Country profile

Botswana: Costs, Safety, Relocation and Quality of Life

Botswana is especially relevant in the Nomadino comparison when comparing everyday costs, housing and recurring expenses as well as safety, stability and risk exposure. The current data points to a solid overall picture; its strongest main categories are Costs and Safety & Risk, while Conflicts & Political Security, Vacation Costs and Personal Services stand out at topic level. Before making a decision, check infrastructure, mobility and digital usability as well as climate, leisure, nature and day-to-day lifestyle more closely, because the largest deductions come from Basic Infrastructure & Logistics, Food & Culinary Culture and Arts & Entertainment.

Overall rating 59.86 points
Global rank Rank 108 globally
Continental rank Rank 5 in Africa

View main country ranking

Decision areas

The following entry points link directly to detailed articles that are especially relevant for relocation, longer stays, daily life and travel planning.

Key questions about Botswana

Why is Botswana especially relevant in this comparison?

The profile is shaped mainly by everyday costs, housing and recurring expenses as well as safety, stability and risk exposure; its strongest main categories are Costs and Safety & Risk.

Which topics stand out positively for Botswana?

Conflicts & Political Security, Vacation Costs and Personal Services show the strongest topic-level results.

What should be checked before making a decision?

infrastructure, mobility and digital usability as well as climate, leisure, nature and day-to-day lifestyle deserve closer attention; the largest deductions come from Basic Infrastructure & Logistics, Food & Culinary Culture and Arts & Entertainment.

How important is lower-cost living and longer stays for Botswana?

The detailed articles below help check whether the rating fits residence, work, costs, healthcare, safety or travel.

Strengths and weaknesses

This section only shows categories, topic areas and indicators where Botswana ranks in the top three or bottom three globally or continentally and shares the same score with no more than two other countries. Global ranks take priority over continental ranks.

Strengths

Weaknesses

Comparisons and related countries

Botswana is especially useful to compare with United States, Portugal and Spain, because those countries sit closer to its overall rating profile. Denmark and Germany work as contrast comparisons when everyday costs, housing and recurring expenses as well as safety, stability and risk exposure need to be weighed against different priorities; infrastructure, mobility and digital usability as well as climate, leisure, nature and day-to-day lifestyle still deserve closer attention.

All ratings and indicators for Botswana

58 topic areas and 342 indicators are linked directly in the static HTML. Categories and topic areas are collapsed to keep the country profile easy to scan.

🛡️ Safety & Risk ShowHide

Safety & Crime

6 indicators

60
/ 100
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Homicide Rate
Rank 190 globally 72
Petty Crime Index
Rank 102 globally 59
Women's Safety
Rank 119 globally 57
Organized Crime
Rank 73 globally 59
Kidnapping Risk
Rank 86 globally 83
BAC Limit (‰)
Rank 204 globally 1
92
/ 100
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Active Conflicts & War Risk
Rank 7 globally 96
Political Violence
Rank 57 globally 85
Geopolitical Risk
Rank 65 globally 91
Terrorism Risk
Rank 1 globally 100

Natural Hazards

8 indicators

68
/ 100
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Flood Risk
Rank 74 globally 55
Storm Risk
Rank 2 globally 96
Earthquake Risk
Rank 58 globally 85
Drought Risk
Rank 197 globally 28
Wildfire Risk
Rank 220 globally 19
Landslide Risk
Rank 23 globally 84
Tsunami Risk
Rank 1 globally 100
Volcano Risk
Rank 1 globally 100

Privacy & Surveillance

6 indicators

71
/ 100
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State Surveillance
Rank 71 globally 73
Internet Censorship
Rank 68 globally 78
Internet Freedom
Rank 82 globally 71
Data Protection Laws
Rank 99 globally 56
VPN Access
Rank 77 globally 80
Cybercrime Risk
Rank 80 globally 66
63
/ 100
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Rule of Law
Rank 75 globally 63
Property Rights Security
Rank 82 globally 64
Corruption Perception
Rank 79 globally 58
Police Effectiveness
Rank 85 globally 67
Expropriation Risk
Rank 73 globally 68
Extradition Risk
Rank 45 globally 51

Long-Term Stability

4 indicators

61
/ 100
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Political Stability
Rank 62 globally 73
Economic Resilience
Rank 179 globally 50
Government Efficiency
Rank 79 globally 66
Climate Vulnerability
Rank 137 globally 52
❤️ Health ShowHide

Healthcare & Access

12 indicators

60
/ 100
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Healthcare Quality
Rank 158 globally 51
Universal Healthcare Coverage
Rank 81 globally 72
Emergency Care
Rank 140 globally 54
Medicine Access
Rank 98 globally 67
Hospital Infections & Patient Safety
Rank 122 globally 58
Health Insurance for Foreigners
Rank 136 globally 62
Out-of-Pocket Health Expenditure
Rank 7 globally 95
Doctor Density
Rank 180 globally 14
Hospital Beds
Rank 120 globally 40
Healthcare Coverage (%)
Rank 126 globally 88
Specialist Visit Cost
Rank 124 globally 54
English-Speaking Doctors
Rank 133 globally 48

Environmental Health

6 indicators

61
/ 100
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Fine Particulate Matter Exposure (PM2.5)
Rank 118 globally 69
Noise Pollution
Rank 66 globally 64
UV Radiation
Rank 87 globally 38
Tap Water Safety
Rank 151 globally 68
Sanitation
Rank 111 globally 72
Waste Management
Rank 128 globally 35
54
/ 100
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Life Expectancy
Rank 167 globally 55
Infectious Diseases
Rank 189 globally 43
Obesity Rate
Rank 80 globally 76
Infant Mortality (per 1,000)
Rank 185 globally 22
Mental Health
Rank 135 globally 60
Suicide Rate
Rank 155 globally 49
Maternal Mortality
Rank 179 globally 36
Vaccination Rate
Rank 75 globally 93
Alcohol & Tobacco Consumption
Rank 144 globally 57
Drug and Substance-Use Burden
Rank 102 globally 78
💸 Finance & Taxes ShowHide

Taxes & Finance

10 indicators

72
/ 100
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Effective Income Tax Rate (%)
Rank 80 globally 88
Top Income Tax Rate
Rank 75 globally 66
Social Security Burden
Rank 22 globally 96
VAT / GST Rate
Rank 94 globally 56
Capital Gains Tax
Rank 194 globally 47
Dividend Tax Rate
Rank 91 globally 79
Inheritance / Estate Tax
Rank 187 globally 85
Territorial Tax System
Rank 97 globally 25
Tax Filing Effort (hours/year)
Rank 82 globally 74
Double Taxation Agreements
Rank 105 globally 28
65
/ 100
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Capital Flow Freedom
Rank 62 globally 69
Capital Market Depth
Rank 96 globally 65
Business Credit Access
Rank 94 globally 64
Investor Protection
Rank 80 globally 63
Foreign Investment Openness
Rank 103 globally 60
Currency Convertibility & Transferability
Rank 67 globally 75
Venture Capital & Startup Financing
Rank 107 globally 58
Alternative Financing Access
Rank 102 globally 58

Banking & Fintech

8 indicators

68
/ 100
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Expat Banking Ease
Rank 100 globally 45
Banking Stability
Rank 111 globally 76
SWIFT / Wire Access
Rank 93 globally 82
Fintech Development
Rank 120 globally 58
ATM Availability
Rank 132 globally 71
Banking Secrecy Index
Rank 137 globally 46
Automatic Tax Information Exchange
Rank 15 globally 93
Cash Transaction Limit
Rank 1 globally 100

Bitcoin & Crypto

6 indicators

34
/ 100
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Crypto Adoption
Rank 106 globally 31
Crypto Regulation
Rank 114 globally 43
Legal Status
Rank 117 globally 46
Bitcoin Merchant Acceptance
Rank 105 globally 16
Crypto Tax Rate
Rank 157 globally 50
Bitcoin Cash Access
Rank 104 globally 11

Real Estate & Property

4 indicators

70
/ 100
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Foreigner Ownership Rights
Rank 107 globally 55
Transaction Costs
Rank 84 globally 75
Affordability
Rank 34 globally 80
Gross Rental Yield
Rank 50 globally 74
59
/ 100
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Corporate Tax Rate
Rank 86 globally 45
Cost to Start a Business
Rank 13 globally 94
Labor Market Flexibility
Rank 69 globally 61
Days to Register a Company
Rank 188 globally 35

Macroeconomics

9 indicators

71
/ 100
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GDP per Capita (PPP, USD)
Rank 110 globally 61
Inflation Rate (CPI, %)
Rank 100 globally 88
Public Debt (% of GDP)
Rank 21 globally 86
GDP Growth Rate (%)
Rank 223 globally 38
Economic Freedom Index
Rank 66 globally 65
Tax Burden (% of GDP)
Rank 24 globally 98
Central Bank Independence
Rank 68 globally 72
Foreign Exchange Reserves (months of imports)
Rank 90 globally 65
Current Account Balance (% of GDP)
Rank 150 globally 64
40
/ 100
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Avg. Monthly Net Salary ($/month)
Rank 110 globally 38
Purchasing Power Index
Rank 102 globally 40
Unemployment Rate (%)
Rank 222 globally 15
Wage Growth Rate (%)
Rank 221 globally 26
Salary-to-Rent Ratio
Rank 80 globally 72
Minimum Wage (USD/month)
Rank 162 globally 25
🏠 Costs ShowHide

Housing & Utilities

5 indicators

72
/ 100
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City Rent per Square Meter
Rank 79 globally 52
Rural Rent per Square Meter
Rank 84 globally 63
Electricity Cost
Rank 60 globally 86
Heating & Gas Cost
Rank 136 globally 94
Water & Sewage Cost
Rank 101 globally 95

Food & Basic Goods

7 indicators

77
/ 100
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Milk Price per Liter
Rank 53 globally 72
Bread Price per 500 Grams
Rank 80 globally 76
Egg Price for 12 Eggs
Rank 84 globally 68
Chicken Fillet Price per Kilogram
Rank 72 globally 77
Beef Round Price per Kilogram
Rank 36 globally 81
Vegetable Basket Price per Kilogram
Rank 63 globally 86
Water Price per Liter in Supermarket
Rank 86 globally 72

Dining & Going Out

9 indicators

82
/ 100
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Price of an Inexpensive Restaurant Meal
Rank 105 globally 73
Burger Menu Price
Rank 99 globally 88
Cappuccino (Café)
Rank 81 globally 83
Local Beer (Restaurant)
Rank 70 globally 87
Local Beer Price in a Market
Rank 72 globally 92
Imported Beer Price in a Market
Rank 81 globally 86
Cocktail (Bar)
Rank 88 globally 83
Mid-Range Wine Bottle Price
Rank 97 globally 71
Soft Drink Price in a Market
Rank 104 globally 87

Mobility Costs

7 indicators

76
/ 100
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Transit Cost
Rank 133 globally 87
Fuel Price ($/L)
Rank 80 globally 68
Car Rental ($/day)
Rank 86 globally 86
Car Insurance ($/yr)
Rank 98 globally 94
Car Purchase Index
Rank 109 globally 9
Driving License Cost ($)
Rank 82 globally 95
City Parking ($/hr)
Rank 69 globally 94
74
/ 100
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Internet Cost
Rank 108 globally 60
Mobile Plan Cost
Rank 65 globally 78
Prepaid SIM & Data Package Cost
Rank 61 globally 90
eSIM & Travel Data Cost
Rank 81 globally 91
Coworking Day Pass Cost
Rank 77 globally 69

Personal Services

4 indicators

85
/ 100
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Haircut Cost
Rank 98 globally 83
Fitness Club Monthly Fee
Rank 86 globally 88
Laundry & Dry Cleaning Cost
Rank 66 globally 90
Local Services Cost
Rank 101 globally 80
🏗️ Infrastructure ShowHide
23
/ 100
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Logistics Performance
Rank 99 globally 31
Rail Network Density
Rank 100 globally 15
Airport Connectivity
Rank 139 globally 31
Port Connectivity
Rank 182 globally 1
49
/ 100
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Road Quality
Rank 71 globally 58
Traffic Congestion
Rank 53 globally 68
Road Density
Rank 209 globally 40
Traffic Deaths
Rank 172 globally 49
EV Charging Infrastructure
Rank 130 globally 6

Electricity & Energy

6 indicators

57
/ 100
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Power Outages
Rank 141 globally 78
Electrification Rate
Rank 1 globally 100
Energy Self-Sufficiency
Rank 138 globally 30
Renewable Energy Share
Rank 195 globally 10
CO2 Intensity
Rank 229 globally 1
Nuclear Exposure
Rank 1 globally 100
34
/ 100
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Broadband Speed
Rank 135 globally 42
Fixed Broadband Subscriptions
Rank 148 globally 19
Mobile Speed
Rank 123 globally 51
5G Coverage
Rank 113 globally 10

Public Transport

4 indicators

34
/ 100
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Transit Coverage
Rank 145 globally 35
Transit Punctuality
Rank 142 globally 50
Cycling Infrastructure
Rank 154 globally 8
Walkability Score
Rank 181 globally 40
🌿 Lifestyle ShowHide

Work-Life Balance

5 indicators

45
/ 100
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Annual Working Hours
Rank 112 globally 52
Paid Vacation Days
Rank 129 globally 50
Happiness Index (UN)
Rank 207 globally 40
Burnout Risk
Rank 135 globally 45
Public Holidays
Rank 193 globally 40

Climate & Weather

6 indicators

78
/ 100
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Temperature Comfort
Rank 134 globally 58
Sunshine Hours
Rank 1 globally 100
Humidity Comfort
Rank 62 globally 85
Rainy Days
Rank 38 globally 82
Extreme Heat Days
Rank 185 globally 78
Seasonal Variation
Rank 135 globally 69

Outdoor & Lifestyle

5 indicators

43
/ 100
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Beach Quality
Rank 189 globally 0
Mountain Access
Rank 193 globally 10
Protected Land Area (%)
Rank 52 globally 92
Biodiversity Index
Rank 70 globally 72
Forest Cover
Rank 124 globally 35

Leisure & Recreation

4 indicators

46
/ 100
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Sports & Fitness Facilities
Rank 145 globally 31
Urban Green Space Access
Rank 99 globally 63
Leisure Infrastructure
Rank 154 globally 29
Recovery Time
Rank 178 globally 58

Arts & Entertainment

6 indicators

32
/ 100
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Museums per 100,000 People
Rank 143 globally 25
UNESCO World Heritage Sites
Rank 110 globally 16
Music & Nightlife
Rank 161 globally 30
Cinema Density
Rank 108 globally 18
Cultural Freedom
Rank 107 globally 55
Football and Stadium Culture
Rank 163 globally 56
25
/ 100
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Cuisine Diversity
Rank 193 globally 21
Restaurant Density
Rank 188 globally 24
Street Food Scene
Rank 195 globally 21
Local Market Quality
Rank 173 globally 30
Café Culture
Rank 174 globally 21
Local Freshness
Rank 167 globally 35
Local Authenticity
Rank 207 globally 21

Family-Friendly

7 indicators

45
/ 100
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Childcare Cost ($/month)
Rank 111 globally 92
Paid Parental Leave (weeks)
Rank 80 globally 35
Child Benefit ($/month)
Rank 157 globally 19
Child Poverty Rate (%)
Rank 166 globally 60
Child Safety Score
Rank 137 globally 55
Childcare Coverage (%)
Rank 115 globally 18
Playground Density
Rank 140 globally 38

Pet-Friendly

7 indicators

49
/ 100
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Pet Entry Rules
Rank 105 globally 50
Veterinary Quality
Rank 145 globally 40
Vet Cost Affordability
Rank 111 globally 60
Pet Food Prices
Rank 119 globally 55
Animal Welfare Laws
Rank 109 globally 40
Pet-Friendly Housing
Rank 105 globally 50
Outdoor Pet Access
Rank 118 globally 50
✈️ Relocation & Residency ShowHide
62
/ 100
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Residence Permit Ease
Rank 102 globally 72
E-Government
Rank 151 globally 58
Visa Processing Time
Rank 27 globally 70
Local Registration Requirements
Rank 106 globally 63
Foreign Document & Qualification Recognition
Rank 125 globally 58
Household Goods & Customs
Rank 117 globally 44
International Licence Compatibility
Rank 134 globally 55
55
/ 100
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Visa-Free Tourist Stay Days
Rank 129 globally 35
Visa Application Ease
Rank 132 globally 61
Border Openness
Rank 132 globally 56
Travel & Entry Comfort
Rank 141 globally 49
Visa Income & Asset Requirements
Rank 146 globally 86
49
/ 100
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Digital Nomad Visa
Rank 134 globally 37
Remote Work Legality
Rank 123 globally 54
Freelance Legal Framework
Rank 84 globally 71
Remote Job Market
Rank 115 globally 60
Coworking Density
Rank 147 globally 33
Nomad Community
Rank 148 globally 30
Avg. Remote Salary (USD)
Rank 110 globally 54
63
/ 100
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Work Rights for Foreigners
Rank 106 globally 63
Work Permit Access for Foreigners
Rank 102 globally 66
Local Self-Employment and Freelancing Rights
Rank 95 globally 64
Employment Restrictions for Foreigners
Rank 100 globally 62
Professional Qualification Recognition
Rank 124 globally 56
Business Ownership by Foreigners
Rank 98 globally 69
58
/ 100
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Time to Permanent Residency or Citizenship
Rank 78 globally 64
Family Reunification
Rank 107 globally 67
Naturalization Requirements
Rank 113 globally 64
Residence Status Stability
Rank 91 globally 71
Residence Status for Spouses and Children
Rank 100 globally 64
Passport Power (Henley Index)
Rank 140 globally 34
Dual Citizenship Allowed
Rank 183 globally 50
Citizenship by Investment
Rank 13 globally 0

Language & Integration

7 indicators

61
/ 100
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English Proficiency (EF EPI)
Rank 66 globally 67
Local Language Barrier
Rank 66 globally 67
Integration Ease
Rank 84 globally 69
Cultural Etiquette Gap
Rank 85 globally 67
Expat Community Size
Rank 117 globally 37
Cultural Distance to West
Rank 74 globally 69
International Schools
Rank 128 globally 42
62
/ 100
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Expat Welcome Culture
Rank 86 globally 67
Foreigner Discrimination
Rank 81 globally 58
Xenophobia Levels
Rank 95 globally 62
Racial Safety for Foreigners
Rank 81 globally 61
60
/ 100
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Rental Access for Foreigners
Rank 98 globally 61
Tax Residency Clarity for Expats
Rank 49 globally 61
Local Contracts and Utilities Access
Rank 102 globally 59
Local Identity and Address Proof
Rank 112 globally 56
Everyday Accounts and Payments for Foreigners
Rank 93 globally 65
🏖️ Travel & Vacation ShowHide
50
/ 100
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Hotel Quality
Rank 143 globally 49
Vacation Rental Quality
Rank 122 globally 56
Accommodation Availability
Rank 173 globally 34
Booking & Transparency
Rank 119 globally 59

Tourism Infrastructure

4 indicators

56
/ 100
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Airport-to-Destination Transfer
Rank 147 globally 40
Digital Travel Services
Rank 131 globally 54
Traveler Payment Infrastructure
Rank 109 globally 69
Tourist Information Quality
Rank 125 globally 62
45
/ 100
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Major Attractions Density
Rank 157 globally 36
Guided Tours & Bookable Experiences
Rank 144 globally 53
Tourist Outdoor Activities
Rank 172 globally 51
Nightlife & Entertainment for Visitors
Rank 161 globally 40
42
/ 100
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Tourist Beach Quality
Rank 208 globally 25
Swimming & Water Sports
Rank 199 globally 36
National Parks & Nature Access
Rank 104 globally 65

Vacation Costs

5 indicators

89
/ 100
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Hotel Cost
Rank 75 globally 90
Vacation Rental Cost
Rank 80 globally 90
Attraction Entry Cost
Rank 89 globally 88
Tour & Activity Cost
Rank 82 globally 89
Tourist Taxes & Fees
Rank 1 globally 88
76
/ 100
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High-Season Overcrowding
Rank 44 globally 90
Off-Season Usability
Rank 142 globally 65
Seasonal Capacity Shortage
Rank 145 globally 60
Seasonal Price Surcharges
Rank 22 globally 88
🌐 Society & Participation ShowHide

Society & Freedom

4 indicators

68
/ 100
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Press Freedom
Rank 121 globally 55
Democracy Index
Rank 83 globally 70
Personal Freedom
Rank 84 globally 70
Freedom of Political Expression
Rank 96 globally 71

Education & Knowledge

5 indicators

61
/ 100
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Adult Literacy Rate
Rank 158 globally 89
PISA Score
Rank 148 globally 28
Tertiary Enrollment Rate
Rank 158 globally 25
Education Expenditure
Rank 1 globally 100
School Life Expectancy
Rank 145 globally 65
41
/ 100
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Pension Replacement Rate (%)
Rank 74 globally 33
Unemployment Benefit Duration (months)
Rank 95 globally 25
Social Spending (% of GDP)
Rank 96 globally 33
Gini Index
Rank 165 globally 43
Poverty Rate (%)
Rank 99 globally 45
Housing Support Score
Rank 114 globally 40
Social Mobility Score
Rank 136 globally 41
Social Cohesion
Rank 88 globally 61
62
/ 100
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Gender Equality
Rank 80 globally 65
Women’s Rights & Equality
Rank 83 globally 63
Anti-Discrimination Protection
Rank 77 globally 60
Minority Rights Protection
Rank 83 globally 58
Everyday Discrimination Risk
Rank 83 globally 59

LGBTQ+ Friendliness

5 indicators

45
/ 100
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Same-Sex Legal Status
Rank 92 globally 41
LGBTQ+ Anti-Discrimination
Rank 89 globally 48
LGBTQ+ Social Acceptance
Rank 96 globally 50
LGBTQ+ Rights
Rank 90 globally 47
Pride Culture
Rank 103 globally 36
50
/ 100
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Disability Support Score
Rank 99 globally 52
Public Accessibility
Rank 115 globally 48
Digital Accessibility
Rank 122 globally 48
Inclusion in Education and Work
Rank 127 globally 51

Religion & Worldviews

4 indicators

65
/ 100
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Religious Freedom Index
Rank 91 globally 80
Secularization Score
Rank 91 globally 47
Religious Diversity Index
Rank 71 globally 42
Religious Influence in Public Life
Rank 81 globally 70

Demography

10 indicators

68
/ 100
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Median Age
Rank 61 globally 78
Fertility Rate
Rank 59 globally 88
Population Growth
Rank 55 globally 56
Net Migration Rate
Rank 78 globally 53
Urbanization Rate
Rank 90 globally 67
Foreign Population Share
Rank 104 globally 45
Population Density
Rank 8 globally 92
Gender Ratio (F/100 M)
Rank 48 globally 60
Youth Gender Ratio (15-29)
Rank 22 globally 91
Single-Person Households
Rank 91 globally 37