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Geo Factbook

Botswana vs Namibia: Compare Statistics

Side-by-side comparison of 106 key metrics across economy, population, geography, and more — latest data through 2026.

Botswana
bwa
Leads on 28 of 106 metrics
Namibia
nam
Leads on 61 of 106 metrics

Summary

Comparing Botswana and Namibia: Namibia leads on Industrial Production Growth Rate (%) (1 %) against Botswana (-13.50 %); Namibia leads on Annual CO₂ Emissions Growth (abs) (26,448) against Botswana (212,922); Namibia leads on Public Debt (4.64) against Botswana (19.60). Across 106 compared metrics, Botswana wins on 28 and Namibia wins on 61.

  • Communications: 6 metrics compared
  • Economy: 45 metrics compared
  • Environment: 5 metrics compared
  • Geography: 6 metrics compared
  • Government: 4 metrics compared
  • Health: 9 metrics compared
  • Military and Security: 1 metric compared
  • People and Society: 28 metrics compared
  • Transportation: 2 metrics compared

Communications

6 metrics
Metric🇧🇼 Botswana🇳🇦 NamibiaShare
Internet Usage Rate by Country (% of Population)81.36 %★64.41 %
Internet Userspercent of population: 81% (2023 est.)percent of population: 64% (2023 est.)
Press Freedom Index Score57.64 points75.35 points★
Radios252,720★232,000
Televisions31,00060,000★
Waterwaysnonenone

Economy

45 metrics
Metric🇧🇼 Botswana🇳🇦 NamibiaShare
Agriculture Value Added as a Share of GDP by Country335.49M $1.24B $★
Gross Domestic Product (GDP) by Country in Current US Dollars22.39B $★14.50B $
Central Bank Discount Rate (%)5.5 %7 %★
Coal Revenue0.45★0
Commercial Bank Prime Lending Rate (%)6.88 %10.04 %★
Current Health Expenditure (% of GDP)5.9 % of GDP8 % of GDP★
Ease of Doing Business Index66.272.2★
Electricity Consumption3.643.89★
Electricity Exports088★
Electricity from Fossil Fuels100★28
Electricity from Hydroelectric Plants064★
Electricity from Nuclear Fuels00
Electricity from Other Renewables08★
Electricity Imports1.673.07★
Electricity Installed Capacity735,000★535,500
Electricity Production2.53★1.4
Energy Consumption per Capita (USD)32.44 USD per capita★21.73 USD per capita
Gini Index Coefficient54.959.1★
Gross Fixed Investment27.6★21.4
Gross National Saving40.3★16.7
Industrial Production Growth Rate (%)-13.5 %1 %★
Inflation Rate (Consumer Prices)2.8 %★4.2 %
Military Expenditures (% of GDP)3 % of GDP★2.8 % of GDP
Natural Gas Consumption00
Natural Gas Exports00
Natural Gas Imports00
Natural Gas Production00
Natural Gas Proved Reserves062.29★
Oil Consumption15,00024,000★
Oil Exports00
Oil Imports15,59019,890★
Oil Production00
Oil Proved Reserves00
Population Below Poverty Line16.1 people★17.4 people
Public Debt19.64.64★
Real GDP Growth Rate (USD)-3 USD3.7 USD★
Refined Petroleum Products Consumption21,00027,000★
Refined Petroleum Products Exports080★
Refined Petroleum Products Imports21,09026,270★
Refined Petroleum Products Production00
Remittances0.41.1★
Revenue from Forest Resources0.230.47★
Share of population in poverty ($3 a day)21.37★22.86
Taxes and Other Revenues19.633★
Unemployment Rate23.2 %19.2 %★

Environment

5 metrics
Metric🇧🇼 Botswana🇳🇦 NamibiaShare
Annual CO₂ Emissions Growth (abs)212,92226,448★
Carbon Dioxide Emissions5.93.46★
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.population density is very low, with the largest clusters found in the extreme north-central area along the border with Angola, as shown in this population distribution map
Total Renewable Groundwater Resources by Country1.7 Cubic meters per year2.1 Cubic meters per year★
Total Renewable Water Resources12.2439.91★

Geography

6 metrics
Metric🇧🇼 Botswana🇳🇦 NamibiaShare
Percentage of land area by degree of urbanization0.23 %★0.08 %
Above-Ground Biomass in Forest (tonnes/ha)155.25★67.4
Agricultural land258,624 sq. km388,132 sq. km★
Coastline Length (km)0 km1,572 km★
Dam capacity per capita427.23 cubic meters per inhabitant★215.05 cubic meters per inhabitant
Irrigated Land2580★

Government

4 metrics
Metric🇧🇼 Botswana🇳🇦 NamibiaShare
Rule of Law Index by Country61.77 %65.13 %★
Administrative Divisions1014★
Independence30★21
Suffrage Participation Rate1818

Health

9 metrics
Metric🇧🇼 Botswana🇳🇦 NamibiaShare
Diabetes Prevalence (% of Population)4.65.3★
Health Expenditure (% of GDP)6.3 % of GDP9.4 % of GDP★
HIV/AIDS Adult Prevalence Rate18.6 %11.8 %★
Hospital Bed Density1.8 people/sq km2.7 people/sq km★
Maternal Mortality Ratio (%)155 %139 %★
Mean Age at First Birth1921.5★
Obesity Adult Prevalence Rate (%)18.9 %17.2 %★
People Living With HIV/AIDS370,000210,000★
Underweight Children Under 5NA13.2

Military and Security

1 metric
Metric🇧🇼 Botswana🇳🇦 NamibiaShare
Total Armed Forces Personnel (PPP)9,00016,000★

People and Society

28 metrics
Metric🇧🇼 Botswana🇳🇦 NamibiaShare
Currently married (Percent)43.98 %★35.13 %
Human Capital Index0.450.48★
Life expectancy at birth74.54 years74.68 years★
Median age of population23.69 years★21.43 years
Population Change42,610.1 persons54,865.9 persons★
Population density4.59 per sq. km3.85 per sq. km★
Total population2.60M persons3.16M persons★
Academic Freedom Index0.83★0.72
Birth Rate (%)21.16 %23.93 %★
Contraceptive Prevalence Rate67.4 %★56.1 %
Death Rate (%)6.8 %6.36 %★
Education Expenditure (% of GDP)8.1 % of GDP9.1 % of GDP★
Female population of reproductive age715,830.35 persons816,356.35 persons★
Labor Force Participation Rate1.17★1.13
Learning-adjusted years of school5.13 years6.59 years★
Length of paid parental leave for mother0 days0 days
Major Urban Areas Population269,000 people477,000 people★
Mean Male Height (cm)171.63★166.96
Military Service Age and Obligation1818
Percentage of population by degree of urbanization70.73 %★44.2 %
Physician Density0.38 people/sq km0.55 people/sq km★
Population Growth Rate1.32 %1.76 %★
Population living in slums36.42 %41.33 %★
Total deaths12,368.4 persons★15,835.9 persons
Total demand for family planning (Percent)66.25 %★63.35 %
Total fertility rate2.62 per woman3.14 per woman★
Total net-migration-6,354.6 persons★-8,818.7 persons
Under-five mortality rate34.88 per live births34.52 per live births★

Transportation

2 metrics
Metric🇧🇼 Botswana🇳🇦 NamibiaShare
Airports122259★
Civil Air Travel5NA major transport aircraft

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