Moving to Ethiopia from New Zealand

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What to Expect

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

If you moved from New Zealand to Ethiopia, and you’d need to navigate life in Amharic. 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 New Zealand to Ethiopia.

Is it safe?

Homicide rate World Bank, 2022

per 100,000 people per year

NZ
1.5
ET
8.6
Road traffic deaths United Nations SDG Indicators, 2021

per 100,000 people per year

NZ
6.6
ET
17.7

New Zealand performs better than Ethiopia across all safety metrics.

How's the healthcare?

Healthcare spending per person World Bank, 2024

annual government + private spending per person

NZ
$5,576
ET
$86
Doctors per 10,000 people World Bank, 2023

affects wait times and access to care

NZ
36.1
ET
1.4

Ethiopia generally does better on health & wellbeing, though New Zealand 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

NZ
12.0
ET
46.0
CO₂ emissions per capita World Bank, 2024

tonnes of CO₂ emitted per person per year

NZ
6.0t
ET
0.1t

New Zealand generally does better on environment, though Ethiopia leads in co₂ emissions per capita.

Will I have good infrastructure?

Broadband per 100 people World Bank, 2024

fixed broadband subscriptions — key for remote work

NZ
38.0
ET
0.6
Water stress level World Bank, 2022

higher means greater strain on freshwater supply

NZ
8.1%
ET
32.3%

New Zealand performs better than Ethiopia across all infrastructure metrics.

What are the job prospects?

Unemployment rate World Bank, 2025

percentage of the labour force without work

NZ
5.1%
ET
3.3%
GDP per capita World Bank, 2025

a broad measure of economic output per person

NZ
$49,591
ET
$933

New Zealand generally does better on employment & economy, though Ethiopia leads in unemployment rate.

Is it good for families?

Life expectancy World Bank, 2024

average years of life at birth

NZ
82.0 yrs
ET
67.6 yrs
Infant mortality World Bank, 2024

deaths per 1,000 live births — lower is better

NZ
4.0
ET
34.5

New Zealand performs better than Ethiopia across all family life metrics.

Sources: World Bank (2021–2025), United Nations SDG Indicators (2012–2021), World Health Organization (2024), New Zealand Inland Revenue Department (2016), Ethiopian Revenues and Customs Authority (2016). How we calculate this

Weather in Ethiopia vs New Zealand

Monthly averages — select a city to compare.

Auckland Rain: 43.3 in/yr (1101 mm)
66° / 54°F

Avg. annual high / low

Addis Ababa Rain: 45.9 in/yr (1165 mm)
74° / 49°F

Avg. annual high / low

Months Auckland Addis Ababa
Jan–Mar 74°/61°F (23°/16°C) 76°/48°F (24°/9°C)
Apr–Jun 63°/51°F (18°/11°C) 75°/51°F (24°/11°C)
Jul–Sep 60°/47°F (15°/8°C) 71°/50°F (21°/10°C)
Oct–Dec 67°/55°F (20°/13°C) 73°/46°F (23°/8°C)
View all months
Month Auckland Addis Ababa
Jan 74°/61°F (23.6°/16.0°C) 75°/46°F (24.0°/8.0°C)
Feb 75°/62°F (24.1°/16.5°C) 75°/48°F (24.0°/9.0°C)
Mar 73°/59°F (22.6°/14.9°C) 77°/50°F (25.0°/10.0°C)
Apr 68°/55°F (20.0°/12.7°C) 75°/52°F (24.0°/11.0°C)
May 63°/51°F (17.4°/10.6°C) 77°/52°F (25.0°/11.0°C)
Jun 59°/47°F (15.2°/8.4°C) 73°/50°F (23.0°/10.0°C)
Jul 58°/46°F (14.3°/7.5°C) 70°/50°F (21.0°/10.0°C)
Aug 59°/47°F (14.9°/8.2°C) 70°/50°F (21.0°/10.0°C)
Sep 62°/49°F (16.4°/9.7°C) 72°/50°F (22.0°/10.0°C)
Oct 64°/52°F (17.7°/11.2°C) 73°/48°F (23.0°/9.0°C)
Nov 67°/55°F (19.5°/12.8°C) 73°/45°F (23.0°/7.0°C)
Dec 71°/59°F (21.8°/14.9°C) 73°/45°F (23.0°/7.0°C)

Data: New Zealand National Meteorological Service New Zealand National Meteorological Service, Ethiopian Meteorological Institute (EMI) Ethiopian Meteorological Institute (EMI)

Can you move from New Zealand to Ethiopia?

Short-stay tourist visa rules between New Zealand and Ethiopia. To live, work, or study long-term in Ethiopia, you'll need a separate residence or work visa — check Ethiopia's immigration authority.

New Zealand passport

New Zealand passport holder visiting Ethiopia

Visa on Arrival
New Zealand passport holders can obtain a visa on arrival in Ethiopia.
Ethiopia passport

Ethiopia passport holder visiting New Zealand

Visa Required
Ethiopia 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 Ethiopia?

Internet is rarely the blocker — Ethiopia has 0.6 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 Ethiopia safe for expats?

New Zealand performs better than Ethiopia across all safety metrics. The homicide rate in Ethiopia is 8.6 per 100,000 people, compared to 1.5 in New Zealand.

How is healthcare in Ethiopia compared to New Zealand?

Ethiopia generally does better on health & wellbeing, though New Zealand leads in doctors per 10,000 people. There are 1.4 doctors per 10,000 people in Ethiopia, compared to 36.1 in New Zealand. Ethiopia scores 35 on the WHO universal health coverage index (New Zealand: 85).

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

The average high temperature in Addis Ababa is 74°F, compared to 66°F in Auckland. Addis Ababa receives around 45.9 in of rainfall per year, while Auckland gets 43.3 in.

What language do they speak in Ethiopia?

The official language in Ethiopia is Amharic. In New Zealand, the official languages are English, Māori and New Zealand Sign Language.

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At a Glance

NZ ET
Population 5,324,700 135,472,051
Currency New Zealand Dollar (NZ$) Ethiopian Birr (ETB)
Languages English, Māori, New Zealand Sign Language Amharic
Driving side Left Right
Calling code +64 +251
Time zones 5 1
Emergency number 111 911