Quality of life comparison

compared to

If you lived in Gabon instead of Botswana, you would:

Health

be 84.9% less likely to be living with HIV/AIDS

In Botswana, 19.9% of people are living with AIDS/HIV as of 2020. In Gabon, that number is 3.0% of people as of 2020.

live 4.1 years longer

In Botswana, the average life expectancy is 66 years (64 years for men, 68 years for women) as of 2022. In Gabon, that number is 70 years (68 years for men, 71 years for women) as of 2022.

be 20.6% less likely to be obese

In Botswana, 18.9% of adults are obese as of 2016. In Gabon, that number is 15.0% of people as of 2016.

Economy

make 13.1% more money

Botswana has a GDP per capita of $17,500 as of 2023, while in Gabon, the GDP per capita is $19,800 as of 2023.

be 12.9% less likely to be unemployed

In Botswana, 23.4% of adults are unemployed as of 2023. In Gabon, that number is 20.4% as of 2023.

be 2.1 times more likely to live below the poverty line

In Botswana, 16.1% live below the poverty line as of 2015. In Gabon, however, that number is 33.4% as of 2017.

pay a 40.0% higher top tax rate

Botswana has a top tax rate of 25.0% as of 2016. In Gabon, the top tax rate is 35.0% as of 2016.

Life

have 31.1% more children

In Botswana, there are approximately 19.6 babies per 1,000 people as of 2024. In Gabon, there are 25.7 babies per 1,000 people as of 2024.

be 22.0% more likely to die during childbirth

In Botswana, approximately 186.0 women per 100,000 births die during labor as of 2020. In Gabon, 227.0 women do as of 2020.

be 13.4% more likely to die during infancy

In Botswana, approximately 25.2 children (per 1,000 live births) die before they reach the age of one as of 2022. In Gabon, on the other hand, 28.6 children do as of 2022.

Basic Needs

be 23.2% more likely to have access to electricity

In Botswana, approximately 76% of people have electricity access (93% in urban areas, and 25% in rural areas) as of 2022. In Gabon, that number is 94% of people on average (99% in urban areas, and 27% in rural areas) as of 2022.

Expenditures

spend 63.2% less on education

Botswana spends 8.7% of its total GDP on education as of 2020. Gabon spends 3.2% of total GDP on education as of 2020.

spend 45.2% less on healthcare

Botswana spends 6.2% of its total GDP on healthcare as of 2020. In Gabon, that number is 3.4% of GDP as of 2020.

The statistics above were calculated using the following data sources: The World Factbook, Botswana Unified Revenue Service, General Direction of Taxes.

Gabon: At a glance

Gabon is a sovereign country in Africa, with a total land area of approximately 257,667 sq km. El Hadj Omar BONGO Ondimba - one of the longest-serving heads of state in the world - dominated the country's political scene for four decades (1967-2009) following independence from France in 1960. President BONGO introduced a nominal multiparty system and a new constitution in the early 1990s. However, allegations of electoral fraud during local elections in December 2002 and the presidential elections in 2005 exposed the weaknesses of formal political structures in Gabon. Following President BONGO's death in 2009, new elections brought Ali BONGO Ondimba, son of the former president, to power. Despite constrained political conditions, Gabon's small population, abundant natural resources, and considerable foreign support have helped make it one of the more stable African countries.
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How big is Gabon compared to Botswana? See an in-depth size comparison.

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