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

Health

be 96.2% less likely to be living with HIV/AIDS

In Botswana, 15.7% of people are living with AIDS/HIV as of 2024. In Venezuela, that number is 0.6% of people as of 2024.

View global rankings →

live 3.4 years longer

In Botswana, the average life expectancy is 69 years (67 years for men, 72 years for women) as of 2024. In Venezuela, that number is 73 years (69 years for men, 77 years for women) as of 2024.

View global rankings →

have 36.4% more access to essential health services

Botswana scores 55 out of 100 on the universal health coverage index as of 2021. Venezuela scores 75 as of 2021.

View global rankings →

be 16.2% more likely to be obese

In Botswana, 19.8% of adults are obese as of 2024. In Venezuela, that number is 23.0% of people as of 2024.

View global rankings →

see 85.8% less spent on your healthcare

Botswana spends $1,310 per person on healthcare as of 2023 (international dollars, adjusted for prices). Venezuela spends $186 as of 2023.

View global rankings →

Economy

be 78.3% less likely to be unemployed

In Botswana, 24.5% of the labor force is unemployed as of 2025. In Venezuela, that number is 5.3% as of 2025.

View global rankings →

be 2.1 times more likely to live below the poverty line

In Botswana, 16.1% live below the poverty line as of 2015. In Venezuela, however, that number is 33.1% as of 2015.

View global rankings →

make 55.1% less money

Botswana has a GDP per capita of $7,778 as of 2025, while in Venezuela, the GDP per capita is $3,495 as of 2025.

View global rankings →

Life

be 34.0% 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 Venezuela, on the other hand, 21.2 children do as of 2024.

View global rankings →

be 46.5% more 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 Venezuela, 227.0 women do as of 2023.

View global rankings →

have 37.5% fewer children

In Botswana, there are approximately 24.4 babies per 1,000 people as of 2024. In Venezuela, there are 15.2 babies per 1,000 people as of 2024.

View global rankings →

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

View global rankings →

be 33.4% more likely to have internet access

In Botswana, approximately 57.5% of the population has internet access as of 2024. In Venezuela, about 76.7% do as of 2024.

View global rankings →

Expenditures

spend 39.6% less on healthcare

Botswana spends 6.3% of its total GDP on healthcare as of 2023. In Venezuela, that number is 3.8% of GDP as of 2023.

View global rankings →

Safety

be 20.0% less likely to die in a road accident

In Botswana, road accidents kill 16.5 people per 100,000 as of 2021. In Venezuela, they kill 13.2 per 100,000 as of 2021.

View global rankings →

be 11.3% more likely to be murdered

Botswana has a homicide rate of 11.4 per 100,000 people as of 2021. In Venezuela, that number is 12.7 per 100,000 as of 2022.

View global rankings →

Infrastructure

find 73.9% more home broadband

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

View global rankings →

use 19.0% more electricity

Botswana uses 1,641 kWh of electricity per person each year as of 2023. Venezuela uses 1,953 kWh as of 2023.

View global rankings →

live with 3.4 times more strain on fresh water

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

View global rankings →

Environment

be 41.8% less likely to die from air pollution

In Botswana, air pollution causes 55.0 deaths per 100,000 people as of 2019. In Venezuela, it causes 32.0 as of 2019.

View global rankings →

emit 23.7% more CO2

Botswana emits 2.7 tonnes of CO2 per person each year as of 2024. Venezuela emits 3.4 tonnes as of 2024.

View global rankings →


Sources: World Bank (2015–2025), United Nations SDG Indicators (2019–2021), World Health Organization (2024). How we calculate this

Venezuela: At a glance

Venezuela is a sovereign country in South America, with a total land area of approximately 882,050 sq km. Venezuela was one of three countries that emerged from the collapse of Gran Colombia in 1830 (the others being Ecuador and New Granada, which became Colombia). For most of the first half of the 20th century, Venezuela was ruled by generally benevolent military strongmen, who promoted the oil industry and allowed for some social reforms. Democratically elected governments have held sway since 1959. Hugo CHAVEZ, president from 1999 to 2013, sought to implement his "21st Century Socialism," which purported to alleviate social ills while at the same time attacking capitalist globalization and existing democratic institutions. His hand-picked successor, President Nicolas MADURO, continues CHAVEZ's socialist programs. Current concerns include: a weakening of democratic institutions, political polarization, a politicized military, rampant violent crime, overdependence on the petroleum industry with its price fluctuations, foreign exchange controls that discourage private-sector investment, high inflation, a decline in the quality of fundamental houman rights, and widespread scarcity of consumer goods.
Read more

How big is Venezuela compared to Botswana? See an in-depth size comparison.

Share this

Ask the Elsewhere Community

Join the Elsewhere community and ask a question about Venezuela or Botswana. It's a free, question-and-answer based forum to discuss what life is like in countries and cities around the world.