Moving to Botswana from Canada
What to Expect
Considering a move from Canada to Botswana? Here's how the two compare on cost, climate, safety, and more.
If you moved from Canada to Botswana. You’ll also switch from driving on the right to the left. Expect a noticeable climate shift — Gaborone averages 83°F vs 52°F in Ottawa, making it significantly warmer.
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Who Else Is Making This Move?
What the data shows about people moving from Canada to Botswana.
Key Indicator Comparison
The numbers behind daily life in Botswana compared to Canada.
Is it safe?
per 100,000 people per year
per 100,000 people per year
Canada performs 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
Canada generally does better on health & wellbeing, though Botswana leads in healthcare spending per person.
What about the environment?
deaths attributable to air pollution per 100k people
tonnes of CO₂ emitted per person per year
Canada generally does better on environment, though Botswana leads in co₂ emissions per capita.
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
Canada 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
Canada generally does better on employment & economy, though Botswana leads in top income tax rate.
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
Canada generally does better on family life, though Botswana leads in education spending.
Data: Canada Revenue Agency, 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 | Ottawa | Gaborone |
|---|---|---|
| Jan–Mar | 27°/10°F (-3°/-12°C) | 88°/66°F (31°/19°C) |
| Apr–Jun | 64°/45°F (18°/7°C) | 77°/48°F (25°/9°C) |
| Jul–Sep | 75°/55°F (24°/13°C) | 79°/47°F (26°/8°C) |
| Oct–Dec | 41°/25°F (5°/-4°C) | 89°/64°F (32°/18°C) |
View all months
| Month | Ottawa | Gaborone |
|---|---|---|
| Jan | 21°/4°F (-6.1°/-15.3°C) | 90°/67°F (32.5°/19.4°C) |
| Feb | 25°/8°F (-4.1°/-13.3°C) | 89°/67°F (31.5°/19.3°C) |
| Mar | 36°/19°F (2.2°/-7.1°C) | 86°/63°F (30.2°/17.4°C) |
| Apr | 51°/33°F (10.8°/0.6°C) | 82°/56°F (27.8°/13.4°C) |
| May | 66°/46°F (19.1°/7.7°C) | 78°/47°F (25.4°/8.3°C) |
| Jun | 75°/55°F (23.8°/12.7°C) | 72°/40°F (22.5°/4.6°C) |
| Jul | 80°/60°F (26.5°/15.4°C) | 73°/40°F (22.8°/4.6°C) |
| Aug | 77°/57°F (24.9°/14.1°C) | 78°/46°F (25.7°/7.6°C) |
| Sep | 67°/48°F (19.5°/9.1°C) | 85°/54°F (29.6°/12.5°C) |
| Oct | 54°/37°F (12.5°/3.0°C) | 88°/61°F (31.0°/16.2°C) |
| Nov | 41°/27°F (4.8°/-2.8°C) | 89°/64°F (31.5°/17.9°C) |
| Dec | 27°/12°F (-3.0°/-11.1°C) | 90°/66°F (32.3°/18.8°C) |
Data:
Meteorological Service of Canada,
Botswana Meteorological Services
Visitor Visa Requirements
Short-stay tourist visa rules between Canada and Botswana. To live, work, or study long-term in Botswana, you'll need a separate residence or work visa — check Botswana's immigration authority.
Canada passport holder visiting Botswana
Visa Free
Botswana passport holder visiting Canada
Visa RequiredData: Henley Passport Index. Check with the destination country's embassy for the most current requirements.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I work remotely from Botswana?
Connectivity is usually fine (Botswana: 4.2 fixed broadband per 100). What actually decides it is legal: does Botswana offer a digital nomad visa, will your employer permit overseas work, and where are you tax-resident?
Is Botswana safe for expats?
Canada performs better than Botswana across all safety metrics. The homicide rate in Botswana is 10.6 per 100,000 people, compared to 2.3 in Canada.
How is healthcare in Botswana compared to Canada?
Canada generally does better on health & wellbeing, though Botswana leads in healthcare spending per person. There are 3.8 doctors per 10,000 people in Botswana, compared to 25.0 in Canada. Botswana scores 55 on the WHO universal health coverage index (Canada: 91).
What's the weather like in Botswana compared to Canada?
The average high temperature in Gaborone is 83°F, compared to 52°F in Ottawa. Gaborone receives around 21.7 in of rainfall per year, while Ottawa gets 37.1 in.
What language do they speak in Botswana?
The official languages in Botswana are English and Tswana. In Canada, the official languages are English and French.
