Moving to Burkina Faso from Netherlands

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What to Expect

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

If you moved from Netherlands to Burkina Faso, and you’d need to navigate life in French. Expect a noticeable climate shift — Ouagadougou averages 95°F vs 56°F in Amsterdam, making it significantly warmer.

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Key Indicator Comparison

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

Is it safe?

Road traffic deaths United Nations SDG Indicators, 2021

per 100,000 people per year

NL
3.4
BF
27.8

Netherlands 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

NL
$8,195
BF
$224
Doctors per 10,000 people United Nations SDG Indicators, 2022

affects wait times and access to care

NL
39.1
BF
1.5

Netherlands 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

NL
13.0
BF
84.0
CO₂ emissions per capita World Bank, 2024

tonnes of CO₂ emitted per person per year

NL
6.6t
BF
0.3t

Netherlands 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

NL
44.4
BF
0.1
Water stress level United Nations SDG Indicators, 2021

higher means greater strain on freshwater supply

NL
16.1%
BF
7.8%

Netherlands 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

NL
3.6%
BF
5.3%
GDP per capita The World Factbook, 2023

a broad measure of economic output per person

NL
$69,300
BF
$2,500

Netherlands 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

NL
82.2 yrs
BF
63.4 yrs
Infant mortality The World Factbook, 2022

deaths per 1,000 live births — lower is better

NL
3.4
BF
49.4

Netherlands 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.

Amsterdam Rain: 30.7 in/yr (780 mm)
56° / 43°F

Avg. annual high / low

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

Avg. annual high / low

Months Amsterdam Ouagadougou
Jan–Mar 45°/34°F (7°/1°C) 96°/67°F (36°/20°C)
Apr–Jun 61°/45°F (16°/7°C) 99°/78°F (37°/26°C)
Jul–Sep 69°/53°F (21°/12°C) 89°/72°F (32°/22°C)
Oct–Dec 50°/40°F (10°/4°C) 95°/67°F (35°/20°C)
View all months
Month Amsterdam Ouagadougou
Jan 42°/33°F (5.4°/0.5°C) 91°/62°F (32.9°/16.5°C)
Feb 43°/32°F (6.0°/0.2°C) 96°/66°F (35.8°/19.1°C)
Mar 49°/36°F (9.2°/2.4°C) 101°/74°F (38.3°/23.5°C)
Apr 54°/39°F (12.4°/4.0°C) 103°/80°F (39.3°/26.4°C)
May 63°/46°F (17.1°/7.8°C) 100°/79°F (37.7°/26.1°C)
Jun 67°/51°F (19.2°/10.4°C) 94°/75°F (34.7°/24.1°C)
Jul 71°/54°F (21.4°/12.5°C) 90°/73°F (32.1°/22.8°C)
Aug 71°/54°F (21.8°/12.3°C) 88°/72°F (31.1°/22.2°C)
Sep 65°/50°F (18.4°/10.2°C) 90°/72°F (32.5°/22.4°C)
Oct 57°/45°F (14.1°/7.0°C) 96°/73°F (35.6°/23.0°C)
Nov 49°/39°F (9.2°/3.9°C) 97°/67°F (35.9°/19.6°C)
Dec 44°/35°F (6.5°/1.9°C) 92°/62°F (33.4°/16.9°C)

Data: Royal Netherlands Meteorological Institute Royal Netherlands Meteorological Institute, 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 Netherlands 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.

Netherlands passport

Netherlands passport holder visiting Burkina Faso

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

Burkina Faso passport holder visiting Netherlands

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

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?

Netherlands performs better than Burkina Faso across all safety metrics.

How is healthcare in Burkina Faso compared to Netherlands?

Netherlands 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 39.1 in Netherlands. Burkina Faso scores 40 on the WHO universal health coverage index (Netherlands: 85).

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

The average high temperature in Ouagadougou is 95°F, compared to 56°F in Amsterdam. Ouagadougou receives around 29.3 in of rainfall per year, while Amsterdam gets 30.7 in.

What language do they speak in Burkina Faso?

The official language in Burkina Faso is French. In Netherlands, the official language is Dutch.

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At a Glance

NL BF
Population 17,400,824 21,935,389
Currency Euro (€) CFA Franc BCEAO (F CFA)
Languages Dutch French
Driving side Right Right
Calling code +31 +226
Time zones 1 1
Emergency number 112