Quality of life comparison

compared to

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

Health

be 4.7 times more likely to be living with HIV/AIDS

In Kenya, 4.2% of people are living with AIDS/HIV as of 2020. In Botswana, that number is 19.9% of people as of 2020.

live 4.0 years less

In Kenya, the average life expectancy is 70 years (68 years for men, 71 years for women) as of 2022. In Botswana, that number is 66 years (64 years for men, 68 years for women) as of 2022.

be 2.7 times more likely to be obese

In Kenya, 7.1% of adults are obese as of 2016. In Botswana, that number is 18.9% of people as of 2016.

Economy

make 3.8 times more money

Kenya has a GDP per capita of $4,200 as of 2020, while in Botswana, the GDP per capita is $16,000 as of 2020.

be 50.0% less likely to be unemployed

In Kenya, 40.0% of adults are unemployed as of 2013. In Botswana, that number is 20.0% as of 2013.

be 46.5% less likely to live below the poverty line

In Kenya, 36.1% live below the poverty line as of 2016. In Botswana, however, that number is 19.3% as of 2009.

pay a 16.7% lower top tax rate

Kenya has a top tax rate of 30.0% as of 2016. In Botswana, the top tax rate is 25.0% as of 2016.

Life

be 57.9% less likely to die during childbirth

In Kenya, approximately 342.0 women per 100,000 births die during labor as of 2017. In Botswana, 144.0 women do as of 2017.

have 23.2% fewer children

In Kenya, there are approximately 26.4 babies per 1,000 people as of 2022. In Botswana, there are 20.3 babies per 1,000 people as of 2022.

Basic Needs

be 3.6 times more likely to have internet access

In Kenya, approximately 17.8% of the population has internet access as of 2018. In Botswana, about 64.0% do as of 2020.

be 39.6% more likely to have access to improved drinking water

In Kenya, approximately 71% of people have improved drinking water access (91% in urban areas, and 63% in rural areas) as of 2020. In Botswana, that number is 99% of people on average (98% in urban areas, and 97% in rural areas) as of 2020.

be 30.6% less likely to have access to electricity

In Kenya, approximately 85% of people have electricity access (99% in urban areas, and 79% in rural areas) as of 2019. In Botswana, that number is 59% of people on average (71% in urban areas, and 29% in rural areas) as of 2019.

Expenditures

spend 35.3% more on education

Kenya spends 5.1% of its total GDP on education as of 2020. Botswana spends 6.9% of total GDP on education as of 2019.

spend 32.6% more on healthcare

Kenya spends 4.6% of its total GDP on healthcare as of 2019. In Botswana, that number is 6.1% of GDP as of 2019.

The statistics above were calculated using the following data sources: Revenue Authority, The World Factbook, Botswana Unified Revenue Service.

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.
Read more

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

Share this

ASK THE ELSEWHERE COMMUNITY

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