Moving to Guinea-Bissau from Zimbabwe

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What to Expect

Everything you need to know before relocating from Zimbabwe to Guinea-Bissau — costs, safety, healthcare, and practical first steps.

If you moved from Zimbabwe to Guinea-Bissau, and you’d need to navigate life in Portuguese and Upper Guinea Creole. You’ll also switch from driving on the left to the right. Expect a noticeable climate shift — Bissau averages 90°F vs 78°F in Harare, making it significantly warmer.

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Key Indicator Comparison

Key indicators for anyone considering a move from Zimbabwe to Guinea-Bissau.

Is it safe?

Homicide rate United Nations SDG Indicators, 2022

per 100,000 people per year

ZW
6.7
GW
1.1
Road traffic deaths United Nations SDG Indicators, 2021

per 100,000 people per year

ZW
29.9
GW
30.5

Zimbabwe generally does better on safety, though Guinea-Bissau leads in homicide rate.

How's the healthcare?

Healthcare spending per person World Bank, 2023

annual government + private spending per person

ZW
$63
GW
$247
Doctors per 10,000 people United Nations SDG Indicators, 2022

affects wait times and access to care

ZW
1.7
GW
2.1

Zimbabwe generally does better on health & wellbeing, though Guinea-Bissau 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

ZW
56.0
GW
89.0
CO₂ emissions per capita World Bank, 2024

tonnes of CO₂ emitted per person per year

ZW
0.8t
GW
0.2t

Zimbabwe generally does better on environment, though Guinea-Bissau 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

ZW
1.3
GW
0.2
Water stress level United Nations SDG Indicators, 2021

higher means greater strain on freshwater supply

ZW
46.1%
GW
1.5%

Zimbabwe generally does better on infrastructure, though Guinea-Bissau leads in water stress level.

What are the job prospects?

Unemployment rate The World Factbook, 2023

percentage of the labour force without work

ZW
8.8%
GW
3.2%
GDP per capita The World Factbook, 2023

a broad measure of economic output per person

ZW
$3,500
GW
$2,400

Zimbabwe generally does better on employment & economy, though Guinea-Bissau leads in unemployment rate.

Is it good for families?

Life expectancy The World Factbook, 2022

average years of life at birth

ZW
63.3 yrs
GW
63.7 yrs
Infant mortality The World Factbook, 2022

deaths per 1,000 live births — lower is better

ZW
28.5
GW
49.0

Zimbabwe generally does better on family life, though Guinea-Bissau 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.

Harare Rain: 33.1 in/yr (841 mm)
78° / 54°F

Avg. annual high / low

Bissau Rain: 69.1 in/yr (1756 mm)
90° / 67°F

Avg. annual high / low

Months Harare Bissau
Jan–Mar 79°/59°F (26°/15°C) 92°/67°F (33°/20°C)
Apr–Jun 75°/49°F (24°/10°C) 91°/66°F (33°/19°C)
Jul–Sep 76°/48°F (25°/9°C) 87°/68°F (30°/20°C)
Oct–Dec 82°/59°F (28°/15°C) 90°/69°F (32°/21°C)
View all months
Month Harare Bissau
Jan 79°/60°F (26.2°/15.8°C) 90°/67°F (32.0°/19.4°C)
Feb 79°/60°F (26.0°/15.7°C) 96°/72°F (35.4°/22.0°C)
Mar 79°/58°F (26.2°/14.5°C) 90°/63°F (32.1°/17.1°C)
Apr 78°/54°F (25.6°/12.5°C) 92°/64°F (33.4°/17.7°C)
May 75°/49°F (23.8°/9.3°C) 91°/67°F (33.0°/19.3°C)
Jun 71°/44°F (21.8°/6.8°C) 89°/68°F (31.4°/20.0°C)
Jul 71°/44°F (21.6°/6.5°C) 88°/68°F (30.9°/20.1°C)
Aug 75°/47°F (24.1°/8.5°C) 86°/68°F (30.2°/20.2°C)
Sep 83°/53°F (28.4°/11.7°C) 86°/67°F (30.0°/19.3°C)
Oct 84°/58°F (28.8°/14.5°C) 90°/69°F (32.2°/20.5°C)
Nov 82°/60°F (27.6°/15.5°C) 90°/69°F (32.2°/20.6°C)
Dec 79°/60°F (26.3°/15.8°C)

Data: Meteorological Services Department Meteorological Services Department, Instituto Nacional de Meteorologia da Guiné-Bissau Instituto Nacional de Meteorologia da Guiné-Bissau

Visitor Visa Requirements

Short-stay tourist visa rules between Zimbabwe and Guinea-Bissau. To live, work, or study long-term in Guinea-Bissau, you'll need a separate residence or work visa — check Guinea-Bissau's immigration authority.

Zimbabwe passport

Zimbabwe passport holder visiting Guinea-Bissau

Visa on Arrival
Zimbabwe passport holders can obtain a visa on arrival in Guinea-Bissau.
Guinea-Bissau passport

Guinea-Bissau passport holder visiting Zimbabwe

Visa Online (e-Visa)
Guinea-Bissau passport holders need to apply for an e-Visa before travelling to Zimbabwe.

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

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I work remotely from Guinea-Bissau?

Internet is rarely the blocker — Guinea-Bissau has 0.2 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 Guinea-Bissau safe for expats?

Zimbabwe generally does better on safety, though Guinea-Bissau leads in homicide rate. The homicide rate in Guinea-Bissau is 1.1 per 100,000 people, compared to 6.7 in Zimbabwe.

How is healthcare in Guinea-Bissau compared to Zimbabwe?

Zimbabwe generally does better on health & wellbeing, though Guinea-Bissau leads in doctors per 10,000 people. There are 2.1 doctors per 10,000 people in Guinea-Bissau, compared to 1.7 in Zimbabwe. Guinea-Bissau scores 37 on the WHO universal health coverage index (Zimbabwe: 55).

What's the weather like in Guinea-Bissau compared to Zimbabwe?

The average high temperature in Bissau is 90°F, compared to 78°F in Harare. Bissau receives around 69.1 in of rainfall per year, while Harare gets 33.1 in.

What language do they speak in Guinea-Bissau?

The official languages in Guinea-Bissau are Portuguese and Upper Guinea Creole. In Zimbabwe, the official languages are Chewa, Chibarwe, English, Kalanga, Khoisan, Ndau, Northern Ndebele, Shona, Sotho, Tonga, Tsonga, Tswana, Venda, Xhosa and Zimbabwean Sign Language.

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At a Glance

ZW GW
Population 15,121,004 2,026,778
Currency Zimbabwean Dollar (ZWL) CFA Franc BCEAO (F CFA)
Languages Chewa, Chibarwe, English, Kalanga, Khoisan, Ndau, Northern Ndebele, Shona, Sotho, Tonga, Tsonga, Tswana, Venda, Xhosa, Zimbabwean Sign Language Portuguese, Upper Guinea Creole
Driving side Left Right
Calling code +263 +245
Time zones 1 1
Emergency number 999