Skip to content

Botswana vs Ghana statistics compared

Updated on by Georank team

Botswana has a population of 2.52M (ranked 142/197), compared with 34.4M in Ghana (ranked 47/197). Botswana's land area is 218,816 sq mi versus 87,851 sq mi for Ghana (ranked 47th vs. 81st).

By GDP, Botswana ranks 133/197 ($19.4B) and Ghana ranks 80/197 ($82.3B). By GDP per capita, Botswana ranks 97/197 ($7,696), while Ghana ranks 151/197 ($2,391).

Main facts and rankings

Botswana Ghana
Population
2615162
35885254
Population rank 142/197 46/197
GDP
$19.4B
2024
$82.3B
2024
GDP rank 133/197 80/197
GDP per capita
$7,696
2024
$2,391
2024
GDP per capita rank 97/197 151/197
GDP per capita, PPP
$20,538
2024
$8,020
2024
Government debt
$5.82B
2024
$57.9B
2024
Debt-to-GDP ratio
30%
2024
70.3%
2024
Government debt per person
$2,310
2024
$1,682
2024
Government debt per person rank 114/185 123/185
Average annual personal income after taxes
$5,271
2026
$2,110
2026
Land area 218,816 sq mi 87,851 sq mi
Population density
11.9 ppl/mi²
2026
407 ppl/mi²
2026
Fertility rate
2.73
2023
3.4
2023
Median age
24.2 years
2024
22.2 years
2024
Life expectancy
69.6 years
2026
66.1 years
2026

Botswana and Ghana: Comparison Charts

Botswana and Ghana economies compared

GDP
Botswana

Ghana
1x
Year GDP
Botswana Ghana
2024 $19,402,063,513 $82,308,110,386
2023 $19,411,266,967 $80,547,146,878
2022 $20,321,150,599 $73,919,003,210
2021 $18,750,182,236 $79,514,204,730
2020 $14,960,251,608 $70,008,243,860
2019 $16,725,908,149 $68,352,629,246
2018 $17,031,943,186 $67,259,353,966
2017 $16,105,155,857 $60,385,409,435
2016 $15,082,637,184 $56,144,179,398
2015 $13,530,748,845 $49,436,806,230
2014 $15,470,088,501 $54,678,533,806
2013 $14,271,738,933 $62,845,721,960
2012 $13,907,464,500 $41,271,701,061
2011 $15,110,643,612 $39,336,668,081
2010 $12,637,273,429 $32,197,655,567
2009 $10,118,459,242 $26,048,720,006
2008 $10,730,829,116 $28,679,383,241
2007 $10,567,270,656 $24,827,339,138
2006 $9,919,158,482 $20,885,037,597
2005 $9,918,907,108 $10,744,568,381
2004 $8,957,467,707 $8,881,417,907
2003 $7,511,582,173 $7,632,723,556
2002 $5,438,863,983 $6,166,197,848
2001 $5,489,608,300 $5,314,872,854
2000 $5,788,329,609 $4,982,850,662
1999 $5,484,263,347 $7,718,109,982
1998 $4,790,481,509 $7,482,069,162
1997 $5,020,265,627 $6,891,443,192
1996 $4,847,757,218 $6,932,991,739
1995 $4,730,599,122 $6,464,382,808
1994 $4,259,259,604 $5,446,383,727
1993 $4,160,129,175 $5,968,922,939
1992 $4,146,464,587 $6,416,103,926
1991 $3,942,876,703 $6,603,185,268
1990 $3,790,636,324 $5,889,106,573
1989 $3,083,822,112 $5,251,858,440
1988 $2,644,554,159 $5,197,765,032
1987 $1,965,226,890 $5,074,829,932
1986 $1,392,602,164 $5,735,677,434
1985 $1,114,783,343 $4,504,306,723
1984 $1,240,822,167 $4,412,279,843
1983 $1,172,230,397 $4,057,275,132
1982 $1,014,945,696 $4,035,994,398
1981 $1,073,812,830 $4,222,441,860
1980 $1,060,889,704 $4,445,228,216
1979 $819,870,259 $4,020,227,920
1978 $590,407,374 $3,662,478,185
1977 $451,624,780 $3,189,428,571
1976 $372,025,093 $2,765,254,237
1975 $355,168,572 $2,810,106,383
1974 $306,044,208 $2,894,409,938
1973 $244,124,164 $3,006,766,758
1972 $164,460,915 $2,112,293,280
1971 $127,448,614 $2,417,108,578
1970 $96,243,234 $2,215,028,588
1969 $77,361,547 $1,962,050,556
1968 $66,248,441 $1,666,909,518
1967 $58,642,354 $1,747,187,645
1966 $51,465,655 $2,126,300,672
1965 $45,788,696 $2,053,462,968
1964 $41,616,348 $1,731,296,200
1963 $38,091,843 $1,540,797,589
1962 $35,644,957 $1,382,515,654
1961 $32,902,613 $1,302,674,325
1960 $30,411,414 $1,217,230,095

Data sources: World Bank | Economy & Growth (1960–2024, retrieved 2026-04-06).

GeoRank.org/facts/botswana/ghana | CC BY

Botswana and Ghana economies compared

GDP per capita
Botswana

Ghana
1x
Year GDP per capita
Botswana Ghana
2024 $7,696 $2,391
2023 $7,826 $2,384
2022 $8,329 $2,230
2021 $7,808 $2,445
2020 $6,323 $2,195
2019 $7,172 $2,187
2018 $7,408 $2,195
2017 $7,105 $2,012
2016 $6,749 $1,912
2015 $6,141 $1,723
2014 $7,122 $1,950
2013 $6,667 $2,295
2012 $6,596 $1,544
2011 $7,287 $1,507
2010 $6,216 $1,264
2009 $5,083 $1,048
2008 $5,503 $1,183
2007 $5,529 $1,050
2006 $5,292 $906
2005 $5,391 $479
2004 $4,957 $406
2003 $4,230 $358
2002 $3,117 $297.5
2001 $3,206 $263.5
2000 $3,451 $253.7
1999 $3,340 $403
1998 $2,981 $400
1997 $3,194 $378
1996 $3,156 $389
1995 $3,156 $372
1994 $2,917 $321
1993 $2,929 $360
1992 $3,005 $396
1991 $2,939 $418
1990 $2,903 $383
1989 $2,428 $350
1988 $2,141 $355
1987 $1,639 $355
1986 $1,200 $411
1985 $994 $330
1984 $1,145 $330
1983 $1,121 $311
1982 $1,006 $319
1981 $1,107 $344
1980 $1,132 $372
1979 $909 $347
1978 $695 $326
1977 $565 $292.3
1976 $490 $261
1975 $493 $273
1974 $446 $289.4
1973 $374 $310
1972 $264.2 $223.8
1971 $212.2 $263.4
1970 $163 $248.2
1969 $131.8 $225.8
1968 $113.4 $196.7
1967 $100.9 $211.2
1966 $89.1 $263.3
1965 $79.7 $260.5
1964 $73.5 $225
1963 $68.9 $205
1962 $66 $188.4
1961 $62.3 $181.9
1960 $58.9 $174.9

Data sources: World Bank | Economy & Growth (1960–2024, retrieved 2026-04-06).

GeoRank.org/facts/botswana/ghana | CC BY

Botswana vs. Ghana life expectancy calculator

Life expectancy
Botswana

Ghana
1x
Year Life expectancy, years
Botswana Ghana
2026 69.6 66.1
2025 69.4 65.9
2024 69.3 65.7
2023 69.2 65.5
2022 68.7 65.2
2021 63.3 64.3
2020 67.6 64.3
2019 67.2 64.5
2018 66.4 64.1
2017 65.4 63.8
2016 64.3 63.5
2015 63.2 63.2
2014 62.2 62.8
2013 61.2 62.4
2012 60.4 62
2011 59.7 61.6
2010 59.1 61.3
2009 58.3 60.9
2008 57.7 60.6
2007 56.7 60.3
2006 55.1 60
2005 54.4 59.6
2004 53.6 59.3
2003 52.9 59
2002 52.4 58.7
2001 52.2 58.4
2000 52.3 58.1
1999 52.5 57.8
1998 53 57.5
1997 53.6 57.2
1996 54.3 57
1995 54.7 56.7
1994 56 56.2
1993 57.3 56.3
1992 58.2 56.1
1991 58.9 55.7
1990 60.1 55.4
1989 61.2 54.9
1988 61.7 54.4
1987 62.8 53.8
1986 63.4 53.3
1985 63.6 52.7
1984 63.7 52.2
1983 63.6 51.8
1982 63.4 51.4
1981 63 51.3
1980 62.5 51.1
1979 62 50.8
1978 61.5 50.5
1977 60.9 50.1
1976 60.2 49.7
1975 59.5 49.3
1974 58.9 48.9
1973 58.3 48.6
1972 57.7 48.3
1971 57.1 47.9
1970 56.4 47.9
1969 55.9 47.9
1968 55.4 47.8
1967 54.9 47.7
1966 54.4 47.7
1965 53.9 47.7
1964 53.4 47.6
1963 52.8 47.5
1962 52.3 47.3
1961 51.8 47.1
1960 51.2 46.9
1959 50.7 46.7
1958 50.1 46.4
1957 49.5 46.1
1956 49 45.7
1955 48.5 45.4
1954 48 45
1953 47.5 44.5
1952 47 44
1951 46.6 43.6
1950 46.2 43.1

Data sources: United Nations | World Population Prospects (1950–2026, retrieved 2026-03-10).

GeoRank.org/facts/botswana/ghana | CC BY

Botswana and Ghana population clocks and comparison

Population
Botswana

Ghana
1x
Year Population
Botswana Ghana
2024 2,521,139 34,427,414
2023 2,480,244 33,787,914
2022 2,439,892 33,149,152
2021 2,401,441 32,518,665
2020 2,365,894 31,887,809
2019 2,332,083 31,258,945
2018 2,299,141 30,637,585
2017 2,266,747 30,008,354
2016 2,234,776 29,356,742
2015 2,203,273 28,696,068
2014 2,172,044 28,041,592
2013 2,140,682 27,386,193
2012 2,108,617 26,734,268
2011 2,073,535 26,095,088
2010 2,033,111 25,474,995
2009 1,990,673 24,862,664
2008 1,949,970 24,249,946
2007 1,911,201 23,642,279
2006 1,874,516 23,040,702
2005 1,839,877 22,449,438
2004 1,807,146 21,868,298
2003 1,775,736 21,296,705
2002 1,744,763 20,729,388
2001 1,712,254 20,167,069
2000 1,677,382 19,637,087
1999 1,641,997 19,149,864
1998 1,606,899 18,688,036
1997 1,571,691 18,238,958
1996 1,535,914 17,810,181
1995 1,498,836 17,399,017
1994 1,460,023 16,993,190
1993 1,420,115 16,589,519
1992 1,380,033 16,184,855
1991 1,341,756 15,787,496
1990 1,305,696 15,394,648
1989 1,270,274 15,006,813
1988 1,235,476 14,636,568
1987 1,199,167 14,289,108
1986 1,160,650 13,965,217
1985 1,121,945 13,661,229
1984 1,083,660 13,370,590
1983 1,046,137 13,029,836
1982 1,009,269 12,643,819
1981 969,996 12,281,712
1980 937,485 11,941,448
1979 901,742 11,597,255
1978 849,239 11,248,450
1977 799,574 10,911,871
1976 758,508 10,594,913
1975 720,380 10,294,308
1974 685,448 10,000,523
1973 652,408 9,714,617
1972 622,407 9,438,187
1971 600,481 9,176,264
1970 590,334 8,925,813
1969 587,066 8,690,383
1968 583,966 8,475,729
1967 580,933 8,271,913
1966 577,866 8,074,521
1965 574,664 7,882,606
1964 566,266 7,695,739
1963 552,966 7,514,714
1962 540,186 7,337,375
1961 527,942 7,162,667
1960 516,165 6,961,215

Data sources: World Bank | Health (1960–2024, retrieved 2026-04-06).

GeoRank.org/facts/botswana/ghana | CC BY

Fertility rates in Botswana and Ghana

Fertility rate
Botswana

Ghana
1x
Year Fertility rate
Botswana Ghana
2023 2.73 3.4
2022 2.79 3.43
2021 2.83 3.49
2020 2.86 3.54
2019 2.91 3.59
2018 2.94 3.65
2017 2.97 3.72
2016 2.99 3.87
2015 3.01 3.98
2014 3.03 4.03
2013 3.05 4.11
2012 3.07 4.15
2011 3.1 4.18
2010 3.14 4.18
2009 3.13 4.18
2008 3.13 4.22
2007 3.13 4.29
2006 3.11 4.4
2005 3.08 4.5
2004 3.06 4.5
2003 3.11 4.6
2002 3.18 4.69
2001 3.25 4.77
2000 3.29 4.83
1999 3.31 4.82
1998 3.36 4.83
1997 3.43 4.88
1996 3.57 4.96
1995 3.79 5.11
1994 4.02 5.25
1993 4.15 5.41
1992 4.26 5.52
1991 4.37 5.63
1990 4.51 5.74
1989 4.67 5.82
1988 4.88 5.92
1987 5.1 6.02
1986 5.33 6.08
1985 5.48 6.12
1984 5.63 6.15
1983 5.79 6.23
1982 5.97 6.31
1981 6.16 6.42
1980 6.29 6.47
1979 6.4 6.51
1978 6.48 6.56
1977 6.54 6.64
1976 6.6 6.7
1975 6.61 6.76
1974 6.61 6.82
1973 6.59 6.87
1972 6.56 6.92
1971 6.54 6.95
1970 6.55 6.95
1969 6.56 6.95
1968 6.58 6.89
1967 6.6 6.89
1966 6.61 6.86
1965 6.6 6.88
1964 6.61 6.9
1963 6.58 6.94
1962 6.54 6.94
1961 6.56 6.91
1960 6.6 6.89

Data sources: World Bank | Health (1960–2023, retrieved 2026-04-06).

GeoRank.org/facts/botswana/ghana | CC BY

Botswana and Ghana demographics compared

Median age
Botswana

Ghana
1x
Year Median age, years
Botswana Ghana
2024 24.2 22.2
2023 23.9 22
2022 23.6 21.8
2021 23.4 21.7
2020 23.3 21.5
2019 23.1 21.3
2018 22.9 21.2
2017 22.8 21
2016 22.7 20.9
2015 22.7 20.8
2014 22.7 20.7
2013 22.7 20.6
2012 22.8 20.5
2011 22.7 20.3
2010 22.5 20.2
2009 22.2 20
2008 22 19.9
2007 21.7 19.7
2006 21.5 19.5
2005 21.2 19.3
2004 20.9 19.1
2003 20.6 19
2002 20.3 18.8
2001 20 18.6
2000 19.7 18.4
1999 19.4 18.3
1998 19.1 18.1
1997 18.8 17.9
1996 18.6 17.7
1995 18.3 17.6
1994 18 17.5
1993 17.8 17.4
1992 17.6 17.3
1991 17.4 17.2
1990 17.3 17.2
1989 17.1 17.1
1988 17 17.1
1987 16.9 17.1
1986 16.9 17.1
1985 16.8 17.1
1984 16.8 17.1
1983 16.8 17
1982 16.8 16.9
1981 16.8 16.7
1980 16.8 16.7
1979 16.9 16.5
1978 16.6 16.4
1977 16.4 16.2
1976 16.2 16
1975 16 15.9
1974 15.8 15.8
1973 15.6 15.8
1972 15.4 15.8
1971 15.3 15.9
1970 15.4 15.9
1969 15.6 16
1968 15.7 16.1
1967 15.9 16.2
1966 16.2 16.4
1965 16.4 16.5
1964 16.6 16.7
1963 16.8 16.9
1962 17.1 17.2
1961 17.4 17.4
1960 17.7 17.7

Data sources: World Bank | Health (1960–2024, retrieved 2026-04-06).

GeoRank.org/facts/botswana/ghana | CC BY

Interactive Maps

Use the buttons below to switch between world maps comparing statistics for Botswana and Ghana.

1x
1x
1x
1x
1x
1x
1x

National statistics comparison

Finance

Botswana Ghana
GNI, Atlas method
$19.5B
2024
$79.5B
2024
Government expenditure, % of GDP
33.8%
2024
23.2%
2024
Education expenditure, % of GDP
8.06%
2020
2.91%
2022
Military expenditure, % of GDP
2.83%
2024
0.38%
2024
Armed forces personnel
9,000
2020
16,000
2020
Deficit/surplus, % of GDP
-7.82%
2024
-7.31%
2024
Unemployment rate
24.4%
2024
2.87%
2022
Services, % of GDP
63.5%
2024
40.9%
2024
Industry, % of GDP
29.4%
2024
31.5%
2024
Economic freedom index
67.7
2026
57.3
2026
Income share by richest 10%
42.9%
2015
32.2%
2016
Income share by poorest 10%
1.4%
2015
1.6%
2016
Listed domestic companies
23
2023
30
2024
Market capitalization of domestic companies
$3.59B
2023
$7.58B
2024
Total reserves including gold
$3.46B
2024
$3.62B
2023
Personal remittances received
$128M
2024
$3.03B
2024
International tourist arrivals
1,830,000
2018
897,000
2015
International tourism as share of exports
4.56%
2020
0.87%
2020
Banked people share
61.4%
2024
81.2%
2024

Energy

Botswana Ghana
Energy use, kg of oil equivalent per capita
1,165 kg
2022
359 kg
2022
GDP PPP per kg equivalent of energy use
$17.1
2022
$20.1
2022
Carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions
6.9 megatons
2024
24.2 megatons
2024
CO2 emissions per capita
2.74 tons
2024
0.7 tons
2024
Fossil fuel energy use share
66.7%
2022
62%
2022
Renewable energy use share
27.4%
2021
39%
2021
Alternative and nuclear energy use share
0.08%
2022
6.03%
2022
Net energy imports use share
23.7%
2022
-22.4%
2022
Electric power consumption per capita
1,522 kWh
2022
553 kWh
2022
Renewable electricity output share
0.25%
2021
34.9%
2021
Hydroelectric share
0%
2021
35.4%
2022
Nuclear share
0%
2021
0%
2021
Electricity access
76%
2023
89.5%
2023

Society

Botswana Ghana
% of world population
0.03%
2024
0.42%
2024
Annual migration change
-5,665
2025
-17,079
2025
Urban population
67.5%
2024
58.4%
2024
Male:Female ratio
49.8:50.2
2024
49.9:50.1
2024
Average male height
5.68 ft
2025
5.59 ft
2025
Average female height
5.32 ft
2025
5.21 ft
2025
Quality of life index
50.1
2026
41.8
2026
Corruption Perceptions Index
58
2025
43
2025
Higher education index
52
2026
65
2026
Homicides per 100K people
10.5
2021
1.81
2022
Road traffic mortality per 100K people
26.4
2019
25.7
2019
Visa free countries
83
2025
75
2025
Adult literacy rate
86.8%
2013
76.5%
2021
English speaking
38.4%
2023
66.7%
2023
People using the Internet
81.4%
2023
69.9%
2023

Health

Botswana Ghana
Government health expenditure per capita
$490
2023
$70.3
2023
Out-of-pocket health expenditure per capita
$20.9
2023
$18.7
2023
Life expectancy
69.6 years
2026
66.1 years
2026
Foreign aid share of health expenditure
6.53%
2023
8.53%
2023
Physicians per 1,000 people
0.38
2023
0.27
2023
Age at first childbirth
19 years
2017
22.1 years
2025
Maternal mortality per 100K births
155
2023
234
2023
Mortality rate before reaching 5 years of age
39.6
2023
37.1
2023
Obesity rate
18.6%
2022
13.3%
2022
Diabetes prevalence
4.6%
2024
2.7%
2024
Air quality index
39
2026
21
2026
Tobacco use prevalence
18.7%
2022
3.4%
2022
Pure alcohol consumption per capita
7.27 liters
2020
4.26 liters
2020

Territory

Botswana Ghana
% of world land
0.38%
2026
0.15%
2026
Land area per capita
86,792 sq mi
2024
2,552 sq mi
2024
Agricultural land area
99,854 sq mi
2026
48,663 sq mi
2026
Forest area
57,528 sq mi
2026
30,917 sq mi
2026
Roads length
19,727 mi
2017
68,049 mi
2009

In-depth comparisons

Help us show the world through your eyes

Share a photo of your city and help others discover what it looks like to live there. Your contribution makes our data come alive.

Data sources:

  1. World Bank | Health (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-04-06)
  2. United Nations | World Population Prospects (1950–2026, retrieved 2026-03-10)
  3. U.S. Census Bureau (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-02-08)
  4. Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) (2000–2025, retrieved 2026-02-20)
  5. International Monetary Fund (IMF) | Fiscal Monitor (2024, retrieved 2026-02-20)
  6. LivingCost (2026, retrieved 2025-10-14)
  7. World Obesity Federation (2022, retrieved 2026-02-08)
  8. Passport Index (2025, retrieved 2026-02-08)
  9. Transparency International (2025, retrieved 2026-02-10)
  10. The Heritage Foundation | Economic Freedom Index (2026, retrieved 2026-03-09)
  11. EduRank (2026, retrieved 2025-10-13)

Creative Commons Attribution (CC BY) — you’re free to copy, share, remix, adapt, and use even commercially as long as you give appropriate credit and clearly indicate if you made changes. Other sources may be subject to different license terms.