Moving to Botswana from Washington

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What to Expect

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

If you moved from Washington to Botswana. You’ll also switch from driving on the right to the left. Expect a noticeable climate shift — Gaborone averages 83°F vs 60°F in Olympia, making it significantly warmer.

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Who Else Is Making This Move?

How many people actually move from Washington 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 Washington to Botswana.

How's the healthcare?

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

share of adults with obesity

WA
31.1%
BW
18.9%

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

Will I have good infrastructure?

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

share of households with internet

WA
93.1%
BW
74.0%

Washington 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

WA
5.3%
BW
23.4%
GDP per capita Bureau of Economic Analysis, 2024

a broad measure of economic output per person

WA
$87,768
BW
$17,500

Washington 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

WA
79.2 yrs
BW
65.6 yrs

Washington 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.

Olympia Rain: 50.0 in/yr (1270 mm)
60° / 41°F

Avg. annual high / low

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

Avg. annual high / low

Months Olympia Gaborone
Jan–Mar 50°/34°F (10°/1°C) 88°/66°F (31°/19°C)
Apr–Jun 65°/43°F (18°/6°C) 77°/48°F (25°/9°C)
Jul–Sep 76°/49°F (24°/10°C) 79°/47°F (26°/8°C)
Oct–Dec 51°/36°F (11°/2°C) 89°/64°F (32°/18°C)
View all months
Month Olympia Gaborone
Jan 46°/34°F (7.7°/0.9°C) 90°/67°F (32.5°/19.4°C)
Feb 49°/33°F (9.6°/0.4°C) 89°/67°F (31.5°/19.3°C)
Mar 54°/35°F (12.2°/1.7°C) 86°/63°F (30.2°/17.4°C)
Apr 59°/38°F (14.9°/3.2°C) 82°/56°F (27.8°/13.4°C)
May 65°/43°F (18.5°/6.2°C) 78°/47°F (25.4°/8.3°C)
Jun 71°/48°F (21.4°/8.7°C) 72°/40°F (22.5°/4.6°C)
Jul 77°/51°F (24.9°/10.4°C) 73°/40°F (22.8°/4.6°C)
Aug 78°/51°F (25.4°/10.3°C) 78°/46°F (25.7°/7.6°C)
Sep 72°/46°F (22.1°/7.8°C) 85°/54°F (29.6°/12.5°C)
Oct 60°/40°F (15.7°/4.7°C) 88°/61°F (31.0°/16.2°C)
Nov 50°/36°F (10.1°/2.4°C) 89°/64°F (31.5°/17.9°C)
Dec 44°/33°F (6.8°/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 Washington?

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

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

The average high temperature in Gaborone is 83°F, compared to 60°F in Olympia. Gaborone receives around 21.7 in of rainfall per year, while Olympia gets 50.0 in.

What language do they speak in Botswana?

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

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At a Glance

BW
Population 6,724,540 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