Moving to Burundi from Sri Lanka

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What to Expect

Considering a move from Sri Lanka to Burundi? Here's how the two countries compare on cost, climate, safety, and more.

If you moved from Sri Lanka 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

The numbers behind daily life in Burundi compared to Sri Lanka.

Is it safe?

Homicide rate United Nations SDG Indicators, 2019

per 100,000 people per year

LK
3.4
BI
5.8
Road traffic deaths United Nations SDG Indicators, 2021

per 100,000 people per year

LK
11.5
BI
12.3

Sri Lanka performs better than Burundi across all safety metrics.

How's the healthcare?

Healthcare spending per person World Bank, 2023

annual government + private spending per person

LK
$507
BI
$100
Doctors per 10,000 people United Nations SDG Indicators, 2021

affects wait times and access to care

LK
11.9
BI
0.6

Sri Lanka generally does better on health & wellbeing, though Burundi 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

LK
37.0
BI
71.0
CO₂ emissions per capita World Bank, 2024

tonnes of CO₂ emitted per person per year

LK
1.1t
BI
0.1t

Sri Lanka generally does better on environment, though Burundi 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

LK
10.1
BI
0.0
Water stress level United Nations SDG Indicators, 2021

higher means greater strain on freshwater supply

LK
90.8%
BI
10.2%

Sri Lanka generally does better on infrastructure, though Burundi leads in water stress level.

What are the job prospects?

Unemployment rate The World Factbook, 2023

percentage of the labour force without work

LK
6.4%
BI
0.9%
GDP per capita The World Factbook, 2023

a broad measure of economic output per person

LK
$13,000
BI
$900

Sri Lanka generally does better on employment & economy, though Burundi leads in unemployment rate.

Is it good for families?

Life expectancy The World Factbook, 2022

average years of life at birth

LK
77.5 yrs
BI
67.4 yrs
Infant mortality The World Factbook, 2022

deaths per 1,000 live births — lower is better

LK
8.2
BI
37.8

Sri Lanka generally does better on family life, though Burundi leads in education spending.

Data: The World Factbook, United Nations SDG Indicators, World Bank

What's the Climate Like?

Monthly averages — select a city to compare.

Colombo Rain: 99.4 in/yr (2524 mm)
87° / 75°F

Avg. annual high / low

Bujumbura Rain: 30.9 in/yr (786 mm)
85° / 66°F

Avg. annual high / low

Months Colombo Bujumbura
Jan–Mar 88°/73°F (31°/23°C) 85°/67°F (29°/19°C)
Apr–Jun 88°/77°F (31°/25°C) 86°/66°F (30°/19°C)
Jul–Sep 86°/77°F (30°/25°C) 86°/64°F (30°/18°C)
Oct–Dec 86°/74°F (30°/23°C) 85°/66°F (29°/19°C)
View all months
Month Colombo Bujumbura
Jan 88°/72°F (30.9°/22.3°C) 84°/67°F (29.1°/19.2°C)
Feb 88°/73°F (31.2°/22.6°C) 85°/67°F (29.7°/19.3°C)
Mar 89°/75°F (31.7°/23.7°C) 85°/67°F (29.3°/19.3°C)
Apr 89°/76°F (31.8°/24.6°C) 85°/67°F (29.2°/19.6°C)
May 88°/78°F (31.1°/25.5°C) 86°/66°F (29.9°/19.1°C)
Jun 87°/78°F (30.4°/25.5°C) 86°/64°F (29.9°/17.6°C)
Jul 86°/77°F (30.0°/25.2°C) 85°/63°F (29.2°/17.2°C)
Aug 86°/77°F (30.0°/25.1°C) 86°/63°F (30.0°/17.4°C)
Sep 86°/77°F (30.2°/24.8°C) 88°/65°F (30.9°/18.6°C)
Oct 86°/75°F (30.0°/24.0°C) 86°/66°F (30.1°/19.1°C)
Nov 86°/74°F (30.1°/23.2°C) 84°/66°F (29.1°/19.1°C)
Dec 87°/73°F (30.3°/22.8°C) 84°/66°F (28.9°/19.1°C)

Data: National Meteorological Centre National Meteorological Centre, Institut Géographique du Burundi (IGEBU) Institut Géographique du Burundi (IGEBU)

Visitor Visa Requirements

Short-stay tourist visa rules between Sri Lanka 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.

Sri Lanka passport

Sri Lanka passport holder visiting Burundi

Visa on Arrival
Sri Lanka passport holders can obtain a visa on arrival in Burundi.
Burundi passport

Burundi passport holder visiting Sri Lanka

Electronic Travel Authorisation
Burundi passport holders need an electronic travel authorisation (ETA) to enter Sri Lanka.

Data: Henley Passport Index. Check with the destination country's embassy for the most current requirements.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I work remotely from Burundi?

Connectivity is usually fine (Burundi: 0.0 fixed broadband per 100). What actually decides it is legal: does Burundi offer a digital nomad visa, will your employer permit overseas work, and where are you tax-resident?

Is Burundi safe for expats?

Sri Lanka performs better than Burundi across all safety metrics. The homicide rate in Burundi is 5.8 per 100,000 people, compared to 3.4 in Sri Lanka.

How is healthcare in Burundi compared to Sri Lanka?

Sri Lanka 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 11.9 in Sri Lanka. Burundi scores 41 on the WHO universal health coverage index (Sri Lanka: 67).

What's the weather like in Burundi compared to Sri Lanka?

The average high temperature in Bujumbura is 85°F, compared to 87°F in Colombo. Bujumbura receives around 30.9 in of rainfall per year, while Colombo gets 99.4 in.

What language do they speak in Burundi?

The official languages in Burundi are French and Kirundi. In Sri Lanka, the official languages are Sinhala and Tamil.

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At a Glance

LK BI
Population 23,187,516 12,696,478
Currency Sri Lankan Rupee (LKR) Burundian Franc (BIF)
Languages Sinhala, Tamil French, Kirundi
Driving side Left Right
Calling code +94 +257
Time zones 1 1
Emergency number 119