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

Health

be 89.8% less likely to be living with HIV/AIDS

In Botswana, 15.7% of people are living with AIDS/HIV as of 2024. In Guyana, that number is 1.6% of people as of 2024.

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live 1.0 years longer

In Botswana, the average life expectancy is 69 years (67 years for men, 72 years for women) as of 2024. In Guyana, that number is 70 years (67 years for men, 74 years for women) as of 2024.

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have 3.7 times more doctors per person

Botswana has 3.8 doctors per 10,000 people as of 2023. Guyana has 13.9 as of 2020.

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have 38.2% more access to essential health services

Botswana scores 55 out of 100 on the universal health coverage index as of 2021. Guyana scores 76 as of 2021.

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be 52.2% more likely to be obese

In Botswana, 19.8% of adults are obese as of 2024. In Guyana, that number is 30.1% of people as of 2024.

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be 3.0 times more likely to die by suicide

Botswana has a suicide rate of 8.3 per 100,000 people as of 2021. In Guyana, it is 24.8 per 100,000 as of 2021.

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Economy

be 51.1% less likely to be unemployed

In Botswana, 24.5% of the labor force is unemployed as of 2025. In Guyana, that number is 12.0% as of 2025.

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make 4.2 times more money

Botswana has a GDP per capita of $7,778 as of 2025, while in Guyana, the GDP per capita is $32,414 as of 2025.

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Life

be 51.6% less likely to die during childbirth

In Botswana, approximately 155.0 women die from pregnancy or childbirth per 100,000 live births as of 2023. In Guyana, 75.0 women do as of 2023.

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be 27.7% less likely to die during infancy

In Botswana, approximately 32.1 children (per 1,000 live births) die before they reach the age of one as of 2024. In Guyana, on the other hand, 23.2 children do as of 2024.

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have 18.4% fewer children

In Botswana, there are approximately 24.4 babies per 1,000 people as of 2024. In Guyana, there are 19.9 babies per 1,000 people as of 2024.

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Basic Needs

be 30.1% more likely to have access to electricity

In Botswana, approximately 76% of people have electricity access (98% in urban areas, and 25% in rural areas) as of 2023. In Guyana, that number is 99% of people on average (99% in urban areas, and 92% in rural areas) as of 2023.

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be 44.4% more likely to have internet access

In Botswana, approximately 57.5% of the population has internet access as of 2024. In Guyana, about 83.0% do as of 2024.

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Expenditures

spend 44.8% less on education

Botswana spends 8.1% of its total GDP on education as of 2020. Guyana spends 4.5% of total GDP on education as of 2018.

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spend 60.5% less on healthcare

Botswana spends 6.3% of its total GDP on healthcare as of 2023. In Guyana, that number is 2.5% of GDP as of 2023.

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Safety

be 68.2% more likely to be murdered

Botswana has a homicide rate of 11.4 per 100,000 people as of 2021. In Guyana, that number is 19.1 per 100,000 as of 2023.

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Infrastructure

find 73.9% more home broadband

Botswana has 7.4 fixed broadband subscriptions per 100 people as of 2024. Guyana has 12.9 as of 2022.

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live with 48.0% more strain on fresh water

Botswana withdraws 2% of its available fresh water each year as of 2022. Guyana withdraws 3% as of 2022.

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Environment

emit 66.4% more CO2

Botswana emits 2.7 tonnes of CO2 per person each year as of 2024. Guyana emits 4.6 tonnes as of 2024.

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Sources: World Bank (2018–2025), World Health Organization (2024), United Nations SDG Indicators (2021). How we calculate this

Guyana: At a glance

Guyana is a sovereign country in South America, with a total land area of approximately 196,849 sq km. Originally a Dutch colony in the 17th century, by 1815 Guyana had become a British possession. The abolition of slavery led to settlement of urban areas by former slaves and the importation of indentured servants from India to work the sugar plantations. The resulting ethnocultural divide has persisted and has led to turbulent politics. Guyana achieved independence from the UK in 1966, and since then it has been ruled mostly by socialist-oriented governments. In 1992, Cheddi JAGAN was elected president in what is considered the country's first free and fair election since independence. After his death five years later, his wife, Janet JAGAN, became president but resigned in 1999 due to poor health. Her successor, Bharrat JAGDEO, was reelected in 2001 and again in 2006. Donald RAMOTAR was elected president in 2011.
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