Quality of life comparison
If you lived in Zambia instead of Botswana, you would:
Health
be 44.2% less likely to be living with HIV/AIDS
In Botswana, 19.9% of people are living with AIDS/HIV as of 2020. In Zambia, that number is 11.1% of people as of 2020.
be 57.1% less likely to be obese
In Botswana, 18.9% of adults are obese as of 2016. In Zambia, that number is 8.1% of people as of 2016.
Economy
be 25.0% less likely to be unemployed
In Botswana, 20.0% of adults are unemployed as of 2013. In Zambia, that number is 15.0% as of 2008.
make 79.4% less money
Botswana has a GDP per capita of $16,000 as of 2020, while in Zambia, the GDP per capita is $3,300 as of 2020.
be 2.8 times more likely to live below the poverty line
In Botswana, 19.3% live below the poverty line as of 2009. In Zambia, however, that number is 54.4% as of 2015.
pay a 40.0% higher top tax rate
Botswana has a top tax rate of 25.0% as of 2016. In Zambia, the top tax rate is 35.0% as of 2016.
Life
have 71.9% more children
In Botswana, there are approximately 20.3 babies per 1,000 people as of 2022. In Zambia, there are 34.9 babies per 1,000 people as of 2022.
be 47.9% more likely to die during childbirth
In Botswana, approximately 144.0 women per 100,000 births die during labor as of 2017. In Zambia, 213.0 women do as of 2017.
be 47.4% more 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 Zambia, on the other hand, 37.1 children do as of 2022.
Basic Needs
be 37.3% less likely to have access to electricity
In Botswana, approximately 59% of people have electricity access (71% in urban areas, and 29% in rural areas) as of 2019. In Zambia, that number is 37% of people on average (76% in urban areas, and 6% in rural areas) as of 2019.
be 68.8% less likely to have internet access
In Botswana, approximately 64.0% of the population has internet access as of 2020. In Zambia, about 20.0% do as of 2020.
be 28.0% less likely to have access to improved drinking water
In Botswana, approximately 99% of people have improved drinking water access (98% in urban areas, and 97% in rural areas) as of 2020. In Zambia, that number is 72% of people on average (90% in urban areas, and 57% in rural areas) as of 2020.
Expenditures
spend 34.8% less on education
Botswana spends 6.9% of its total GDP on education as of 2019. Zambia spends 4.5% of total GDP on education as of 2019.
spend 13.1% less on healthcare
Botswana spends 6.1% of its total GDP on healthcare as of 2019. In Zambia, that number is 5.3% of GDP as of 2019.
The statistics above were calculated using the following data sources: The World Factbook, Botswana Unified Revenue Service, Zambia Revenue Authority.
Zambia: At a glance
How big is Zambia compared to Botswana? See an in-depth size comparison.