Moving to Botswana from Somalia

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What to Expect

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

If you moved from Somalia 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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Key Indicator Comparison

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

Is it safe?

Road traffic deaths United Nations SDG Indicators, 2021

per 100,000 people per year

SO
20.2
BW
16.5

Botswana performs significantly better than Somalia across all safety metrics.

How's the healthcare?

Healthcare spending per person World Bank, 2023

annual government + private spending per person

SO
$52
BW
$1,310
Doctors per 10,000 people United Nations SDG Indicators, 2022

affects wait times and access to care

SO
0.2
BW
3.8

Somalia 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

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

tonnes of CO₂ emitted per person per year

SO
0.0t
BW
2.7t

Somalia 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

SO
0.7
BW
4.2
Water stress level United Nations SDG Indicators, 2021

higher means greater strain on freshwater supply

SO
24.5%
BW
2.4%

Botswana performs significantly better than Somalia across all infrastructure metrics.

What are the job prospects?

Unemployment rate The World Factbook, 2023

percentage of the labour force without work

SO
19.0%
BW
23.4%
GDP per capita The World Factbook, 2023

a broad measure of economic output per person

SO
$1,500
BW
$17,500

Somalia 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

SO
55.7 yrs
BW
65.6 yrs
Infant mortality The World Factbook, 2022

deaths per 1,000 live births — lower is better

SO
86.5
BW
25.2

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

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

What's the Climate Like?

Monthly averages — select a city to compare.

Mogadishu Rain: 18.7 in/yr (474 mm)
86° / 75°F

Avg. annual high / low

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

Avg. annual high / low

Months Mogadishu Gaborone
Jan–Mar 86°/74°F (30°/24°C) 88°/66°F (31°/19°C)
Apr–Jun 88°/76°F (31°/25°C) 77°/48°F (25°/9°C)
Jul–Sep 84°/73°F (29°/23°C) 79°/47°F (26°/8°C)
Oct–Dec 87°/75°F (30°/24°C) 89°/64°F (32°/18°C)
View all months
Month Mogadishu Gaborone
Jan 86°/73°F (30.1°/23.0°C) 90°/67°F (32.5°/19.4°C)
Feb 86°/74°F (30.1°/23.2°C) 89°/67°F (31.5°/19.3°C)
Mar 87°/76°F (30.7°/24.7°C) 86°/63°F (30.2°/17.4°C)
Apr 90°/78°F (32.0°/25.5°C) 82°/56°F (27.8°/13.4°C)
May 88°/76°F (31.1°/24.7°C) 78°/47°F (25.4°/8.3°C)
Jun 85°/74°F (29.5°/23.6°C) 72°/40°F (22.5°/4.6°C)
Jul 83°/73°F (28.5°/23.0°C) 73°/40°F (22.8°/4.6°C)
Aug 83°/73°F (28.5°/23.0°C) 78°/46°F (25.7°/7.6°C)
Sep 85°/74°F (29.2°/23.2°C) 85°/54°F (29.6°/12.5°C)
Oct 86°/76°F (30.1°/24.2°C) 88°/61°F (31.0°/16.2°C)
Nov 87°/75°F (30.5°/24.1°C) 89°/64°F (31.5°/17.9°C)
Dec 87°/74°F (30.6°/23.5°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 Somalia 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.

Somalia passport

Somalia passport holder visiting Botswana

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

Botswana passport holder visiting Somalia

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

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 Somalia across all safety metrics.

How is healthcare in Botswana compared to Somalia?

Somalia 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 0.2 in Somalia. Botswana scores 55 on the WHO universal health coverage index (Somalia: 27).

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

The average high temperature in Gaborone is 83°F, compared to 86°F in Mogadishu. Gaborone receives around 21.7 in of rainfall per year, while Mogadishu gets 18.7 in.

What language do they speak in Botswana?

The official languages in Botswana are English and Tswana. In Somalia, the official languages are Arabic and Somali.

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At a Glance

SO BW
Population 12,386,248 2,384,246
Currency Somali Shilling (SOS) Botswanan Pula (BWP)
Languages Arabic, Somali English, Tswana
Driving side Right Left
Calling code +252 +267
Time zones 1 1
Emergency number 999