Moving to Burkina Faso from Swaziland

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What to Expect

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

If you moved from Swaziland to Burkina Faso, and you’d need to navigate life in French. You’ll also switch from driving on the left to the right. Expect a noticeable climate shift — Ouagadougou averages 95°F vs 72°F in Lobamba, making it significantly warmer.

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Key Indicator Comparison

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

Is it safe?

Homicide rate World Bank, 2021

per 100,000 people per year

SZ
12.5
BF
1.2
Road traffic deaths United Nations SDG Indicators, 2021

per 100,000 people per year

SZ
24.7
BF
27.8

Swaziland generally does better on safety, though Burkina Faso leads in homicide rate.

How's the healthcare?

Healthcare spending per person World Bank, 2023

annual government + private spending per person

SZ
$922
BF
$224
Doctors per 10,000 people World Bank, 2023

affects wait times and access to care

SZ
5.6
BF
1.5

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

SZ
66.0
BF
84.0
CO₂ emissions per capita World Bank, 2024

tonnes of CO₂ emitted per person per year

SZ
0.9t
BF
0.3t

Swaziland generally does better on environment, though Burkina Faso 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

SZ
2.5
BF
0.8
Water stress level World Bank, 2022

higher means greater strain on freshwater supply

SZ
77.6%
BF
7.8%

Swaziland generally does better on infrastructure, though Burkina Faso leads in water stress level.

What are the job prospects?

Unemployment rate World Bank, 2025

percentage of the labour force without work

SZ
34.2%
BF
3.5%
GDP per capita World Bank, 2025

a broad measure of economic output per person

SZ
$4,108
BF
$1,148

Burkina Faso generally does better on employment & economy, though Swaziland leads in gdp per capita.

Is it good for families?

Life expectancy World Bank, 2024

average years of life at birth

SZ
64.3 yrs
BF
61.3 yrs
Infant mortality World Bank, 2024

deaths per 1,000 live births — lower is better

SZ
42.2
BF
43.6

Swaziland performs better than Burkina Faso across all family life metrics.

What's the Climate Like?

Monthly averages — select a city to compare.

Lobamba Rain: 56.8 in/yr (1442 mm)
72° / 51°F

Avg. annual high / low

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

Avg. annual high / low

Months Lobamba Ouagadougou
Jan–Mar 76°/58°F (24°/14°C) 96°/67°F (36°/20°C)
Apr–Jun 70°/46°F (21°/8°C) 99°/78°F (37°/26°C)
Jul–Sep 71°/44°F (21°/7°C) 89°/72°F (32°/22°C)
Oct–Dec 73°/55°F (23°/13°C) 95°/67°F (35°/20°C)
View all months
Month Lobamba Ouagadougou
Jan 77°/59°F (24.9°/14.9°C) 91°/62°F (32.9°/16.5°C)
Feb 76°/58°F (24.5°/14.5°C) 96°/66°F (35.8°/19.1°C)
Mar 75°/56°F (24.1°/13.4°C) 101°/74°F (38.3°/23.5°C)
Apr 73°/52°F (22.6°/11.0°C) 103°/80°F (39.3°/26.4°C)
May 71°/46°F (21.4°/7.9°C) 100°/79°F (37.7°/26.1°C)
Jun 67°/40°F (19.3°/4.7°C) 94°/75°F (34.7°/24.1°C)
Jul 68°/40°F (19.8°/4.6°C) 90°/73°F (32.1°/22.8°C)
Aug 70°/44°F (21.3°/6.6°C) 88°/72°F (31.1°/22.2°C)
Sep 74°/49°F (23.2°/9.5°C) 90°/72°F (32.5°/22.4°C)
Oct 73°/52°F (22.8°/11.3°C) 96°/73°F (35.6°/23.0°C)
Nov 72°/55°F (22.5°/12.9°C) 97°/67°F (35.9°/19.6°C)
Dec 75°/58°F (23.7°/14.2°C) 92°/62°F (33.4°/16.9°C)

Data: Eswatini Meteorological Service Eswatini Meteorological Service, 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 Swaziland 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.

Swaziland passport

Swaziland passport holder visiting Burkina Faso

Visa Online (e-Visa)
Swaziland passport holders need to apply for an e-Visa before travelling to Burkina Faso.
Burkina Faso passport

Burkina Faso passport holder visiting Swaziland

Visa Required
Burkina Faso passport holders need a visa to enter Swaziland.

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: 0.8 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?

Swaziland generally does better on safety, though Burkina Faso leads in homicide rate. The homicide rate in Burkina Faso is 1.2 per 100,000 people, compared to 12.5 in Swaziland.

How is healthcare in Burkina Faso compared to Swaziland?

Burkina Faso generally does better on health & wellbeing, though Swaziland leads in doctors per 10,000 people. There are 1.5 doctors per 10,000 people in Burkina Faso, compared to 5.6 in Swaziland. Burkina Faso scores 40 on the WHO universal health coverage index (Swaziland: 56).

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

The average high temperature in Ouagadougou is 95°F, compared to 72°F in Lobamba. Ouagadougou receives around 29.3 in of rainfall per year, while Lobamba gets 56.8 in.

What language do they speak in Burkina Faso?

The official language in Burkina Faso is French. In Swaziland, the official languages are English and Swazi.

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At a Glance

SZ BF
Population 1,256,174 24,074,580
Currency Swazi Lilangeni (SZL) CFA Franc BCEAO (F CFA)
Languages English, Swazi French
Driving side Left Right
Calling code +268 +226
Time zones 1 1