Quality of life comparison

compared to

If you lived in Botswana instead of Sao Tome and Principe, you would:

Health

be 66.3 times more likely to be living with HIV/AIDS

In Sao Tome and Principe, 0.3% of people are living with AIDS/HIV as of 2020. In Botswana, that number is 19.9% of people as of 2020.

live 1.4 years less

In Sao Tome and Principe, the average life expectancy is 67 years (65 years for men, 69 years for women) as of 2022. In Botswana, that number is 66 years (64 years for men, 68 years for women) as of 2022.

be 52.4% more likely to be obese

In Sao Tome and Principe, 12.4% of adults are obese as of 2016. In Botswana, that number is 18.9% of people as of 2016.

Economy

make 3.2 times more money

Sao Tome and Principe has a GDP per capita of $5,500 as of 2023, while in Botswana, the GDP per capita is $17,500 as of 2023.

be 71.0% less likely to live below the poverty line

In Sao Tome and Principe, 55.5% live below the poverty line as of 2017. In Botswana, however, that number is 16.1% as of 2015.

be 64.5% more likely to be unemployed

In Sao Tome and Principe, 14.2% of adults are unemployed as of 2023. In Botswana, that number is 23.4% as of 2023.

Life

be 43.3% less likely to die during infancy

In Sao Tome and Principe, approximately 44.4 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.

be 27.4% more likely to die during childbirth

In Sao Tome and Principe, approximately 146.0 women per 100,000 births die during labor as of 2020. In Botswana, 186.0 women do as of 2020.

have 26.6% fewer children

In Sao Tome and Principe, there are approximately 26.7 babies per 1,000 people as of 2024. In Botswana, there are 19.6 babies per 1,000 people as of 2024.

Basic Needs

be 45.1% more likely to have internet access

In Sao Tome and Principe, approximately 51.0% of the population has internet access as of 2021. In Botswana, about 74.0% do as of 2021.

Expenditures

spend 74.0% more on education

Sao Tome and Principe spends 5.0% of its total GDP on education as of 2020. Botswana spends 8.7% of total GDP on education as of 2020.

spend 26.5% more on healthcare

Sao Tome and Principe spends 4.9% 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: 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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