Botswana
Quick notes before you compare the numbers.
Identity
Formal name: Republic of Botswana.
CIA 2026
Matchup file
Botswana vs South Africa
119 shared metrics.
Turn the comparison into a round
Think you can spot the next winner?
South Africa leads by 39 metrics. Use the same instinct in a quick real-data brawl.
Country briefing
What matters for both sides
Short real-world notes so the comparison reads like more than a stat strip.
South Africa
Quick notes before you compare the numbers.
Identity
Formal name: Republic of South Africa.
CIA 2026
Curated stat
South Africa splits its capitals three ways: Pretoria runs administration, Cape Town legislates, and Bloemfontein anchors the judiciary.
Analysis
South Africa leads in 79 of 119 shared metrics, while Botswana leads in 40.
Botswana's Firms Making Informal Payments is 4.8x that of South Africa (8.6% of firms vs 1.5% of firms).
Botswana's FDI Inflows (% GDP) is 3.1x that of South Africa (2.4% of GDP vs 0.58% of GDP).
Botswana's Military Spending is 3.0x that of South Africa (2.8% of GDP vs 0.70% of GDP).
Botswana's Firms Asked for Bribes is 3.0x that of South Africa (6.1% of firms vs 1.5% of firms).
Botswana's Protected Land (%) is 2.1x that of South Africa (29.1% vs 9.5%).
Key Comparisons
Firms Making Informal PaymentsBotswana leads
Botswana
8.6% of firms
South Africa
1.5% of firms
FDI Inflows (% GDP)Botswana leads
Botswana
2.4% of GDP
South Africa
0.58% of GDP
Military SpendingBotswana leads
Botswana
2.8% of GDP
South Africa
0.70% of GDP
Firms Asked for BribesBotswana leads
Botswana
6.1% of firms
South Africa
1.5% of firms
Protected Land (%)Botswana leads
Botswana
29.1%
South Africa
9.5%
Nurses & MidwivesBotswana leads
Botswana
3.1 per 1k
South Africa
1.0 per 1k
All Metrics
Firms Making Informal Payments
BotswanaBotswana
8.6% of firms
South Africa
1.5% of firms
480% higher
FDI Inflows (% GDP)
BotswanaBotswana
2.4% of GDP
South Africa
0.58% of GDP
315% higher
Military Spending
BotswanaBotswana
2.8% of GDP
South Africa
0.70% of GDP
305% higher
Firms Asked for Bribes
BotswanaBotswana
6.1% of firms
South Africa
1.5% of firms
299% higher
Protected Land (%)
BotswanaBotswana
29.1%
South Africa
9.5%
206% higher
Nurses & Midwives
BotswanaBotswana
3.1 per 1k
South Africa
1.0 per 1k
194% higher
Renewable Energy (%)
BotswanaBotswana
27.4%
South Africa
9.7%
182% higher
Informal Employment Share
BotswanaBotswana
75.58% of employed people
South Africa
34.81% of employed people
117% higher
Milk Consumption per Person
BotswanaBotswana
117.74 kg/person/yr
South Africa
55.75 kg/person/yr
111% higher
Foreign Patents
South AfricaBotswana
2.0
South Africa
9.2K
100% lower
Domestic Patents
South AfricaBotswana
3.0
South Africa
1.8K
100% lower
Irrigated Land
South AfricaBotswana
25 km²
South Africa
16.7K km²
100% lower
Air Passengers
South AfricaBotswana
172.7K
South Africa
15.45M
99% lower
Water Withdrawal
South AfricaBotswana
0.21 B m³
South Africa
21.11 B m³
99% lower
Electric Generating Capacity
South AfricaBotswana
758.0K kW
South Africa
65.99M kW
99% lower
Electricity Generation
South AfricaBotswana
2.6 TWh
South Africa
244.81 TWh
99% lower
Scientific Publications
South AfricaBotswana
392.69
South Africa
16.7K
98% lower
Total CO2 Emissions
South AfricaBotswana
6.9 Mt CO2e
South Africa
440.17 Mt CO2e
98% lower
Railway Length
South AfricaBotswana
888 km
South Africa
30.4K km
97% lower
Population
South AfricaBotswana
2.52M
South Africa
61.09M
96% lower
Solar Electricity Share
South AfricaBotswana
0.29%
South Africa
8.0%
96% lower
Railway Network
South AfricaBotswana
886 km
South Africa
21.0K km
96% lower
GDP (Nominal)
South AfricaBotswana
$19,402,063,512.91
South Africa
$401,144,998,373.59
95% lower
Population Density
South AfricaBotswana
4.4 /km²
South Africa
52.11 /km²
92% lower
Tourism Revenue
South AfricaBotswana
$217,000,000
South Africa
$2,716,000,000
92% lower
Official Languages Count
South AfricaBotswana
1.0
South Africa
12
92% lower
High-Tech Exports (%)
South AfricaBotswana
0.54%
South Africa
5.7%
91% lower
Armed Forces Personnel
South AfricaBotswana
9.0K
South Africa
89.0K
90% lower
Forest Coverage (%)
BotswanaBotswana
26.29%
South Africa
13.97%
88% higher
UNESCO World Heritage Sites
South AfricaBotswana
2.0 sites
South Africa
12 sites
83% lower
Water Stress (%)
South AfricaBotswana
8.9%
South Africa
47.12%
81% lower
Women in Parliament (%)
South AfricaBotswana
8.7%
South Africa
44.7%
81% lower
Airports
South AfricaBotswana
127
South Africa
583
78% lower
Government Debt (% GDP)
South AfricaBotswana
19.6% of GDP
South Africa
79.45% of GDP
75% lower
Homicide Rate
South AfricaBotswana
11.37 per 100k
South Africa
43.72 per 100k
74% lower
Seafood Consumption per Person
South AfricaBotswana
2.4 kg/person/yr
South Africa
6.5 kg/person/yr
63% lower
Suicide Rate
South AfricaBotswana
8.3 per 100k
South Africa
22.3 per 100k
63% lower
Mobile Money Accounts
BotswanaBotswana
51.62% of adults
South Africa
31.62% of adults
63% higher
Political Corruption Index
South AfricaBotswana
0.20
South Africa
0.54
62% lower
Meat Consumption per Person
South AfricaBotswana
24.44 kg/person/yr
South Africa
60.03 kg/person/yr
59% lower
Infant Mortality
BotswanaBotswana
38.2 per 1k births
South Africa
24.4 per 1k births
57% higher
CO2 Per Capita
South AfricaBotswana
3.0 t/person/yr
South Africa
6.9 t/person/yr
57% lower
Highest Elevation
South AfricaBotswana
1.5K m
South Africa
3.5K m
57% lower
Land Area
South AfricaBotswana
566.7K km²
South Africa
1.21M km²
53% lower
Electricity Use (Per Capita)
South AfricaBotswana
1.5K kWh/person
South Africa
3.2K kWh/person
53% lower
Doctors (per 1,000)
South AfricaBotswana
0.38 per 1k
South Africa
0.79 per 1k
52% lower
Border Neighbors
South AfricaBotswana
3.0
South Africa
6.0
50% lower
Insufficient Physical Activity
South AfricaBotswana
22.67% of adults
South Africa
44.8% of adults
49% lower
Imports (% GDP)
BotswanaBotswana
43.71% of GDP
South Africa
29.85% of GDP
46% higher
Agricultural Land (%)
South AfricaBotswana
45.63%
South Africa
79.42%
43% lower
Obesity Rate
South AfricaBotswana
17.46%
South Africa
30.03%
42% lower
Corruption Perceptions Index
BotswanaBotswana
58 pts
South Africa
41 pts
41% higher
Energy Use (Per Capita)
South AfricaBotswana
1.2K kg oil eq/person
South Africa
1.9K kg oil eq/person
40% lower
Elderly Population (%)
South AfricaBotswana
4.0%
South Africa
6.7%
40% lower
Firms with Female Top Manager
South AfricaBotswana
22.97% of firms
South Africa
38.51% of firms
40% lower
Inflation Rate
South AfricaBotswana
2.8%
South Africa
4.4%
36% lower
Health Spending (% GDP)
South AfricaBotswana
5.7% of GDP
South Africa
8.8% of GDP
35% lower
Education Spending (% GDP)
BotswanaBotswana
8.1% of GDP
South Africa
6.0% of GDP
34% higher
GDP Per Capita (PPP)
BotswanaBotswana
$20,538.13
South Africa
$15,456.2
33% higher
Road Traffic Death Rate
South AfricaBotswana
16.5 per 100k
South Africa
24.5 per 100k
33% lower
Life Evaluation Score
South AfricaBotswana
3.5 pts
South Africa
5.0 pts
31% lower
Unemployment Rate
South AfricaBotswana
23.14%
South Africa
33.17%
30% lower
Firms Hit by Power Outages
South AfricaBotswana
64.16% of firms
South Africa
92.02% of firms
30% lower
ATMs per 100,000 Adults
South AfricaBotswana
35.62 per 100k
South Africa
50.46 per 100k
29% lower
GNI Per Capita
BotswanaBotswana
$7,750
South Africa
$6,110
27% higher
Capital Elevation
South AfricaBotswana
1.0K m
South Africa
1.4K m
27% lower
Tobacco Use Prevalence
South AfricaBotswana
17.7% of adults
South Africa
23.6% of adults
25% lower
Youth Population (%)
BotswanaBotswana
32.13%
South Africa
25.88%
24% higher
Credit Card Ownership
South AfricaBotswana
7.3% of adults
South Africa
9.7% of adults
24% lower
Youth Unemployment Rate
South AfricaBotswana
46% of youth labor force
South Africa
59.93% of youth labor force
23% lower
Birth Rate
BotswanaBotswana
21.16 per 1k
South Africa
17.21 per 1k
23% higher
Women in Senior Management
BotswanaBotswana
48.21% of managers
South Africa
39.27% of managers
23% higher
Fertility Rate
BotswanaBotswana
2.7 children/woman
South Africa
2.2 children/woman
22% higher
Electricity Carbon Intensity
BotswanaBotswana
851.31 gCO2/kWh
South Africa
699.29 gCO2/kWh
22% higher
Coal Electricity Share
BotswanaBotswana
98.25%
South Africa
81.36%
21% higher
Air Pollution (PM2.5)
South AfricaBotswana
18.91 µg/m³
South Africa
23.75 µg/m³
20% lower
Median Age
South AfricaBotswana
22.9 years
South Africa
28.2 years
19% lower
Beer Consumption
South AfricaBotswana
2.6 L/person/yr
South Africa
3.1 L/person/yr
18% lower
Liberal Democracy Index
South AfricaBotswana
0.52
South Africa
0.63
18% lower
Dependency Ratio
BotswanaBotswana
56.66% of working-age pop.
South Africa
48.31% of working-age pop.
17% higher
Land Border Length
South AfricaBotswana
4.3K km
South Africa
5.2K km
17% lower
Women's Political Empowerment
South AfricaBotswana
0.70
South Africa
0.83
16% lower
Health Spending Per Capita
South AfricaBotswana
$477.83
South Africa
$569.84
16% lower
Can Raise Emergency Money
BotswanaBotswana
78.75% of adults
South Africa
68.2% of adults
15% higher
Digital Payments Used
South AfricaBotswana
56.95% of adults
South Africa
67.17% of adults
15% lower
Child Mortality
BotswanaBotswana
39.6 per 1k births
South Africa
34.7 per 1k births
14% higher
Exports (% GDP)
South AfricaBotswana
27.39% of GDP
South Africa
31.79% of GDP
14% lower
Electricity Access (%)
South AfricaBotswana
76%
South Africa
87.7%
13% lower
Forest Area
South AfricaBotswana
149.0K km²
South Africa
169.4K km²
12% lower
Tax Revenue (% GDP)
South AfricaBotswana
22.49% of GDP
South Africa
25.4% of GDP
11% lower
Smoking Rate
South AfricaBotswana
18.7%
South Africa
20.7%
10% lower
Electoral Democracy Index
South AfricaBotswana
0.67
South Africa
0.74
10% lower
University Enrollment Rate
South AfricaBotswana
21.41%
South Africa
23.49%
9% lower
Internet Users (%)
BotswanaBotswana
81%
South Africa
76%
7% higher
Safe Drinking Water (%)
South AfricaBotswana
63.29%
South Africa
68.01%
7% lower
Sanitation Access (%)
South AfricaBotswana
72.12%
South Africa
77.38%
7% lower
Spirits Consumption
South AfricaBotswana
1.0 L/person/yr
South Africa
1.1 L/person/yr
6% lower
Urban Population (%)
BotswanaBotswana
67.46%
South Africa
63.69%
6% higher
Life Expectancy
BotswanaBotswana
69.2 years
South Africa
66.1 years
5% higher
Freedom of Expression Index
South AfricaBotswana
0.80
South Africa
0.84
5% lower
Teen Birth Rate
BotswanaBotswana
53.8 per 1k
South Africa
51.56 per 1k
4% higher
Death Rate
BotswanaBotswana
6.8 per 1k
South Africa
6.6 per 1k
4% higher
Food Waste per Person
BotswanaBotswana
96.68 kg/person/yr
South Africa
93.36 kg/person/yr
4% higher
Mobile Subscriptions (%)
South AfricaBotswana
164 per 100 people
South Africa
167 per 100 people
2% lower
Alcohol Consumption
BotswanaBotswana
7.3 L/adult/yr
South Africa
7.1 L/adult/yr
2% higher
Human Development Index
South AfricaBotswana
0.73
South Africa
0.74
1% lower
Average Weekly Work Hours
BotswanaBotswana
42.92 hrs/week
South Africa
42.39 hrs/week
1% higher
Time Zones Count
BotswanaBotswana
3.0 time zones
South Africa
3.0 time zones
equal
Minimum Paid Vacation Days
BotswanaBotswana
15 days/yr
South Africa
15 days/yr
equal
Coastline Length
South AfricaBotswana
0 km
South Africa
2.8K km
ranked lower
Wind Electricity Share
South AfricaBotswana
0%
South Africa
4.7%
ranked lower
Hypertension Prevalence
BotswanaBotswana
44.4% of adults
South Africa
44.4% of adults
equal
Broadband Access (%)
BotswanaBotswana
3.0 per 100 people
South Africa
3.0 per 100 people
equal
GDP Growth Rate
South AfricaBotswana
-2.99%
South Africa
0.53%
ranked lower
Nobel Laureates Born per Million People
South AfricaBotswana
0 per 1M people
South Africa
0.15 per 1M people
ranked lower
Lowest Elevation
BotswanaBotswana
513 m
South Africa
0 m
ranked higher
Current Account Balance (% of GDP)
BotswanaBotswana
3.7% of GDP
South Africa
-0.5% of GDP
ranked higher
EV Chargers per 100,000 People
South AfricaBotswana
0 per 100k people
South Africa
0.01 per 100k people
ranked lower
McDonald's Outlets per Million People
South AfricaBotswana
0 per 1M people
South Africa
3.5 per 1M people
ranked lower
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