Moving to Canada from Botswana
What to Expect
Everything you need to know before relocating from Botswana to Canada — costs, safety, healthcare, and practical first steps.
If you moved from Botswana to Canada. You’ll also switch from driving on the left to the right. Expect a noticeable climate shift — Ottawa averages 52°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 Canada, based on official data.
Who's moving to Canada?
Top countries of origin for Canada's foreign-born residents.
- 720,083
- 699,190
- 633,547
- 537,504
- 273,226
- 254,831
- · · ·
-
164.913
Botswana
Key Indicator Comparison
Key indicators for anyone considering a move from Botswana to Canada.
Is it safe?
per 100,000 people per year
per 100,000 people per year
Canada performs significantly better than Botswana across all safety metrics.
How's the healthcare?
annual government + private spending per person
affects wait times and access to care
WHO index from 0–100 measuring essential service access
share of adults with obesity
per 100,000 people — a proxy for mental health support
Canada generally does better on health & wellbeing, though Botswana leads in healthcare spending per person.
What about the environment?
deaths attributable to air pollution per 100k people
tonnes of CO₂ emitted per person per year
Botswana generally does better on environment, though Canada leads in air pollution deaths.
Will I have good infrastructure?
fixed broadband subscriptions — key for remote work
higher means greater strain on freshwater supply
annual consumption — reflects grid capacity
share of households with internet
Canada generally does better on infrastructure, though Botswana leads in water stress level.
What are the job prospects?
percentage of the labour force without work
a broad measure of economic output per person
the highest marginal rate on personal income
share of people below the poverty line
Canada generally does better on employment & economy, though Botswana leads in top income tax rate.
Is it good for families?
average years of life at birth
deaths per 1,000 live births — lower is better
government spending on education as % of GDP
Canada 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.
Avg. annual high / low
Avg. annual high / low
| Months | Gaborone | Ottawa |
|---|---|---|
| Jan–Mar | 88°/66°F (31°/19°C) | 27°/10°F (-3°/-12°C) |
| Apr–Jun | 77°/48°F (25°/9°C) | 64°/45°F (18°/7°C) |
| Jul–Sep | 79°/47°F (26°/8°C) | 75°/55°F (24°/13°C) |
| Oct–Dec | 89°/64°F (32°/18°C) | 41°/25°F (5°/-4°C) |
View all months
| Month | Gaborone | Ottawa |
|---|---|---|
| Jan | 90°/67°F (32.5°/19.4°C) | 21°/4°F (-6.1°/-15.3°C) |
| Feb | 89°/67°F (31.5°/19.3°C) | 25°/8°F (-4.1°/-13.3°C) |
| Mar | 86°/63°F (30.2°/17.4°C) | 36°/19°F (2.2°/-7.1°C) |
| Apr | 82°/56°F (27.8°/13.4°C) | 51°/33°F (10.8°/0.6°C) |
| May | 78°/47°F (25.4°/8.3°C) | 66°/46°F (19.1°/7.7°C) |
| Jun | 72°/40°F (22.5°/4.6°C) | 75°/55°F (23.8°/12.7°C) |
| Jul | 73°/40°F (22.8°/4.6°C) | 80°/60°F (26.5°/15.4°C) |
| Aug | 78°/46°F (25.7°/7.6°C) | 77°/57°F (24.9°/14.1°C) |
| Sep | 85°/54°F (29.6°/12.5°C) | 67°/48°F (19.5°/9.1°C) |
| Oct | 88°/61°F (31.0°/16.2°C) | 54°/37°F (12.5°/3.0°C) |
| Nov | 89°/64°F (31.5°/17.9°C) | 41°/27°F (4.8°/-2.8°C) |
| Dec | 90°/66°F (32.3°/18.8°C) | 27°/12°F (-3.0°/-11.1°C) |
Data:
Botswana Meteorological Services,
Meteorological Service of Canada
Visitor Visa Requirements
Short-stay tourist visa rules between Botswana and Canada. To live, work, or study long-term in Canada, you'll need a separate residence or work visa — check Canada's immigration authority.
Botswana passport holder visiting Canada
Visa Required
Canada passport holder visiting Botswana
Visa FreeData: Henley Passport Index. Check with the destination country's embassy for the most current requirements.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I work remotely from Canada?
Internet is rarely the blocker — Canada has 42.6 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 Canada safe for expats?
Canada performs significantly better than Botswana across all safety metrics. The homicide rate in Canada is 2.3 per 100,000 people, compared to 10.6 in Botswana.
How is healthcare in Canada compared to Botswana?
Canada generally does better on health & wellbeing, though Botswana leads in healthcare spending per person. There are 25.0 doctors per 10,000 people in Canada, compared to 3.8 in Botswana. Canada scores 91 on the WHO universal health coverage index (Botswana: 55).
What's the weather like in Canada compared to Botswana?
The average high temperature in Ottawa is 52°F, compared to 83°F in Gaborone. Ottawa receives around 37.1 in of rainfall per year, while Gaborone gets 21.7 in.
What language do they speak in Canada?
The official languages in Canada are English and French. In Botswana, the official languages are English and Tswana.
