Quality of life comparison

compared to

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

Health

live 10.5 years less

In China, the average life expectancy is 76 years (74 years for men, 81 years for women) as of 2020. In Botswana, that number is 66 years (64 years for men, 68 years for women) as of 2022.

be 3.0 times more likely to be obese

In China, 6.2% of adults are obese as of 2016. In Botswana, that number is 18.9% of people as of 2016.

Economy

pay a 44.4% lower top tax rate

China has a top tax rate of 45.0% as of 2016. In Botswana, the top tax rate is 25.0% as of 2016.

make 14.8% less money

China has a GDP per capita of $18,200 as of 2022, while in Botswana, the GDP per capita is $15,500 as of 2022.

be 4.7 times more likely to be unemployed

In China, 5.0% of adults are unemployed as of 2022. In Botswana, that number is 23.6% as of 2022.

Life

have 92.2% more children

In China, there are approximately 10.2 babies per 1,000 people as of 2024. In Botswana, there are 19.6 babies per 1,000 people as of 2024.

be 8.1 times more likely to die during childbirth

In China, approximately 23.0 women per 100,000 births die during labor as of 2020. In Botswana, 186.0 women do as of 2020.

be 3.7 times more likely to die during infancy

In China, approximately 6.8 children (per 1,000 live births) die before they reach the age of one as of 2022. In Botswana, on the other hand, 25.2 children do as of 2022.

Basic Needs

be 26.3% less likely to have access to electricity

In China, approximately 100% of the population has electricity access as of 2021. In Botswana, 74% of the population do as of 2021.

Expenditures

spend 2.4 times more on education

China spends 3.6% of its total GDP on education as of 2020. Botswana spends 8.7% of total GDP on education as of 2020.

spend 10.7% more on healthcare

China spends 5.6% of its total GDP on healthcare as of 2020. In Botswana, that number is 6.2% of GDP as of 2020.

The statistics above were calculated using the following data sources: The World Factbook, Botswana Unified Revenue Service, State Administration of Taxation.

Botswana: At a glance

Botswana is a sovereign country in Africa, with a total land area of approximately 566,730 sq km. Formerly the British protectorate of Bechuanaland, Botswana adopted its new name upon independence in 1966. More than four decades of uninterrupted civilian leadership, progressive social policies, and significant capital investment have created one of the most stable economies in Africa. Mineral extraction, principally diamond mining, dominates economic activity, though tourism is a growing sector due to the country's conservation practices and extensive nature preserves. Botswana has one of the world's highest known rates of HIV/AIDS infection, but also one of Africa's most progressive and comprehensive programs for dealing with the disease.
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How big is Botswana compared to China? See an in-depth size comparison.

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