Moving to Burkina Faso from Japan

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What to Expect

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

If you moved from Japan to Burkina Faso, and you’d need to navigate life in French. You’ll also switch from driving on the left to the right. Expect a noticeable climate shift — Ouagadougou averages 95°F vs 69°F in Tokyo, making it significantly warmer.

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Key Indicator Comparison

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

Is it safe?

Road traffic deaths United Nations SDG Indicators, 2021

per 100,000 people per year

JP
2.7
BF
27.8

Japan 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

JP
$5,365
BF
$224
Doctors per 10,000 people United Nations SDG Indicators, 2022

affects wait times and access to care

JP
26.1
BF
1.5

Japan 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

JP
12.0
BF
84.0
CO₂ emissions per capita World Bank, 2024

tonnes of CO₂ emitted per person per year

JP
7.8t
BF
0.3t

Japan 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

JP
37.2
BF
0.1
Water stress level United Nations SDG Indicators, 2021

higher means greater strain on freshwater supply

JP
36.0%
BF
7.8%

Japan 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

JP
2.6%
BF
5.3%
GDP per capita The World Factbook, 2023

a broad measure of economic output per person

JP
$46,300
BF
$2,500

Japan 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

JP
84.8 yrs
BF
63.4 yrs
Infant mortality The World Factbook, 2022

deaths per 1,000 live births — lower is better

JP
1.9
BF
49.4

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

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

What's the Climate Like?

Monthly averages — select a city to compare.

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

Avg. annual high / low

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

Avg. annual high / low

Months Tokyo Ouagadougou
Jan–Mar 53°/37°F (12°/3°C) 96°/67°F (36°/20°C)
Apr–Jun 73°/58°F (23°/14°C) 99°/78°F (37°/26°C)
Jul–Sep 85°/72°F (30°/22°C) 89°/72°F (32°/22°C)
Oct–Dec 63°/49°F (17°/9°C) 95°/67°F (35°/20°C)
View all months
Month Tokyo Ouagadougou
Jan 50°/34°F (9.8°/1.2°C) 91°/62°F (32.9°/16.5°C)
Feb 52°/36°F (10.9°/2.1°C) 96°/66°F (35.8°/19.1°C)
Mar 58°/41°F (14.2°/5.0°C) 101°/74°F (38.3°/23.5°C)
Apr 67°/50°F (19.4°/9.8°C) 103°/80°F (39.3°/26.4°C)
May 74°/58°F (23.6°/14.6°C) 100°/79°F (37.7°/26.1°C)
Jun 79°/65°F (26.1°/18.5°C) 94°/75°F (34.7°/24.1°C)
Jul 86°/72°F (29.9°/22.4°C) 90°/73°F (32.1°/22.8°C)
Aug 88°/74°F (31.3°/23.5°C) 88°/72°F (31.1°/22.2°C)
Sep 82°/69°F (27.5°/20.3°C) 90°/72°F (32.5°/22.4°C)
Oct 72°/59°F (22.0°/14.8°C) 96°/73°F (35.6°/23.0°C)
Nov 62°/48°F (16.7°/8.8°C) 97°/67°F (35.9°/19.6°C)
Dec 54°/39°F (12.0°/3.8°C) 92°/62°F (33.4°/16.9°C)

Data: Japan Meteorological Agency Japan Meteorological Agency, 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 Japan 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.

Japan passport

Japan passport holder visiting Burkina Faso

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

Burkina Faso passport holder visiting Japan

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

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?

Japan performs better than Burkina Faso across all safety metrics.

How is healthcare in Burkina Faso compared to Japan?

Japan 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 26.1 in Japan. Burkina Faso scores 40 on the WHO universal health coverage index (Japan: 83).

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

The average high temperature in Ouagadougou is 95°F, compared to 69°F in Tokyo. Ouagadougou receives around 29.3 in of rainfall per year, while Tokyo gets 62.9 in.

What language do they speak in Burkina Faso?

The official language in Burkina Faso is French. In Japan, the official language is Japanese.

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At a Glance

JP BF
Population 124,214,766 21,935,389
Currency Japanese Yen (¥) CFA Franc BCEAO (F CFA)
Languages Japanese French
Driving side Left Right
Calling code +81 +226
Time zones 1 1
Emergency number 110