Moving to Botswana from Mozambique

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What to Expect

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

If you moved from Mozambique to Botswana, and you’d need to navigate life in English and Tswana.

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Who Else Is Making This Move?

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

Living there in 2020
604 ↑ 7% vs 2015

people born in Mozambique 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 Mozambique to Botswana.

Is it safe?

Homicide rate United Nations SDG Indicators, 2021

per 100,000 people per year

MZ
3.6
BW
10.6
Road traffic deaths United Nations SDG Indicators, 2021

per 100,000 people per year

MZ
20.1
BW
16.5

Mozambique generally does better on safety, though Botswana leads in road traffic deaths.

How's the healthcare?

Healthcare spending per person World Bank, 2023

annual government + private spending per person

MZ
$143
BW
$1,310
Doctors per 10,000 people United Nations SDG Indicators, 2022

affects wait times and access to care

MZ
0.8
BW
3.8

Mozambique 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

MZ
64.0
BW
55.0
CO₂ emissions per capita World Bank, 2024

tonnes of CO₂ emitted per person per year

MZ
0.3t
BW
2.7t

Mozambique 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

MZ
0.2
BW
4.2
Water stress level United Nations SDG Indicators, 2021

higher means greater strain on freshwater supply

MZ
1.8%
BW
2.4%

Botswana generally does better on infrastructure, though Mozambique leads in water stress level.

What are the job prospects?

Unemployment rate The World Factbook, 2023

percentage of the labour force without work

MZ
3.5%
BW
23.4%
GDP per capita The World Factbook, 2023

a broad measure of economic output per person

MZ
$1,500
BW
$17,500

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

Is it good for families?

Life expectancy The World Factbook, 2022

average years of life at birth

MZ
57.1 yrs
BW
65.6 yrs
Infant mortality The World Factbook, 2022

deaths per 1,000 live births — lower is better

MZ
61.4
BW
25.2

Botswana performs significantly better than Mozambique across all family life metrics.

Data: Autoridade Tributária de Moçambique, The World Factbook, United Nations SDG Indicators, World Bank

What's the Climate Like?

Monthly averages — select a city to compare.

Maputo Rain: 32.0 in/yr (814 mm)
81° / 65°F

Avg. annual high / low

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

Avg. annual high / low

Months Maputo Gaborone
Jan–Mar 85°/72°F (30°/22°C) 88°/66°F (31°/19°C)
Apr–Jun 79°/62°F (26°/17°C) 77°/48°F (25°/9°C)
Jul–Sep 78°/60°F (25°/16°C) 79°/47°F (26°/8°C)
Oct–Dec 82°/68°F (28°/20°C) 89°/64°F (32°/18°C)
View all months
Month Maputo Gaborone
Jan 86°/72°F (29.9°/22.3°C) 90°/67°F (32.5°/19.4°C)
Feb 85°/72°F (29.6°/22.3°C) 89°/67°F (31.5°/19.3°C)
Mar 85°/71°F (29.3°/21.5°C) 86°/63°F (30.2°/17.4°C)
Apr 82°/67°F (27.8°/19.4°C) 82°/56°F (27.8°/13.4°C)
May 80°/62°F (26.4°/16.8°C) 78°/47°F (25.4°/8.3°C)
Jun 76°/58°F (24.6°/14.4°C) 72°/40°F (22.5°/4.6°C)
Jul 76°/58°F (24.4°/14.2°C) 73°/40°F (22.8°/4.6°C)
Aug 78°/60°F (25.3°/15.4°C) 78°/46°F (25.7°/7.6°C)
Sep 79°/63°F (26.1°/17.2°C) 85°/54°F (29.6°/12.5°C)
Oct 80°/65°F (26.5°/18.3°C) 88°/61°F (31.0°/16.2°C)
Nov 81°/67°F (27.4°/19.7°C) 89°/64°F (31.5°/17.9°C)
Dec 84°/71°F (29.1°/21.4°C) 90°/66°F (32.3°/18.8°C)

Data: Botswana Meteorological Services Botswana Meteorological Services

Visitor Visa Requirements

Short-stay tourist visa rules between Mozambique 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.

Mozambique passport

Mozambique passport holder visiting Botswana

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

Botswana passport holder visiting Mozambique

Visa Free
Botswana passport holders can enter Mozambique 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 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?

Mozambique generally does better on safety, though Botswana leads in road traffic deaths. The homicide rate in Botswana is 10.6 per 100,000 people, compared to 3.6 in Mozambique.

How is healthcare in Botswana compared to Mozambique?

Mozambique 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 0.8 in Mozambique. Botswana scores 55 on the WHO universal health coverage index (Mozambique: 44).

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

The average high temperature in Gaborone is 83°F, compared to 81°F in Maputo. Gaborone receives around 21.7 in of rainfall per year, while Maputo gets 32.0 in.

What language do they speak in Botswana?

The official languages in Botswana are English and Tswana. In Mozambique, the official language is Portuguese.

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At a Glance

MZ BW
Population 31,693,239 2,384,246
Currency Mozambican Metical (MZN) Botswanan Pula (BWP)
Languages Portuguese English, Tswana
Driving side Left Left
Calling code +258 +267
Time zones 1 1
Emergency number 119 999