Moving to Spain from Botswana

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What to Expect

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

If you moved from Botswana to Spain, and you’d need to navigate life in Basque, Catalan, Galician and Spanish. You’ll also switch from driving on the left to the right. Expect a noticeable climate shift — Madrid averages 68°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 Spain, based on official data.

Moved in 2019
7 ↑ 250% vs 2018

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

Who's moving to Spain?

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

Foreign-born population · UN DESA (2020)

Key Indicator Comparison

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

Is it safe?

Homicide rate United Nations SDG Indicators, 2022

per 100,000 people per year

BW
10.6
ES
0.7
Road traffic deaths United Nations SDG Indicators, 2021

per 100,000 people per year

BW
16.5
ES
3.5

Spain 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
ES
$4,935
Doctors per 10,000 people United Nations SDG Indicators, 2022

affects wait times and access to care

BW
3.8
ES
44.8

Spain 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
ES
10.0
CO₂ emissions per capita World Bank, 2024

tonnes of CO₂ emitted per person per year

BW
2.7t
ES
4.5t

Botswana generally does better on environment, though Spain 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
ES
36.0
Water stress level United Nations SDG Indicators, 2021

higher means greater strain on freshwater supply

BW
2.4%
ES
43.2%

Spain 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%
ES
12.1%
GDP per capita The World Factbook, 2023

a broad measure of economic output per person

BW
$17,500
ES
$46,400

Botswana generally does better on employment & economy, though Spain leads in unemployment rate.

Is it good for families?

Life expectancy The World Factbook, 2022

average years of life at birth

BW
65.6 yrs
ES
82.5 yrs
Infant mortality The World Factbook, 2022

deaths per 1,000 live births — lower is better

BW
25.2
ES
2.5

Spain 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

Madrid Rain: 16.6 in/yr (421 mm)
68° / 50°F

Avg. annual high / low

Months Gaborone Madrid
Jan–Mar 88°/66°F (31°/19°C) 55°/40°F (13°/4°C)
Apr–Jun 77°/48°F (25°/9°C) 73°/53°F (23°/12°C)
Jul–Sep 79°/47°F (26°/8°C) 86°/64°F (30°/18°C)
Oct–Dec 89°/64°F (32°/18°C) 58°/44°F (14°/7°C)
View all months
Month Gaborone Madrid
Jan 90°/67°F (32.5°/19.4°C) 50°/37°F (9.8°/2.7°C)
Feb 89°/67°F (31.5°/19.3°C) 54°/39°F (12.0°/3.7°C)
Mar 86°/63°F (30.2°/17.4°C) 61°/43°F (16.3°/6.2°C)
Apr 82°/56°F (27.8°/13.4°C) 65°/46°F (18.2°/7.7°C)
May 78°/47°F (25.4°/8.3°C) 72°/52°F (22.2°/11.3°C)
Jun 72°/40°F (22.5°/4.6°C) 83°/61°F (28.2°/16.1°C)
Jul 73°/40°F (22.8°/4.6°C) 90°/66°F (32.1°/19.0°C)
Aug 78°/46°F (25.7°/7.6°C) 88°/66°F (31.3°/18.8°C)
Sep 85°/54°F (29.6°/12.5°C) 80°/60°F (26.4°/15.4°C)
Oct 88°/61°F (31.0°/16.2°C) 67°/51°F (19.4°/10.7°C)
Nov 89°/64°F (31.5°/17.9°C) 56°/43°F (13.5°/6.2°C)
Dec 90°/66°F (32.3°/18.8°C) 50°/38°F (10.0°/3.6°C)

Data: Botswana Meteorological Services Botswana Meteorological Services, Agencia Estatal de Meteorología Agencia Estatal de Meteorología

Visitor Visa Requirements

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

Botswana passport

Botswana passport holder visiting Spain

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

Spain passport holder visiting Botswana

Visa Free
Spain 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 Spain?

Internet is rarely the blocker — Spain has 36.0 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 Spain safe for expats?

Spain performs significantly better than Botswana across all safety metrics. The homicide rate in Spain is 0.7 per 100,000 people, compared to 10.6 in Botswana.

How is healthcare in Spain compared to Botswana?

Spain generally does better on health & wellbeing, though Botswana leads in healthcare spending per person. There are 44.8 doctors per 10,000 people in Spain, compared to 3.8 in Botswana. Spain scores 85 on the WHO universal health coverage index (Botswana: 55).

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

The average high temperature in Madrid is 68°F, compared to 83°F in Gaborone. Madrid receives around 16.6 in of rainfall per year, while Gaborone gets 21.7 in.

What language do they speak in Spain?

The official languages in Spain are Basque, Catalan, Galician and Spanish. In Botswana, the official languages are English and Tswana.

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At a Glance

BW ES
Population 2,384,246 47,163,418
Currency Botswanan Pula (BWP) Euro (€)
Languages English, Tswana Basque, Catalan, Galician, Spanish
Driving side Left Right
Calling code +267 +34
Time zones 1 2
Emergency number 999 112