Quality of life comparison
If you lived in Botswana instead of North Korea, you would:
Health
be 10.3% less likely to die by suicide
North Korea has a suicide rate of 9.3 per 100,000 people as of 2021. In Botswana, it is 8.3 per 100,000 as of 2021.
live 4.4 years less
In North Korea, the average life expectancy is 74 years (72 years for men, 76 years for women) as of 2024. In Botswana, that number is 69 years (67 years for men, 72 years for women) as of 2024.
be 65.6% more likely to be obese
In North Korea, 11.9% of adults are obese as of 2024. In Botswana, that number is 19.8% of people as of 2024.
have 19.1% less access to essential health services
North Korea scores 68 out of 100 on the universal health coverage index as of 2021. Botswana scores 55 as of 2021.
Economy
be 6.9 times more likely to be unemployed
In North Korea, 3.5% of the labor force is unemployed as of 2025. In Botswana, that number is 24.5% as of 2025.
Life
have 89.4% more children
In North Korea, there are approximately 12.9 babies per 1,000 people as of 2024. In Botswana, there are 24.4 babies per 1,000 people as of 2024.
be 2.3 times more likely to die during childbirth
In North Korea, approximately 67.0 women die from pregnancy or childbirth per 100,000 live births as of 2023. In Botswana, 155.0 women do as of 2023.
be 11.5% less likely to be literate
In North Korea, the literacy rate is 100.0% as of 2015. In Botswana, it is 88.5% as of 2015.
be 2.4 times more likely to die during infancy
In North Korea, approximately 13.3 children (per 1,000 live births) die before they reach the age of one as of 2024. In Botswana, on the other hand, 32.1 children do as of 2024.
Basic Needs
be 32.2% more likely to have access to electricity
In North Korea, approximately 58% of people have electricity access (36% in urban areas, and 11% in rural areas) as of 2023. In Botswana, that number is 76% of people on average (98% in urban areas, and 25% in rural areas) as of 2023.
Infrastructure
live with 92.0% less strain on fresh water
North Korea withdraws 28% of its available fresh water each year as of 2022. Botswana withdraws 2% as of 2022.
use 2.1 times more electricity
North Korea uses 789 kWh of electricity per person each year as of 2023. Botswana uses 1,641 kWh as of 2023.
Environment
be 36.0% less likely to die from air pollution
In North Korea, air pollution causes 86.0 deaths per 100,000 people as of 2019. In Botswana, it causes 55.0 as of 2019.
Sources: World Bank (2021–2025), United Nations SDG Indicators (2019–2021), World Health Organization (2024), The World Factbook (2015). How we calculate this
Compare further: North Korea vs. Botswana
Botswana: At a glance
How big is Botswana compared to North Korea? See an in-depth size comparison.