Quality of life comparison

compared to

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

Health

be 44.2% less likely to be living with HIV/AIDS

In Botswana, 19.9% of people are living with AIDS/HIV as of 2020. In Zambia, that number is 11.1% of people as of 2020.

be 57.1% less likely to be obese

In Botswana, 18.9% of adults are obese as of 2016. In Zambia, that number is 8.1% of people as of 2016.

Economy

be 74.7% less likely to be unemployed

In Botswana, 23.4% of adults are unemployed as of 2023. In Zambia, that number is 5.9% as of 2023.

make 78.9% less money

Botswana has a GDP per capita of $17,500 as of 2023, while in Zambia, the GDP per capita is $3,700 as of 2023.

be 3.7 times more likely to live below the poverty line

In Botswana, 16.1% live below the poverty line as of 2015. In Zambia, however, that number is 60.0% as of 2022.

pay a 40.0% higher top tax rate

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

Life

be 27.4% less likely to die during childbirth

In Botswana, approximately 186.0 women per 100,000 births die during labor as of 2020. In Zambia, 135.0 women do as of 2020.

have 74.0% more children

In Botswana, there are approximately 19.6 babies per 1,000 people as of 2024. In Zambia, there are 34.1 babies per 1,000 people as of 2024.

be 47.4% 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 Zambia, on the other hand, 37.1 children do as of 2022.

Basic Needs

be 37.0% less 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 Zambia, that number is 48% of people on average (86% in urban areas, and 14% in rural areas) as of 2022.

be 71.6% less likely to have internet access

In Botswana, approximately 74.0% of the population has internet access as of 2021. In Zambia, about 21.0% do as of 2021.

be 28.0% less likely to have access to improved drinking water

In Botswana, approximately 99% of people have improved drinking water access (98% in urban areas, and 97% in rural areas) as of 2020. In Zambia, that number is 72% of people on average (90% in urban areas, and 57% in rural areas) as of 2020.

Expenditures

spend 57.5% less on education

Botswana spends 8.7% of its total GDP on education as of 2020. Zambia spends 3.7% of total GDP on education as of 2020.

The statistics above were calculated using the following data sources: The World Factbook, Botswana Unified Revenue Service, Zambia Revenue Authority.

Zambia: At a glance

Zambia is a sovereign country in Africa, with a total land area of approximately 743,398 sq km. The territory of Northern Rhodesia was administered by the [British] South Africa Company from 1891 until it was taken over by the UK in 1923. During the 1920s and 1930s, advances in mining spurred development and immigration. The name was changed to Zambia upon independence in 1964. In the 1980s and 1990s, declining copper prices, economic mismanagement and a prolonged drought hurt the economy. Elections in 1991 brought an end to one-party rule, but the subsequent vote in 1996 saw blatant harassment of opposition parties. The election in 2001 was marked by administrative problems with three parties filing a legal petition challenging the election of ruling party candidate Levy MWANAWASA. MWANAWASA was reelected in 2006 in an election that was deemed free and fair. Upon his abrupt death in August 2008, he was succeeded by his vice president, Rupiah BANDA, who subsequently won a special presidential by-election in October 2008. Michael SATA was elected president in September 2011.
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How big is Zambia compared to Botswana? See an in-depth size comparison.

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