Quality of life comparison
If you lived in Turkmenistan instead of Botswana, you would:
Health
live 0.9 years longer
In Botswana, the average life expectancy is 69 years (67 years for men, 72 years for women) as of 2024. In Turkmenistan, that number is 70 years (67 years for men, 73 years for women) as of 2024.
have 5.1 times more doctors per person
Botswana has 3.8 doctors per 10,000 people as of 2023. Turkmenistan has 19.3 as of 2023.
have 36.4% more access to essential health services
Botswana scores 55 out of 100 on the universal health coverage index as of 2021. Turkmenistan scores 75 as of 2021.
be 18.2% less likely to die by suicide
Botswana has a suicide rate of 8.3 per 100,000 people as of 2021. In Turkmenistan, it is 6.8 per 100,000 as of 2021.
be 12.3% more likely to be obese
In Botswana, 19.8% of adults are obese as of 2024. In Turkmenistan, that number is 22.2% of people as of 2024.
Economy
be 82.6% less likely to be unemployed
In Botswana, 24.5% of the labor force is unemployed as of 2025. In Turkmenistan, that number is 4.3% as of 2025.
be 98.8% less likely to live below the poverty line
In Botswana, 16.1% live below the poverty line as of 2015. In Turkmenistan, however, that number is 0.2% as of 2012.
make 15.9% less money
Botswana has a GDP per capita of $7,778 as of 2025, while in Turkmenistan, the GDP per capita is $6,540 as of 2025.
Life
be 96.8% 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 Turkmenistan, 5.0 women do as of 2023.
have 14.2% fewer children
In Botswana, there are approximately 24.4 babies per 1,000 people as of 2024. In Turkmenistan, there are 20.9 babies per 1,000 people as of 2024.
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 Turkmenistan, that number is 100% of people on average (100% in urban areas, and 100% in rural areas) as of 2023.
be 56.0% less likely to have internet access
In Botswana, approximately 57.5% of the population has internet access as of 2024. In Turkmenistan, about 25.3% do as of 2022.
Expenditures
spend 12.1% less on healthcare
Botswana spends 6.3% of its total GDP on healthcare as of 2023. In Turkmenistan, that number is 5.5% of GDP as of 2023.
Safety
be 51.5% less likely to die in a road accident
In Botswana, road accidents kill 16.5 people per 100,000 as of 2021. In Turkmenistan, they kill 8.0 per 100,000 as of 2021.
Infrastructure
use 69.3% more electricity
Botswana uses 1,641 kWh of electricity per person each year as of 2023. Turkmenistan uses 2,778 kWh as of 2023.
find 29.8% less home broadband
Botswana has 7.4 fixed broadband subscriptions per 100 people as of 2024. Turkmenistan has 5.2 as of 2022.
live with 60.6 times more strain on fresh water
Botswana withdraws 2% of its available fresh water each year as of 2022. Turkmenistan withdraws 135% as of 2022.
Environment
be 58.2% more likely to die from air pollution
In Botswana, air pollution causes 55.0 deaths per 100,000 people as of 2019. In Turkmenistan, it causes 87.0 as of 2019.
emit 4.0 times more CO2
Botswana emits 2.7 tonnes of CO2 per person each year as of 2024. Turkmenistan emits 10.9 tonnes as of 2024.
Sources: World Bank (2015–2025), United Nations SDG Indicators (2019–2021), World Health Organization (2024), The World Factbook (2012–2022). How we calculate this
Compare further: Botswana vs. Turkmenistan
Turkmenistan: At a glance
How big is Turkmenistan compared to Botswana? See an in-depth size comparison.