1960 stamp of the Bechuanaland Protectorate.
The new Scottish Livingstone Hospital in Molepolole
Historical map of the Cape States 1905
The 'Two Rhino' painting at Tsodilo.
Open mine on a dust-disturbed day, Jwaneng Diamond Mine, Botswa…
Hippopotamus (Hippopotamus amphibius) with a Western Cattle Egr…

Botswana

Country Information of Botswana

Botswana is a landlocked country located in southern Africa, renowned for its stable democracy and progressive economic development. Situated primarily within the Kalahari Desert, the nation features a predominantly flat landscape with sparse vegetat...

Capital

Gaborone

Languages

English, Tswana

UN-Member?

Yes

What Expats Say About BotswanaBETA

Research in Progress

We're currently analyzing expat perspectives for Botswana. Check back soon for insights from real experiences!

We're gradually rolling out this feature and continuously improving the insights. The data is based on real expat discussions and will become more comprehensive over time.

Demographics in Botswana

Life Expectancy

66.8

Population

2,351,625

Religions

Christianity
79.1%
Non-religious
15.2%

Ethnic Composition

{{Unbulleted list|79% Tswana |11% Kalanga |3% San |7% others}
N/A
Climate & Weather in Botswana
Loading climate data, please wait
Loading climate data...
Entry Restrictions in Botswana
Summarizing data, please wait
Summarizing data... just a few seconds
Government & Politics in Botswana
Loading government data, please wait
Loading data...
Economic Overview in Botswana

GDP

$20.35B

HDI

0.7

Quality of Life

67/100

+24 vs NYC

Purchasing Power

35/100

-7 vs NYC

Understanding the economic landscape is essential for evaluating living costs and opportunities in Botswana. This comprehensive overview covers key financial indicators including cost of living, housing markets, income levels, and fiscal policies that shape daily life and long-term financial planning.

Economic & Living Costs in Botswana
Food & Dining Costs

Meal, Inexpensive Restaurant

50-250 BWP
Avg: 150 BWP

Meal for 2 People, Mid-range Restaurant, Three-course

250-800 BWP
Avg: 525 BWP

McMeal at McDonalds (or Equivalent Combo Meal)

75-100 BWP
Avg: 87.5 BWP

Domestic Beer (0.5 liter draught)

15-45 BWP
Avg: 30 BWP
Housing & Real Estate Costs

Apartment (1 bedroom) in City Centre

2500-4500 BWP
Avg: 3500 BWP

Apartment (1 bedroom) Outside of Centre

1500-3000 BWP
Avg: 2250 BWP

Apartment (3 bedrooms) in City Centre

4500-10000 BWP
Avg: 7250 BWP

Apartment (3 bedrooms) Outside of Centre

3500-7500 BWP
Avg: 5500 BWP
Transportation Costs

One-way Ticket (Local Transport)

7-9 BWP
Avg: 8 BWP

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

40-100 BWP
Avg: 70 BWP

Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

200-600 BWP
Avg: 400 BWP

Gasoline (1 liter)

14.5-16.77 BWP
Avg: 15.63 BWP
Utilities & Communications Costs

Basic (Electricity, Heating, Cooling, Water, Garbage) for 85m2 Apartment

300-1360 BWP
Avg: 830 BWP

Internet (60 Mbps or More, Unlimited Data, Cable/ADSL)

500-1500 BWP
Avg: 1000 BWP

Mobile Phone Monthly Plan with Calls and 10GB+ Data

200-600 BWP
Avg: 400 BWP
Grocery Costs

Milk (regular), (1 liter)

15-25 BWP
Avg: 20 BWP

Loaf of Fresh White Bread (500g)

8-19 BWP
Avg: 13.5 BWP

Eggs (regular) (12)

20-40 BWP
Avg: 30 BWP

Local Cheese (1kg)

45-160 BWP
Avg: 102.5 BWP
Entertainment & Sports Costs

Fitness Club, Monthly Fee for 1 Adult

350-565 BWP
Avg: 457.5 BWP

Tennis Court Rent (1 Hour on Weekend)

350 BWP
Avg: 175 BWP

Cinema, International Release, 1 Seat

60-120 BWP
Avg: 90 BWP

Preschool (or Kindergarten), Full Day, Private, Monthly for 1 Child

1500-3000 BWP
Avg: 2250 BWP
Last updated: 2025-11-09
Loading education…
Transportation & Infrastructure in Botswana
Loading transportation and infrastructure data
Loading transportation data...
Work & Business in Botswana
Loading work and business data
Loading work & business data...
Social Integration in Botswana
Loading social integration data
Loading social integration data...
Retirement & Senior Living in Botswana

Upgrade to Premium to unlock this feature

Create an account to access:

  • District-level insights & personalization
  • Retirement planning module
  • Access to 3 continents
  • Enhanced filters & comparisons
  • Up to 10 comprehensive reports
  • API access (5000 req/month)
Get Started
Environment & Sustainability in Botswana
Loading environment and sustainability data
Loading environment and sustainability data...
Geography in Botswana

Coastline

N/A

Highest Point

Otse Hill

Lowest Point

Limpopo River

National Flag
Botswana flag
Quick Facts for Botswana

Population

2,351,625

Currency

BWP

Timezone

UTC+02:00

Calling Code

+267

Week starts on

monday

Gini Coefficient

53.3 (2015)

Drives on the

left side

Location

Data Source: Safety, crime, and quality metrics are sourced from Numbeo, a crowd-sourced global database of reported data.

All scores are relative comparisons on a 0-100 scale, where 50 = global average. Higher scores mean better than average, lower scores mean worse than average.