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

Health

be 46.5% less likely to die by suicide

Belarus has a suicide rate of 15.6 per 100,000 people as of 2021. In Botswana, it is 8.3 per 100,000 as of 2021.

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live 5.1 years less

In Belarus, the average life expectancy is 74 years (70 years for men, 79 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 40.3% less spent on your healthcare

Belarus spends $2,194 per person on healthcare as of 2023 (international dollars, adjusted for prices). Botswana spends $1,310 as of 2023.

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have 92.0% fewer doctors per person

Belarus has 47.2 doctors per 10,000 people as of 2023. Botswana has 3.8 as of 2023.

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have 30.4% less access to essential health services

Belarus scores 79 out of 100 on the universal health coverage index as of 2021. Botswana scores 55 as of 2021.

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Economy

be 7.2 times more likely to be unemployed

In Belarus, 3.4% of the labor force is unemployed as of 2025. In Botswana, that number is 24.5% as of 2025.

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make 24.3% less money

Belarus has a GDP per capita of $10,279 as of 2025, while in Botswana, the GDP per capita is $7,778 as of 2025.

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Life

have 3.5 times more children

In Belarus, there are approximately 7.0 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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be 155.0 times more likely to die during childbirth

In Belarus, approximately 1.0 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 17.8 times more likely to die during infancy

In Belarus, approximately 1.8 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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Basic Needs

be 24.0% less likely to have access to electricity

In Belarus, approximately 100% of people have electricity access (100% in urban areas, and 100% 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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be 39.0% less likely to have internet access

In Belarus, approximately 94.3% of the population has internet access as of 2024. In Botswana, about 57.5% do as of 2024.

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Expenditures

spend 11.6% less on healthcare

Belarus spends 7.1% 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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Safety

be 4.8 times more likely to be murdered

Belarus has a homicide rate of 2.4 per 100,000 people as of 2019. In Botswana, that number is 11.4 per 100,000 as of 2021.

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be 2.2 times more likely to die in a road accident

In Belarus, road accidents kill 7.4 people per 100,000 as of 2021. In Botswana, they kill 16.5 per 100,000 as of 2021.

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Infrastructure

live with 52.1% less strain on fresh water

Belarus withdraws 5% of its available fresh water each year as of 2022. Botswana withdraws 2% as of 2022.

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find 79.5% less home broadband

Belarus has 36.3 fixed broadband subscriptions per 100 people as of 2024. Botswana has 7.4 as of 2024.

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use 60.9% less electricity

Belarus uses 4,198 kWh of electricity per person each year as of 2023. Botswana uses 1,641 kWh as of 2023.

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Environment

be 19.1% less likely to die from air pollution

In Belarus, air pollution causes 68.0 deaths per 100,000 people as of 2019. In Botswana, it causes 55.0 as of 2019.

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emit 53.9% less CO2

Belarus emits 5.9 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 (2019–2025), United Nations SDG Indicators (2019–2021). 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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