Botswana vs New Zealand

Botswana is 2.17 times larger than New Zealand. New Zealand would fit into Botswana about 2.2 times.

BotswanaNew ZealandBotswana moved onto New Zealand · Equal-area projection
2.17×
Botswana is 2.17× the area of New Zealand.
BotswanaNew Zealand
Area581,737 km²268,021 km²
Population2,562,1225,324,700
Density4.4 / km²20 / km²
CapitalGaboroneWellington
RegionSouthern AfricaAustralia and New Zealand
CoastlineLandlockedHas a coast
Neighbours30

Why the map you grew up with disagrees

On a Mercator map, area grows with distance from the equator. Botswana sits at about 22°S and is stretched to 1.17× its true area; New Zealand at 42° S is stretched to 1.79×. That difference is why New Zealand looks so much bigger than it is next to Botswana. The figure above uses the Equal Earth projection, where every square kilometre is drawn the same size.

Questions about this pair

Is Botswana bigger than New Zealand?
Yes. Botswana is 2.17 times larger than New Zealand. Botswana covers 581,737 km² and New Zealand covers 268,021 km².
How many times does New Zealand fit into Botswana?
About 2.2 times: Botswana has 2.17× the area of New Zealand.
Why do Botswana and New Zealand look different on Google Maps?
Web maps use the Mercator projection, which stretches area with distance from the equator. Botswana is drawn about 1.17× its true area there and New Zealand about 1.79×. That is why New Zealand looks so much bigger than it really is next to Botswana. Kartavera uses Equal Earth, where every square kilometre is drawn the same size.
Which has more people, Botswana or New Zealand?
New Zealand: 5,324,700 people against 2,562,122. Density: Botswana 4.4 per km², New Zealand 20 per km².