Moving to Burundi from South Africa
What to Expect
Everything you need to know before relocating from South Africa to Burundi — costs, safety, healthcare, and practical first steps.
If you moved from South Africa to Burundi, and you’d need to navigate life in French and Kirundi. 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 South Africa to Burundi.
Is it safe?
per 100,000 people per year
per 100,000 people per year
Burundi performs significantly better than South Africa across all safety metrics.
How's the healthcare?
annual government + private spending per person
affects wait times and access to care
WHO index from 0–100 measuring essential service access
per 100,000 people — a proxy for mental health support
South Africa generally does better on health & wellbeing, though Burundi leads in healthcare spending per person.
What about the environment?
deaths attributable to air pollution per 100k people
tonnes of CO₂ emitted per person per year
South Africa generally does better on environment, though Burundi leads in co₂ emissions per capita.
Will I have good infrastructure?
fixed broadband subscriptions — key for remote work
higher means greater strain on freshwater supply
South Africa generally does better on infrastructure, though Burundi leads in water stress level.
What are the job prospects?
percentage of the labour force without work
a broad measure of economic output per person
South Africa generally does better on employment & economy, though Burundi leads in unemployment rate.
Is it good for families?
average years of life at birth
deaths per 1,000 live births — lower is better
government spending on education as % of GDP
percentage of adults who can read and write
South Africa generally does better on family life, though Burundi leads in life expectancy.
Data: The World Factbook, United Nations SDG Indicators, World Bank
What's the Climate Like?
Monthly averages — select a city to compare.
Avg. annual high / low
Avg. annual high / low
| Months | Pretoria | Bujumbura |
|---|---|---|
| Jan–Mar | 83°/64°F (28°/18°C) | 85°/67°F (29°/19°C) |
| Apr–Jun | 72°/48°F (22°/9°C) | 86°/66°F (30°/19°C) |
| Jul–Sep | 72°/47°F (22°/8°C) | 86°/64°F (30°/18°C) |
| Oct–Dec | 79°/60°F (26°/15°C) | 85°/66°F (29°/19°C) |
View all months
| Month | Pretoria | Bujumbura |
|---|---|---|
| Jan | 84°/65°F (29.0°/18.1°C) | 84°/67°F (29.1°/19.2°C) |
| Feb | 84°/64°F (28.7°/18.0°C) | 85°/67°F (29.7°/19.3°C) |
| Mar | 81°/62°F (27.3°/16.6°C) | 85°/67°F (29.3°/19.3°C) |
| Apr | 77°/56°F (24.8°/13.1°C) | 85°/67°F (29.2°/19.6°C) |
| May | 72°/48°F (22.4°/8.7°C) | 86°/66°F (29.9°/19.1°C) |
| Jun | 67°/41°F (19.6°/5.2°C) | 86°/64°F (29.9°/17.6°C) |
| Jul | 68°/42°F (19.8°/5.3°C) | 85°/63°F (29.2°/17.2°C) |
| Aug | 72°/47°F (22.3°/8.2°C) | 86°/63°F (30.0°/17.4°C) |
| Sep | 76°/53°F (24.4°/11.8°C) | 88°/65°F (30.9°/18.6°C) |
| Oct | 77°/57°F (25.2°/14.0°C) | 86°/66°F (30.1°/19.1°C) |
| Nov | 79°/60°F (26.0°/15.4°C) | 84°/66°F (29.1°/19.1°C) |
| Dec | 82°/63°F (27.9°/17.0°C) | 84°/66°F (28.9°/19.1°C) |
Data:
South African Weather Service,
Institut Géographique du Burundi (IGEBU)
Visitor Visa Requirements
Short-stay tourist visa rules between South Africa and Burundi. To live, work, or study long-term in Burundi, you'll need a separate residence or work visa — check Burundi's immigration authority.
South Africa passport holder visiting Burundi
Visa on Arrival
Burundi passport holder visiting South Africa
Visa RequiredData: Henley Passport Index. Check with the destination country's embassy for the most current requirements.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I work remotely from Burundi?
Internet is rarely the blocker — Burundi has 0.0 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 Burundi safe for expats?
Burundi performs significantly better than South Africa across all safety metrics. The homicide rate in Burundi is 5.8 per 100,000 people, compared to 45.5 in South Africa.
How is healthcare in Burundi compared to South Africa?
South Africa generally does better on health & wellbeing, though Burundi leads in healthcare spending per person. There are 0.6 doctors per 10,000 people in Burundi, compared to 8.1 in South Africa. Burundi scores 41 on the WHO universal health coverage index (South Africa: 71).
What's the weather like in Burundi compared to South Africa?
The average high temperature in Bujumbura is 85°F, compared to 77°F in Pretoria. Bujumbura receives around 30.9 in of rainfall per year, while Pretoria gets 27.0 in.
What language do they speak in Burundi?
The official languages in Burundi are French and Kirundi. In South Africa, the official languages are Afrikaans, English, Northern Sotho, Southern Ndebele, Southern Sotho, Swazi, Tsonga, Tswana, Venda, Xhosa and Zulu.
Compare further: South Africa vs. Burundi
At a Glance
ZA
|
BI
|
|
|---|---|---|
| Population | 57,516,665 | 12,696,478 |
| Currency | South African Rand (ZAR) | Burundian Franc (BIF) |
| Languages | Afrikaans, English, Northern Sotho, Southern Ndebele, Southern Sotho, Swazi, Tsonga, Tswana, Venda, Xhosa, Zulu | French, Kirundi |
| Driving side | Left | Right |
| Calling code | +27 | +257 |
| Time zones | 1 | 1 |
| Emergency number | 10111 | — |