Moving to Ethiopia from Portugal

moving to

What to Expect

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

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

Planning this move? Get up to 5 free, no-obligation quotes from vetted international movers. Get free quotes ↓

Get free moving quotes to Ethiopia

We've teamed up with a vetted network of international movers to help MyLifeElsewhere readers plan their move with confidence. Tell us about your move and get up to 5 free, no-obligation quotes in under 2 minutes.

  • ✅ Up to 5 quotes from screened movers
  • ✅ Licensed and insured providers only
  • ✅ 100% free — you choose who contacts you

Key Indicator Comparison

Key indicators for anyone considering a move from Portugal to Ethiopia.

Is it safe?

Homicide rate United Nations SDG Indicators, 2021

per 100,000 people per year

PT
0.8
ET
8.6
Road traffic deaths United Nations SDG Indicators, 2021

per 100,000 people per year

PT
7.2
ET
17.7

Portugal 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

PT
$4,928
ET
$86
Doctors per 10,000 people United Nations SDG Indicators, 2022

affects wait times and access to care

PT
57.7
ET
1.1

Ethiopia generally does better on health & wellbeing, though Portugal 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

PT
10.0
ET
46.0
CO₂ emissions per capita World Bank, 2024

tonnes of CO₂ emitted per person per year

PT
3.3t
ET
0.1t

Portugal generally does better on environment, though Ethiopia 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

PT
43.5
ET
0.5
Water stress level United Nations SDG Indicators, 2021

higher means greater strain on freshwater supply

PT
12.3%
ET
32.3%

Portugal performs better than Ethiopia across all infrastructure metrics.

What are the job prospects?

Unemployment rate The World Factbook, 2023

percentage of the labour force without work

PT
6.5%
ET
3.5%
GDP per capita The World Factbook, 2023

a broad measure of economic output per person

PT
$41,700
ET
$2,800

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

Is it good for families?

Life expectancy The World Factbook, 2022

average years of life at birth

PT
81.5 yrs
ET
68.2 yrs
Infant mortality The World Factbook, 2022

deaths per 1,000 live births — lower is better

PT
2.5
ET
33.5

Portugal performs better than Ethiopia across all family life metrics.

Data: Autoridade Tributária e Aduaneira, The World Factbook, United Nations SDG Indicators, World Bank

What's the Climate Like?

Monthly averages — select a city to compare.

Lisbon Rain: 29.6 in/yr (751 mm)
69° / 55°F

Avg. annual high / low

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

Avg. annual high / low

Months Lisbon Addis Ababa
Jan–Mar 61°/48°F (16°/9°C) 76°/48°F (24°/9°C)
Apr–Jun 71°/56°F (22°/13°C) 75°/51°F (24°/11°C)
Jul–Sep 81°/63°F (27°/17°C) 71°/50°F (21°/10°C)
Oct–Dec 65°/53°F (18°/12°C) 73°/46°F (23°/8°C)
View all months
Month Lisbon Addis Ababa
Jan 58°/47°F (14.5°/8.2°C) 75°/46°F (24.0°/8.0°C)
Feb 60°/48°F (15.6°/9.0°C) 75°/48°F (24.0°/9.0°C)
Mar 64°/50°F (17.6°/9.9°C) 77°/50°F (25.0°/10.0°C)
Apr 66°/52°F (19.1°/11.1°C) 75°/52°F (24.0°/11.0°C)
May 71°/55°F (21.7°/13.0°C) 77°/52°F (25.0°/11.0°C)
Jun 77°/60°F (24.8°/15.6°C) 73°/50°F (23.0°/10.0°C)
Jul 81°/63°F (27.4°/17.4°C) 70°/50°F (21.0°/10.0°C)
Aug 82°/64°F (27.9°/17.7°C) 70°/50°F (21.0°/10.0°C)
Sep 80°/63°F (26.4°/17.0°C) 72°/50°F (22.0°/10.0°C)
Oct 72°/58°F (22.4°/14.6°C) 73°/48°F (23.0°/9.0°C)
Nov 64°/52°F (17.8°/11.2°C) 73°/45°F (23.0°/7.0°C)
Dec 59°/48°F (14.8°/8.9°C) 73°/45°F (23.0°/7.0°C)

Data: Instituto Português do Mar e da Atmosfera Instituto Português do Mar e da Atmosfera, Ethiopian Meteorological Institute (EMI) Ethiopian Meteorological Institute (EMI)

Visitor Visa Requirements

Short-stay tourist visa rules between Portugal 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.

Portugal passport

Portugal passport holder visiting Ethiopia

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

Ethiopia passport holder visiting Portugal

Visa Required
Ethiopia passport holders need a visa to enter Portugal.

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 0.5 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?

Portugal performs better than Ethiopia across all safety metrics. The homicide rate in Ethiopia is 8.6 per 100,000 people, compared to 0.8 in Portugal.

How is healthcare in Ethiopia compared to Portugal?

Ethiopia generally does better on health & wellbeing, though Portugal leads in doctors per 10,000 people. There are 1.1 doctors per 10,000 people in Ethiopia, compared to 57.7 in Portugal. Ethiopia scores 35 on the WHO universal health coverage index (Portugal: 88).

What's the weather like in Ethiopia compared to Portugal?

The average high temperature in Addis Ababa is 74°F, compared to 69°F in Lisbon. Addis Ababa receives around 45.9 in of rainfall per year, while Lisbon gets 29.6 in.

What language do they speak in Ethiopia?

The official language in Ethiopia is Amharic. In Portugal, the official language is Portuguese.

Share this

At a Glance

PT ET
Population 10,242,081 113,656,596
Currency Euro (€) Ethiopian Birr (ETB)
Languages Portuguese Amharic
Driving side Right Right
Calling code +351 +251
Time zones 2 1
Emergency number 112 911