Moving to Burkina Faso from Jamaica

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What to Expect

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

If you moved from Jamaica to Burkina Faso, and you’d need to navigate life in French. You’ll also switch from driving on the left to the right.

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Key Indicator Comparison

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

Is it safe?

Road traffic deaths United Nations SDG Indicators, 2021

per 100,000 people per year

JM
17.8
BF
27.8

Jamaica performs better than Burkina Faso across all safety metrics.

How's the healthcare?

Healthcare spending per person World Bank, 2023

annual government + private spending per person

JM
$869
BF
$224
Doctors per 10,000 people United Nations SDG Indicators, 2022

affects wait times and access to care

JM
5.5
BF
1.5

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

JM
22.0
BF
84.0
CO₂ emissions per capita World Bank, 2024

tonnes of CO₂ emitted per person per year

JM
2.8t
BF
0.3t

Jamaica 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

JM
15.0
BF
0.1
Water stress level United Nations SDG Indicators, 2021

higher means greater strain on freshwater supply

JM
12.4%
BF
7.8%

Jamaica 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

JM
4.4%
BF
5.3%
GDP per capita The World Factbook, 2023

a broad measure of economic output per person

JM
$10,300
BF
$2,500

Jamaica performs better than Burkina Faso across all employment & economy metrics.

Is it good for families?

Life expectancy The World Factbook, 2022

average years of life at birth

JM
75.8 yrs
BF
63.4 yrs
Infant mortality The World Factbook, 2022

deaths per 1,000 live births — lower is better

JM
11.2
BF
49.4

Jamaica 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.

Kingston Rain: 32.0 in/yr (813 mm)
89° / 73°F

Avg. annual high / low

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

Avg. annual high / low

Months Kingston Ouagadougou
Jan–Mar 87°/70°F (30°/21°C) 96°/67°F (36°/20°C)
Apr–Jun 89°/74°F (32°/23°C) 99°/78°F (37°/26°C)
Jul–Sep 91°/76°F (33°/24°C) 89°/72°F (32°/22°C)
Oct–Dec 88°/73°F (31°/23°C) 95°/67°F (35°/20°C)
View all months
Month Kingston Ouagadougou
Jan 87°/70°F (30.3°/21.1°C) 91°/62°F (32.9°/16.5°C)
Feb 86°/70°F (30.2°/21.0°C) 96°/66°F (35.8°/19.1°C)
Mar 87°/71°F (30.7°/21.6°C) 101°/74°F (38.3°/23.5°C)
Apr 88°/73°F (31.1°/22.6°C) 103°/80°F (39.3°/26.4°C)
May 89°/74°F (31.6°/23.6°C) 100°/79°F (37.7°/26.1°C)
Jun 90°/76°F (32.1°/24.2°C) 94°/75°F (34.7°/24.1°C)
Jul 91°/76°F (32.8°/24.3°C) 90°/73°F (32.1°/22.8°C)
Aug 91°/76°F (32.7°/24.2°C) 88°/72°F (31.1°/22.2°C)
Sep 90°/75°F (32.1°/24.0°C) 90°/72°F (32.5°/22.4°C)
Oct 89°/74°F (31.7°/23.4°C) 96°/73°F (35.6°/23.0°C)
Nov 88°/73°F (31.2°/22.8°C) 97°/67°F (35.9°/19.6°C)
Dec 87°/71°F (30.6°/21.8°C) 92°/62°F (33.4°/16.9°C)

Data: Meteorological Service, Jamaica Meteorological Service, Jamaica, 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 Jamaica 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.

Jamaica passport

Jamaica passport holder visiting Burkina Faso

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

Burkina Faso passport holder visiting Jamaica

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

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 0.1 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?

Jamaica performs better than Burkina Faso across all safety metrics.

How is healthcare in Burkina Faso compared to Jamaica?

Jamaica generally does better on health & wellbeing, though Burkina Faso leads in healthcare spending per person. There are 1.5 doctors per 10,000 people in Burkina Faso, compared to 5.5 in Jamaica. Burkina Faso scores 40 on the WHO universal health coverage index (Jamaica: 74).

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

The average high temperature in Ouagadougou is 95°F, compared to 89°F in Kingston. Ouagadougou receives around 29.3 in of rainfall per year, while Kingston gets 32.0 in.

What language do they speak in Burkina Faso?

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

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At a Glance

JM BF
Population 2,818,596 21,935,389
Currency Jamaican Dollar (JMD) CFA Franc BCEAO (F CFA)
Languages English, Jamaican Patois French
Driving side Left Right
Calling code +1 +226
Time zones 1 1
Emergency number 119