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Botswana vs Malaysia: Compare Statistics

Side-by-side comparison of 172 key metrics across economy, population, geography, and more ā€” latest data through 2026.

Botswana
bwa
Leads on 53 of 172 metrics
Malaysia
mys
Leads on 111 of 172 metrics

Summary

Malaysia has 14.0 times as many people as Botswana (36.4 million vs 2.6 million). Malaysia's economy is 20.8 times the size of Botswana's ($466.53 billion vs $22.39 billion GDP).

Comparing Botswana and Malaysia: Botswana leads on Major Urban Areas Population (269,000 people) against Malaysia (8.62 people); Botswana leads on Radios (252,720) against Malaysia (10.90); Botswana leads on Electricity Installed Capacity (735,000) against Malaysia (33). Across 172 compared metrics, Botswana wins on 53 and Malaysia wins on 111.

  • Communications: 9 metrics compared
  • Economy: 65 metrics compared
  • Environment: 11 metrics compared
  • Geography: 7 metrics compared
  • Government: 9 metrics compared
  • Health: 23 metrics compared
  • Military and Security: 3 metrics compared
  • People and Society: 40 metrics compared
  • Transportation: 3 metrics compared
  • Travel and Tourism: 1 metric compared
  • Other: 1 metric compared

Communications

9 metrics
MetricšŸ‡§šŸ‡¼ BotswanašŸ‡²šŸ‡¾ MalaysiaShare
Fixed Broadband Penetration7.44 subscriptions per 100 inhabitants13.55 subscriptions per 100 inhabitantsā˜…
Internet Penetration Rate (%)57.46 %98.02 %ā˜…
Internet Usage Rate by Country (% of Population)81.36 %97.69 %ā˜…
Internet Userspercent of population: 81% (2023 est.)percent of population: 98% (2023 est.)
Mobile Internet Speed7.44 Mbps13.55 Mbpsā˜…
Press Freedom Index Score57.64 pointsā˜…56.09 points
Radios252,720ā˜…10.9
Televisions31,000ā˜…10.8
Waterwaysnone7,296

Economy

65 metrics
MetricšŸ‡§šŸ‡¼ BotswanašŸ‡²šŸ‡¾ MalaysiaShare
Agriculture Value Added as a Share of GDP by Country335.49M $47.38B $ā˜…
Gross Domestic Product (GDP) by Country in Current US Dollars22.39B $466.53B $ā˜…
AI Investment (% of GDP)35.99 %ā˜…21.95 %
Bank Account Ownership Rate61.44 %88.69 %ā˜…
Central Bank Discount Rate (%)5.5 %ā˜…3 %
Coal Revenue0.45ā˜…0.02
Commercial Bank Prime Lending Rate (%)6.88 %ā˜…4.61 %
Corporate Tax Rate Trends22 %24 %ā˜…
Current Health Expenditure (% of GDP)5.9 % of GDPā˜…3.8 % of GDP
Ease of Doing Business Index66.283.3ā˜…
Electricity Consumption3.64136.9ā˜…
Electricity Exports03ā˜…
Electricity from Fossil Fuels100ā˜…78
Electricity from Hydroelectric Plants018ā˜…
Electricity from Nuclear Fuels00
Electricity from Other Renewables04ā˜…
Electricity Imports1.6733ā˜…
Electricity Installed Capacity735,000ā˜…33
Electricity Production2.53148.3ā˜…
Energy Consumption per Capita (USD)32.44 USD per capita113.16 USD per capitaā˜…
Female Labor Force Participation Rate66.73 %ā˜…56.67 %
Gini Index Coefficient54.9ā˜…40.7
Gross Fixed Investment27.6ā˜…25.2
Gross National Saving40.3ā˜…28.5
High-Tech Export Percentage3.85 %63.18 %ā˜…
Highest GDP per Capita Countries17,687.21 USD35,461.45 USDā˜…
Industrial Production Growth Rate (%)-13.5 %4.9 %ā˜…
Inflation Rate2.66 %1.38 %ā˜…
Inflation Rate (Consumer Prices)2.8 %1.8 %ā˜…
Military Expenditures (% of GDP)3 % of GDPā˜…1 % of GDP
Natural Gas Consumption030.44ā˜…
Natural Gas Exports038.23ā˜…
Natural Gas Imports02.8ā˜…
Natural Gas Production069.49ā˜…
Natural Gas Proved Reserves01.18ā˜…
Oil Consumption15,000561,000ā˜…
Oil Exports0644,900ā˜…
Oil Imports15,590355,300ā˜…
Oil Production0664,800ā˜…
Oil Proved Reserves04ā˜…
Population Below Poverty Line16.1 people6.2 peopleā˜…
Private Investment (% of GDP)27.54 % of GDPā˜…15.98 % of GDP
Public Debt19.6ā˜…64.3
R&D Expenditure (% of GDP)0.27 %1.09 %ā˜…
Real GDP Growth Rate (USD)-3 USD5.1 USDā˜…
Real Interest Rate Trends4.24 %4.46 %ā˜…
Refined Petroleum Products Consumption21,000704,000ā˜…
Refined Petroleum Products Exports0208,400ā˜…
Refined Petroleum Products Imports21,090304,600ā˜…
Refined Petroleum Products Production0528,300ā˜…
Remittances0.40.4
Researchers in R&D per Million168.09 researchers1,769.91 researchersā˜…
Revenue from Forest Resources0.231.57ā˜…
Robotics Research Funding0.27 USD1.09 USDā˜…
Share of population in poverty ($3 a day)21.370.05ā˜…
Tax Burden (% of GDP)22.42 %12.56 %ā˜…
Tax Revenue (% of GDP)22.42 % of GDPā˜…12.56 % of GDP
Taxes and Other Revenues19.6ā˜…12.6
Top Exporting Countries5.32B USD301.22B USDā˜…
Top FDI Inflows (% of GDP)2.42 %3.69 %ā˜…
Tourism Contribution to GDP5.1 %6.76 %ā˜…
Tourism Revenue (% of GDP)5.1 %6.76 %ā˜…
Unemployment Rate23.2 %3.9 %ā˜…
Youth Labor Force Participation Rate68.8 %66.12 %ā˜…
Youth Unemployment Rate46 %11.95 %ā˜…

Environment

11 metrics
MetricšŸ‡§šŸ‡¼ BotswanašŸ‡²šŸ‡¾ MalaysiaShare
Annual COā‚‚ Emissions Growth (abs)212,922ā˜…13.93M
Annual Forest Area Change Rate0 %ā˜…-60,000 %
Average Annual Temperature21.74 Ā°C25.87 Ā°Cā˜…
Carbon Dioxide Emissions5.9ā˜…260.01
Global Precipitation Distribution685.73 mm3,150.09 mmā˜…
Population Distributionthe population is primarily concentrated in the east, with a focus in and around the capital of Gaborone and the eastern city of Francistown; population density remains low in other areas in the country, especially in the Kalahari Desert to the west.a highly uneven distribution, with over 80% of the population residing on the Malay Peninsula
Protected Land Area for Adaptation27.9 sq kmā˜…13.3 sq km
Protected Land Area Percentage27.6 %ā˜…13.3 %
Total Renewable Groundwater Resources by Country1.7 Cubic meters per year64 Cubic meters per yearā˜…
Total Renewable Water Resources12.24580ā˜…
Total Threatened Mammal Species11 speciesā˜…80 species

Geography

7 metrics
MetricšŸ‡§šŸ‡¼ BotswanašŸ‡²šŸ‡¾ MalaysiaShare
Percentage of land area by degree of urbanization0.23 %4.11 %ā˜…
Above-Ground Biomass in Forest (tonnes/ha)155.25209.87ā˜…
Agricultural land258,624 sq. kmā˜…85,710 sq. km
Airports per 1,000 Sq Km566,730ā˜…328,550
Coastline Length (km)0 km4,675 kmā˜…
Dam capacity per capita427.23 cubic meters per inhabitant611.58 cubic meters per inhabitantā˜…
Irrigated Land254,420ā˜…

Government

9 metrics
MetricšŸ‡§šŸ‡¼ BotswanašŸ‡²šŸ‡¾ MalaysiaShare
Rule of Law Index by Country61.77 %67.87 %ā˜…
Administrative Divisions1013ā˜…
Corruption Perception Index57 index50 indexā˜…
Corruption Perceptions Index Score57 indexā˜…50 index
Independence3031ā˜…
LGBT Rights Index Score1.46ā˜…-2.46
Prison Population Rate210 per 100,000180 per 100,000ā˜…
Public Sector Corruption Perception5750ā˜…
Suffrage Participation Rate1818

Health

23 metrics
MetricšŸ‡§šŸ‡¼ BotswanašŸ‡²šŸ‡¾ MalaysiaShare
Access to Safe Drinking Water63.29 %94.7 %ā˜…
Average BMI for Adults22.5 kg/mĀ²25.3 kg/mĀ²ā˜…
Change in Measles Immunization Rate97 %ā˜…96 %
Diabetes Prevalence (% of Population)4.621.1ā˜…
Female Life Expectancy Leaders69.29 years76.82 yearsā˜…
Global Stillbirth Rate Trends1.39 per 1,000 births0.48 per 1,000 birthsā˜…
Health Care Spending per Capita1,539.49 USD1,703.34 USDā˜…
Health Coverage Index Score60 score80 scoreā˜…
Health Expenditure (% of GDP)6.3 % of GDPā˜…4.4 % of GDP
Highest Male Life Expectancy69.29 years76.82 yearsā˜…
HIV/AIDS Adult Prevalence Rate18.6 %0.3 %ā˜…
Hospital Bed Density2.2 people/sq kmā˜…2 people/sq km
Hospital Beds per Capita2.36 beds per 1,000ā˜…1.94 beds per 1,000
Low Birth Weight Prevalence16.83 %13.81 %ā˜…
Malaria Incidence Rate1.96 cases per 1,0000.07 cases per 1,000ā˜…
Maternal Mortality Ratio (%)155 %26 %ā˜…
Nurses and Midwives Density3.02 per 1,000 people4.05 per 1,000 peopleā˜…
Obesity Adult Prevalence Rate (%)18.9 %15.6 %ā˜…
Out-of-Pocket Health Spending4.26 %ā˜…37.09 %
People Living With HIV/AIDS370,00092,000ā˜…
Psychiatrist Density Per 100,000 People0 per 100,000 people1 per 100,000 peopleā˜…
Total Number of Doctors0.382.34ā˜…
Underweight Children Under 5NA14.1

Military and Security

3 metrics
MetricšŸ‡§šŸ‡¼ BotswanašŸ‡²šŸ‡¾ MalaysiaShare
Active Military Personnel9,000 personnel113,000 personnelā˜…
Military Expenditure (% of GDP)3.11 %1.04 %ā˜…
Total Armed Forces Personnel (PPP)9,000136,000ā˜…

People and Society

40 metrics
MetricšŸ‡§šŸ‡¼ BotswanašŸ‡²šŸ‡¾ MalaysiaShare
Currently married (Percent)43.98 %58.88 %ā˜…
Human Capital Index0.450.65ā˜…
Life expectancy at birth74.54 years80.87 yearsā˜…
Median age of population23.69 years31.44 yearsā˜…
Population Change42,610.1 persons428,622.9 personsā˜…
Population density4.59 per sq. kmā˜…110.8 per sq. km
Total population2.60M persons36.40M personsā˜…
Academic Freedom Index0.83ā˜…0.29
Beer Consumption per Capita3.22 litersā˜…0.51 liters
Birth Rate (%)21.16 %ā˜…14.05 %
Contraceptive Prevalence Rate67.4 %ā˜…52.2 %
Crude Birth Rate24.36 per 1,000 peopleā˜…12.36 per 1,000 people
Death Rate (%)6.8 %5.8 %ā˜…
Education Expenditure (% of GDP)8.1 % of GDPā˜…3.5 % of GDP
Female population of reproductive age715,830.35 persons9.69M personsā˜…
Female Tertiary Enrollment Rate (%)26.59 %45.85 %ā˜…
Fixed Broadband Penetration Rate7.44 %13.55 %ā˜…
Global Average Sex Ratio at Birth102.7 male/female106.37 male/femaleā˜…
Human Development Index0.450.48ā˜…
Labor Force Participation Rate1.1718.26ā˜…
Learning-adjusted years of school5.13 years9.72 yearsā˜…
Length of paid parental leave for mother0 days0 days
Major Urban Areas Population269,000 peopleā˜…8.62 people
Mean Male Height (cm)171.63ā˜…167.88
Mean Years of Schooling10.58 years11.96 yearsā˜…
Military Manpower at Military Age1821ā˜…
Military Service Age and Obligation18ā˜…17
Old-Age Dependency Ratio6.22 %ā˜…10.6 %
Percentage of population by degree of urbanization70.73 %83.21 %ā˜…
Physician Density0.38 people/sq km2.34 people/sq kmā˜…
Population Growth Rate1.32 %ā˜…0.97 %
Population living in slums36.42 %ā˜…0.2 %
Primary School Pupil-Teacher Ratio23.7111.52ā˜…
Total deaths12,368.4 personsā˜…179,998.3 persons
Total demand for family planning (Percent)66.25 %ā˜…42.17 %
Total fertility rate2.62 per womanā˜…1.53 per woman
Total net-migration-6,354.6 persons162,673.4 personsā˜…
Under-five mortality rate34.88 per live births5.53 per live birthsā˜…
Urban Population Annual Growth Rate2.34 %ā˜…1.79 %
Voting Age Population44 millions52.24 millionsā˜…

Transportation

3 metrics
MetricšŸ‡§šŸ‡¼ BotswanašŸ‡²šŸ‡¾ MalaysiaShare
Air Travel Trips Per Capita (PPP)0.171.58ā˜…
Airports122ā˜…100
Civil Air Travel553ā˜…

Travel and Tourism

1 metric
MetricšŸ‡§šŸ‡¼ BotswanašŸ‡²šŸ‡¾ MalaysiaShare
Tourism Receipts per Capita395.08M USD17.90B USDā˜…

Other

1 metric
MetricšŸ‡§šŸ‡¼ BotswanašŸ‡²šŸ‡¾ MalaysiaShare
Current Bank Rate5.5 %ā˜…2.75 %

Frequently Asked Questions About Botswana vs Malaysia

Which has a larger population, Botswana or Malaysia?ā–¾

Malaysia. Malaysia has 14.0 times as many people as Botswana (36.4 million vs 2.6 million). Data for 2026.

Which has a bigger economy, Botswana or Malaysia?ā–¾

Malaysia. Malaysia's economy is 20.8 times the size of Botswana's ($466.53 billion vs $22.39 billion GDP). Data for 2026.

Which is richer per person, Botswana or Malaysia?ā–¾

Malaysia is richer per person: GDP per capita is about $12,818 in Malaysia vs $8,600 in Botswana (2026 GDP in current US dollars divided by population).

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