Quality of life comparison

compared to

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

Health

be 30.3% less likely to be obese

In California, 28.4% of adults are obese as of 2022. In Botswana, that number is 19.8% of people as of 2024.

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Economy

be 4.8 times more likely to be unemployed

In California, 5.1% of the labor force is unemployed as of 2025. In Botswana, that number is 24.5% as of 2025.

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make 90.7% less money

California has a GDP per capita of $84,028 as of 2024, while in Botswana, the GDP per capita is $7,778 as of 2025.

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Basic Needs

be 37.9% less likely to have internet access

In California, approximately 92.6% of the population has internet access as of 2023. In Botswana, about 57.5% do as of 2024.

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Sources: World Bank (2024–2025), Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (PLACES) (2022), World Health Organization (2024), Bureau of Labor Statistics (2025), Bureau of Economic Analysis (2024), US Census Bureau (American Community Survey) (2023). How we calculate this

Compare further: California vs. Botswana

Cost of Living Comparison · 7 categories - 2026 data
Botswana is 70.5% cheaper than California
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Size Comparison · See true size
California is about 1.4 times smaller than Botswana.
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Moving from California to Botswana · Cost, visas & climate
Compare cost of living, salary and climate.
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Botswana: At a glance

Botswana is a sovereign country in Africa, with a total land area of approximately 566,730 sq km. Formerly the British protectorate of Bechuanaland, Botswana adopted its new name upon independence in 1966. More than four decades of uninterrupted civilian leadership, progressive social policies, and significant capital investment have created one of the most stable economies in Africa. Mineral extraction, principally diamond mining, dominates economic activity, though tourism is a growing sector due to the country's conservation practices and extensive nature preserves. Botswana has one of the world's highest known rates of HIV/AIDS infection, but also one of Africa's most progressive and comprehensive programs for dealing with the disease.
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How big is Botswana compared to California? See an in-depth size comparison.

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