Moving to Norway from Botswana

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What to Expect

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

If you moved from Botswana to Norway, and you’d need to navigate life in Norwegian Bokmål, Norwegian Nynorsk and Sami. You’ll also switch from driving on the left to the right. Expect a noticeable climate shift — Oslo averages 49°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 Norway, based on official data.

Moved in 2022
2 ↓ 60% vs 2021

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

Who's moving to Norway?

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

Foreign-born population · UN DESA (2020)

Key Indicator Comparison

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

Is it safe?

Homicide rate United Nations SDG Indicators, 2022

per 100,000 people per year

BW
10.6
NO
0.6
Road traffic deaths United Nations SDG Indicators, 2021

per 100,000 people per year

BW
16.5
NO
1.5

Norway 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
NO
$9,523
Doctors per 10,000 people United Nations SDG Indicators, 2022

affects wait times and access to care

BW
3.8
NO
51.7

Norway 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
NO
8.0
CO₂ emissions per capita World Bank, 2024

tonnes of CO₂ emitted per person per year

BW
2.7t
NO
7.2t

Botswana generally does better on environment, though Norway 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
NO
45.9
Water stress level United Nations SDG Indicators, 2021

higher means greater strain on freshwater supply

BW
2.4%
NO
2.0%

Norway performs significantly better than Botswana 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%
NO
3.6%
GDP per capita The World Factbook, 2023

a broad measure of economic output per person

BW
$17,500
NO
$90,500

Norway 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
NO
82.5 yrs
Infant mortality The World Factbook, 2022

deaths per 1,000 live births — lower is better

BW
25.2
NO
2.3

Norway 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

Oslo Rain: 30.0 in/yr (763 mm)
49° / 36°F

Avg. annual high / low

Months Gaborone Oslo
Jan–Mar 88°/66°F (31°/19°C) 32°/22°F (0°/-6°C)
Apr–Jun 77°/48°F (25°/9°C) 59°/43°F (15°/6°C)
Jul–Sep 79°/47°F (26°/8°C) 66°/51°F (19°/10°C)
Oct–Dec 89°/64°F (32°/18°C) 39°/30°F (4°/-1°C)
View all months
Month Gaborone Oslo
Jan 90°/67°F (32.5°/19.4°C) 29°/20°F (-1.8°/-6.8°C)
Feb 89°/67°F (31.5°/19.3°C) 30°/20°F (-0.9°/-6.8°C)
Mar 86°/63°F (30.2°/17.4°C) 38°/26°F (3.5°/-3.3°C)
Apr 82°/56°F (27.8°/13.4°C) 48°/33°F (9.1°/0.8°C)
May 78°/47°F (25.4°/8.3°C) 60°/44°F (15.8°/6.5°C)
Jun 72°/40°F (22.5°/4.6°C) 69°/51°F (20.4°/10.6°C)
Jul 73°/40°F (22.8°/4.6°C) 71°/54°F (21.5°/12.2°C)
Aug 78°/46°F (25.7°/7.6°C) 68°/52°F (20.1°/11.3°C)
Sep 85°/54°F (29.6°/12.5°C) 59°/46°F (15.1°/7.5°C)
Oct 88°/61°F (31.0°/16.2°C) 49°/39°F (9.3°/3.8°C)
Nov 89°/64°F (31.5°/17.9°C) 38°/29°F (3.2°/-1.5°C)
Dec 90°/66°F (32.3°/18.8°C) 31°/22°F (-0.5°/-5.6°C)

Data: Botswana Meteorological Services Botswana Meteorological Services, Norwegian Meteorological Institute Norwegian Meteorological Institute

Visitor Visa Requirements

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

Botswana passport

Botswana passport holder visiting Norway

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

Norway passport holder visiting Botswana

Visa Free
Norway 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 Norway?

Internet is rarely the blocker — Norway has 45.9 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 Norway safe for expats?

Norway performs significantly better than Botswana across all safety metrics. The homicide rate in Norway is 0.6 per 100,000 people, compared to 10.6 in Botswana.

How is healthcare in Norway compared to Botswana?

Norway generally does better on health & wellbeing, though Botswana leads in healthcare spending per person. There are 51.7 doctors per 10,000 people in Norway, compared to 3.8 in Botswana. Norway scores 87 on the WHO universal health coverage index (Botswana: 55).

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

The average high temperature in Oslo is 49°F, compared to 83°F in Gaborone. Oslo receives around 30.0 in of rainfall per year, while Gaborone gets 21.7 in.

What language do they speak in Norway?

The official languages in Norway are Norwegian Bokmål, Norwegian Nynorsk and Sami. In Botswana, the official languages are English and Tswana.

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At a Glance

BW NO
Population 2,384,246 5,553,840
Currency Botswanan Pula (BWP) Norwegian Krone (NOK)
Languages English, Tswana Norwegian Bokmål, Norwegian Nynorsk, Sami
Driving side Left Right
Calling code +267 +47
Time zones 1 1
Emergency number 999 112