Quality of life comparison

compared to

If you lived in Botswana instead of South Africa, you would:

Health

be 33.2% less likely to be obese

In South Africa, 28.3% of adults are obese as of 2016. In Botswana, that number is 18.9% of people as of 2016.

Economy

make 22.4% more money

South Africa has a GDP per capita of $14,300 as of 2023, while in Botswana, the GDP per capita is $17,500 as of 2023.

be 16.5% less likely to be unemployed

In South Africa, 28.0% of adults are unemployed as of 2023. In Botswana, that number is 23.4% as of 2023.

pay a 44.4% lower top tax rate

South Africa has a top tax rate of 45.0% as of 2017. In Botswana, the top tax rate is 25.0% as of 2016.

Life

have 10.7% more children

In South Africa, there are approximately 17.7 babies per 1,000 people as of 2024. In Botswana, there are 19.6 babies per 1,000 people as of 2024.

be 46.5% more likely to die during childbirth

In South Africa, approximately 127.0 women per 100,000 births die during labor as of 2020. In Botswana, 186.0 women do as of 2020.

Basic Needs

be 12.3% less likely to have access to electricity

In South Africa, approximately 86% of people have electricity access (87% in urban areas, and 92% in rural areas) as of 2022. In Botswana, that number is 76% of people on average (93% in urban areas, and 25% in rural areas) as of 2022.

Expenditures

spend 27.9% less on healthcare

South Africa spends 8.6% of its total GDP on healthcare as of 2020. In Botswana, that number is 6.2% of GDP as of 2020.

spend 31.8% more on education

South Africa spends 6.6% 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, South African Revenue Service.

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 South Africa? See an in-depth size comparison.

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