Moving to China from Botswana

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What to Expect

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

If you moved from Botswana to China, and you’d need to navigate life in Chinese. You’ll also switch from driving on the left to the right. Expect a noticeable climate shift — Beijing averages 64°F vs 83°F in Gaborone, making it significantly cooler.

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Key Indicator Comparison

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

Is it safe?

Homicide rate United Nations SDG Indicators, 2021

per 100,000 people per year

BW
10.6
CN
0.5
Road traffic deaths United Nations SDG Indicators, 2021

per 100,000 people per year

BW
16.5
CN
17.4

Botswana generally does better on safety, though China leads in homicide rate.

How's the healthcare?

Healthcare spending per person World Bank, 2023

annual government + private spending per person

BW
$1,310
CN
$1,487
Doctors per 10,000 people United Nations SDG Indicators, 2022

affects wait times and access to care

BW
3.8
CN
25.2

China 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
CN
64.0
CO₂ emissions per capita World Bank, 2024

tonnes of CO₂ emitted per person per year

BW
2.7t
CN
9.3t

Botswana performs better than China across all environment metrics.

Will I have good infrastructure?

Broadband per 100 people United Nations SDG Indicators, 2022

fixed broadband subscriptions — key for remote work

BW
4.2
CN
41.4
Water stress level United Nations SDG Indicators, 2021

higher means greater strain on freshwater supply

BW
2.4%
CN
41.5%

Botswana generally does better on infrastructure, though China leads in broadband per 100 people.

What are the job prospects?

Unemployment rate The World Factbook, 2023

percentage of the labour force without work

BW
23.4%
CN
4.7%
GDP per capita The World Factbook, 2023

a broad measure of economic output per person

BW
$17,500
CN
$22,100

China 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
CN
76.1 yrs
Infant mortality The World Factbook, 2022

deaths per 1,000 live births — lower is better

BW
25.2
CN
6.8

China 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

Beijing Rain: 22.8 in/yr (578 mm)
64° / 44°F

Avg. annual high / low

Months Gaborone Beijing
Jan–Mar 88°/66°F (31°/19°C) 42°/22°F (6°/-6°C)
Apr–Jun 77°/48°F (25°/9°C) 78°/55°F (26°/13°C)
Jul–Sep 79°/47°F (26°/8°C) 83°/66°F (29°/19°C)
Oct–Dec 89°/64°F (32°/18°C) 51°/32°F (11°/0°C)
View all months
Month Gaborone Beijing
Jan 90°/67°F (32.5°/19.4°C) 35°/15°F (1.6°/-9.4°C)
Feb 89°/67°F (31.5°/19.3°C) 39°/20°F (4.0°/-6.9°C)
Mar 86°/63°F (30.2°/17.4°C) 52°/31°F (11.3°/-0.6°C)
Apr 82°/56°F (27.8°/13.4°C) 68°/45°F (19.9°/7.2°C)
May 78°/47°F (25.4°/8.3°C) 80°/56°F (26.4°/13.2°C)
Jun 72°/40°F (22.5°/4.6°C) 87°/65°F (30.3°/18.2°C)
Jul 73°/40°F (22.8°/4.6°C) 87°/71°F (30.8°/21.6°C)
Aug 78°/46°F (25.7°/7.6°C) 85°/69°F (29.5°/20.4°C)
Sep 85°/54°F (29.6°/12.5°C) 78°/58°F (25.8°/14.2°C)
Oct 88°/61°F (31.0°/16.2°C) 66°/45°F (19.0°/7.3°C)
Nov 89°/64°F (31.5°/17.9°C) 50°/31°F (10.1°/-0.4°C)
Dec 90°/66°F (32.3°/18.8°C) 38°/20°F (3.3°/-6.9°C)

Data: Botswana Meteorological Services Botswana Meteorological Services, China Meteorological Administration China Meteorological Administration

Visitor Visa Requirements

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

Botswana passport

Botswana passport holder visiting China

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

China passport holder visiting Botswana

Visa Online (e-Visa)
China 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 China?

Internet is rarely the blocker — China has 41.4 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 China safe for expats?

Botswana generally does better on safety, though China leads in homicide rate. The homicide rate in China is 0.5 per 100,000 people, compared to 10.6 in Botswana.

How is healthcare in China compared to Botswana?

China generally does better on health & wellbeing, though Botswana leads in healthcare spending per person. There are 25.2 doctors per 10,000 people in China, compared to 3.8 in Botswana. China scores 81 on the WHO universal health coverage index (Botswana: 55).

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

The average high temperature in Beijing is 64°F, compared to 83°F in Gaborone. Beijing receives around 22.8 in of rainfall per year, while Gaborone gets 21.7 in.

What language do they speak in China?

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

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At a Glance

BW CN
Population 2,384,246 1,410,539,758
Currency Botswanan Pula (BWP) Chinese Yuan (CN¥)
Languages English, Tswana Chinese
Driving side Left Right
Calling code +267 +86
Time zones 1 1
Emergency number 999 110