Moving to Australia from Botswana

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What to Expect

Everything you need to know before relocating from Botswana to Australia — costs, safety, healthcare, and practical first steps.

If you moved from Botswana to Australia. Expect a noticeable climate shift — Canberra averages 67°F vs 83°F in Gaborone, making it significantly cooler.

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Who Else Is Making This Move?

How many people actually move from Botswana to Australia, based on official data.

Moved in 2023
39 ↑ 22% vs 2022

people moved from Botswana to Australia · OECD (latest data available)

Who's moving to Australia?

Top countries of origin for Australia's foreign-born residents.

Foreign-born population · UN DESA (2020)

Key Indicator Comparison

Key indicators for anyone considering a move from Botswana to Australia.

Is it safe?

Homicide rate United Nations SDG Indicators, 2022

per 100,000 people per year

BW
10.6
AU
0.8
Road traffic deaths United Nations SDG Indicators, 2021

per 100,000 people per year

BW
16.5
AU
4.5

Australia performs significantly better than Botswana across all safety metrics.

How's the healthcare?

Healthcare spending per person World Bank, 2023

annual government + private spending per person

BW
$1,310
AU
$7,691
Doctors per 10,000 people United Nations SDG Indicators, 2022

affects wait times and access to care

BW
3.8
AU
39.8

Australia generally does better on health & wellbeing, though Botswana leads in healthcare spending per person.

What about the environment?

Air pollution deaths United Nations SDG Indicators, 2019

deaths attributable to air pollution per 100k people

BW
55.0
AU
10.0
CO₂ emissions per capita World Bank, 2024

tonnes of CO₂ emitted per person per year

BW
2.7t
AU
14.1t

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

Will I have good infrastructure?

Broadband per 100 people United Nations SDG Indicators, 2022

fixed broadband subscriptions — key for remote work

BW
4.2
AU
35.1
Water stress level United Nations SDG Indicators, 2021

higher means greater strain on freshwater supply

BW
2.4%
AU
4.6%

Australia 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

BW
23.4%
AU
3.7%
GDP per capita The World Factbook, 2023

a broad measure of economic output per person

BW
$17,500
AU
$59,500

Australia 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

BW
65.6 yrs
AU
83.1 yrs
Infant mortality The World Factbook, 2022

deaths per 1,000 live births — lower is better

BW
25.2
AU
3.0

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

Data: Botswana Unified Revenue Service, The World Factbook, United Nations SDG Indicators, World Bank

What's the Climate Like?

Monthly averages — select a city to compare.

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

Avg. annual high / low

Canberra Rain: 24.8 in/yr (629 mm)
67° / 44°F

Avg. annual high / low

Months Gaborone Canberra
Jan–Mar 88°/66°F (31°/19°C) 80°/54°F (26°/12°C)
Apr–Jun 77°/48°F (25°/9°C) 61°/39°F (16°/4°C)
Jul–Sep 79°/47°F (26°/8°C) 56°/35°F (13°/1°C)
Oct–Dec 89°/64°F (32°/18°C) 73°/47°F (23°/9°C)
View all months
Month Gaborone Canberra
Jan 90°/67°F (32.5°/19.4°C) 82°/55°F (27.7°/13.0°C)
Feb 89°/67°F (31.5°/19.3°C) 81°/55°F (27.0°/12.9°C)
Mar 86°/63°F (30.2°/17.4°C) 76°/51°F (24.4°/10.7°C)
Apr 82°/56°F (27.8°/13.4°C) 68°/44°F (19.8°/6.6°C)
May 78°/47°F (25.4°/8.3°C) 60°/38°F (15.4°/3.1°C)
Jun 72°/40°F (22.5°/4.6°C) 54°/34°F (12.1°/0.9°C)
Jul 73°/40°F (22.8°/4.6°C) 52°/32°F (11.2°/-0.2°C)
Aug 78°/46°F (25.7°/7.6°C) 55°/34°F (12.9°/1.0°C)
Sep 85°/54°F (29.6°/12.5°C) 61°/38°F (16.0°/3.1°C)
Oct 88°/61°F (31.0°/16.2°C) 67°/43°F (19.2°/6.0°C)
Nov 89°/64°F (31.5°/17.9°C) 72°/47°F (22.4°/8.5°C)
Dec 90°/66°F (32.3°/18.8°C) 79°/52°F (26.0°/11.2°C)

Data: Botswana Meteorological Services Botswana Meteorological Services, Bureau of Meteorology Bureau of Meteorology

Visitor Visa Requirements

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

Botswana passport

Botswana passport holder visiting Australia

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

Australia passport holder visiting Botswana

Visa Free
Australia passport holders can enter Botswana 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 Australia?

Internet is rarely the blocker — Australia has 35.1 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 Australia safe for expats?

Australia performs significantly better than Botswana across all safety metrics. The homicide rate in Australia is 0.8 per 100,000 people, compared to 10.6 in Botswana.

How is healthcare in Australia compared to Botswana?

Australia generally does better on health & wellbeing, though Botswana leads in healthcare spending per person. There are 39.8 doctors per 10,000 people in Australia, compared to 3.8 in Botswana. Australia scores 87 on the WHO universal health coverage index (Botswana: 55).

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

The average high temperature in Canberra is 67°F, compared to 83°F in Gaborone. Canberra receives around 24.8 in of rainfall per year, while Gaborone gets 21.7 in.

What language do they speak in Australia?

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

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At a Glance

BW AU
Population 2,384,246 26,141,369
Currency Botswanan Pula (BWP) Australian Dollar (A$)
Languages English, Tswana English
Driving side Left Left
Calling code +267 +61
Time zones 1 8
Emergency number 999 000