Moving to Russia from Botswana

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What to Expect

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

If you moved from Botswana to Russia, and you’d need to navigate life in Russian. You’ll also switch from driving on the left to the right. Expect a noticeable climate shift — Moscow averages 48°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 Russia, based on official data.

Living there in 2020
26 ↓ 7% vs 2015

people born in Botswana live in Russia · UN DESA

Who's moving to Russia?

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

Foreign-born population · UN DESA (2020)

Key Indicator Comparison

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

Is it safe?

Homicide rate World Bank, 2021

per 100,000 people per year

BW
11.4
RU
6.8
Road traffic deaths United Nations SDG Indicators, 2021

per 100,000 people per year

BW
16.5
RU
10.6

Russia 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
RU
$3,204
Doctors per 10,000 people World Bank, 2023

affects wait times and access to care

BW
3.8
RU
51.1

Russia 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
RU
39.0
CO₂ emissions per capita World Bank, 2024

tonnes of CO₂ emitted per person per year

BW
2.7t
RU
14.0t

Botswana generally does better on environment, though Russia leads in air pollution deaths.

Will I have good infrastructure?

Broadband per 100 people World Bank, 2024

fixed broadband subscriptions — key for remote work

BW
7.4
RU
27.1
Water stress level World Bank, 2022

higher means greater strain on freshwater supply

BW
2.2%
RU
4.1%

Russia generally does better on infrastructure, though Botswana leads in water stress level.

What are the job prospects?

Unemployment rate World Bank, 2025

percentage of the labour force without work

BW
24.5%
RU
2.1%
GDP per capita World Bank, 2025

a broad measure of economic output per person

BW
$7,778
RU
$17,547

Russia performs significantly better than Botswana across all employment & economy metrics.

Is it good for families?

Life expectancy World Bank, 2024

average years of life at birth

BW
69.3 yrs
RU
73.4 yrs
Infant mortality World Bank, 2024

deaths per 1,000 live births — lower is better

BW
32.1
RU
4.1

Russia generally does better on family life, though Botswana leads in education spending.

Sources: World Bank (2015–2025), United Nations SDG Indicators (2019–2021), World Health Organization (2024), Botswana Unified Revenue Service (2016), Federal Tax Service of Russia (2016), The World Factbook (2015). How we calculate this

Weather in Russia vs Botswana

Monthly averages — select a city to compare.

Gaborone Rain: 21.7 in/yr (552 mm)
83° / 56°F

Avg. annual high / low

Moscow Rain: 27.2 in/yr (691 mm)
48° / 34°F

Avg. annual high / low

Months Gaborone Moscow
Jan–Mar 88°/66°F (31°/19°C) 27°/15°F (-3°/-10°C)
Apr–Jun 77°/48°F (25°/9°C) 62°/45°F (17°/7°C)
Jul–Sep 79°/47°F (26°/8°C) 68°/52°F (20°/11°C)
Oct–Dec 89°/64°F (32°/18°C) 36°/26°F (2°/-3°C)
View all months
Month Gaborone Moscow
Jan 90°/67°F (32.5°/19.4°C) 21°/10°F (-6.3°/-12.3°C)
Feb 89°/67°F (31.5°/19.3°C) 24°/12°F (-4.2°/-11.1°C)
Mar 86°/63°F (30.2°/17.4°C) 35°/22°F (1.5°/-5.6°C)
Apr 82°/56°F (27.8°/13.4°C) 51°/35°F (10.4°/1.7°C)
May 78°/47°F (25.4°/8.3°C) 65°/46°F (18.4°/7.6°C)
Jun 72°/40°F (22.5°/4.6°C) 71°/53°F (21.7°/11.5°C)
Jul 73°/40°F (22.8°/4.6°C) 74°/56°F (23.1°/13.5°C)
Aug 78°/46°F (25.7°/7.6°C) 71°/54°F (21.5°/12.0°C)
Sep 85°/54°F (29.6°/12.5°C) 60°/45°F (15.4°/7.1°C)
Oct 88°/61°F (31.0°/16.2°C) 47°/36°F (8.2°/2.1°C)
Nov 89°/64°F (31.5°/17.9°C) 34°/26°F (1.1°/-3.3°C)
Dec 90°/66°F (32.3°/18.8°C) 26°/17°F (-3.5°/-8.6°C)

Data: Botswana Meteorological Services Botswana Meteorological Services, Russian Federal Service for Hydrometeorology and Environmental Monitoring Russian Federal Service for Hydrometeorology and Environmental Monitoring

Can you move from Botswana to Russia?

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

Botswana passport

Botswana passport holder visiting Russia

Electronic Travel Authorisation
Botswana passport holders need an electronic travel authorisation (ETA) to enter Russia.
Russia passport

Russia passport holder visiting Botswana

Visa Free
Russia 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 Russia?

Internet is rarely the blocker — Russia has 27.1 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 Russia safe for expats?

Russia performs significantly better than Botswana across all safety metrics. The homicide rate in Russia is 6.8 per 100,000 people, compared to 11.4 in Botswana.

How is healthcare in Russia compared to Botswana?

Russia generally does better on health & wellbeing, though Botswana leads in healthcare spending per person. There are 51.1 doctors per 10,000 people in Russia, compared to 3.8 in Botswana. Russia scores 79 on the WHO universal health coverage index (Botswana: 55).

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

The average high temperature in Moscow is 48°F, compared to 83°F in Gaborone. Moscow receives around 27.2 in of rainfall per year, while Gaborone gets 21.7 in.

What language do they speak in Russia?

The official language in Russia is Russian. In Botswana, the official languages are English and Tswana.

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At a Glance

BW RU
Population 2,562,122 143,513,328
Currency Botswanan Pula (BWP) Russian Ruble (RUB)
Languages English, Tswana Russian
Driving side Left Right
Calling code +267 +7
Time zones 1 9
Emergency number 999 112