Living in Burkina Faso: the ultimate expat guide
Everything you need to know for a successful life in Burkina Faso.
On the western part of Africa, Burkina Faso is a country offering an expat experience in a peaceful environment with a great cultural diversity. Living here will be a complete change of scenery and way of life, mingling with a welcoming population and taking part into a fast-growing economy.
Expatriates settling in Burkina Faso to retire or to work will also enjoy various activities during their free time.
A former French colony, the main language in Burkina Faso is French. However, many indigenous languages are also spoken. The people of Burkina Faso are immensely proud of their culture and heritage ' from the food to the music, the West African culture is truly represented here.
The climate is tropical ' summers are hot and wet, and winters are dry and warm. April is usually the hottest month, with temperatures reaching up to 37°C whereas the coldest months are December and January with temperatures down to 18°C.
For expats who like culture, the largest African film festival is held in Burkina Faso every other year, attracting visitors and film stars from across the continent. Thus, it's not surprising that going to the cinema is a common pastime, especially in the city of Ouagadougou which is filled with open-air cinemas. Also, many outdoors festivals take place throughout the year, such as the jazz festival and hip-hop festival.
The economy of Burkina Faso is weak and hasn't been helped by the ongoing political coups nor the frequent droughts. The majority of the population works in agriculture with cotton being the main crop and along with gold the country's two main exports.
The cost of living is high in Burkina Faso when compared to the average income, and the IMF has been operating in the country to help improve the economic situation.
