Moving to Iceland from Botswana
What to Expect
Everything you need to know before relocating from Botswana to Iceland — costs, safety, healthcare, and practical first steps.
If you moved from Botswana to Iceland, and you’d need to navigate life in Icelandic. You’ll also switch from driving on the left to the right. Expect a noticeable climate shift — Reykjavik averages 45°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 Iceland, based on official data.
Who's moving to Iceland?
Top countries of origin for Iceland's foreign-born residents.
- 21,102
- 3,918
- 3,171
- 2,604
- 2,357
- 2,284
Key Indicator Comparison
Key indicators for anyone considering a move from Botswana to Iceland.
Is it safe?
per 100,000 people per year
per 100,000 people per year
Iceland 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
Iceland 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 Iceland 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
Iceland performs significantly better than Botswana across all infrastructure metrics.
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
Iceland 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
Iceland 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 | Reykjavik |
|---|---|---|
| Jan–Mar | 88°/66°F (31°/19°C) | 37°/28°F (3°/-2°C) |
| Apr–Jun | 77°/48°F (25°/9°C) | 48°/38°F (9°/4°C) |
| Jul–Sep | 79°/47°F (26°/8°C) | 54°/45°F (12°/7°C) |
| Oct–Dec | 89°/64°F (32°/18°C) | 39°/31°F (4°/-1°C) |
View all months
| Month | Gaborone | Reykjavik |
|---|---|---|
| Jan | 90°/67°F (32.5°/19.4°C) | 35°/27°F (1.9°/-3.0°C) |
| Feb | 89°/67°F (31.5°/19.3°C) | 37°/28°F (2.8°/-2.1°C) |
| Mar | 86°/63°F (30.2°/17.4°C) | 38°/28°F (3.2°/-2.0°C) |
| Apr | 82°/56°F (27.8°/13.4°C) | 42°/33°F (5.7°/0.4°C) |
| May | 78°/47°F (25.4°/8.3°C) | 49°/38°F (9.4°/3.6°C) |
| Jun | 72°/40°F (22.5°/4.6°C) | 53°/44°F (11.7°/6.7°C) |
| Jul | 73°/40°F (22.8°/4.6°C) | 56°/47°F (13.3°/8.3°C) |
| Aug | 78°/46°F (25.7°/7.6°C) | 55°/46°F (13.0°/7.9°C) |
| Sep | 85°/54°F (29.6°/12.5°C) | 50°/41°F (10.1°/5.0°C) |
| Oct | 88°/61°F (31.0°/16.2°C) | 44°/36°F (6.8°/2.2°C) |
| Nov | 89°/64°F (31.5°/17.9°C) | 38°/30°F (3.4°/-1.3°C) |
| Dec | 90°/66°F (32.3°/18.8°C) | 36°/27°F (2.2°/-2.8°C) |
Data:
Botswana Meteorological Services,
Icelandic Meteorological Office
Visitor Visa Requirements
Short-stay tourist visa rules between Botswana and Iceland. To live, work, or study long-term in Iceland, you'll need a separate residence or work visa — check Iceland's immigration authority.
Botswana passport holder visiting Iceland
Visa Required
Iceland 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 Iceland?
Internet is rarely the blocker — Iceland has 38.2 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 Iceland safe for expats?
Iceland performs significantly better than Botswana across all safety metrics. The homicide rate in Iceland is 1.1 per 100,000 people, compared to 10.6 in Botswana.
How is healthcare in Iceland compared to Botswana?
Iceland generally does better on health & wellbeing, though Botswana leads in healthcare spending per person. There are 45.2 doctors per 10,000 people in Iceland, compared to 3.8 in Botswana. Iceland scores 89 on the WHO universal health coverage index (Botswana: 55).
What's the weather like in Iceland compared to Botswana?
The average high temperature in Reykjavik is 45°F, compared to 83°F in Gaborone. Reykjavik receives around 31.4 in of rainfall per year, while Gaborone gets 21.7 in.
What language do they speak in Iceland?
The official language in Iceland is Icelandic. In Botswana, the official languages are English and Tswana.
