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Botswana vs Rwanda
Side-by-side comparison of Botswana and Rwanda 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 Rwanda scores 34.3 (149th), a gap of 4.5 points. Their trees are 4.1 m and 4.3 m tall; tree height grows with real GDP and is adjusted by the index.
Rwanda has 5.7 times the population of Botswana. Botswana is 22 times larger than Rwanda by land area. The economy of Rwanda is 14% larger than that of Botswana (GDP at purchasing power parity). Population: Botswana 2.6 million and Rwanda 14.6 million (2025).
GDP per person at purchasing power parity is $20,698 in Botswana and $4,164 in Rwanda (2025, international dollars). People in Botswana live on average 1.3 years longer (69.3 vs 68.0 years).
Of 33 indicators reported by both countries, Botswana ranks higher in the world on 24 and Rwanda on 9. Botswana is clearly stronger in society & health, economy and military. Rwanda is clearly stronger in natural resources.
As a nation, Rwanda is the older of the two (statehood since 1962, 64 years), compared with Botswana (since 1966). Over the last five years Rwanda improved faster (direction score 78 vs 32 out of 100).
Where they differ most
The indicators with the biggest gap in world position between Botswana and Rwanda.
Botswana
-0.7%
198th of 210
Rwandabetter
9.4%
7th of 210
Air pollution (PM2.5)Environment & energy
Botswanabetter
13.2
67th of 200
Rwanda
36.0
171st of 200
CO₂ emissions per personEnvironment & energy
Botswana
2.74
106th of 203
Rwandabetter
0.16
20th of 203
General government gross debtEconomy
Botswanabetter
34.0%
43rd of 189
Rwanda
64.7%
123rd of 189
Political stabilityInstitutions & safety
Botswanabetter
84.5
36th of 207
Rwanda
67.7
105th of 207
Over time
How the two countries moved against each other, from the yearly data.
Rwanda overtook Botswana in GDP (PPP) in 2024 and has stayed ahead since.
Botswana overtook Rwanda in life expectancy in 2022 and has stayed ahead since.
Botswana has been ahead of Rwanda in the NationsTree Index in every year since 1996.
Botswana has been ahead of Rwanda in GDP per person (PPP) in every year since 1990.
Rwanda has been ahead of Botswana in population in every year since 1990.
Strength by category
Average world percentile of the indicators in each category (0–100, direction taken into account). i
BotswanaRwanda 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 | Rwanda |
|---|---|---|
| Land & people | ||
| Surface area km² | 581,73049th/216 · 2024 | 26,340145th/216 · 2024 |
| Land area km² | 566,73047th/216 · 2024 | 23,763146th/216 · 2024 |
| Population people | 2.6 m143rd/217 · 2025 | 14.6 m76th/217 · 2025 |
| Population growth % | 1.61%66th/217 · 2025 | 2.17%40th/217 · 2025 |
| Population density people/km² | 4.4208th/216 · 2024 | 599.917th/216 · 2024 |
| Urban population % | 68.0%98th/217 · 2025 | 30.9%195th/217 · 2025 |
| Population aged 0–14 % | 32.0%60th/217 · 2025 | 37.0%42nd/217 · 2025 |
| Population aged 65+ % | 4.1%164th/217 · 2025 | 4.0%166th/217 · 2025 |
| Economy | ||
| GDP USD | $19.93 bn134th/210 · 2025 | $16.37 bn141st/210 · 2025 |
| GDP (PPP) intl. USD | $53.03 bn132nd/199 · 2025 | $60.67 bn128th/199 · 2025 |
| Real GDP (PPP, constant 2021 prices) intl. USD 2021 | $45.32 bn133rd/199 · 2025 | $51.85 bn128th/199 · 2025 |
| GDP per person USD | $7,778116th/210 · 2025 | $1,124194th/210 · 2025 |
| GDP per person (PPP) intl. USD | $20,698103rd/199 · 2025 | $4,164175th/199 · 2025 |
| GNI per person (Atlas) USD | $7,390108th/201 · 2025 | $1,150181st/201 · 2025 |
| GDP growth % | -0.7%198th/210 · 2025 | 9.4%7th/210 · 2025 |
| Inflation % | 2.7%82nd/180 · 2025 | 5.9%144th/180 · 2025 |
| Unemployment % | 24.5%184th/187 · 2025 | 11.4%157th/187 · 2025 |
| Central government debt % of GDP | 19.7%5th/55 · 2023 | 48.4%1992 |
| General government gross debt % of GDP | 34.0%43rd/189 · 2025 | 64.7%123rd/189 · 2025 |
| Government budget balance % of GDP | -6.1%164th/192 · 2025 | -4.4%140th/192 · 2025 |
| Main industries | ||
| Agriculture, forestry, fishing % of GDP | 1.8%149th/197 · 2025 | 20.3%35th/197 · 2025 |
| Industry incl. construction % of GDP | 27.9%64th/200 · 2025 | 22.0%113th/200 · 2025 |
| Manufacturing % of GDP | 5.7%145th/192 · 2025 | 8.3%120th/192 · 2025 |
| Services % of GDP | 64.6%56th/200 · 2025 | 52.3%133rd/200 · 2025 |
| Trade | ||
| Exports of goods & services USD | $6.38 bn123rd/182 · 2025 | $3.53 bn143rd/182 · 2025 |
| Imports of goods & services USD | $7.48 bn126th/182 · 2025 | $5.75 bn137th/182 · 2025 |
| Exports % of GDP | 32.0%104th/183 · 2025 | 21.6%139th/183 · 2025 |
| Imports % of GDP | 37.5%109th/183 · 2025 | 35.1%114th/183 · 2025 |
| Trade openness % of GDP | 69.5%113th/183 · 2025 | 56.7%134th/183 · 2025 |
| Fuel exports % of merchandise exports | 0.7%126th/170 · 2023 | 0.1%137th/170 · 2022 |
| Manufactures exports % of merchandise exports | 86.3%10th/171 · 2023 | 10.4%130th/171 · 2022 |
| Food exports % of merchandise exports | 1.9%155th/171 · 2023 | 27.2%54th/171 · 2022 |
| Ores & metals exports % of merchandise exports | 10.7%37th/171 · 2023 | 20.9%25th/171 · 2022 |
| High-tech exports % of manufactured exports | 0.5%155th/168 · 2023 | 4.8%104th/168 · 2022 |
| Current account balance % of GDP | 3.1%51st/191 · 2025 | -9.8%170th/191 · 2025 |
| Foreign direct investment, inflows % of GDP | -3.3%192nd/196 · 2025 | 5.9%36th/196 · 2025 |
| Natural resources | ||
| Natural resource rents % of GDP | 1.0%116th/209 · 2021 | 4.0%81st/209 · 2021 |
| Oil rents % of GDP | 0.00%120th/197 · 2021 | 0.00%120th/197 · 2021 |
| Natural gas rents % of GDP | 0.00%100th/197 · 2021 | 0.05%66th/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 | 0.00%91st/209 · 2021 |
| Forest rents % of GDP | 0.30%80th/209 · 2021 | 3.97%20th/209 · 2021 |
| Arable land % of land area | 0.5%195th/206 · 2024 | 48.9%7th/206 · 2024 |
| Renewable freshwater per person m³ | 984129th/183 · 2022 | 696146th/183 · 2022 |
| Tourism | ||
| International tourist arrivals arrivals | 1.8 m73rd/194 · 2018 | 1.6 m77th/194 · 2019 |
| Tourism receipts USD | $217.0 m123rd/175 · 2020 | $212.0 m124th/175 · 2020 |
| Tourism receipts % of exports | 4.6%88th/168 · 2020 | 11.0%53rd/168 · 2020 |
| Society & health | ||
| Life expectancy years | 69.3158th/217 · 2024 | 68.0167th/217 · 2024 |
| Under-5 mortality per 1,000 births | 33.3142nd/196 · 2024 | 37.7151st/196 · 2024 |
| Physicians per 1,000 people | 0.38130th/174 · 2023 | 0.09164th/174 · 2022 |
| Hospital beds per 1,000 people | 2.480th/145 · 2022 | 0.8126th/145 · 2023 |
| DPT immunization % of children 12–23 months | 95%59th/193 · 2024 | 98%20th/193 · 2024 |
| Completed lower secondary, 25+ % of adults | 63.7%95th/153 · 2023 | 18.0%143rd/153 · 2022 |
| Secondary enrolment % gross | 70.6%139th/173 · 2021 | 48.8%157th/173 · 2024 |
| Social protection coverage (incl. pensions) % of population | 55.4%2015 | 28.4%2013 |
| Old-age dependency ratio % of working-age population | 6.4%168th/217 · 2025 | 6.8%163rd/217 · 2025 |
| Health spending % of GDP | 6.3%99th/193 · 2023 | 5.1%123rd/193 · 2023 |
| Adult literacy % | 81.2%2003 | 78.8%67th/98 · 2022 |
| Tertiary enrolment % gross | 21.4%119th/150 · 2024 | 9.4%142nd/150 · 2024 |
| Human Development Index index 0–1 | 0.731111th/193 · 2023 | 0.578159th/193 · 2023 |
| Income inequality (Gini) index | 54.92015 | 39.483rd/108 · 2023 |
| Extreme poverty % of population | 21.4%2015 | 38.6%96th/108 · 2023 |
| Infrastructure & digital | ||
| Access to electricity % of population | 80.2%171st/215 · 2024 | 72.0%176th/215 · 2024 |
| Safely managed drinking water % of population | 63.3%99th/150 · 2024 | — |
| Internet users % of population | 57.5%142nd/186 · 2024 | 31.7%167th/186 · 2024 |
| Mobile subscriptions per 100 people | 16421st/210 · 2024 | 93154th/210 · 2024 |
| Fixed broadband per 100 people | 7.4128th/208 · 2024 | 0.6177th/208 · 2024 |
| Trade & transport infrastructure quality (LPI) score 1–5 | 3.1051st/164 · 2022 | 2.9058th/164 · 2022 |
| Rail lines route-km | 88667th/82 · 2021 | — |
| Air passengers carried passengers | 172,720130th/161 · 2023 | 1.5 m87th/161 · 2023 |
| Environment & energy | ||
| CO₂ emissions per person t CO₂e | 2.74106th/203 · 2024 | 0.1620th/203 · 2024 |
| Renewable energy % of final energy use | 27.4%88th/212 · 2021 | 79.9%17th/212 · 2022 |
| Air pollution (PM2.5) µg/m³ | 13.267th/200 · 2023 | 36.0171st/200 · 2023 |
| Forest area % of land area | 27.8%115th/214 · 2024 | 26.1%116th/214 · 2024 |
| Energy use per person kg oil eq. | 1,34782nd/149 · 2024 | 359135th/149 · 2024 |
| Institutions & safety | ||
| Government effectiveness score 0–100 | 61.269th/205 · 2025 | 59.774th/205 · 2025 |
| Control of corruption score 0–100 | 59.958th/207 · 2025 | 60.955th/207 · 2025 |
| Rule of law score 0–100 | 63.382nd/207 · 2025 | 60.294th/207 · 2025 |
| Political stability score 0–100 | 84.536th/207 · 2025 | 67.7105th/207 · 2025 |
| Regulatory quality score 0–100 | 61.668th/205 · 2025 | 59.976th/205 · 2025 |
| Voice & accountability score 0–100 | 65.078th/205 · 2025 | 43.7141st/205 · 2025 |
| Homicide rate per 100,000 | 11.4120th/145 · 2021 | 3.686th/145 · 2020 |
| Military | ||
| Military expenditure USD | $614.4 m97th/156 · 2025 | $191.2 m129th/156 · 2025 |
| Military expenditure % of GDP | 3.1%28th/156 · 2025 | 1.3%101st/156 · 2025 |
| Military expenditure % of government spending | 8.9%36th/154 · 2025 | 4.7%87th/154 · 2025 |
| Armed forces personnel people | 9,000136th/170 · 2020 | 35,00084th/170 · 2020 |
| Armed forces personnel % of labour force | 0.92%74th/168 · 2020 | 0.70%94th/168 · 2020 |
| Arms imports (SIPRI TIV) TIV | 11.0 m105th/163 · 2024 | 37.0 m70th/163 · 2023 |
| Science & innovation | ||
| R&D spending % of GDP | 0.56%2013 | 0.78%49th/110 · 2023 |
| Patent applications by residents applications | 10104th/137 · 2023 | 8109th/137 · 2024 |
| Scientific articles articles | 384110th/197 · 2023 | 434107th/197 · 2023 |
Questions and answers
Which has more people, Botswana or Rwanda?
Rwanda has the larger population: 14.6 m (2025) compared with 2.6 m for Botswana (2025). Source: World Bank, SP.POP.TOTL.
Which is bigger by area, Botswana or Rwanda?
Botswana is larger: 581,730 km² (2024) compared with 26,340 km² for Rwanda (2024). Source: World Bank, AG.SRF.TOTL.K2.
Which economy is larger, Botswana or Rwanda?
Rwanda has the larger economy at purchasing power parity: $60.67 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 Rwanda?
Botswana has the higher GDP per person (PPP): $20,698 intl. (2025) compared with $4,164 intl. for Rwanda (2025). Source: World Bank, NY.GDP.PCAP.PP.CD.
Where do people live longer, in Botswana or Rwanda?
Botswana has the higher life expectancy at birth: 69.3 years (2024) compared with 68.0 years for Rwanda (2024). Source: World Bank, SP.DYN.LE00.IN.
Which spends more on the military, Botswana or Rwanda?
Botswana spends more on the military: $614.4 m (2025) compared with $191.2 m for Rwanda (2025). Source: World Bank, MS.MIL.XPND.CD.
Which ranks higher in the NationsTree Index, Botswana or Rwanda?
Botswana: 38.8 points (133rd in the world); Rwanda: 34.3 points (149th). The index combines foundations, economic strength, quality of life, problems and 5-year direction from public statistics.
Congo
Gabon
Mozambique
Chad
Madagascar
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 Rwanda — country comparison. https://nationstree.org/compare/botswana-vs-rwanda. Data as of 26 October 2026.