Moving to Botswana from Democratic Republic of the Congo

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What to Expect

A comprehensive look at what changes when you move from Democratic Republic of the Congo to Botswana — from daily expenses to quality of life.

If you moved from Democratic Republic of the Congo to Botswana, and you’d need to navigate life in English and Tswana. You’ll also switch from driving on the right to the left.

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Who Else Is Making This Move?

Real numbers on people moving from Democratic Republic of the Congo to Botswana, and how the trend has changed.

Living there in 2020
1,129 ↑ 7% vs 2015

people born in Democratic Republic of the Congo live in Botswana · UN DESA

Who's moving to Botswana?

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

Foreign-born population · UN DESA (2020)

Key Indicator Comparison

How Democratic Republic of the Congo and Botswana stack up on safety, healthcare, jobs, and infrastructure.

Is it safe?

Road traffic deaths United Nations SDG Indicators, 2021

per 100,000 people per year

CD
16.3
BW
16.5

Democratic Republic of the Congo performs better than Botswana across all safety metrics.

How's the healthcare?

Healthcare spending per person World Bank, 2023

annual government + private spending per person

CD
$58
BW
$1,310
Doctors per 10,000 people United Nations SDG Indicators, 2022

affects wait times and access to care

CD
1.9
BW
3.8

Democratic Republic of the Congo generally does better on health & wellbeing, though Botswana 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

CD
72.0
BW
55.0
CO₂ emissions per capita World Bank, 2024

tonnes of CO₂ emitted per person per year

CD
0.1t
BW
2.7t

Democratic Republic of the Congo generally does better on environment, though Botswana 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

CD
0.0
BW
4.2
Water stress level United Nations SDG Indicators, 2021

higher means greater strain on freshwater supply

CD
0.2%
BW
2.4%

Botswana generally does better on infrastructure, though Democratic Republic of the Congo leads in water stress level.

What are the job prospects?

Unemployment rate The World Factbook, 2023

percentage of the labour force without work

CD
4.5%
BW
23.4%
GDP per capita The World Factbook, 2023

a broad measure of economic output per person

CD
$1,500
BW
$17,500

Democratic Republic of the Congo generally does better on employment & economy, though Botswana leads in gdp per capita.

Is it good for families?

Life expectancy The World Factbook, 2022

average years of life at birth

CD
61.8 yrs
BW
65.6 yrs
Infant mortality The World Factbook, 2022

deaths per 1,000 live births — lower is better

CD
60.9
BW
25.2

Botswana performs significantly better than Democratic Republic of the Congo across all family life metrics.

Data: The World Factbook, United Nations SDG Indicators, World Bank

Visitor Visa Requirements

Short-stay tourist visa rules between Democratic Republic of the Congo 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.

Democratic Republic of the Congo passport

Democratic Republic of the Congo passport holder visiting Botswana

Visa Online (e-Visa)
Democratic Republic of the Congo passport holders need to apply for an e-Visa before travelling to Botswana.
Botswana passport

Botswana passport holder visiting Democratic Republic of the Congo

Visa Online (e-Visa)
Botswana passport holders need to apply for an e-Visa before travelling to Democratic Republic of the Congo.

Data: Henley Passport Index. Check with the destination country's embassy for the most current requirements.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I work remotely from Botswana?

With 4.2 fixed broadband subscriptions per 100 people, Botswana can support video calls in major cities. The hard part is paperwork — visa category, employer policy on overseas staff, and tax residency in Democratic Republic of the Congo and Botswana.

Is Botswana safe for expats?

Democratic Republic of the Congo performs better than Botswana across all safety metrics.

How is healthcare in Botswana compared to Democratic Republic of the Congo?

Democratic Republic of the Congo generally does better on health & wellbeing, though Botswana leads in doctors per 10,000 people. There are 3.8 doctors per 10,000 people in Botswana, compared to 1.9 in Democratic Republic of the Congo. Botswana scores 55 on the WHO universal health coverage index (Democratic Republic of the Congo: 42).

What language do they speak in Botswana?

The official languages in Botswana are English and Tswana. In Democratic Republic of the Congo, the official languages are French, Kikongo, Lingala, Swahili and Tshiluba.

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At a Glance

CD BW
Population 108,407,721 2,384,246
Currency Congolese Franc (CDF) Botswanan Pula (BWP)
Languages French, Kikongo, Lingala, Swahili, Tshiluba English, Tswana
Driving side Right Left
Calling code +243 +267
Time zones 2 1
Emergency number 999