World 8.2bn peopleGDP $118tnLife expectancy 73.5 yrsOnline 73.6%
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South Africa vs Botswana: how the neighbours compare

South AfricaPretoria
vs8 : 8better outcomes on rated indicators
BotswanaGaborone
IndicatorSouth AfricaBotswanaRanks
Population
Population64.7m20252.6m202524 · 143
Area1,219,602 km²2024581,730 km²202424 · 49
Density52.820244.42024151 · 208
Urban share63.8%202568.0%2025111 · 98
Fertility2.2120242.70202494 · 65
Aged 65+6.9%20254.1%2025126 · 164
Economy
GDP$427bn2025$19.9bn202540 · 135
GDP per capita$6,5982025$7,7782025126 · 117
GDP per capita, PPP$15,9062025$20,6982025120 · 103
GDP growth1.1%2025-0.7%2025169 · 198
Agriculture share2.8%20251.8%2025130 · 150
Industry share24.1%202527.9%202595 · 64
Services share63.1%202564.6%202568 · 57
Prices & public finance
Inflation3.2%20252.7%202589 · 99
Tax revenue25.9%202422.4%202310 · 33
Military spending0.74%20253.11%2025133 · 28
Trade & investment
Exports31.4%202532.0%2025110 · 105
FDI inflows-0.5%2025-3.3%2025184 · 193
Labour
Unemployment32.4%202524.5%20252 · 4
Aid, poverty & equality
Women in parliament44.9%20259.0%202516 · 172
Education
Tertiary enrolment23.5%202321.4%2024123 · 127
Education spending6.0%20248.1%202026 · 8
Health
Life expectancy66.3 yrs202469.3 yrs2024183 · 158
Infant mortality24.2202432.1202458 · 43
Health spending8.9%20236.3%202347 · 99
Physicians0.7920220.382023113 · 136
Digital & energy access
Internet users78.4%202457.5%2024105 · 142
Fixed broadband5.320247.42024137 · 128
Electricity access90.2%202480.2%2024161 · 171
Environment
CO₂ per person6.88 t20242.74 t202436 · 98
Renewable energy9.7%202127.4%2021147 · 88
Forest cover18.8%202427.8%2024134 · 115
Higher value in each row is highlighted; it is not always the better one (think inflation or emissions). Ranks are world positions.
GDP per capita
South AfricaBotswana
$0$2,500$5,000$7,500$10,0001994199920042009201420192024South AfricaZAFBotswanaBWA
Life expectancy
South AfricaBotswana
50556065701994199920042009201420192024South AfricaZAFBotswanaBWA
Population
South AfricaBotswana
020.0m40.0m60.0m80.0m1994199920042009201420192024South AfricaZAFBotswanaBWA
Internet users
South AfricaBotswana
0%20%40%60%80%1994199920042009201420192024South AfricaZAFBotswanaBWA
Source: World Bank, World Development Indicators (CC BY 4.0)
more head-to-heads

Other neighbours of South Africa and Botswana

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