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

Health

live 3.0 years longer

In Afghanistan, the average life expectancy is 66 years (65 years for men, 68 years for women) as of 2024. In Botswana, that number is 69 years (67 years for men, 72 years for women) as of 2024.

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see 4.0 times more spent on your healthcare

Afghanistan spends $330 per person on healthcare as of 2023 (international dollars, adjusted for prices). Botswana spends $1,310 as of 2023.

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have 19.6% more doctors per person

Afghanistan has 3.2 doctors per 10,000 people as of 2023. Botswana has 3.8 as of 2023.

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have 34.1% more access to essential health services

Afghanistan scores 41 out of 100 on the universal health coverage index as of 2021. Botswana scores 55 as of 2021.

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be 157.0 times more likely to be living with HIV/AIDS

In Afghanistan, 0.1% of people are living with AIDS/HIV as of 2024. In Botswana, that number is 15.7% of people as of 2024.

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be 2.3 times more likely to die by suicide

Afghanistan has a suicide rate of 3.6 per 100,000 people as of 2021. In Botswana, it is 8.3 per 100,000 as of 2021.

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Economy

make 18.7 times more money

Afghanistan has a GDP per capita of $417 as of 2024, while in Botswana, the GDP per capita is $7,778 as of 2025.

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be 83.4% more likely to be unemployed

In Afghanistan, 13.3% of the labor force is unemployed as of 2025. In Botswana, that number is 24.5% as of 2025.

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Life

be 70.2% less likely to die during childbirth

In Afghanistan, approximately 521.0 women die from pregnancy or childbirth per 100,000 live births as of 2023. In Botswana, 155.0 women do as of 2023.

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be 33.5% less likely to die during infancy

In Afghanistan, approximately 48.3 children (per 1,000 live births) die before they reach the age of one as of 2024. In Botswana, on the other hand, 32.1 children do as of 2024.

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have 30.4% fewer children

In Afghanistan, there are approximately 35.0 babies per 1,000 people as of 2024. In Botswana, there are 24.4 babies per 1,000 people as of 2024.

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Basic Needs

be 3.6 times more likely to have internet access

In Afghanistan, approximately 16.1% of the population has internet access as of 2024. In Botswana, about 57.5% do as of 2024.

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be 13.5% more likely to have access to drinking water

In Afghanistan, approximately 81% of people have access to drinking water (97% in urban areas, and 75% in rural areas) as of 2024. In Botswana, that number is 92% of people on average (97% in urban areas, and 78% in rural areas) as of 2024.

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be 10.9% less likely to have access to electricity

In Afghanistan, approximately 85% of people have electricity access (96% in urban areas, and 81% in rural areas) as of 2023. In Botswana, that number is 76% of people on average (98% in urban areas, and 25% in rural areas) as of 2023.

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Expenditures

spend 58.2% less on healthcare

Afghanistan spends 15.0% of its total GDP on healthcare as of 2023. In Botswana, that number is 6.3% of GDP as of 2023.

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spend 2.8 times more on education

Afghanistan spends 2.9% of its total GDP on education as of 2020. Botswana spends 8.1% of total GDP on education as of 2020.

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Safety

be 31.5% less likely to die in a road accident

In Afghanistan, road accidents kill 24.1 people per 100,000 as of 2021. In Botswana, they kill 16.5 per 100,000 as of 2021.

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be 2.8 times more likely to be murdered

Afghanistan has a homicide rate of 4.0 per 100,000 people as of 2021. In Botswana, that number is 11.4 per 100,000 as of 2021.

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Infrastructure

find 93.0 times more home broadband

Afghanistan has 0.1 fixed broadband subscriptions per 100 people as of 2023. Botswana has 7.4 as of 2024.

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live with 95.9% less strain on fresh water

Afghanistan withdraws 55% of its available fresh water each year as of 2022. Botswana withdraws 2% as of 2022.

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Environment

be 61.5% less likely to die from air pollution

In Afghanistan, air pollution causes 143.0 deaths per 100,000 people as of 2019. In Botswana, it causes 55.0 as of 2019.

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emit 9.8 times more CO2

Afghanistan emits 0.3 tonnes of CO2 per person each year as of 2024. Botswana emits 2.7 tonnes as of 2024.

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Sources: World Bank (2020–2025), United Nations SDG Indicators (2019–2021), The World Factbook (2020). How we calculate this

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 Afghanistan? See an in-depth size comparison.

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