Moving to Burkina Faso from United Kingdom

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What to Expect

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

If you moved from United Kingdom 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 60°F in London, making it significantly warmer.

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Key Indicator Comparison

The numbers behind daily life in Burkina Faso compared to United Kingdom.

Is it safe?

Road traffic deaths United Nations SDG Indicators, 2021

per 100,000 people per year

GB
2.4
BF
27.8

United Kingdom performs better than Burkina Faso across all safety metrics.

How's the healthcare?

Healthcare spending per person World Bank, 2024

annual government + private spending per person

GB
$6,606
BF
$224
Doctors per 10,000 people United Nations SDG Indicators, 2022

affects wait times and access to care

GB
31.7
BF
1.5

Burkina Faso generally does better on health & wellbeing, though United Kingdom 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

GB
13.0
BF
84.0
CO₂ emissions per capita World Bank, 2024

tonnes of CO₂ emitted per person per year

GB
4.2t
BF
0.3t

United Kingdom 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

GB
41.4
BF
0.1
Water stress level United Nations SDG Indicators, 2021

higher means greater strain on freshwater supply

GB
14.3%
BF
7.8%

United Kingdom 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

GB
4.1%
BF
5.3%
GDP per capita The World Factbook, 2023

a broad measure of economic output per person

GB
$54,100
BF
$2,500

United Kingdom performs better than Burkina Faso across all employment & economy metrics.

Is it good for families?

Life expectancy The World Factbook, 2022

average years of life at birth

GB
81.9 yrs
BF
63.4 yrs
Infant mortality The World Factbook, 2022

deaths per 1,000 live births — lower is better

GB
3.8
BF
49.4

United Kingdom 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.

London Rain: 22.0 in/yr (558 mm)
60° / 46°F

Avg. annual high / low

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

Avg. annual high / low

Months London Ouagadougou
Jan–Mar 49°/38°F (9°/3°C) 96°/67°F (36°/20°C)
Apr–Jun 64°/48°F (18°/9°C) 99°/78°F (37°/26°C)
Jul–Sep 72°/56°F (22°/13°C) 89°/72°F (32°/22°C)
Oct–Dec 53°/43°F (12°/6°C) 95°/67°F (35°/20°C)
View all months
Month London Ouagadougou
Jan 47°/38°F (8.1°/3.1°C) 91°/62°F (32.9°/16.5°C)
Feb 47°/37°F (8.6°/2.7°C) 96°/66°F (35.8°/19.1°C)
Mar 53°/40°F (11.6°/4.6°C) 101°/74°F (38.3°/23.5°C)
Apr 58°/43°F (14.6°/5.9°C) 103°/80°F (39.3°/26.4°C)
May 65°/48°F (18.1°/8.9°C) 100°/79°F (37.7°/26.1°C)
Jun 70°/53°F (21.0°/11.8°C) 94°/75°F (34.7°/24.1°C)
Jul 74°/57°F (23.4°/13.7°C) 90°/73°F (32.1°/22.8°C)
Aug 74°/57°F (23.1°/13.8°C) 88°/72°F (31.1°/22.2°C)
Sep 68°/53°F (20.0°/11.4°C) 90°/72°F (32.5°/22.4°C)
Oct 60°/48°F (15.5°/8.8°C) 96°/73°F (35.6°/23.0°C)
Nov 52°/42°F (11.3°/5.8°C) 97°/67°F (35.9°/19.6°C)
Dec 47°/38°F (8.4°/3.4°C) 92°/62°F (33.4°/16.9°C)

Data: Met Office Met Office, 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 United Kingdom 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.

United Kingdom passport

United Kingdom passport holder visiting Burkina Faso

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

Burkina Faso passport holder visiting United Kingdom

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

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?

United Kingdom performs better than Burkina Faso across all safety metrics.

How is healthcare in Burkina Faso compared to United Kingdom?

Burkina Faso generally does better on health & wellbeing, though United Kingdom leads in doctors per 10,000 people. There are 1.5 doctors per 10,000 people in Burkina Faso, compared to 31.7 in United Kingdom. Burkina Faso scores 40 on the WHO universal health coverage index (United Kingdom: 88).

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

The average high temperature in Ouagadougou is 95°F, compared to 60°F in London. Ouagadougou receives around 29.3 in of rainfall per year, while London gets 22.0 in.

What language do they speak in Burkina Faso?

The official language in Burkina Faso is French. In United Kingdom, the official language is English.

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At a Glance

GB BF
Population 67,791,400 21,935,389
Currency British Pound Sterling (£) CFA Franc BCEAO (F CFA)
Languages English French
Driving side Left Right
Calling code +44 +226
Time zones 9 1
Emergency number 999