Moving to Botswana from Benin

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What to Expect

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

If you moved from Benin 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.

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Key Indicator Comparison

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

Is it safe?

Homicide rate World Bank, 2021

per 100,000 people per year

BJ
1.1
BW
11.4
Road traffic deaths United Nations SDG Indicators, 2021

per 100,000 people per year

BJ
24.8
BW
16.5

Benin generally does better on safety, though Botswana leads in road traffic deaths.

How's the healthcare?

Healthcare spending per person World Bank, 2023

annual government + private spending per person

BJ
$138
BW
$1,310
Doctors per 10,000 people World Bank, 2023

affects wait times and access to care

BJ
2.2
BW
3.8

Benin generally does better on health & wellbeing, though Botswana 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

BJ
77.0
BW
55.0
CO₂ emissions per capita World Bank, 2024

tonnes of CO₂ emitted per person per year

BJ
0.5t
BW
2.7t

Benin generally does better on environment, though Botswana leads in air pollution deaths.

Will I have good infrastructure?

Broadband per 100 people World Bank, 2024

fixed broadband subscriptions — key for remote work

BJ
0.3
BW
7.4
Water stress level World Bank, 2022

higher means greater strain on freshwater supply

BJ
1.0%
BW
2.2%

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

What are the job prospects?

Unemployment rate World Bank, 2025

percentage of the labour force without work

BJ
1.6%
BW
24.5%
GDP per capita World Bank, 2025

a broad measure of economic output per person

BJ
$1,658
BW
$7,778

Botswana generally does better on employment & economy, though Benin leads in unemployment rate.

Is it good for families?

Life expectancy World Bank, 2024

average years of life at birth

BJ
61.0 yrs
BW
69.3 yrs
Infant mortality World Bank, 2024

deaths per 1,000 live births — lower is better

BJ
45.2
BW
32.1

Botswana performs significantly better than Benin across all family life metrics.

What's the Climate Like?

Monthly averages — select a city to compare.

Porto-novo Rain: 47.0 in/yr (1194 mm)
None° / None°F

Avg. annual high / low

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

Avg. annual high / low

Months Porto-novo Gaborone
Jan–Mar — 88°/66°F (31°/19°C)
Apr–Jun — 77°/48°F (25°/9°C)
Jul–Sep — 79°/47°F (26°/8°C)
Oct–Dec — 89°/64°F (32°/18°C)
View all months
Month Porto-novo Gaborone
Jan — 90°/67°F (32.5°/19.4°C)
Feb — 89°/67°F (31.5°/19.3°C)
Mar — 86°/63°F (30.2°/17.4°C)
Apr — 82°/56°F (27.8°/13.4°C)
May — 78°/47°F (25.4°/8.3°C)
Jun — 72°/40°F (22.5°/4.6°C)
Jul — 73°/40°F (22.8°/4.6°C)
Aug — 78°/46°F (25.7°/7.6°C)
Sep — 85°/54°F (29.6°/12.5°C)
Oct — 88°/61°F (31.0°/16.2°C)
Nov — 89°/64°F (31.5°/17.9°C)
Dec — 90°/66°F (32.3°/18.8°C)

Data: Agence Nationale de la Meteorologie (METEO BENIN) Agence Nationale de la Meteorologie (METEO BENIN), Botswana Meteorological Services Botswana Meteorological Services

Visitor Visa Requirements

Short-stay tourist visa rules between Benin 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.

Benin passport

Benin passport holder visiting Botswana

Visa Online (e-Visa)
Benin passport holders need to apply for an e-Visa before travelling to Botswana.
Botswana passport

Botswana passport holder visiting Benin

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

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 7.4 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 Benin and Botswana.

Is Botswana safe for expats?

Benin generally does better on safety, though Botswana leads in road traffic deaths. The homicide rate in Botswana is 11.4 per 100,000 people, compared to 1.1 in Benin.

How is healthcare in Botswana compared to Benin?

Benin generally does better on health & wellbeing, though Botswana leads in doctors per 10,000 people. There are 3.8 doctors per 10,000 people in Botswana, compared to 2.2 in Benin. Botswana scores 55 on the WHO universal health coverage index (Benin: 38).

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

The average high temperature in Gaborone is 83°F, compared to None°F in Porto-novo. Gaborone receives around 21.7 in of rainfall per year, while Porto-novo gets 47.0 in.

What language do they speak in Botswana?

The official languages in Botswana are English and Tswana. In Benin, the official language is French.

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At a Glance

BJ BW
Population 14,814,460 2,562,122
Currency CFA Franc BCEAO (F CFA) Botswanan Pula (BWP)
Languages French English, Tswana
Driving side Right Left
Calling code +229 +267
Time zones 1 1
Emergency number — 999