Moving to Botswana from Belgium

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What to Expect

A comprehensive look at what changes when you move from Belgium to Botswana — from daily expenses to quality of life.

If you moved from Belgium to Botswana, and you’d need to navigate life in English and Tswana. You’ll also switch from driving on the right to the left. Expect a noticeable climate shift — Gaborone averages 83°F vs 57°F in Brussels, making it significantly warmer.

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Key Indicator Comparison

How Belgium and Botswana stack up on safety, healthcare, jobs, and infrastructure.

Is it safe?

Homicide rate United Nations SDG Indicators, 2021

per 100,000 people per year

BE
1.1
BW
10.6
Road traffic deaths United Nations SDG Indicators, 2021

per 100,000 people per year

BE
4.6
BW
16.5

Belgium performs better than Botswana across all safety metrics.

How's the healthcare?

Healthcare spending per person World Bank, 2023

annual government + private spending per person

BE
$7,489
BW
$1,310
Doctors per 10,000 people United Nations SDG Indicators, 2022

affects wait times and access to care

BE
63.9
BW
3.8

Botswana generally does better on health & wellbeing, though Belgium 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

BE
15.0
BW
55.0
CO₂ emissions per capita World Bank, 2024

tonnes of CO₂ emitted per person per year

BE
7.3t
BW
2.7t

Belgium generally does better on environment, though Botswana 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

BE
43.5
BW
4.2
Water stress level United Nations SDG Indicators, 2021

higher means greater strain on freshwater supply

BE
51.9%
BW
2.4%

Belgium generally does better on infrastructure, though Botswana leads in water stress level.

What are the job prospects?

Unemployment rate The World Factbook, 2023

percentage of the labour force without work

BE
5.5%
BW
23.4%
GDP per capita The World Factbook, 2023

a broad measure of economic output per person

BE
$63,600
BW
$17,500

Belgium generally does better on employment & economy, though Botswana leads in top income tax rate.

Is it good for families?

Life expectancy The World Factbook, 2022

average years of life at birth

BE
81.9 yrs
BW
65.6 yrs
Infant mortality The World Factbook, 2022

deaths per 1,000 live births — lower is better

BE
3.2
BW
25.2

Belgium generally does better on family life, though Botswana leads in education spending.

Data: Service Public Fédéral Finances, The World Factbook, United Nations SDG Indicators, World Bank

What's the Climate Like?

Monthly averages — select a city to compare.

Brussels Rain: 32.3 in/yr (820 mm)
57° / 44°F

Avg. annual high / low

Gaborone Rain: 21.7 in/yr (552 mm)
83° / 56°F

Avg. annual high / low

Months Brussels Gaborone
Jan–Mar 45°/34°F (7°/1°C) 88°/66°F (31°/19°C)
Apr–Jun 63°/47°F (17°/8°C) 77°/48°F (25°/9°C)
Jul–Sep 70°/54°F (21°/13°C) 79°/47°F (26°/8°C)
Oct–Dec 50°/40°F (10°/4°C) 89°/64°F (32°/18°C)
View all months
Month Brussels Gaborone
Jan 42°/33°F (5.6°/0.7°C) 90°/67°F (32.5°/19.4°C)
Feb 44°/33°F (6.4°/0.6°C) 89°/67°F (31.5°/19.3°C)
Mar 50°/37°F (9.9°/2.9°C) 86°/63°F (30.2°/17.4°C)
Apr 56°/41°F (13.1°/4.8°C) 82°/56°F (27.8°/13.4°C)
May 64°/48°F (17.7°/8.9°C) 78°/47°F (25.4°/8.3°C)
Jun 68°/53°F (20.0°/11.5°C) 72°/40°F (22.5°/4.6°C)
Jul 72°/56°F (22.4°/13.6°C) 73°/40°F (22.8°/4.6°C)
Aug 72°/56°F (22.5°/13.4°C) 78°/46°F (25.7°/7.6°C)
Sep 66°/51°F (18.7°/10.8°C) 85°/54°F (29.6°/12.5°C)
Oct 58°/46°F (14.4°/7.6°C) 88°/61°F (31.0°/16.2°C)
Nov 48°/39°F (9.1°/3.7°C) 89°/64°F (31.5°/17.9°C)
Dec 44°/35°F (6.5°/1.9°C) 90°/66°F (32.3°/18.8°C)

Data: Institut Royal Météorologique Institut Royal Météorologique, Botswana Meteorological Services Botswana Meteorological Services

Visitor Visa Requirements

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

Belgium passport

Belgium passport holder visiting Botswana

Visa Free
Belgium passport holders can enter Botswana without a visa.
Botswana passport

Botswana passport holder visiting Belgium

Visa Required
Botswana passport holders need a visa to enter Belgium.

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

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I work remotely from Botswana?

With 4.2 fixed broadband subscriptions per 100 people, Botswana can support video calls in major cities. The hard part is paperwork — visa category, employer policy on overseas staff, and tax residency in Belgium and Botswana.

Is Botswana safe for expats?

Belgium performs better than Botswana across all safety metrics. The homicide rate in Botswana is 10.6 per 100,000 people, compared to 1.1 in Belgium.

How is healthcare in Botswana compared to Belgium?

Botswana generally does better on health & wellbeing, though Belgium leads in doctors per 10,000 people. There are 3.8 doctors per 10,000 people in Botswana, compared to 63.9 in Belgium. Botswana scores 55 on the WHO universal health coverage index (Belgium: 86).

What's the weather like in Botswana compared to Belgium?

The average high temperature in Gaborone is 83°F, compared to 57°F in Brussels. Gaborone receives around 21.7 in of rainfall per year, while Brussels gets 32.3 in.

What language do they speak in Botswana?

The official languages in Botswana are English and Tswana. In Belgium, the official languages are Dutch, French and German.

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At a Glance

BE BW
Population 11,847,338 2,384,246
Currency Euro (€) Botswanan Pula (BWP)
Languages Dutch, French, German English, Tswana
Driving side Right Left
Calling code +32 +267
Time zones 1 1
Emergency number 112 999