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

Health

be 98.7% less likely to be living with HIV/AIDS

In Botswana, 15.7% of people are living with AIDS/HIV as of 2024. In Romania, that number is 0.2% of people as of 2024.

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live 7.2 years longer

In Botswana, the average life expectancy is 69 years (67 years for men, 72 years for women) as of 2024. In Romania, that number is 76 years (73 years for men, 80 years for women) as of 2024.

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see 99.6% more spent on your healthcare

Botswana spends $1,310 per person on healthcare as of 2023 (international dollars, adjusted for prices). Romania spends $2,614 as of 2023.

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have 9.6 times more doctors per person

Botswana has 3.8 doctors per 10,000 people as of 2023. Romania has 36.2 as of 2022.

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have 41.8% more access to essential health services

Botswana scores 55 out of 100 on the universal health coverage index as of 2021. Romania scores 78 as of 2021.

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be 63.8% more likely to be obese

In Botswana, 19.8% of adults are obese as of 2024. In Romania, that number is 32.4% of people as of 2024.

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be 15.2% more likely to die by suicide

Botswana has a suicide rate of 8.3 per 100,000 people as of 2021. In Romania, it is 9.6 per 100,000 as of 2021.

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Economy

be 75.5% less likely to be unemployed

In Botswana, 24.5% of the labor force is unemployed as of 2025. In Romania, that number is 6.0% as of 2025.

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make 2.9 times more money

Botswana has a GDP per capita of $7,778 as of 2025, while in Romania, the GDP per capita is $22,538 as of 2025.

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Life

be 92.3% 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 Romania, 12.0 women do as of 2023.

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be 81.3% 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 Romania, on the other hand, 6.0 children do as of 2024.

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have 69.2% fewer children

In Botswana, there are approximately 24.4 babies per 1,000 people as of 2024. In Romania, there are 7.5 babies per 1,000 people as of 2024.

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Basic Needs

be 31.6% 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 Romania, that number is 100% of people on average (100% in urban areas, and 100% in rural areas) as of 2023.

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be 58.9% more likely to have internet access

In Botswana, approximately 57.5% of the population has internet access as of 2024. In Romania, about 91.3% do as of 2024.

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Expenditures

spend 59.3% less on education

Botswana spends 8.1% of its total GDP on education as of 2020. Romania spends 3.3% of total GDP on education as of 2022.

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Safety

be 90.2% less likely to be murdered

Botswana has a homicide rate of 11.4 per 100,000 people as of 2021. In Romania, that number is 1.1 per 100,000 as of 2023.

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be 41.8% less likely to die in a road accident

In Botswana, road accidents kill 16.5 people per 100,000 as of 2021. In Romania, they kill 9.6 per 100,000 as of 2021.

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Infrastructure

find 4.8 times more home broadband

Botswana has 7.4 fixed broadband subscriptions per 100 people as of 2024. Romania has 35.8 as of 2024.

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use 57.5% more electricity

Botswana uses 1,641 kWh of electricity per person each year as of 2023. Romania uses 2,585 kWh as of 2023.

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live with 3.4 times more strain on fresh water

Botswana withdraws 2% of its available fresh water each year as of 2022. Romania withdraws 8% as of 2022.

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Environment

be 16.4% less likely to die from air pollution

In Botswana, air pollution causes 55.0 deaths per 100,000 people as of 2019. In Romania, it causes 46.0 as of 2019.

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emit 35.8% more CO2

Botswana emits 2.7 tonnes of CO2 per person each year as of 2024. Romania emits 3.7 tonnes as of 2024.

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Sources: World Bank (2020–2025), United Nations SDG Indicators (2019–2021), World Health Organization (2024). How we calculate this

Romania: At a glance

Romania is a sovereign country in Europe, with a total land area of approximately 229,891 sq km. The principalities of Wallachia and Moldavia - for centuries under the suzerainty of the Turkish Ottoman Empire - secured their autonomy in 1856; they were de facto linked in 1859 and formally united in 1862 under the new name of Romania. The country gained recognition of its independence in 1878. It joined the Allied Powers in World War I and acquired new territories - most notably Transylvania - following the conflict. In 1940, Romania allied with the Axis powers and participated in the 1941 German invasion of the USSR. Three years later, overrun by the Soviets, Romania signed an armistice. The post-war Soviet occupation led to the formation of a communist "people's republic" in 1947 and the abdication of the king. The decades-long rule of dictator Nicolae CEAUSESCU, who took power in 1965, and his Securitate police state became increasingly oppressive and draconian through the 1980s. CEAUSESCU was overthrown and executed in late 1989. Former communists dominated the government until 1996 when they were swept from power. Romania joined NATO in 2004 and the EU in 2007.
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