Moving to Russia from Botswana
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.
Who's moving to Russia?
Top countries of origin for Russia's foreign-born residents.
- 3,268,263
- 2,558,907
- 1,146,175
- 766,918
- 763,879
- 591,025
- · · ·
-
145.26
Botswana
Key Indicator Comparison
Key indicators for anyone considering a move from Botswana to Russia.
Is it safe?
per 100,000 people per year
per 100,000 people per year
Russia 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
Botswana generally does better on health & wellbeing, though Russia leads in doctors per 10,000 people.
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 Russia 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
Russia 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
Russia performs significantly better than Botswana across all employment & economy metrics.
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
percentage of adults who can read and write
Russia 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 | 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,
Russian Federal Service for Hydrometeorology and Environmental Monitoring
Visitor Visa Requirements
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 holder visiting Russia
Electronic Travel Authorisation
Russia 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 Russia?
Internet is rarely the blocker — Russia has 24.8 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 10.6 in Botswana.
How is healthcare in Russia compared to Botswana?
Botswana generally does better on health & wellbeing, though Russia leads in doctors per 10,000 people. There are 38.3 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.
