Quality of life comparison

compared to

If you lived in Botswana instead of South Africa, you would:

Health

live 13.7 years longer

In South Africa, the average life expectancy is 65 years (64 years for men, 67 years for women) as of 2022. In California, that number is 79 years (78 years for men, 83 years for women) as of 2020.

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Economy

make 5.9 times more money

South Africa has a GDP per capita of $14,300 as of 2023, while in California, the GDP per capita is $84,028 as of 2024.

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be 81.8% less likely to be unemployed

In South Africa, 28.0% of adults are unemployed as of 2023. In California, that number is 5.1% as of 2025.

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Basic Needs

be 28.6% more likely to have internet access

In South Africa, approximately 72.0% of the population has internet access as of 2021. In California, about 92.6% do as of 2023.

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

Compare further: South Africa vs. Botswana

Cost of Living Comparison · 7 categories - 2026 data
Botswana is 4.2% cheaper than South Africa overall
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Size Comparison · See true size
South Africa is about 2.1 times bigger than Botswana.
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Moving from South Africa to Botswana · UN DESA 2020
5,733 people born in South Africa live in Botswana.
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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 South Africa? See an in-depth size comparison.

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