Moving to Burkina Faso from Senegal

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What to Expect

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

If you moved from Senegal to Burkina Faso. Expect a noticeable climate shift — Ouagadougou averages 95°F vs 82°F in Dakar, making it significantly warmer.

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Who Else Is Making This Move?

What the data shows about people moving from Senegal to Burkina Faso.

Living there in 2020
4,191 ↑ 4% vs 2015

people born in Senegal live in Burkina Faso · UN DESA

Who's moving to Burkina Faso?

Top countries of origin for Burkina Faso's foreign-born residents.

Foreign-born population · UN DESA (2020)

Key Indicator Comparison

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

Is it safe?

Road traffic deaths United Nations SDG Indicators, 2021

per 100,000 people per year

SN
20.8
BF
27.8

Senegal 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

SN
$206
BF
$224
Doctors per 10,000 people United Nations SDG Indicators, 2022

affects wait times and access to care

SN
1.3
BF
1.5

Senegal generally does better on health & wellbeing, though Burkina Faso 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

SN
65.0
BF
84.0
CO₂ emissions per capita World Bank, 2024

tonnes of CO₂ emitted per person per year

SN
0.8t
BF
0.3t

Senegal 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

SN
1.4
BF
0.1
Water stress level United Nations SDG Indicators, 2021

higher means greater strain on freshwater supply

SN
16.3%
BF
7.8%

Senegal 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

SN
2.9%
BF
5.3%
GDP per capita The World Factbook, 2023

a broad measure of economic output per person

SN
$4,400
BF
$2,500

Senegal generally does better on employment & economy, though Burkina Faso leads in poverty rate.

Is it good for families?

Life expectancy The World Factbook, 2022

average years of life at birth

SN
70.0 yrs
BF
63.4 yrs
Infant mortality The World Factbook, 2022

deaths per 1,000 live births — lower is better

SN
32.4
BF
49.4

Senegal 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.

Dakar Rain: 14.9 in/yr (379 mm)
82° / 71°F

Avg. annual high / low

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

Avg. annual high / low

Months Dakar Ouagadougou
Jan–Mar 77°/64°F (25°/18°C) 96°/67°F (36°/20°C)
Apr–Jun 79°/70°F (26°/21°C) 99°/78°F (37°/26°C)
Jul–Sep 86°/77°F (30°/25°C) 89°/72°F (32°/22°C)
Oct–Dec 85°/73°F (29°/23°C) 95°/67°F (35°/20°C)
View all months
Month Dakar Ouagadougou
Jan 77°/64°F (24.9°/17.9°C) 91°/62°F (32.9°/16.5°C)
Feb 77°/64°F (24.8°/17.8°C) 96°/66°F (35.8°/19.1°C)
Mar 77°/65°F (25.1°/18.3°C) 101°/74°F (38.3°/23.5°C)
Apr 76°/66°F (24.7°/19.1°C) 103°/80°F (39.3°/26.4°C)
May 79°/69°F (25.9°/20.6°C) 100°/79°F (37.7°/26.1°C)
Jun 83°/74°F (28.5°/23.5°C) 94°/75°F (34.7°/24.1°C)
Jul 86°/77°F (29.9°/25.0°C) 90°/73°F (32.1°/22.8°C)
Aug 86°/77°F (30.2°/25.2°C) 88°/72°F (31.1°/22.2°C)
Sep 87°/77°F (30.6°/25.0°C) 90°/72°F (32.5°/22.4°C)
Oct 88°/77°F (30.9°/25.2°C) 96°/73°F (35.6°/23.0°C)
Nov 85°/74°F (29.7°/23.2°C) 97°/67°F (35.9°/19.6°C)
Dec 81°/69°F (27.2°/20.5°C) 92°/62°F (33.4°/16.9°C)

Data: Agence nationale de l'Aviation Civile et de la Météorologie (ANACIM) Agence nationale de l'Aviation Civile et de la Météorologie (ANACIM), 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 Senegal 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.

Senegal passport

Senegal passport holder visiting Burkina Faso

Visa Free
Senegal passport holders can enter Burkina Faso without a visa.
Burkina Faso passport

Burkina Faso passport holder visiting Senegal

Visa Free
Burkina Faso passport holders can enter Senegal without a visa.

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?

Senegal performs better than Burkina Faso across all safety metrics.

How is healthcare in Burkina Faso compared to Senegal?

Senegal generally does better on health & wellbeing, though Burkina Faso leads in doctors per 10,000 people. There are 1.5 doctors per 10,000 people in Burkina Faso, compared to 1.3 in Senegal. Burkina Faso scores 40 on the WHO universal health coverage index (Senegal: 50).

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

The average high temperature in Ouagadougou is 95°F, compared to 82°F in Dakar. Ouagadougou receives around 29.3 in of rainfall per year, while Dakar gets 14.9 in.

What language do they speak in Burkina Faso?

Both Senegal and Burkina Faso share the same official language: French.

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At a Glance

SN BF
Population 17,923,036 21,935,389
Currency CFA Franc BCEAO (F CFA) CFA Franc BCEAO (F CFA)
Languages French French
Driving side Right Right
Calling code +221 +226
Time zones 1 1
Emergency number 17