Moving to Botswana from Turkmenistan

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What to Expect

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

If you moved from Turkmenistan 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. Expect a noticeable climate shift — Gaborone averages 83°F vs 74°F in Ashgabat, making it significantly warmer.

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Key Indicator Comparison

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

Is it safe?

Homicide rate United Nations SDG Indicators, 2021

per 100,000 people per year

TM
1.1
BW
10.6
Road traffic deaths United Nations SDG Indicators, 2021

per 100,000 people per year

TM
8.0
BW
16.5

Turkmenistan 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

TM
$1,264
BW
$1,310
Doctors per 10,000 people United Nations SDG Indicators, 2022

affects wait times and access to care

TM
21.4
BW
3.8

Turkmenistan performs better than Botswana across all health & wellbeing metrics.

What about the environment?

Air pollution deaths United Nations SDG Indicators, 2019

deaths attributable to air pollution per 100k people

TM
87.0
BW
55.0
CO₂ emissions per capita World Bank, 2024

tonnes of CO₂ emitted per person per year

TM
10.9t
BW
2.7t

Botswana performs significantly better than Turkmenistan across all environment metrics.

Will I have good infrastructure?

Broadband per 100 people United Nations SDG Indicators, 2022

fixed broadband subscriptions — key for remote work

TM
5.9
BW
4.2
Water stress level United Nations SDG Indicators, 2021

higher means greater strain on freshwater supply

TM
135.2%
BW
2.4%

Turkmenistan 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

TM
4.1%
BW
23.4%
GDP per capita The World Factbook, 2023

a broad measure of economic output per person

TM
$14,700
BW
$17,500

Turkmenistan 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

TM
71.8 yrs
BW
65.6 yrs
Infant mortality The World Factbook, 2022

deaths per 1,000 live births — lower is better

TM
37.6
BW
25.2

Turkmenistan generally does better on family life, though Botswana leads in infant mortality.

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

What's the Climate Like?

Monthly averages — select a city to compare.

Ashgabat Rain: 8.9 in/yr (227 mm)
74° / 51°F

Avg. annual high / low

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

Avg. annual high / low

Months Ashgabat Gaborone
Jan–Mar 51°/34°F (11°/1°C) 88°/66°F (31°/19°C)
Apr–Jun 86°/61°F (30°/16°C) 77°/48°F (25°/9°C)
Jul–Sep 96°/68°F (35°/20°C) 79°/47°F (26°/8°C)
Oct–Dec 62°/40°F (17°/5°C) 89°/64°F (32°/18°C)
View all months
Month Ashgabat Gaborone
Jan 45°/29°F (7.4°/-1.6°C) 90°/67°F (32.5°/19.4°C)
Feb 49°/32°F (9.6°/-0.2°C) 89°/67°F (31.5°/19.3°C)
Mar 60°/41°F (15.6°/4.9°C) 86°/63°F (30.2°/17.4°C)
Apr 75°/52°F (24.1°/11.1°C) 82°/56°F (27.8°/13.4°C)
May 86°/61°F (30.0°/16.2°C) 78°/47°F (25.4°/8.3°C)
Jun 96°/69°F (35.7°/20.7°C) 72°/40°F (22.5°/4.6°C)
Jul 101°/74°F (38.2°/23.1°C) 73°/40°F (22.8°/4.6°C)
Aug 98°/69°F (36.6°/20.5°C) 78°/46°F (25.7°/7.6°C)
Sep 89°/60°F (31.5°/15.4°C) 85°/54°F (29.6°/12.5°C)
Oct 74°/48°F (23.2°/9.1°C) 88°/61°F (31.0°/16.2°C)
Nov 62°/40°F (16.6°/4.6°C) 89°/64°F (31.5°/17.9°C)
Dec 50°/33°F (9.8°/0.7°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 Turkmenistan 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.

Turkmenistan passport

Turkmenistan passport holder visiting Botswana

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

Botswana passport holder visiting Turkmenistan

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

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?

Turkmenistan performs better than Botswana across all safety metrics. The homicide rate in Botswana is 10.6 per 100,000 people, compared to 1.1 in Turkmenistan.

How is healthcare in Botswana compared to Turkmenistan?

Turkmenistan performs better than Botswana across all health & wellbeing metrics. There are 3.8 doctors per 10,000 people in Botswana, compared to 21.4 in Turkmenistan. Botswana scores 55 on the WHO universal health coverage index (Turkmenistan: 75).

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

The average high temperature in Gaborone is 83°F, compared to 74°F in Ashgabat. Gaborone receives around 21.7 in of rainfall per year, while Ashgabat gets 8.9 in.

What language do they speak in Botswana?

The official languages in Botswana are English and Tswana. In Turkmenistan, the official languages are Russian and Turkmen.

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At a Glance

TM BW
Population 5,636,011 2,384,246
Currency Turkmenistani Manat (TMT) Botswanan Pula (BWP)
Languages Russian, Turkmen English, Tswana
Driving side Right Left
Calling code +993 +267
Time zones 1 1
Emergency number 999