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

Health

live 9.0 years longer

In Botswana, the average life expectancy is 66 years (64 years for men, 68 years for women) as of 2022. In Palau, that number is 75 years (71 years for men, 78 years for women) as of 2022.

be 2.9 times more likely to be obese

In Botswana, 18.9% of adults are obese as of 2016. In Palau, that number is 55.3% of people as of 2016.

Economy

be 92.7% less likely to be unemployed

In Botswana, 23.4% of adults are unemployed as of 2023. In Palau, that number is 1.7% as of 2015.

be 54.7% more likely to live below the poverty line

In Botswana, 16.1% live below the poverty line as of 2015. In Palau, however, that number is 24.9% as of 2006.

Life

be 55.2% 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 Palau, on the other hand, 11.3 children do as of 2022.

have 40.8% fewer children

In Botswana, there are approximately 19.6 babies per 1,000 people as of 2024. In Palau, there are 11.6 babies per 1,000 people as of 2024.

Basic Needs

be 31.8% 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 Palau, that number is 100% of people on average (100% in urban areas, and 97% in rural areas) as of 2022.

be 49.7% less likely to have internet access

In Botswana, approximately 74.0% of the population has internet access as of 2021. In Palau, about 37.2% do as of 2021.

Expenditures

spend 21.8% less on education

Botswana spends 8.7% of its total GDP on education as of 2020. Palau spends 6.8% of total GDP on education as of 2019.

spend 3.0 times more on healthcare

Botswana spends 6.2% of its total GDP on healthcare as of 2020. In Palau, that number is 18.4% of GDP as of 2020.


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

Palau: At a glance

Palau is a sovereign country in Australia-Oceania, with a total land area of approximately 459 sq km. After three decades as part of the UN Trust Territory of the Pacific under US administration, this westernmost cluster of the Caroline Islands opted for independence in 1978 rather than join the Federated States of Micronesia. A Compact of Free Association with the US was approved in 1986 but not ratified until 1993. It entered into force the following year when the islands gained independence.
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How big is Palau compared to Botswana? See an in-depth size comparison.

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