Moving to Botswana from Madagascar

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What to Expect

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

If you moved from Madagascar 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?

How many people actually move from Madagascar to Botswana, based on official data.

Living there in 2020
560 ↑ 7% vs 2015

people born in Madagascar 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

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

Is it safe?

Road traffic deaths United Nations SDG Indicators, 2021

per 100,000 people per year

MG
22.5
BW
16.5

Botswana performs significantly better than Madagascar across all safety metrics.

How's the healthcare?

Healthcare spending per person World Bank, 2023

annual government + private spending per person

MG
$63
BW
$1,310
Doctors per 10,000 people United Nations SDG Indicators, 2022

affects wait times and access to care

MG
1.8
BW
3.8

Madagascar 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

MG
58.0
BW
55.0
CO₂ emissions per capita World Bank, 2024

tonnes of CO₂ emitted per person per year

MG
0.1t
BW
2.7t

Madagascar 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

MG
0.1
BW
4.2
Water stress level United Nations SDG Indicators, 2021

higher means greater strain on freshwater supply

MG
11.3%
BW
2.4%

Botswana performs significantly better than Madagascar across all infrastructure metrics.

What are the job prospects?

Unemployment rate The World Factbook, 2023

percentage of the labour force without work

MG
3.1%
BW
23.4%
GDP per capita The World Factbook, 2023

a broad measure of economic output per person

MG
$1,700
BW
$17,500

Madagascar 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

MG
68.2 yrs
BW
65.6 yrs
Infant mortality The World Factbook, 2022

deaths per 1,000 live births — lower is better

MG
39.0
BW
25.2

Botswana generally does better on family life, though Madagascar leads in life expectancy.

Data: General Direction of Taxes, The World Factbook, United Nations SDG Indicators, World Bank

What's the Climate Like?

Monthly averages — select a city to compare.

Antananarivo Rain: 47.2 in/yr (1198 mm)
76° / 58°F

Avg. annual high / low

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

Avg. annual high / low

Months Antananarivo Gaborone
Jan–Mar 79°/63°F (26°/17°C) 88°/66°F (31°/19°C)
Apr–Jun 75°/57°F (24°/14°C) 77°/48°F (25°/9°C)
Jul–Sep 72°/52°F (22°/11°C) 79°/47°F (26°/8°C)
Oct–Dec 79°/60°F (26°/16°C) 89°/64°F (32°/18°C)
View all months
Month Antananarivo Gaborone
Jan 80°/63°F (26.4°/17.3°C) 90°/67°F (32.5°/19.4°C)
Feb 79°/63°F (26.3°/17.4°C) 89°/67°F (31.5°/19.3°C)
Mar 79°/63°F (26.2°/17.0°C) 86°/63°F (30.2°/17.4°C)
Apr 78°/60°F (25.4°/15.8°C) 82°/56°F (27.8°/13.4°C)
May 75°/57°F (23.7°/13.8°C) 78°/47°F (25.4°/8.3°C)
Jun 71°/53°F (21.4°/11.5°C) 72°/40°F (22.5°/4.6°C)
Jul 69°/51°F (20.5°/10.5°C) 73°/40°F (22.8°/4.6°C)
Aug 71°/52°F (21.4°/10.9°C) 78°/46°F (25.7°/7.6°C)
Sep 75°/54°F (23.7°/12.1°C) 85°/54°F (29.6°/12.5°C)
Oct 78°/57°F (25.7°/14.1°C) 88°/61°F (31.0°/16.2°C)
Nov 80°/60°F (26.9°/15.7°C) 89°/64°F (31.5°/17.9°C)
Dec 80°/62°F (26.8°/16.9°C) 90°/66°F (32.3°/18.8°C)

Data: Direction Générale de la Météorologie Direction Générale de la Météorologie, Botswana Meteorological Services Botswana Meteorological Services

Visitor Visa Requirements

Short-stay tourist visa rules between Madagascar 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.

Madagascar passport

Madagascar passport holder visiting Botswana

Visa Online (e-Visa)
Madagascar passport holders need to apply for an e-Visa before travelling to Botswana.
Botswana passport

Botswana passport holder visiting Madagascar

Visa on Arrival
Botswana passport holders can obtain a visa on arrival in Madagascar.

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?

Botswana performs significantly better than Madagascar across all safety metrics.

How is healthcare in Botswana compared to Madagascar?

Madagascar 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 1.8 in Madagascar. Botswana scores 55 on the WHO universal health coverage index (Madagascar: 35).

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

The average high temperature in Gaborone is 83°F, compared to 76°F in Antananarivo. Gaborone receives around 21.7 in of rainfall per year, while Antananarivo gets 47.2 in.

What language do they speak in Botswana?

The official languages in Botswana are English and Tswana. In Madagascar, the official languages are French and Malagasy.

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At a Glance

MG BW
Population 28,172,462 2,384,246
Currency Malagasy Ariary (MGA) Botswanan Pula (BWP)
Languages French, Malagasy English, Tswana
Driving side Right Left
Calling code +261 +267
Time zones 1 1
Emergency number 999