Quality of life comparison

compared to

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

Health

be 93.5% less likely to be living with HIV/AIDS

In Botswana, 19.9% of people are living with AIDS/HIV as of 2020. In Guyana, that number is 1.3% of people as of 2020.

live 6.2 years longer

In Botswana, the average life expectancy is 66 years (64 years for men, 68 years for women) as of 2022. In Guyana, that number is 72 years (70 years for men, 74 years for women) as of 2022.

Economy

make 2.8 times more money

Botswana has a GDP per capita of $17,500 as of 2023, while in Guyana, the GDP per capita is $49,800 as of 2023.

be 46.8% less likely to be unemployed

In Botswana, 23.4% of adults are unemployed as of 2023. In Guyana, that number is 12.4% as of 2023.

be 2.2 times more likely to live below the poverty line

In Botswana, 16.1% live below the poverty line as of 2015. In Guyana, however, that number is 35.0% as of 2006.

Life

be 39.8% less likely to die during childbirth

In Botswana, approximately 186.0 women per 100,000 births die during labor as of 2020. In Guyana, 112.0 women do as of 2020.

be 12.0% less 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 Guyana, on the other hand, 22.1 children do as of 2022.

have 14.8% fewer children

In Botswana, there are approximately 19.6 babies per 1,000 people as of 2024. In Guyana, there are 16.7 babies per 1,000 people as of 2024.

Basic Needs

be 22.5% 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 Guyana, that number is 93% of people on average (98% in urban areas, and 91% in rural areas) as of 2022.

be 14.9% more likely to have internet access

In Botswana, approximately 74.0% of the population has internet access as of 2021. In Guyana, about 85.0% do as of 2021.

Expenditures

spend 48.3% less on education

Botswana spends 8.7% of its total GDP on education as of 2020. Guyana spends 4.5% of total GDP on education as of 2018.

spend 11.3% less on healthcare

Botswana spends 6.2% of its total GDP on healthcare as of 2020. In Guyana, that number is 5.5% of GDP as of 2020.

The statistics above were calculated using the following data sources: The World Factbook.

Guyana: At a glance

Guyana is a sovereign country in South America, with a total land area of approximately 196,849 sq km. Originally a Dutch colony in the 17th century, by 1815 Guyana had become a British possession. The abolition of slavery led to settlement of urban areas by former slaves and the importation of indentured servants from India to work the sugar plantations. The resulting ethnocultural divide has persisted and has led to turbulent politics. Guyana achieved independence from the UK in 1966, and since then it has been ruled mostly by socialist-oriented governments. In 1992, Cheddi JAGAN was elected president in what is considered the country's first free and fair election since independence. After his death five years later, his wife, Janet JAGAN, became president but resigned in 1999 due to poor health. Her successor, Bharrat JAGDEO, was reelected in 2001 and again in 2006. Donald RAMOTAR was elected president in 2011.
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How big is Guyana compared to Botswana? See an in-depth size comparison.

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