Moving to Botswana from Virginia

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What to Expect

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

If you moved from Virginia to Botswana. You’ll also switch from driving on the right to the left. Expect a noticeable climate shift — Gaborone averages 83°F vs 70°F in Richmond, making it significantly warmer.

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Who Else Is Making This Move?

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

Living there in 2020
920 ↑ 7% vs 2015

people born in United States 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 Virginia to Botswana.

How's the healthcare?

Adult obesity rate Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (PLACES), 2022

share of adults with obesity

VA
35.3%
BW
18.9%

Botswana performs significantly better than Virginia across all health & wellbeing metrics.

Will I have good infrastructure?

Internet access US Census Bureau (American Community Survey), 2023

share of households with internet

VA
90.1%
BW
74.0%

Virginia performs better than Botswana across all infrastructure metrics.

What are the job prospects?

Unemployment rate Bureau of Labor Statistics, 2025

percentage of the labour force without work

VA
3.4%
BW
23.4%
GDP per capita Bureau of Economic Analysis, 2024

a broad measure of economic output per person

VA
$69,111
BW
$17,500

Virginia performs better than Botswana across all employment & economy metrics.

Is it good for families?

Life expectancy OECD Regional Demography, 2022

average years of life at birth

VA
77.6 yrs
BW
65.6 yrs

Virginia performs better than Botswana across all family life metrics.

Data: Bureau of Economic Analysis, Bureau of Labor Statistics, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (PLACES), OECD Regional Demography, US Census Bureau (American Community Survey)

What's the Climate Like?

Monthly averages — select a city to compare.

Richmond Rain: 43.6 in/yr (1108 mm)
70° / 48°F

Avg. annual high / low

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

Avg. annual high / low

Months Richmond Gaborone
Jan–Mar 53°/32°F (12°/0°C) 88°/66°F (31°/19°C)
Apr–Jun 78°/55°F (26°/13°C) 77°/48°F (25°/9°C)
Jul–Sep 86°/65°F (30°/19°C) 79°/47°F (26°/8°C)
Oct–Dec 61°/39°F (16°/4°C) 89°/64°F (32°/18°C)
View all months
Month Richmond Gaborone
Jan 47°/28°F (8.6°/-2.1°C) 90°/67°F (32.5°/19.4°C)
Feb 51°/31°F (10.7°/-0.8°C) 89°/67°F (31.5°/19.3°C)
Mar 60°/37°F (15.6°/2.8°C) 86°/63°F (30.2°/17.4°C)
Apr 70°/46°F (21.3°/7.8°C) 82°/56°F (27.8°/13.4°C)
May 78°/55°F (25.5°/12.8°C) 78°/47°F (25.4°/8.3°C)
Jun 86°/65°F (30.1°/18.1°C) 72°/40°F (22.5°/4.6°C)
Jul 90°/69°F (32.1°/20.5°C) 73°/40°F (22.8°/4.6°C)
Aug 88°/67°F (30.9°/19.7°C) 78°/46°F (25.7°/7.6°C)
Sep 81°/60°F (27.3°/15.6°C) 85°/54°F (29.6°/12.5°C)
Oct 71°/48°F (21.7°/9.1°C) 88°/61°F (31.0°/16.2°C)
Nov 61°/39°F (16.3°/4.1°C) 89°/64°F (31.5°/17.9°C)
Dec 51°/31°F (10.4°/-0.3°C) 90°/66°F (32.3°/18.8°C)

Data: National Weather Service National Weather Service, Botswana Meteorological Services Botswana Meteorological Services

Visitor Visa Requirements

Short-stay tourist visa rules between United States 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.

United States passport

United States passport holder visiting Botswana

Visa Free
United States passport holders can enter Botswana without a visa.
Botswana passport

Botswana passport holder visiting United States

Visa Required
Botswana passport holders need a visa to enter United States.

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?

Usually fine from major cities in Botswana. The harder questions are legal — digital nomad visa eligibility, your employer's overseas-work policy, and tax residency in both countries.

How is healthcare in Botswana compared to Virginia?

Botswana performs significantly better than Virginia across all health & wellbeing metrics.

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

The average high temperature in Gaborone is 83°F, compared to 70°F in Richmond. Gaborone receives around 21.7 in of rainfall per year, while Richmond gets 43.6 in.

What language do they speak in Botswana?

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

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At a Glance

BW
Population 8,001,024 2,384,246
Currency United States Dollar ($) Botswanan Pula (BWP)
Languages English English, Tswana
Driving side Right Left
Calling code +1 +267
Time zones 11 1
Emergency number 911 999