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Botswana vs Gabon
Side-by-side comparison of Botswana and Gabon from official statistics: size, economy, people, trade, natural resources, health, infrastructure and military, with world ranks, years and sources.
Botswana
Sub-Saharan Africa · nation age 60 years
In short
Botswana scores 38.8 in the NationsTree Index (133rd in the world) and Gabon scores 34.0 (150th), a gap of 4.8 points. Their trees are 4.1 m and 4.1 m tall; tree height grows with real GDP and is adjusted by the index.
Botswana and Gabon have a similar population. Botswana is 2.2 times larger than Gabon by land area. Botswana and Gabon have economies of similar size (GDP at purchasing power parity). Population: Botswana 2.6 million and Gabon 2.6 million (2025).
GDP per person at purchasing power parity is $22,218 in Gabon and $20,698 in Botswana (2025, international dollars). People in Botswana live on average 0.8 years longer (69.3 vs 68.5 years).
Of 28 indicators reported by both countries, Botswana ranks higher in the world on 13 and Gabon on 15. Botswana is clearly stronger in institutions & safety, military and society & health. Gabon is clearly stronger in natural resources, main industries and environment & energy.
As a nation, Gabon is the older of the two (statehood since 1960, 66 years), compared with Botswana (since 1966). Over the last five years Gabon improved faster (direction score 47 vs 32 out of 100).
Where they differ most
The indicators with the biggest gap in world position between Botswana and Gabon.
Botswana
984
129th of 183
Gabonbetter
67,469
8th of 183
DPT immunizationSociety & health
Botswanabetter
95%
59th of 193
Gabon
61%
183rd of 193
General government gross debtEconomy
Botswanabetter
34.0%
43rd of 189
Gabon
84.2%
152nd of 189
Trade & transport infrastructure quality (LPI)Infrastructure & digital
Botswanabetter
3.10
51st of 164
Gabon
2.20
131st of 164
Control of corruptionInstitutions & safety
Botswanabetter
59.9
58th of 207
Gabon
32.4
154th of 207
Over time
How the two countries moved against each other, from the yearly data.
Gabon overtook Botswana in GDP per person (PPP) and GDP (PPP) in 2024 and has stayed ahead since.
Gabon overtook Botswana in population in 2023 and has stayed ahead since.
Botswana overtook Gabon in the NationsTree Index and life expectancy in 2022 and has stayed ahead since.
Strength by category
Average world percentile of the indicators in each category (0–100, direction taken into account). i
BotswanaGabon All indicators
Latest available value for each country with its year and world rank. Green: the better world position of the two, red: the weaker one.
| Indicator | Botswana | Gabon |
|---|---|---|
| Land & people | ||
| Surface area km² | 581,73049th/216 · 2024 | 267,67076th/216 · 2024 |
| Land area km² | 566,73047th/216 · 2024 | 257,67076th/216 · 2024 |
| Population people | 2.6 m143rd/217 · 2025 | 2.6 m142nd/217 · 2025 |
| Population growth % | 1.61%66th/217 · 2025 | 2.11%42nd/217 · 2025 |
| Population density people/km² | 4.4208th/216 · 2024 | 9.9202nd/216 · 2024 |
| Urban population % | 68.0%98th/217 · 2025 | 92.1%28th/217 · 2025 |
| Population aged 0–14 % | 32.0%60th/217 · 2025 | 36.2%48th/217 · 2025 |
| Population aged 65+ % | 4.1%164th/217 · 2025 | 4.1%163rd/217 · 2025 |
| Economy | ||
| GDP USD | $19.93 bn134th/210 · 2025 | $21.43 bn132nd/210 · 2025 |
| GDP (PPP) intl. USD | $53.03 bn132nd/199 · 2025 | $57.62 bn130th/199 · 2025 |
| Real GDP (PPP, constant 2021 prices) intl. USD 2021 | $45.32 bn133rd/199 · 2025 | $49.23 bn130th/199 · 2025 |
| GDP per person USD | $7,778116th/210 · 2025 | $8,263111th/210 · 2025 |
| GDP per person (PPP) intl. USD | $20,698103rd/199 · 2025 | $22,218100th/199 · 2025 |
| GNI per person (Atlas) USD | $7,390108th/201 · 2025 | $8,090101st/201 · 2025 |
| GDP growth % | -0.7%198th/210 · 2025 | 2.5%132nd/210 · 2025 |
| Inflation % | 2.7%82nd/180 · 2025 | 1.8%54th/180 · 2025 |
| Unemployment % | 24.5%184th/187 · 2025 | 20.2%182nd/187 · 2025 |
| Central government debt % of GDP | 19.7%5th/55 · 2023 | — |
| General government gross debt % of GDP | 34.0%43rd/189 · 2025 | 84.2%152nd/189 · 2025 |
| Government budget balance % of GDP | -6.1%164th/192 · 2025 | -12.1%185th/192 · 2025 |
| Main industries | ||
| Agriculture, forestry, fishing % of GDP | 1.8%149th/197 · 2025 | 6.8%94th/197 · 2025 |
| Industry incl. construction % of GDP | 27.9%64th/200 · 2025 | 47.2%7th/200 · 2025 |
| Manufacturing % of GDP | 5.7%145th/192 · 2025 | 19.1%25th/192 · 2025 |
| Services % of GDP | 64.6%56th/200 · 2025 | 42.3%177th/200 · 2025 |
| Trade | ||
| Exports of goods & services USD | $6.38 bn123rd/182 · 2025 | $11.89 bn104th/182 · 2025 |
| Imports of goods & services USD | $7.48 bn126th/182 · 2025 | $6.30 bn135th/182 · 2025 |
| Exports % of GDP | 32.0%104th/183 · 2025 | 55.5%40th/183 · 2025 |
| Imports % of GDP | 37.5%109th/183 · 2025 | 29.4%135th/183 · 2025 |
| Trade openness % of GDP | 69.5%113th/183 · 2025 | 84.9%86th/183 · 2025 |
| Fuel exports % of merchandise exports | 0.7%126th/170 · 2023 | 54.0%23rd/170 · 2023 |
| Manufactures exports % of merchandise exports | 86.3%10th/171 · 2023 | 17.8%110th/171 · 2023 |
| Food exports % of merchandise exports | 1.9%155th/171 · 2023 | 0.9%163rd/171 · 2023 |
| Ores & metals exports % of merchandise exports | 10.7%37th/171 · 2023 | 23.3%24th/171 · 2023 |
| High-tech exports % of manufactured exports | 0.5%155th/168 · 2023 | 1.8%134th/168 · 2023 |
| Current account balance % of GDP | 3.1%51st/191 · 2025 | -6.0%150th/191 · 2025 |
| Foreign direct investment, inflows % of GDP | -3.3%192nd/196 · 2025 | 1.8%113th/196 · 2025 |
| Natural resources | ||
| Natural resource rents % of GDP | 1.0%116th/209 · 2021 | 18.5%26th/209 · 2021 |
| Oil rents % of GDP | 0.00%120th/197 · 2021 | 15.56%13th/197 · 2021 |
| Natural gas rents % of GDP | 0.00%100th/197 · 2021 | 0.27%49th/197 · 2021 |
| Coal rents % of GDP | 0.50%13th/195 · 2021 | 0.00%68th/195 · 2021 |
| Mineral rents % of GDP | 0.24%62nd/209 · 2021 | 0.02%79th/209 · 2021 |
| Forest rents % of GDP | 0.30%80th/209 · 2021 | 2.65%28th/209 · 2021 |
| Arable land % of land area | 0.5%195th/206 · 2024 | 1.3%179th/206 · 2024 |
| Renewable freshwater per person m³ | 984129th/183 · 2022 | 67,4698th/183 · 2022 |
| Tourism | ||
| International tourist arrivals arrivals | 1.8 m73rd/194 · 2018 | 526,0002005 |
| Tourism receipts USD | $217.0 m123rd/175 · 2020 | $28.7 m2015 |
| Tourism receipts % of exports | 4.6%88th/168 · 2020 | 0.5%2015 |
| Outbound trips departures | — | 236,0002003 |
| Society & health | ||
| Life expectancy years | 69.3158th/217 · 2024 | 68.5165th/217 · 2024 |
| Under-5 mortality per 1,000 births | 33.3142nd/196 · 2024 | 32.6141st/196 · 2024 |
| Physicians per 1,000 people | 0.38130th/174 · 2023 | 0.52124th/174 · 2022 |
| Hospital beds per 1,000 people | 2.480th/145 · 2022 | 2.02011 |
| DPT immunization % of children 12–23 months | 95%59th/193 · 2024 | 61%183rd/193 · 2024 |
| Completed lower secondary, 25+ % of adults | 63.7%95th/153 · 2023 | — |
| Secondary enrolment % gross | 70.6%139th/173 · 2021 | 70.3%2019 |
| Social protection coverage (incl. pensions) % of population | 55.4%2015 | 49.4%2017 |
| Old-age dependency ratio % of working-age population | 6.4%168th/217 · 2025 | 6.9%162nd/217 · 2025 |
| Health spending % of GDP | 6.3%99th/193 · 2023 | 3.1%175th/193 · 2023 |
| Adult literacy % | 81.2%2003 | 88.9%54th/98 · 2021 |
| Tertiary enrolment % gross | 21.4%119th/150 · 2024 | 7.7%2003 |
| Human Development Index index 0–1 | 0.731111th/193 · 2023 | 0.733108th/193 · 2023 |
| Income inequality (Gini) index | 54.92015 | 38.02017 |
| Extreme poverty % of population | 21.4%2015 | 3.8%2017 |
| Infrastructure & digital | ||
| Access to electricity % of population | 80.2%171st/215 · 2024 | 95.1%154th/215 · 2024 |
| Safely managed drinking water % of population | 63.3%99th/150 · 2024 | — |
| Internet users % of population | 57.5%142nd/186 · 2024 | 68.7%125th/186 · 2024 |
| Mobile subscriptions per 100 people | 16421st/210 · 2024 | 12576th/210 · 2024 |
| Fixed broadband per 100 people | 7.4128th/208 · 2024 | 4.7141st/208 · 2024 |
| Trade & transport infrastructure quality (LPI) score 1–5 | 3.1051st/164 · 2022 | 2.20131st/164 · 2022 |
| Rail lines route-km | 88667th/82 · 2021 | 64874th/82 · 2021 |
| Air passengers carried passengers | 172,720130th/161 · 2023 | 77,3202016 |
| Environment & energy | ||
| CO₂ emissions per person t CO₂e | 2.74106th/203 · 2024 | 2.0591st/203 · 2024 |
| Renewable energy % of final energy use | 27.4%88th/212 · 2021 | 91.3%4th/212 · 2021 |
| Air pollution (PM2.5) µg/m³ | 13.267th/200 · 2023 | 31.3157th/200 · 2023 |
| Forest area % of land area | 27.8%115th/214 · 2024 | 91.4%3rd/214 · 2024 |
| Energy use per person kg oil eq. | 1,34782nd/149 · 2024 | 1,93260th/149 · 2024 |
| Institutions & safety | ||
| Government effectiveness score 0–100 | 61.269th/205 · 2025 | 41.1146th/205 · 2025 |
| Control of corruption score 0–100 | 59.958th/207 · 2025 | 32.4154th/207 · 2025 |
| Rule of law score 0–100 | 63.382nd/207 · 2025 | 41.8165th/207 · 2025 |
| Political stability score 0–100 | 84.536th/207 · 2025 | 67.7107th/207 · 2025 |
| Regulatory quality score 0–100 | 61.668th/205 · 2025 | 42.9154th/205 · 2025 |
| Voice & accountability score 0–100 | 65.078th/205 · 2025 | 42.6144th/205 · 2025 |
| Homicide rate per 100,000 | 11.4120th/145 · 2021 | — |
| Military | ||
| Military expenditure USD | $614.4 m97th/156 · 2025 | $356.1 m114th/156 · 2025 |
| Military expenditure % of GDP | 3.1%28th/156 · 2025 | 1.7%80th/156 · 2025 |
| Military expenditure % of government spending | 8.9%36th/154 · 2025 | 6.4%54th/154 · 2025 |
| Armed forces personnel people | 9,000136th/170 · 2020 | 7,000142nd/170 · 2020 |
| Armed forces personnel % of labour force | 0.92%74th/168 · 2020 | 1.00%70th/168 · 2020 |
| Arms imports (SIPRI TIV) TIV | 11.0 m105th/163 · 2024 | 6.0 m125th/163 · 2024 |
| Science & innovation | ||
| R&D spending % of GDP | 0.56%2013 | 0.58%2009 |
| Patent applications by residents applications | 10104th/137 · 2023 | — |
| Scientific articles articles | 384110th/197 · 2023 | 91142nd/197 · 2023 |
Questions and answers
Which has more people, Botswana or Gabon?
Gabon has the larger population: 2.6 m (2025) compared with 2.6 m for Botswana (2025). Source: World Bank, SP.POP.TOTL.
Which is bigger by area, Botswana or Gabon?
Botswana is larger: 581,730 km² (2024) compared with 267,670 km² for Gabon (2024). Source: World Bank, AG.SRF.TOTL.K2.
Which economy is larger, Botswana or Gabon?
Gabon has the larger economy at purchasing power parity: $57.62 bn intl. (2025) compared with $53.03 bn intl. for Botswana (2025). Source: World Bank, NY.GDP.MKTP.PP.CD.
Which is richer per person, Botswana or Gabon?
Gabon has the higher GDP per person (PPP): $22,218 intl. (2025) compared with $20,698 intl. for Botswana (2025). Source: World Bank, NY.GDP.PCAP.PP.CD.
Where do people live longer, in Botswana or Gabon?
Botswana has the higher life expectancy at birth: 69.3 years (2024) compared with 68.5 years for Gabon (2024). Source: World Bank, SP.DYN.LE00.IN.
Which spends more on the military, Botswana or Gabon?
Botswana spends more on the military: $614.4 m (2025) compared with $356.1 m for Gabon (2025). Source: World Bank, MS.MIL.XPND.CD.
Which ranks higher in the NationsTree Index, Botswana or Gabon?
Botswana: 38.8 points (133rd in the world); Gabon: 34.0 points (150th). The index combines foundations, economic strength, quality of life, problems and 5-year direction from public statistics.
Congo
Mozambique
Rwanda
Chad
NigerSources
World Bank World Development Indicators and Worldwide Governance Indicators, compiling UN agencies, the IMF, WHO, SIPRI and national statistical offices; every row links to its world ranking with the source series. See Sources & licences and Methodology.
Cite as: NationsTree (2026). Botswana vs Gabon — country comparison. https://nationstree.org/compare/botswana-vs-gabon. Data as of 26 October 2026.