Moving to South Korea from Botswana

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What to Expect

Considering a move from Botswana to South Korea? Here's how the two countries compare on cost, climate, safety, and more.

If you moved from Botswana to South Korea, and you’d need to navigate life in Korean. You’ll also switch from driving on the left to the right. Expect a noticeable climate shift — Seoul averages 63°F vs 83°F in Gaborone, making it significantly cooler.

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Who Else Is Making This Move?

What the data shows about people moving from Botswana to South Korea.

Moved in 2023
9 ↓ 25% vs 2022

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

Who's moving to South Korea?

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

Foreign-born population · UN DESA (2020)

Key Indicator Comparison

The numbers behind daily life in South Korea compared to Botswana.

Is it safe?

Homicide rate United Nations SDG Indicators, 2022

per 100,000 people per year

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

per 100,000 people per year

BW
16.5
KR
6.9

South Korea performs significantly better than Botswana across all safety metrics.

How's the healthcare?

Healthcare spending per person World Bank, 2024

annual government + private spending per person

BW
$1,310
KR
$5,081
Doctors per 10,000 people United Nations SDG Indicators, 2022

affects wait times and access to care

BW
3.8
KR
25.2

Botswana generally does better on health & wellbeing, though South Korea leads in doctors per 10,000 people.

What about the environment?

Air pollution deaths United Nations SDG Indicators, 2019

deaths attributable to air pollution per 100k people

BW
55.0
KR
19.0
CO₂ emissions per capita World Bank, 2024

tonnes of CO₂ emitted per person per year

BW
2.7t
KR
11.4t

Botswana generally does better on environment, though South Korea 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
KR
45.4
Water stress level United Nations SDG Indicators, 2021

higher means greater strain on freshwater supply

BW
2.4%
KR
85.2%

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

What are the job prospects?

Unemployment rate The World Factbook, 2023

percentage of the labour force without work

BW
23.4%
KR
2.6%
GDP per capita The World Factbook, 2023

a broad measure of economic output per person

BW
$17,500
KR
$50,600

South Korea 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
KR
83.0 yrs
Infant mortality The World Factbook, 2022

deaths per 1,000 live births — lower is better

BW
25.2
KR
2.9

South Korea 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

Seoul Rain: 55.8 in/yr (1418 mm)
63° / 48°F

Avg. annual high / low

Months Gaborone Seoul
Jan–Mar 88°/66°F (31°/19°C) 43°/28°F (6°/-2°C)
Apr–Jun 77°/48°F (25°/9°C) 73°/56°F (23°/13°C)
Jul–Sep 79°/47°F (26°/8°C) 83°/70°F (28°/21°C)
Oct–Dec 89°/64°F (32°/18°C) 54°/38°F (12°/4°C)
View all months
Month Gaborone Seoul
Jan 90°/67°F (32.5°/19.4°C) 36°/22°F (2.1°/-5.5°C)
Feb 89°/67°F (31.5°/19.3°C) 41°/26°F (5.1°/-3.2°C)
Mar 86°/63°F (30.2°/17.4°C) 52°/35°F (11.0°/1.9°C)
Apr 82°/56°F (27.8°/13.4°C) 64°/46°F (17.9°/8.0°C)
May 78°/47°F (25.4°/8.3°C) 74°/56°F (23.6°/13.5°C)
Jun 72°/40°F (22.5°/4.6°C) 82°/66°F (27.6°/18.7°C)
Jul 73°/40°F (22.8°/4.6°C) 84°/72°F (29.0°/22.3°C)
Aug 78°/46°F (25.7°/7.6°C) 86°/73°F (30.0°/22.9°C)
Sep 85°/54°F (29.6°/12.5°C) 79°/64°F (26.2°/17.7°C)
Oct 88°/61°F (31.0°/16.2°C) 68°/51°F (20.2°/10.6°C)
Nov 89°/64°F (31.5°/17.9°C) 53°/38°F (11.9°/3.5°C)
Dec 90°/66°F (32.3°/18.8°C) 40°/26°F (4.2°/-3.4°C)

Data: Botswana Meteorological Services Botswana Meteorological Services, Korea Meteorological Administration Korea Meteorological Administration

Visitor Visa Requirements

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

Botswana passport

Botswana passport holder visiting South Korea

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

South Korea passport holder visiting Botswana

Visa Free
South Korea 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 South Korea?

Connectivity is usually fine (South Korea: 45.4 fixed broadband per 100). What actually decides it is legal: does South Korea offer a digital nomad visa, will your employer permit overseas work, and where are you tax-resident?

Is South Korea safe for expats?

South Korea performs significantly better than Botswana across all safety metrics. The homicide rate in South Korea is 0.5 per 100,000 people, compared to 10.6 in Botswana.

How is healthcare in South Korea compared to Botswana?

Botswana generally does better on health & wellbeing, though South Korea leads in doctors per 10,000 people. There are 25.2 doctors per 10,000 people in South Korea, compared to 3.8 in Botswana. South Korea scores 89 on the WHO universal health coverage index (Botswana: 55).

What's the weather like in South Korea compared to Botswana?

The average high temperature in Seoul is 63°F, compared to 83°F in Gaborone. Seoul receives around 55.8 in of rainfall per year, while Gaborone gets 21.7 in.

What language do they speak in South Korea?

The official language in South Korea is Korean. In Botswana, the official languages are English and Tswana.

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At a Glance

BW KR
Population 2,384,246 51,844,834
Currency Botswanan Pula (BWP) South Korean Won (₩)
Languages English, Tswana Korean
Driving side Left Right
Calling code +267 +82
Time zones 1 1
Emergency number 999 112