Quality of life comparison

compared to

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

Health

be 99.5 times more likely to be living with HIV/AIDS

In Singapore, 0.2% of people are living with AIDS/HIV as of 2020. In Botswana, that number is 19.9% of people as of 2020.

live 20.7 years less

In Singapore, the average life expectancy is 86 years (84 years for men, 89 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 3.1 times more likely to be obese

In Singapore, 6.1% of adults are obese as of 2016. In Botswana, that number is 18.9% of people as of 2016.

Economy

make 86.3% less money

Singapore has a GDP per capita of $127,500 as of 2023, while in Botswana, the GDP per capita is $17,500 as of 2023.

be 6.7 times more likely to be unemployed

In Singapore, 3.5% of adults are unemployed as of 2023. In Botswana, that number is 23.4% as of 2023.

pay a 13.6% higher top tax rate

Singapore has a top tax rate of 22.0% as of 2016. In Botswana, the top tax rate is 25.0% as of 2016.

Life

have 2.2 times more children

In Singapore, there are approximately 8.8 babies per 1,000 people as of 2024. In Botswana, there are 19.6 babies per 1,000 people as of 2024.

be 26.6 times more likely to die during childbirth

In Singapore, approximately 7.0 women per 100,000 births die during labor as of 2020. In Botswana, 186.0 women do as of 2020.

be 16.2 times more likely to die during infancy

In Singapore, approximately 1.6 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 24.1% less likely to have access to electricity

In Singapore, approximately 100% of the population has electricity access as of 2022. In Botswana, 76% of the population do as of 2022.

be 18.7% less likely to have internet access

In Singapore, approximately 91.0% of the population has internet access as of 2021. In Botswana, about 74.0% do as of 2021.

Expenditures

spend 3.1 times more on education

Singapore spends 2.8% of its total GDP on education as of 2021. Botswana spends 8.7% 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, Inland Revenue Authority of Singapore.

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 Singapore? See an in-depth size comparison.

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