Botswana vs Norway

Botswana is 51% larger than Norway. Norway would fit into Botswana about 1.5 times.

BotswanaNorwayBotswana moved onto Norway · Equal-area projection
1.51×
Botswana is 1.51× the area of Norway.
BotswanaNorway
Area581,737 km²385,207 km²
Population2,562,1225,610,870
Density4.4 / km²15 / km²
CapitalGaboroneOslo
RegionSouthern AfricaNorthern Europe
CoastlineLandlockedHas a coast
Neighbours33

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; Norway at 66° N is stretched to 6.22×. That difference is why Norway 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 Norway?
Yes. Botswana is 51% larger than Norway. Botswana covers 581,737 km² and Norway covers 385,207 km².
How many times does Norway fit into Botswana?
About 1.5 times: Botswana has 1.51× the area of Norway.
Why do Botswana and Norway 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 Norway about 6.22×. That is why Norway 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 Norway?
Norway: 5,610,870 people against 2,562,122. Density: Botswana 4.4 per km², Norway 15 per km².