Moving to Burkina Faso from New Zealand

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What to Expect

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

If you moved from New Zealand 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 62°F in Wellington, making it significantly warmer.

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Key Indicator Comparison

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

Is it safe?

Road traffic deaths United Nations SDG Indicators, 2021

per 100,000 people per year

NZ
6.6
BF
27.8

New Zealand 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

NZ
$5,576
BF
$224
Doctors per 10,000 people United Nations SDG Indicators, 2022

affects wait times and access to care

NZ
35.7
BF
1.5

New Zealand 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

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

tonnes of CO₂ emitted per person per year

NZ
6.0t
BF
0.3t

New Zealand 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

NZ
35.9
BF
0.1
Water stress level United Nations SDG Indicators, 2021

higher means greater strain on freshwater supply

NZ
8.1%
BF
7.8%

New Zealand 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

NZ
3.7%
BF
5.3%
GDP per capita The World Factbook, 2023

a broad measure of economic output per person

NZ
$48,800
BF
$2,500

New Zealand 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

NZ
82.5 yrs
BF
63.4 yrs
Infant mortality The World Factbook, 2022

deaths per 1,000 live births — lower is better

NZ
3.4
BF
49.4

New Zealand 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.

Wellington Rain: 37.7 in/yr (957 mm)
62° / 51°F

Avg. annual high / low

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

Avg. annual high / low

Months Wellington Ouagadougou
Jan–Mar 69°/58°F (21°/14°C) 96°/67°F (36°/20°C)
Apr–Jun 59°/49°F (15°/10°C) 99°/78°F (37°/26°C)
Jul–Sep 56°/46°F (13°/8°C) 89°/72°F (32°/22°C)
Oct–Dec 64°/53°F (18°/12°C) 95°/67°F (35°/20°C)
View all months
Month Wellington Ouagadougou
Jan 70°/58°F (21.2°/14.7°C) 91°/62°F (32.9°/16.5°C)
Feb 70°/59°F (21.3°/14.8°C) 96°/66°F (35.8°/19.1°C)
Mar 68°/56°F (19.8°/13.5°C) 101°/74°F (38.3°/23.5°C)
Apr 63°/53°F (17.4°/11.5°C) 103°/80°F (39.3°/26.4°C)
May 59°/49°F (15.2°/9.7°C) 100°/79°F (37.7°/26.1°C)
Jun 56°/46°F (13.1°/7.9°C) 94°/75°F (34.7°/24.1°C)
Jul 54°/44°F (12.3°/6.9°C) 90°/73°F (32.1°/22.8°C)
Aug 55°/45°F (12.9°/7.4°C) 88°/72°F (31.1°/22.2°C)
Sep 58°/48°F (14.5°/8.8°C) 90°/72°F (32.5°/22.4°C)
Oct 60°/50°F (15.8°/10.0°C) 96°/73°F (35.6°/23.0°C)
Nov 64°/53°F (17.5°/11.4°C) 97°/67°F (35.9°/19.6°C)
Dec 67°/56°F (19.6°/13.5°C) 92°/62°F (33.4°/16.9°C)

Data: New Zealand National Meteorological Service New Zealand National Meteorological Service, 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 New Zealand 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.

New Zealand passport

New Zealand passport holder visiting Burkina Faso

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

Burkina Faso passport holder visiting New Zealand

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

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?

New Zealand performs better than Burkina Faso across all safety metrics.

How is healthcare in Burkina Faso compared to New Zealand?

New Zealand 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 35.7 in New Zealand. Burkina Faso scores 40 on the WHO universal health coverage index (New Zealand: 85).

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

The average high temperature in Ouagadougou is 95°F, compared to 62°F in Wellington. Ouagadougou receives around 29.3 in of rainfall per year, while Wellington gets 37.7 in.

What language do they speak in Burkina Faso?

The official language in Burkina Faso is French. In New Zealand, the official languages are English, Māori and New Zealand Sign Language.

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At a Glance

NZ BF
Population 5,053,004 21,935,389
Currency New Zealand Dollar (NZ$) CFA Franc BCEAO (F CFA)
Languages English, Māori, New Zealand Sign Language French
Driving side Left Right
Calling code +64 +226
Time zones 5 1
Emergency number 111