If you lived in Botswana instead of North Carolina, you would:

Health

live 10.5 years less

In North Carolina, the average life expectancy is 76 years (75 years for men, 80 years for women) as of 2020. In Botswana, that number is 66 years (64 years for men, 68 years for women) as of 2022.

View global rankings →

Economy

make 70.5% less money

North Carolina has a GDP per capita of $59,308 as of 2024, while in Botswana, the GDP per capita is $17,500 as of 2023.

View global rankings →

be 6.9 times more likely to be unemployed

In North Carolina, 3.4% of adults are unemployed as of 2025. In Botswana, that number is 23.4% as of 2023.

View global rankings →

Basic Needs

be 16.6% less likely to have internet access

In North Carolina, approximately 88.7% of the population has internet access as of 2023. In Botswana, about 74.0% do as of 2021.

View global rankings →


The statistics above were calculated using the following data sources: The World Factbook, OECD Regional Demography, Bureau of Labor Statistics, US Census Bureau (American Community Survey), Bureau of Economic Analysis.

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 North Carolina? See an in-depth size comparison.

Share this

Ask the Elsewhere Community

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