This content was generated using artificial intelligence based on publicly available information. It is provided for general informational purposes only and does not constitute legal, tax, immigration, or professional advice. Information may be incomplete or outdated. Always verify with official sources before making decisions.
Data Source: Safety, crime, and quality metrics are sourced from Numbeo, a crowd-sourced global database of reported data.
All scores are relative comparisons on a 0-100 scale, where 50 = global average. Higher scores mean better than average, lower scores mean worse than average.
Ouagadougou experiences a dry tropical climate classified as BSh (hot semi-arid steppe), characterized by a distinct rainy season from June to September and very hot, dry conditions for the remainder of the year. The city has experienced significant warming trends, with average temperatures increasing by approximately 1.15°C since the 1940s-1950s period. Annual rainfall averages around 569 mm, concentrated heavily during the monsoon months.
Summer Average
26°C
Winter Average
24°C
Climate Type
Dry Tropical
Rainy Days
80
Sunny Days
3000
Humidity
55%
Spring
March - May
29-33°C
Extremely hot and dry season with the Harmattan wind bringing hot air from the Sahara. March is the hottest month with temperatures reaching up to 40°C, and this period marks the transition before the rainy season begins.
Very Low rainfall
Summer
June - August
25-28°C
The rainy season with monsoon winds bringing moisture from the Atlantic. Despite lower maximum temperatures, humidity increases significantly and thunderstorms are frequent, particularly in August.
High rainfall
Autumn
September - October
26-29°C
Transition period as the rainy season ends and conditions gradually dry out. Rainfall decreases substantially but occasional storms may still occur early in the season.
Moderate rainfall
Winter
November - February
17-27°C
Cool and completely dry season with minimal rainfall. December and January are the coolest months with minimum temperatures around 17°C, though daytime temperatures remain warm.
Very Low rainfall
Loading Weather...
Air Quality
Ouagadougou
Ouagadougou offers an authentic West African experience for expats seeking meaningful work and genuine community connection—not a polished expat bubble. The city's manageable size (1.1M residents) makes navigation straightforward, with functional public transport and reasonable housing costs that stretch further than major Western cities. Healthcare and safety standards are solid for the region, though both require realistic expectations and some advance planning.
The trade-off is infrastructure and amenities: this is a working city, not a resort destination. Internet reliability can be inconsistent, and creature comforts require more effort to source. But if you're drawn to hands-on development work, NGO roles, or building something meaningful in an emerging market—and you're comfortable with a less predictable daily rhythm—Ouagadougou rewards adaptability with genuine impact and a tight-knit expat community that actually knows each other.
Advantages
Ouagadougou
Rich cultural heritage sites
Affordable cost of living
Growing business opportunities
Strong community spirit
Expanding educational institutions
Vibrant local markets
Disadvantages
Ouagadougou
Limited job opportunities
Inadequate infrastructure quality
High unemployment rates
Weak educational standards
Water and electricity access
Safety & Security in Ouagadougou
Overall Safety Score
Includes resilience and environmental factors
Good
64
/100
Burkina Faso Avg
55
Africa Avg
54
Worldwide Avg
56
Crime & Safety Metrics
Thermometer compares Ouagadougou to Burkina Faso averages using different marker styles.Compare:
