Moving to Burundi from United States
What to Expect
Considering a move from United States to Burundi? Here's how the two countries compare on cost, climate, safety, and more.
If you moved from United States to Burundi, and you’d need to navigate life in French and Kirundi. Expect a noticeable climate shift — Bujumbura averages 85°F vs 66°F in Washington, making it significantly warmer.
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Key Indicator Comparison
The numbers behind daily life in Burundi compared to United States.
Is it safe?
per 100,000 people per year
per 100,000 people per year
Burundi performs significantly better than United States 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
United States 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
United States 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
United States 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
United States 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
United States performs better than Burundi 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.
Avg. annual high / low
Avg. annual high / low
| Months | Washington | Bujumbura |
|---|---|---|
| Jan–Mar | 48°/28°F (9°/-2°C) | 85°/67°F (29°/19°C) |
| Apr–Jun | 75°/51°F (24°/11°C) | 86°/66°F (30°/19°C) |
| Jul–Sep | 85°/62°F (29°/17°C) | 86°/64°F (30°/18°C) |
| Oct–Dec | 57°/35°F (14°/2°C) | 85°/66°F (29°/19°C) |
View all months
| Month | Washington | Bujumbura |
|---|---|---|
| Jan | 42°/24°F (5.8°/-4.5°C) | 84°/67°F (29.1°/19.2°C) |
| Feb | 46°/26°F (8.0°/-3.3°C) | 85°/67°F (29.7°/19.3°C) |
| Mar | 56°/33°F (13.1°/0.5°C) | 85°/67°F (29.3°/19.3°C) |
| Apr | 67°/42°F (19.3°/5.6°C) | 85°/67°F (29.2°/19.6°C) |
| May | 75°/51°F (23.9°/10.7°C) | 86°/66°F (29.9°/19.1°C) |
| Jun | 84°/61°F (28.8°/16.1°C) | 86°/64°F (29.9°/17.6°C) |
| Jul | 88°/65°F (31.1°/18.6°C) | 85°/63°F (29.2°/17.2°C) |
| Aug | 87°/64°F (30.3°/17.9°C) | 86°/63°F (30.0°/17.4°C) |
| Sep | 79°/56°F (26.3°/13.5°C) | 88°/65°F (30.9°/18.6°C) |
| Oct | 68°/44°F (20.1°/6.6°C) | 86°/66°F (30.1°/19.1°C) |
| Nov | 58°/35°F (14.2°/1.8°C) | 84°/66°F (29.1°/19.1°C) |
| Dec | 46°/27°F (7.8°/-2.7°C) | 84°/66°F (28.9°/19.1°C) |
Data:
National Weather Service,
Institut Géographique du Burundi (IGEBU)
Visitor Visa Requirements
Short-stay tourist visa rules between United States 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.
United States passport holder visiting Burundi
Visa on Arrival
Burundi passport holder visiting United States
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?
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?
Burundi performs significantly better than United States across all safety metrics. The homicide rate in Burundi is 5.8 per 100,000 people, compared to 6.4 in United States.
How is healthcare in Burundi compared to United States?
United States 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 36.1 in United States. Burundi scores 41 on the WHO universal health coverage index (United States: 86).
What's the weather like in Burundi compared to United States?
The average high temperature in Bujumbura is 85°F, compared to 66°F in Washington. Bujumbura receives around 30.9 in of rainfall per year, while Washington gets 41.5 in.
What language do they speak in Burundi?
The official languages in Burundi are French and Kirundi. In United States, the official language is English.
