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Botswana vs North Korea statistics compared

Updated on by Georank team

Botswana has a population of 2.52M (ranked 142/197), compared with 26.5M in North Korea (ranked 56/197). Botswana's land area is 218,816 sq mi versus 46,491 sq mi for North Korea (ranked 47th vs. 97th).

By GDP, Botswana ranks 133/197 ($19.4B) and North Korea ranks 106/197 ($34.9B). By GDP per capita, Botswana ranks 97/197 ($7,696), while North Korea ranks 168/197 ($1,319).

Main facts and rankings

Botswana North Korea
Population
2615162
26659144
Population rank 142/197 57/197
GDP
$19.4B
2024
$34.9B
2024
GDP rank 133/197 106/197
GDP per capita
$7,696
2024
$1,319
2024
GDP per capita rank 97/197 168/197
GDP per capita, PPP
$20,538
2024
$1,700
2015
Government debt
$5.82B
2024
n/a
Debt-to-GDP ratio
30%
2024
n/a
Government debt per person
$2,310
2024
n/a
Government debt per person rank 114/185 n/a
Average annual personal income after taxes
$5,271
2026
$1,426
2026
Land area 218,816 sq mi 46,491 sq mi
Population density
11.9 ppl/mi²
2026
573 ppl/mi²
2026
Fertility rate
2.73
2023
1.78
2023
Median age
24.2 years
2024
37.3 years
2024
Life expectancy
69.6 years
2026
74 years
2026

Botswana and North Korea: Comparison Charts

Botswana and North Korea economies compared

GDP
Botswana

North Korea
1x
Year GDP
Botswana North Korea
2024 $19,402,063,513 $34,943,120,000
2023 $19,411,266,967 $32,155,360,000
2022 $20,321,150,599 $28,971,360,000
2021 $18,750,182,236 $32,301,720,000
2020 $14,960,251,608 $27,728,240,000
2019 $16,725,908,149 $28,222,880,000
2018 $17,031,943,186 $28,536,400,000
2017 $16,105,155,857 $29,105,440,000
2016 $15,082,637,184 $28,882,640,000
2015 $13,530,748,845 $30,723,030,000
2014 $15,470,088,501 $30,554,460,000
2013 $14,271,738,933 $30,588,922,000
2012 $13,907,464,500 $29,890,710,000
2011 $15,110,643,612 $29,005,020,000
2010 $12,637,273,429 $25,995,513,000
2009 $10,118,459,242 $23,356,470,000
2008 $10,730,829,116 -
2007 $10,567,270,656 -
2006 $9,919,158,482 -
2005 $9,918,907,108 -
2004 $8,957,467,707 -
2003 $7,511,582,173 -
2002 $5,438,863,983 -
2001 $5,489,608,300 -
2000 $5,788,329,609 -
1999 $5,484,263,347 -
1998 $4,790,481,509 -
1997 $5,020,265,627 -
1996 $4,847,757,218 -
1995 $4,730,599,122 -
1994 $4,259,259,604 -
1993 $4,160,129,175 -
1992 $4,146,464,587 -
1991 $3,942,876,703 -
1990 $3,790,636,324 -
1989 $3,083,822,112 -
1988 $2,644,554,159 -
1987 $1,965,226,890 -
1986 $1,392,602,164 -
1985 $1,114,783,343 -
1984 $1,240,822,167 -
1983 $1,172,230,397 -
1982 $1,014,945,696 -
1981 $1,073,812,830 -
1980 $1,060,889,704 -
1979 $819,870,259 -
1978 $590,407,374 -
1977 $451,624,780 -
1976 $372,025,093 -
1975 $355,168,572 -
1974 $306,044,208 -
1973 $244,124,164 -
1972 $164,460,915 -
1971 $127,448,614 -
1970 $96,243,234 -
1969 $77,361,547 -
1968 $66,248,441 -
1967 $58,642,354 -
1966 $51,465,655 -
1965 $45,788,696 -
1964 $41,616,348 -
1963 $38,091,843 -
1962 $35,644,957 -
1961 $32,902,613 -
1960 $30,411,414 -

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

GeoRank.org/facts/botswana/north-korea | CC BY

Botswana and North Korea economies compared

GDP per capita
Botswana

North Korea
1x
Year GDP per capita
Botswana North Korea
2024 $7,696 $1,319
2023 $7,826 $1,217
2022 $8,329 $1,100
2021 $7,808 $1,231
2020 $6,323 $1,061
2019 $7,172 $1,084
2018 $7,408 $1,100
2017 $7,105 $1,127
2016 $6,749 $1,124
2015 $6,141 $1,201
2014 $7,122 $1,201
2013 $6,667 $1,208
2012 $6,596 $1,186
2011 $7,287 $1,156
2010 $6,216 $1,040
2009 $5,083 $939
2008 $5,503 -
2007 $5,529 -
2006 $5,292 -
2005 $5,391 -
2004 $4,957 -
2003 $4,230 -
2002 $3,117 -
2001 $3,206 -
2000 $3,451 -
1999 $3,340 -
1998 $2,981 -
1997 $3,194 -
1996 $3,156 -
1995 $3,156 -
1994 $2,917 -
1993 $2,929 -
1992 $3,005 -
1991 $2,939 -
1990 $2,903 -
1989 $2,428 -
1988 $2,141 -
1987 $1,639 -
1986 $1,200 -
1985 $994 -
1984 $1,145 -
1983 $1,121 -
1982 $1,006 -
1981 $1,107 -
1980 $1,132 -
1979 $909 -
1978 $695 -
1977 $565 -
1976 $490 -
1975 $493 -
1974 $446 -
1973 $374 -
1972 $264.2 -
1971 $212.2 -
1970 $163 -
1969 $131.8 -
1968 $113.4 -
1967 $100.9 -
1966 $89.1 -
1965 $79.7 -
1964 $73.5 -
1963 $68.9 -
1962 $66 -
1961 $62.3 -
1960 $58.9 -

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

GeoRank.org/facts/botswana/north-korea | CC BY

Botswana vs. North Korea life expectancy calculator

Life expectancy
Botswana

North Korea
1x
Year Life expectancy, years
Botswana North Korea
2026 69.6 74
2025 69.4 73.9
2024 69.3 73.7
2023 69.2 73.6
2022 68.7 73.6
2021 63.3 73.4
2020 67.6 72.8
2019 67.2 72.9
2018 66.4 73
2017 65.4 73
2016 64.3 73
2015 63.2 72.8
2014 62.2 72.5
2013 61.2 71.9
2012 60.4 71.3
2011 59.7 70.8
2010 59.1 70.2
2009 58.3 69.7
2008 57.7 69.3
2007 56.7 69
2006 55.1 69.1
2005 54.4 69.2
2004 53.6 69.3
2003 52.9 69.4
2002 52.4 60.9
2001 52.2 60.9
2000 52.3 60.9
1999 52.5 60.9
1998 53 60.9
1997 53.6 60.9
1996 54.3 60.8
1995 54.7 60.8
1994 56 70.5
1993 57.3 70.8
1992 58.2 71
1991 58.9 70.7
1990 60.1 70.5
1989 61.2 70.3
1988 61.7 70.1
1987 62.8 69.8
1986 63.4 69.5
1985 63.6 69.2
1984 63.7 68.9
1983 63.6 68.5
1982 63.4 68.1
1981 63 67.7
1980 62.5 67.2
1979 62 66.7
1978 61.5 66.3
1977 60.9 65.8
1976 60.2 65.3
1975 59.5 64.8
1974 58.9 64.3
1973 58.3 63.8
1972 57.7 63.3
1971 57.1 62.7
1970 56.4 62
1969 55.9 61.4
1968 55.4 60.8
1967 54.9 60.1
1966 54.4 59.4
1965 53.9 58.8
1964 53.4 58.2
1963 52.8 57.6
1962 52.3 57
1961 51.8 56.4
1960 51.2 55.8
1959 50.7 55.2
1958 50.1 54.5
1957 49.5 53.7
1956 49 52.8
1955 48.5 51.8
1954 48 50.6
1953 47.5 40.3
1952 47 32.8
1951 46.6 17.7
1950 46.2 14.2

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

GeoRank.org/facts/botswana/north-korea | CC BY

Botswana and North Korea population clocks and comparison

Population
Botswana

North Korea
1x
Year Population
Botswana North Korea
2024 2,521,139 26,498,823
2023 2,480,244 26,418,204
2022 2,439,892 26,328,845
2021 2,401,441 26,232,534
2020 2,365,894 26,136,312
2019 2,332,083 26,037,632
2018 2,299,141 25,931,147
2017 2,266,747 25,817,709
2016 2,234,776 25,698,326
2015 2,203,273 25,575,350
2014 2,172,044 25,451,262
2013 2,140,682 25,329,451
2012 2,108,617 25,211,728
2011 2,073,535 25,097,874
2010 2,033,111 24,987,258
2009 1,990,673 24,878,332
2008 1,949,970 24,764,618
2007 1,911,201 24,646,383
2006 1,874,516 24,524,507
2005 1,839,877 24,396,433
2004 1,807,146 24,254,943
2003 1,775,736 24,090,380
2002 1,744,763 23,943,973
2001 1,712,254 23,815,358
2000 1,677,382 23,665,910
1999 1,641,997 23,497,599
1998 1,606,899 23,311,564
1997 1,571,691 23,110,830
1996 1,535,914 22,895,746
1995 1,498,836 22,669,304
1994 1,460,023 22,393,975
1993 1,420,115 22,073,352
1992 1,380,033 21,750,911
1991 1,341,756 21,428,638
1990 1,305,696 21,112,137
1989 1,270,274 20,804,367
1988 1,235,476 20,503,161
1987 1,199,167 20,205,483
1986 1,160,650 19,910,855
1985 1,121,945 19,620,388
1984 1,083,660 19,335,043
1983 1,046,137 19,054,034
1982 1,009,269 18,776,357
1981 969,996 18,501,295
1980 937,485 18,236,786
1979 901,742 17,983,470
1978 849,239 17,735,995
1977 799,574 17,492,798
1976 758,508 17,243,450
1975 720,380 16,971,055
1974 685,448 16,673,121
1973 652,408 16,350,367
1972 622,407 15,975,069
1971 600,481 15,572,457
1970 590,334 15,172,775
1969 587,066 14,767,615
1968 583,966 14,365,596
1967 580,933 13,958,350
1966 577,866 13,569,094
1965 574,664 13,219,369
1964 566,266 12,889,770
1963 552,966 12,567,057
1962 540,186 12,262,882
1961 527,942 11,990,713
1960 516,165 11,722,953

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

GeoRank.org/facts/botswana/north-korea | CC BY

Fertility rates in Botswana and North Korea

Fertility rate
Botswana

North Korea
1x
Year Fertility rate
Botswana North Korea
2023 2.73 1.78
2022 2.79 1.8
2021 2.83 1.81
2020 2.86 1.82
2019 2.91 1.83
2018 2.94 1.83
2017 2.97 1.85
2016 2.99 1.86
2015 3.01 1.86
2014 3.03 1.87
2013 3.05 1.88
2012 3.07 1.88
2011 3.1 1.88
2010 3.14 1.89
2009 3.13 1.91
2008 3.13 1.97
2007 3.13 1.94
2006 3.11 1.94
2005 3.08 1.87
2004 3.06 1.9
2003 3.11 1.91
2002 3.18 1.92
2001 3.25 1.94
2000 3.29 1.94
1999 3.31 1.97
1998 3.36 1.99
1997 3.43 2.03
1996 3.57 2.09
1995 3.79 2.15
1994 4.02 2.18
1993 4.15 2.22
1992 4.26 2.29
1991 4.37 2.35
1990 4.51 2.39
1989 4.67 2.41
1988 4.88 2.47
1987 5.1 2.53
1986 5.33 2.59
1985 5.48 2.65
1984 5.63 2.71
1983 5.79 2.78
1982 5.97 2.85
1981 6.16 2.92
1980 6.29 2.84
1979 6.4 2.85
1978 6.48 2.79
1977 6.54 2.77
1976 6.6 2.84
1975 6.61 3.05
1974 6.61 3.14
1973 6.59 3.35
1972 6.56 3.89
1971 6.54 3.74
1970 6.55 3.85
1969 6.56 3.86
1968 6.58 3.87
1967 6.6 4.05
1966 6.61 3.71
1965 6.6 3.56
1964 6.61 3.55
1963 6.58 3.63
1962 6.54 3.41
1961 6.56 3.26
1960 6.6 3.57

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

GeoRank.org/facts/botswana/north-korea | CC BY

Botswana and North Korea demographics compared

Median age
Botswana

North Korea
1x
Year Median age, years
Botswana North Korea
2024 24.2 37.3
2023 23.9 37.1
2022 23.6 36.8
2021 23.4 36.6
2020 23.3 36.4
2019 23.1 36.2
2018 22.9 35.9
2017 22.8 35.7
2016 22.7 35.4
2015 22.7 35.2
2014 22.7 35
2013 22.7 34.7
2012 22.8 34.5
2011 22.7 34.3
2010 22.5 34
2009 22.2 33.7
2008 22 33.3
2007 21.7 32.9
2006 21.5 32.5
2005 21.2 32.1
2004 20.9 31.8
2003 20.6 31.4
2002 20.3 31
2001 20 30.5
2000 19.7 30.1
1999 19.4 29.6
1998 19.1 29.2
1997 18.8 28.8
1996 18.6 28.3
1995 18.3 28
1994 18 27.6
1993 17.8 27.2
1992 17.6 26.8
1991 17.4 26.4
1990 17.3 26
1989 17.1 25.6
1988 17 25.1
1987 16.9 24.8
1986 16.9 24.5
1985 16.8 24.2
1984 16.8 23.9
1983 16.8 23.5
1982 16.8 23.1
1981 16.8 22.8
1980 16.8 22.5
1979 16.9 22.2
1978 16.6 21.8
1977 16.4 21.4
1976 16.2 21.1
1975 16 20.9
1974 15.8 20.7
1973 15.6 20.7
1972 15.4 20.9
1971 15.3 21.2
1970 15.4 21.4
1969 15.6 21.4
1968 15.7 21.4
1967 15.9 21.4
1966 16.2 21.3
1965 16.4 21.2
1964 16.6 21
1963 16.8 20.8
1962 17.1 20.6
1961 17.4 20.2
1960 17.7 19.9

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

GeoRank.org/facts/botswana/north-korea | CC BY

Interactive Maps

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National statistics comparison

Finance

Botswana North Korea
GNI, Atlas method
$19.5B
2024
n/a
Government expenditure, % of GDP
33.8%
2024
n/a
Education expenditure, % of GDP
8.06%
2020
n/a
Military expenditure, % of GDP
2.83%
2024
n/a
Armed forces personnel
9,000
2020
1,469,000
2020
Deficit/surplus, % of GDP
-7.82%
2024
n/a
Unemployment rate
24.4%
2024
25.6%
2013
Services, % of GDP
63.5%
2024
n/a
Industry, % of GDP
29.4%
2024
n/a
Economic freedom index
67.7
2026
3.1
2026
Income share by richest 10%
42.9%
2015
n/a
Income share by poorest 10%
1.4%
2015
n/a
Listed domestic companies
23
2023
n/a
Market capitalization of domestic companies
$3.59B
2023
n/a
Total reserves including gold
$3.46B
2024
n/a
Personal remittances received
$128M
2024
n/a
International tourist arrivals
1,830,000
2018
n/a
International tourism as share of exports
4.56%
2020
n/a
Banked people share
61.4%
2024
n/a

Energy

Botswana North Korea
Energy use, kg of oil equivalent per capita
1,165 kg
2022
641 kg
2022
GDP PPP per kg equivalent of energy use
$17.1
2022
n/a
Carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions
6.9 megatons
2024
66.2 megatons
2024
CO2 emissions per capita
2.74 tons
2024
2.5 tons
2024
Fossil fuel energy use share
66.7%
2022
85.1%
2022
Renewable energy use share
27.4%
2021
14.7%
2021
Alternative and nuclear energy use share
0.08%
2022
8.5%
2022
Net energy imports use share
23.7%
2022
4.9%
2022
Electric power consumption per capita
1,522 kWh
2022
830 kWh
2022
Renewable electricity output share
0.25%
2021
63.2%
2021
Hydroelectric share
0%
2021
62.7%
2022
Nuclear share
0%
2021
0%
2021
Electricity access
76%
2023
57.5%
2023

Society

Botswana North Korea
% of world population
0.03%
2024
0.33%
2024
Annual migration change
-5,665
2025
-2,787
2025
Urban population
67.5%
2024
63.9%
2024
Male:Female ratio
49.8:50.2
2024
49.5:50.5
2024
Average male height
5.68 ft
2025
5.73 ft
2025
Average female height
5.32 ft
2025
5.29 ft
2025
Quality of life index
50.1
2026
10.1
2026
Corruption Perceptions Index
58
2025
15
2025
Higher education index
52
2026
10
2026
Homicides per 100K people
10.5
2021
4.4
2015
Road traffic mortality per 100K people
26.4
2019
24.2
2019
Visa free countries
83
2025
48
2025
Adult literacy rate
86.8%
2013
100%
2018
English speaking
38.4%
2023
0%
2025
People using the Internet
81.4%
2023
0%
2012

Health

Botswana North Korea
Government health expenditure per capita
$490
2023
n/a
Out-of-pocket health expenditure per capita
$20.9
2023
n/a
Life expectancy
69.6 years
2026
74 years
2026
Foreign aid share of health expenditure
6.53%
2023
n/a
Physicians per 1,000 people
0.38
2023
3.63
2017
Age at first childbirth
19 years
2017
n/a
Maternal mortality per 100K births
155
2023
67
2023
Mortality rate before reaching 5 years of age
39.6
2023
18
2023
Obesity rate
18.6%
2022
11.1%
2022
Diabetes prevalence
4.6%
2024
9.9%
2024
Air quality index
39
2026
42
2026
Tobacco use prevalence
18.7%
2022
16.5%
2022
Pure alcohol consumption per capita
7.27 liters
2020
3.87 liters
2020

Territory

Botswana North Korea
% of world land
0.38%
2026
0.08%
2026
Land area per capita
86,792 sq mi
2024
1,754 sq mi
2024
Agricultural land area
99,854 sq mi
2026
10,021 sq mi
2026
Forest area
57,528 sq mi
2026
23,036 sq mi
2026
Roads length
19,727 mi
2017
15,879 mi
2006

In-depth comparisons

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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) (2000–2019, 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)

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