Moving to Burundi from Botswana

moving to

What to Expect

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

If you moved from Botswana to Burundi, and you’d need to navigate life in French and Kirundi. You’ll also switch from driving on the left to the right.

Get free moving quotes to Burundi

We've teamed up with a vetted network of international movers to help MyLifeElsewhere readers plan their move with confidence. Tell us about your move and get up to 5 free, no-obligation quotes in under 2 minutes.

  • ✅ Up to 5 quotes from screened movers
  • ✅ Licensed and insured providers only
  • ✅ 100% free — you choose who contacts you

Key Indicator Comparison

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

Is it safe?

Homicide rate United Nations SDG Indicators, 2021

per 100,000 people per year

BW
10.6
BI
5.8
Road traffic deaths United Nations SDG Indicators, 2021

per 100,000 people per year

BW
16.5
BI
12.3

Burundi 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
BI
$100
Doctors per 10,000 people United Nations SDG Indicators, 2022

affects wait times and access to care

BW
3.8
BI
0.6

Botswana generally does better on health & wellbeing, though Burundi 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
BI
71.0
CO₂ emissions per capita World Bank, 2024

tonnes of CO₂ emitted per person per year

BW
2.7t
BI
0.1t

Botswana generally does better on environment, though Burundi 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

BW
4.2
BI
0.0
Water stress level United Nations SDG Indicators, 2021

higher means greater strain on freshwater supply

BW
2.4%
BI
10.2%

Botswana performs better than Burundi across all infrastructure metrics.

What are the job prospects?

Unemployment rate The World Factbook, 2023

percentage of the labour force without work

BW
23.4%
BI
0.9%
GDP per capita The World Factbook, 2023

a broad measure of economic output per person

BW
$17,500
BI
$900

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

Is it good for families?

Life expectancy The World Factbook, 2022

average years of life at birth

BW
65.6 yrs
BI
67.4 yrs
Infant mortality The World Factbook, 2022

deaths per 1,000 live births — lower is better

BW
25.2
BI
37.8

Botswana generally does better on family life, though Burundi leads in life expectancy.

Data: 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

Bujumbura Rain: 30.9 in/yr (786 mm)
85° / 66°F

Avg. annual high / low

Months Gaborone Bujumbura
Jan–Mar 88°/66°F (31°/19°C) 85°/67°F (29°/19°C)
Apr–Jun 77°/48°F (25°/9°C) 86°/66°F (30°/19°C)
Jul–Sep 79°/47°F (26°/8°C) 86°/64°F (30°/18°C)
Oct–Dec 89°/64°F (32°/18°C) 85°/66°F (29°/19°C)
View all months
Month Gaborone Bujumbura
Jan 90°/67°F (32.5°/19.4°C) 84°/67°F (29.1°/19.2°C)
Feb 89°/67°F (31.5°/19.3°C) 85°/67°F (29.7°/19.3°C)
Mar 86°/63°F (30.2°/17.4°C) 85°/67°F (29.3°/19.3°C)
Apr 82°/56°F (27.8°/13.4°C) 85°/67°F (29.2°/19.6°C)
May 78°/47°F (25.4°/8.3°C) 86°/66°F (29.9°/19.1°C)
Jun 72°/40°F (22.5°/4.6°C) 86°/64°F (29.9°/17.6°C)
Jul 73°/40°F (22.8°/4.6°C) 85°/63°F (29.2°/17.2°C)
Aug 78°/46°F (25.7°/7.6°C) 86°/63°F (30.0°/17.4°C)
Sep 85°/54°F (29.6°/12.5°C) 88°/65°F (30.9°/18.6°C)
Oct 88°/61°F (31.0°/16.2°C) 86°/66°F (30.1°/19.1°C)
Nov 89°/64°F (31.5°/17.9°C) 84°/66°F (29.1°/19.1°C)
Dec 90°/66°F (32.3°/18.8°C) 84°/66°F (28.9°/19.1°C)

Data: Botswana Meteorological Services Botswana Meteorological Services, Institut Géographique du Burundi (IGEBU) Institut Géographique du Burundi (IGEBU)

Visitor Visa Requirements

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

Botswana passport

Botswana passport holder visiting Burundi

Visa on Arrival
Botswana passport holders can obtain a visa on arrival in Burundi.
Burundi passport

Burundi passport holder visiting Botswana

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

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

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I work remotely from Burundi?

Internet is rarely the blocker — Burundi has 0.0 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 Burundi safe for expats?

Burundi performs significantly better than Botswana across all safety metrics. The homicide rate in Burundi is 5.8 per 100,000 people, compared to 10.6 in Botswana.

How is healthcare in Burundi compared to Botswana?

Botswana generally does better on health & wellbeing, though Burundi leads in healthcare spending per person. There are 0.6 doctors per 10,000 people in Burundi, compared to 3.8 in Botswana. Burundi scores 41 on the WHO universal health coverage index (Botswana: 55).

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

The average high temperature in Bujumbura is 85°F, compared to 83°F in Gaborone. Bujumbura receives around 30.9 in of rainfall per year, while Gaborone gets 21.7 in.

What language do they speak in Burundi?

The official languages in Burundi are French and Kirundi. In Botswana, the official languages are English and Tswana.

Share this

At a Glance

BW BI
Population 2,384,246 12,696,478
Currency Botswanan Pula (BWP) Burundian Franc (BIF)
Languages English, Tswana French, Kirundi
Driving side Left Right
Calling code +267 +257
Time zones 1 1
Emergency number 999