Moving to Botswana from Japan

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What to Expect

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

If you moved from Japan to Botswana, and you’d need to navigate life in English and Tswana. Expect a noticeable climate shift — Gaborone averages 83°F vs 69°F in Tokyo, making it significantly warmer.

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Key Indicator Comparison

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

Is it safe?

Homicide rate United Nations SDG Indicators, 2022

per 100,000 people per year

JP
0.2
BW
10.6
Road traffic deaths United Nations SDG Indicators, 2021

per 100,000 people per year

JP
2.7
BW
16.5

Japan 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

JP
$5,365
BW
$1,310
Doctors per 10,000 people United Nations SDG Indicators, 2022

affects wait times and access to care

JP
26.1
BW
3.8

Japan 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

JP
12.0
BW
55.0
CO₂ emissions per capita World Bank, 2024

tonnes of CO₂ emitted per person per year

JP
7.8t
BW
2.7t

Japan generally does better on environment, though Botswana leads in co₂ emissions per capita.

Will I have good infrastructure?

Broadband per 100 people United Nations SDG Indicators, 2022

fixed broadband subscriptions — key for remote work

JP
37.2
BW
4.2
Water stress level United Nations SDG Indicators, 2021

higher means greater strain on freshwater supply

JP
36.0%
BW
2.4%

Japan 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

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

a broad measure of economic output per person

JP
$46,300
BW
$17,500

Japan 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

JP
84.8 yrs
BW
65.6 yrs
Infant mortality The World Factbook, 2022

deaths per 1,000 live births — lower is better

JP
1.9
BW
25.2

Japan generally does better on family life, though Botswana leads in education spending.

Data: National Tax Agency Japan, The World Factbook, United Nations SDG Indicators, World Bank

What's the Climate Like?

Monthly averages — select a city to compare.

Tokyo Rain: 62.9 in/yr (1598 mm)
69° / 54°F

Avg. annual high / low

Gaborone Rain: 21.7 in/yr (552 mm)
83° / 56°F

Avg. annual high / low

Months Tokyo Gaborone
Jan–Mar 53°/37°F (12°/3°C) 88°/66°F (31°/19°C)
Apr–Jun 73°/58°F (23°/14°C) 77°/48°F (25°/9°C)
Jul–Sep 85°/72°F (30°/22°C) 79°/47°F (26°/8°C)
Oct–Dec 63°/49°F (17°/9°C) 89°/64°F (32°/18°C)
View all months
Month Tokyo Gaborone
Jan 50°/34°F (9.8°/1.2°C) 90°/67°F (32.5°/19.4°C)
Feb 52°/36°F (10.9°/2.1°C) 89°/67°F (31.5°/19.3°C)
Mar 58°/41°F (14.2°/5.0°C) 86°/63°F (30.2°/17.4°C)
Apr 67°/50°F (19.4°/9.8°C) 82°/56°F (27.8°/13.4°C)
May 74°/58°F (23.6°/14.6°C) 78°/47°F (25.4°/8.3°C)
Jun 79°/65°F (26.1°/18.5°C) 72°/40°F (22.5°/4.6°C)
Jul 86°/72°F (29.9°/22.4°C) 73°/40°F (22.8°/4.6°C)
Aug 88°/74°F (31.3°/23.5°C) 78°/46°F (25.7°/7.6°C)
Sep 82°/69°F (27.5°/20.3°C) 85°/54°F (29.6°/12.5°C)
Oct 72°/59°F (22.0°/14.8°C) 88°/61°F (31.0°/16.2°C)
Nov 62°/48°F (16.7°/8.8°C) 89°/64°F (31.5°/17.9°C)
Dec 54°/39°F (12.0°/3.8°C) 90°/66°F (32.3°/18.8°C)

Data: Japan Meteorological Agency Japan Meteorological Agency, Botswana Meteorological Services Botswana Meteorological Services

Visitor Visa Requirements

Short-stay tourist visa rules between Japan 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.

Japan passport

Japan passport holder visiting Botswana

Visa Free
Japan passport holders can enter Botswana without a visa.
Botswana passport

Botswana passport holder visiting Japan

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

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?

Internet is rarely the blocker — Botswana has 4.2 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 Botswana safe for expats?

Japan performs better than Botswana across all safety metrics. The homicide rate in Botswana is 10.6 per 100,000 people, compared to 0.2 in Japan.

How is healthcare in Botswana compared to Japan?

Japan 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 26.1 in Japan. Botswana scores 55 on the WHO universal health coverage index (Japan: 83).

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

The average high temperature in Gaborone is 83°F, compared to 69°F in Tokyo. Gaborone receives around 21.7 in of rainfall per year, while Tokyo gets 62.9 in.

What language do they speak in Botswana?

The official languages in Botswana are English and Tswana. In Japan, the official language is Japanese.

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At a Glance

JP BW
Population 124,214,766 2,384,246
Currency Japanese Yen (¥) Botswanan Pula (BWP)
Languages Japanese English, Tswana
Driving side Left Left
Calling code +81 +267
Time zones 1 1
Emergency number 110 999