Quality of life comparison

compared to

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

Health

be 99.0% less likely to be living with HIV/AIDS

In Botswana, 19.9% of people are living with AIDS/HIV as of 2020. In Switzerland, that number is 0.2% of people as of 2020.

live 17.6 years longer

In Botswana, the average life expectancy is 66 years (64 years for men, 68 years for women) as of 2022. In Switzerland, that number is 83 years (81 years for men, 86 years for women) as of 2022.

Economy

make 4.3 times more money

Botswana has a GDP per capita of $16,000 as of 2020, while in Switzerland, the GDP per capita is $68,400 as of 2020.

be 88.5% less likely to be unemployed

In Botswana, 20.0% of adults are unemployed as of 2013. In Switzerland, that number is 2.3% as of 2019.

be 17.1% less likely to live below the poverty line

In Botswana, 19.3% live below the poverty line as of 2009. In Switzerland, however, that number is 16.0% as of 2018.

pay a 60.0% higher top tax rate

Botswana has a top tax rate of 25.0% as of 2016. In Switzerland, the top tax rate is 40.0% as of 2016.

Life

be 96.5% less likely to die during childbirth

In Botswana, approximately 144.0 women per 100,000 births die during labor as of 2017. In Switzerland, 5.0 women do as of 2017.

be 85.8% less likely to die during infancy

In Botswana, approximately 25.2 children (per 1,000 live births) die before they reach the age of one as of 2022. In Switzerland, on the other hand, 3.6 children do as of 2022.

have 48.9% fewer children

In Botswana, there are approximately 20.3 babies per 1,000 people as of 2022. In Switzerland, there are 10.4 babies per 1,000 people as of 2022.

Basic Needs

be 69.5% more likely to have access to electricity

In Botswana, approximately 59% of the population has electricity access as of 2019. In Switzerland, 100% of the population do as of 2020.

be 46.9% more likely to have internet access

In Botswana, approximately 64.0% of the population has internet access as of 2020. In Switzerland, about 94.0% do as of 2020.

Expenditures

spend 29.0% less on education

Botswana spends 6.9% of its total GDP on education as of 2019. Switzerland spends 4.9% of total GDP on education as of 2018.

spend 85.2% more on healthcare

Botswana spends 6.1% of its total GDP on healthcare as of 2019. In Switzerland, that number is 11.3% of GDP as of 2019.

The statistics above were calculated using the following data sources: The World Factbook, Botswana Unified Revenue Service, Swiss Federal Tax Administration.

Switzerland: At a glance

Switzerland is a sovereign country in Europe, with a total land area of approximately 39,997 sq km. The Swiss Confederation was founded in 1291 as a defensive alliance among three cantons. In succeeding years, other localities joined the original three. The Swiss Confederation secured its independence from the Holy Roman Empire in 1499. A constitution of 1848, subsequently modified in 1874, replaced the confederation with a centralized federal government. Switzerland's sovereignty and neutrality have long been honored by the major European powers, and the country was not involved in either of the two world wars. The political and economic integration of Europe over the past half century, as well as Switzerland's role in many UN and international organizations, has strengthened Switzerland's ties with its neighbors. However, the country did not officially become a UN member until 2002. Switzerland remains active in many UN and international organizations but retains a strong commitment to neutrality.
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How big is Switzerland compared to Botswana? See an in-depth size comparison.

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