Unemployment rate The World Factbook, 2023

percentage of the labour force without work

FR
7.3%
BF
5.3%
GDP per capita The World Factbook, 2023

a broad measure of economic output per person

FR
$55,200
BF
$2,500

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

Is it good for families?

Life expectancy The World Factbook, 2022

average years of life at birth

FR
82.6 yrs
BF
63.4 yrs
Infant mortality The World Factbook, 2022

deaths per 1,000 live births — lower is better

FR
3.1
BF
49.4

France performs better than Burkina Faso across all family life metrics.

Data: The World Factbook, United Nations SDG Indicators, World Bank

What's the Climate Like?

Monthly averages — select a city to compare.

Paris Rain: 25.6 in/yr (650 mm)
60° / 47°F

Avg. annual high / low

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

Avg. annual high / low

Months Paris Ouagadougou
Jan–Mar 48°/38°F (9°/3°C) 96°/67°F (36°/20°C)
Apr–Jun 65°/50°F (18°/10°C) 99°/78°F (37°/26°C)
Jul–Sep 74°/58°F (23°/14°C) 89°/72°F (32°/22°C)
Oct–Dec 52°/43°F (11°/6°C) 95°/67°F (35°/20°C)
View all months
Month Paris Ouagadougou
Jan 44°/36°F (6.9°/2.5°C) 91°/62°F (32.9°/16.5°C)
Feb 47°/37°F (8.2°/2.8°C) 96°/66°F (35.8°/19.1°C)
Mar 53°/41°F (11.8°/5.1°C) 101°/74°F (38.3°/23.5°C)
Apr 58°/44°F (14.7°/6.8°C) 103°/80°F (39.3°/26.4°C)
May 66°/51°F (19.0°/10.5°C) 100°/79°F (37.7°/26.1°C)
Jun 71°/56°F (21.8°/13.3°C) 94°/75°F (34.7°/24.1°C)
Jul 76°/60°F (24.4°/15.5°C) 90°/73°F (32.1°/22.8°C)
Aug 76°/60°F (24.6°/15.4°C) 88°/72°F (31.1°/22.2°C)
Sep 69°/54°F (20.8°/12.5°C) 90°/72°F (32.5°/22.4°C)
Oct 60°/49°F (15.8°/9.2°C) 96°/73°F (35.6°/23.0°C)
Nov 51°/42°F (10.4°/5.3°C) 97°/67°F (35.9°/19.6°C)
Dec 46°/38°F (7.8°/3.6°C) 92°/62°F (33.4°/16.9°C)

Data: Météo-France Météo-France, Agence Nationale de la Météorologie du Burkina Faso Agence Nationale de la Météorologie du Burkina Faso

Visitor Visa Requirements

Short-stay tourist visa rules between France 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.

France passport

France passport holder visiting Burkina Faso

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

Burkina Faso passport holder visiting France

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

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?

Connectivity is usually fine (Burkina Faso: 0.1 fixed broadband per 100). What actually decides it is legal: does Burkina Faso offer a digital nomad visa, will your employer permit overseas work, and where are you tax-resident?

Is Burkina Faso safe for expats?

France performs better than Burkina Faso across all safety metrics.

How is healthcare in Burkina Faso compared to France?

Burkina Faso generally does better on health & wellbeing, though France leads in doctors per 10,000 people. There are 1.5 doctors per 10,000 people in Burkina Faso, compared to 33.4 in France. Burkina Faso scores 40 on the WHO universal health coverage index (France: 85).

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

The average high temperature in Ouagadougou is 95°F, compared to 60°F in Paris. Ouagadougou receives around 29.3 in of rainfall per year, while Paris gets 25.6 in.

What language do they speak in Burkina Faso?

Both France and Burkina Faso share the same official language: French.

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At a Glance

FR BF
Population 68,305,148 21,935,389
Currency Euro (€) CFA Franc BCEAO (F CFA)
Languages French French
Driving side Right Right
Calling code +33 +226
Time zones 14 1
Emergency number 112