https://www.humantruth.info/botswana.html
By Vexen Crabtree 2013
Botswana Republic of Botswana | ![]() |
---|---|
Status | Independent State |
Social and Moral Index | 112th best |
Capital | Gaborone |
Land Area | 566 730km21 |
Location | Africa |
Population | 2.3m2 |
Life Expectancy | 61.14yrs (2017)3 |
GNI | $16 198 (2017)4 |
ISO3166-1 Codes | BW, BWA, 725 |
Internet Domain | .bw6 |
Currency | Pula (BWP)7 |
Telephone | +2678 |
“Formerly the British protectorate of Bechuanaland, Botswana adopted its new name upon independence in 1966. Four decades of uninterrupted civilian leadership, progressive social policies, and significant capital investment have created one of the most stable economies in Africa. Mineral extraction, principally diamond mining, dominates economic activity, though tourism is a growing sector due to the country's conservation practices and extensive nature preserves. Botswana has one of the world's highest known rates of HIV/AIDS infection, but also one of Africa's most progressive and comprehensive programs for dealing with the disease.”
CIA's The World Factbook (2013)9
“Blessed with some of the greatest wildlife spectacles on earth, Botswana is one of the great safari destinations in Africa. There are more elephants in Botswana than any other country on earth, the big cats roam free and there´s everything from endangered African wild dogs to aquatic antelopes, and from rhinos making a comeback to abundant birdlife at every turn. This is also the land of the Okavango Delta and the Kalahari Desert, at once iconic African landscapes and vast stretches of wilderness. Put these landscapes together with the wildlife that inhabits them, and it´s difficult to escape the conclusion that this is wild Africa at its best. Botswana may rank among Africa´s most exclusive destinations - accommodation prices at most lodges are once-in-a-lifetime propositions - but self-drive expeditions are also possible. And whichever way you visit, Botswana is a truly extraordinary place.The ancestors of the San left behind extraordinary records in the form of rock paintings dotted throughout the region. The Tsodilo Hills showcase the pictorial record of this prehistoric culture.”
#economics #human_development #wealth
UN HDI (2021)11 | ||
---|---|---|
Pos. | Higher is better Value11 | |
1 | Switzerland | 0.962 |
2 | Norway | 0.961 |
3 | Iceland | 0.959 |
... | ||
114 | Indonesia | 0.705 |
115 | Vietnam | 0.703 |
116 | Philippines | 0.699 |
117 | Botswana | 0.693 |
118= | Bolivia | 0.692 |
118= | Kyrgyzstan | 0.692 |
120 | Venezuela | 0.691 |
121 | Iraq | 0.686 |
Africa Avg | 0.56 | |
World Avg | 0.72 | |
q=191. |
Gross National Income Per-Capita (2021)11 | ||
---|---|---|
Pos. | Higher is better PPP $11 | |
1 | Liechtenstein | $146 830 |
2 | Singapore | $90 919 |
3 | Qatar | $87 134 |
... | ||
72 | China | $17 504 |
73 | Thailand | $17 030 |
74 | Antigua & Barbuda | $16 792 |
75 | Botswana | $16 198 |
76 | Macedonia | $15 918 |
77 | Maldives | $15 448 |
78 | Libya | $15 336 |
79 | Bosnia & Herzegovina | $15 242 |
Africa Avg | $5 339 | |
World Avg | $20 136 | |
q=193. |
Social & Moral Development Index12 | ||
---|---|---|
Pos. | Lower is better Avg Rank12 | |
1 | Denmark | 27.0 |
2 | Norway | 29.9 |
3 | Sweden | 31.8 |
... | ||
109 | Guatemala | 93.7 |
110 | Palau | 93.7 |
111 | Kyrgyzstan | 94.3 |
112 | Botswana | 94.5 |
113 | Azerbaijan | 95.0 |
114 | Lebanon | 95.0 |
115 | Paraguay | 95.5 |
116 | Suriname | 95.9 |
Africa Avg | 119.0 | |
World Avg | 88.6 | |
q=199. |
The United Nations produces an annual Human Development Report which includes the Human Development Index. The factors taken into account include life expectancy, education and schooling and Gross National Income (GNI) amongst many others..
The Social and Moral Development Index concentrates on moral issues and human rights, violence, public health, equality, tolerance, freedom and effectiveness in climate change mitigation and environmentalism, and on some technological issues. A country scores higher for achieving well in those areas, and for sustaining that achievement in the long term. Those countries towards the top of this index can truly said to be setting good examples and leading humankind onwards into a bright, humane, and free future. See: Which are the Best Countries in the World? The Social and Moral Development Index.
Progress is always going to be difficult in a country where the richest 10% hold 42% of the country's entire income13.
#birth_control #demographics #fertility #health #immigration #life_expectancy #longevity #migration #overpopulation #population #yemen
Population:
Botswana's population is predicted to rise to 2.344 million by 2030. This country has a fertility rate of 2.75. The fertility rate is, in simple terms, the average amount of children that each woman has. The higher the figure, the quicker the population will grow, although, to calculate the rate you also need to take into account morbidity - the rate at which people die. If people live healthy and long lives and morbidity is low, then, 2.0 approximates to the replacement rate (two new children for each set of parents who die), which would keep the population stable. If all countries had such a fertility rate, population growth would end. The actual replacement rate in most developed countries is around 2.1. The highest fertility rate ever detected in a single year was in Yemen in 1985, at 8.86.14Population2 | ||
---|---|---|
Pos. | 2018 Population2 | |
1 | China | 1.4b |
2 | India | 1.4b |
3 | USA | 327.1m |
... | ||
140 | Qatar | 2.8m |
141 | Namibia | 2.4m |
142 | Gambia | 2.3m |
143 | Botswana | 2.3m |
144 | Gabon | 2.1m |
145 | Lesotho | 2.1m |
146 | Macedonia | 2.1m |
147 | Slovenia | 2.1m |
World Avg | 39.0m | |
q=195. |
Life Expectancy Higher is better11 | ||
---|---|---|
Pos. | 2021 Years11 | |
1 | Monaco | 85.9 |
2 | Hong Kong | 85.5 |
3 | Japan | 84.8 |
... | ||
171 | Niger | 61.6 |
172 | Kenya | 61.4 |
173 | Zambia | 61.2 |
174 | Botswana | 61.1 |
175 | Liberia | 60.7 |
176 | Equatorial Guinea | 60.6 |
177 | Cameroon | 60.3 |
178 | Sierra Leone | 60.1 |
World Avg | 71.28 | |
q=195. |
Fertility Rate 2.0 is best15 | ||
---|---|---|
Pos. | 202215 | |
1 | US Virgin Islands | 2.00 |
2 | Ecuador | 2.00 |
3 | Nepal | 2.01 |
... | ||
128 | Ukraine | 1.27 |
129 | Poland | 1.26 |
130 | Japan | 1.26 |
131 | Botswana | 2.75 |
132 | Djibouti | 2.76 |
133 | Italy | 1.24 |
134 | Haiti | 2.77 |
135 | Mongolia | 2.77 |
World Avg | 2.47 | |
q=208. |
Old-Age Dependency Ratio Lower is better16 | ||
---|---|---|
Pos. | 2016 Per 10016 | |
1 | Uganda | 04.3 |
2 | Mali | 04.5 |
3= | Chad | 04.7 |
... | ||
47 | Solomon Islands | 07.0 |
48= | Rwanda | 07.0 |
49 | Namibia | 07.4 |
50= | Botswana | 07.7 |
50= | UAE | 07.7 |
52 | Oman | 07.8 |
53 | Jordan | 08.0 |
54 | Laos | 08.1 |
World Avg | 18.3 | |
q=185. |
Migration:
Immigrants17 | ||
---|---|---|
Pos. | 2017 %17 | |
1 | UAE | 88.4% |
2 | Kuwait | 75.5% |
3 | Qatar | 65.2% |
... | ||
67 | Costa Rica | 8.4% |
68 | Russia | 8.1% |
69 | Congo, (Brazzaville) | 7.6% |
70 | Botswana | 7.3% |
71 | St Lucia | 7.2% |
72 | S. Africa | 7.1% |
73 | S. Sudan | 6.7% |
74 | Grenada | 6.6% |
World Avg | 9.4% | |
q=195. |
Emigrants18 | ||
---|---|---|
Pos. | 2010 %18 | |
1 | Dominica | 104.8% |
2 | Palestine | 68.4% |
3 | Samoa | 67.3% |
... | ||
137 | Ghana | 3.4% |
138 | Nepal | 3.3% |
139 | Bangladesh | 3.3% |
140 | Botswana | 3.2% |
141 | Spain | 3.0% |
142 | Central African Rep. | 2.9% |
143 | Angola | 2.8% |
144 | France | 2.8% |
World Avg | 11.5% | |
q=192. |
#antisemitism #botswana #equality #freedom #freethought #gender #gender_equality #homosexuality #human_rights #international_law #mass_media #misogyny #morals #politics #prejudice #religious_tolerance #slavery #tolerance #women
Compared to Africa (2025)19 | ||
---|---|---|
Pos. | Lower is better Avg Rank19 | |
1 | Mauritius | 63.7 |
2 | S. Africa | 64.3 |
3 | Cape Verde | 68.0 |
4 | Seychelles | 73.8 |
5 | Namibia | 77.7 |
6 | Senegal | 84.7 |
7 | Botswana | 86.8 |
8 | Ghana | 92.3 |
9 | Tunisia | 95.2 |
10 | Lesotho | 100.4 |
11 | Sao Tome & Principe | 101.2 |
12 | Burkina Faso | 101.3 |
13 | Mali | 101.6 |
Africa Avg | 110.04 | |
q=54. |
Human Rights, Equality & Tolerance (2025)19 | ||
---|---|---|
Pos. | Lower is better Avg Rank19 | |
1 | Sweden | 6.1 |
2 | Denmark | 8.6 |
3 | Norway | 9.0 |
... | ||
95 | Singapore | 83.1 |
96 | Senegal | 84.7 |
97 | Grenada | 86.1 |
98 | Botswana | 86.8 |
99 | Antigua & Barbuda | 87.1 |
100 | Fiji | 87.1 |
101 | Turkey | 87.4 |
102 | Venezuela | 88.1 |
World Avg | 86.55 | |
q=199. |
The best countries in the world at ensuring human rights, fostering equality and promoting tolerance, are Sweden, Denmark and Norway20. These countries are displaying the best traits that humanity has to offer. The worst countries are Somalia, N. Korea and Afghanistan20.
21 datasets are used to calculate points for each country, including multiple decades of data on supporting press freedom, eliminating modern slavery, supporting personal, civil & economic freedoms, its average Freedom in the World rating, commentary in Human Rights Watch reports, its nominal commitment to Human Rights, speed of uptake of HR treaties, opposing gender inequality, the rate of gender bias (from 7 indicators), the year from which women could participate in democracy, its success in fighting anti-semitic prejudice, LGBT equality and freethought. The regions with the best average results per country are Scandinavia, Baltic States and Europe20, whereas the worst are Africa, The Middle East and Asia20.
For more, see:
Human Rights & Tolerance:
Press Freedom Higher is better21 | ||
---|---|---|
Pos. | 202521 | |
1 | Norway | 92.31 |
2 | Estonia | 89.46 |
3 | Netherlands | 88.64 |
... | ||
77 | Papua New Guinea | 58.35 |
78 | Qatar | 58.25 |
79 | Albania | 58.18 |
80 | Botswana | 57.64 |
81 | Zambia | 57.33 |
82 | Niger | 57.05 |
83 | Paraguay | 56.84 |
84 | Thailand | 56.72 |
Africa Avg | 52.30 | |
World Avg | 54.65 | |
q=179. |
Slavery Lower is better22 | ||
---|---|---|
Pos. | 2018 % Victims22 | |
1 | Japan | 0.03 |
2= | Canada | 0.05 |
2= | Taiwan | 0.05 |
... | ||
66 | Namibia | 0.33 |
67= | Serbia | 0.33 |
68 | Bosnia & Herzegovina | 0.34 |
69= | Botswana | 0.34 |
69= | Honduras | 0.34 |
69= | Poland | 0.34 |
69= | Singapore | 0.34 |
73 | Estonia | 0.36 |
Africa Avg | 0.96 | |
World Avg | 0.65 | |
q=167. |
Personal, Civil & Economic Freedom Lower is better23 | ||
---|---|---|
Pos. | 2014 Rank23 | |
1 | Hong Kong | 1 |
2 | Switzerland | 2 |
3 | New Zealand | 3 |
... | ||
90= | Bahrain | 88 |
91 | Jordan | 91 |
92 | Cape Verde | 92 |
93 | Botswana | 93 |
94= | Liberia | 94 |
94= | Lesotho | 94 |
96 | Kazakhstan | 96 |
97 | Ecuador | 97 |
Africa Avg | 114.2 | |
World Avg | 79.7 | |
q=159. |
Freedom in the World Lower is better | ||
---|---|---|
Pos. | 2024 Score | |
1= | Norway | 1.0 |
1= | Canada | 1.0 |
1= | Cape Verde | 1.0 |
... | ||
67 | Panama | 2.0 |
68= | Tonga | 2.0 |
68= | Samoa | 2.0 |
68= | Botswana | 2.0 |
68= | Romania | 2.0 |
68= | Trinidad & Tobago | 2.0 |
68= | Monaco | 2.0 |
68= | Poland | 2.0 |
Africa Avg | 4.8 | |
World Avg | 3.7 | |
q=205. |
Nominal Commitment to HR Higher is better24 | ||
---|---|---|
Pos. | 2009 Treaties24 | |
1 | Argentina | 24 |
2= | Chile | 23 |
2= | Costa Rica | 23 |
... | ||
116 | Jordan | 14 |
117= | China | 14 |
117= | Mauritius | 14 |
117= | Botswana | 14 |
117= | Madagascar | 14 |
117= | Syria | 14 |
117= | Sudan | 14 |
117= | Cameroon | 14 |
Africa Avg | 14.8 | |
World Avg | 15.1 | |
q=194. |
HR Treaties Lag Lower is better25 | ||
---|---|---|
Pos. | 2019 Avg Yrs/Treaty25 | |
1 | Ecuador | 2.15 |
2 | Uruguay | 2.25 |
3 | Tunisia | 3.65 |
... | ||
133 | Congo, (Brazzaville) | 11.91 |
134 | Moldova | 11.99 |
135 | Kyrgyzstan | 12.04 |
136 | Botswana | 12.05 |
137 | Estonia | 12.06 |
138 | Gambia | 12.12 |
139 | Ivory Coast | 12.14 |
140 | Trinidad & Tobago | 12.26 |
Africa Avg | 9.88 | |
World Avg | 10.02 | |
q=195. |
Amnesty International's 2023-23 summary on human rights in Botswana stated:
“A presidential commission recommended constitutional amendments to improve the protection of certain rights, while undermining others. Migrants and asylum seekers including children were subjected to arbitrary detention. Murders attributed to gender-based violence constituted a large proportion of all murders between January and March. There was a documented rise in the number of people going missing. Indigenous peoples’ rights were violated. Botswana continued to use the death penalty.”
"The State of the World's Human Rights 2022/23" by Amnesty International (2023)26
Gender Equality:
Botswana is an unequal country, with male rights dominating those of women.
See:
Gender Inequality Lower is better27 | ||
---|---|---|
Pos. | 202227 | |
1 | Denmark | 0.01 |
2 | Norway | 0.01 |
3 | Switzerland | 0.02 |
... | ||
116 | Myanmar (Burma) | 0.48 |
117 | Guatemala | 0.48 |
118 | Mozambique | 0.48 |
119 | Botswana | 0.49 |
120 | Iran | 0.49 |
121 | Cambodia | 0.49 |
122 | Syria | 0.49 |
123= | Ethiopia | 0.50 |
Africa Avg | 0.53 | |
World Avg | 0.34 | |
q=166. |
Year Women Can Vote Lower is better | ||
---|---|---|
Pos. | Total Year | |
1 | New Zealand | 1893 |
2 | Australia | 1902 |
3 | Finland | 1906 |
... | ||
147= | Libya | 1964 |
147= | Papua New Guinea | 1964 |
149 | Lesotho | 1965 |
150= | Botswana | 1965 |
151 | Tuvalu | 1967 |
152= | Kiribati | 1967 |
152= | Ecuador | 1967 |
154 | Swaziland | 1968 |
Africa Avg | 1961 | |
World Avg | 1930 | |
q=189. |
Prejudice:
Anti-Semite Opinions Lower is better28 | ||
---|---|---|
Pos. | 2014 %28 | |
1 | Laos | 0 |
2 | Philippines | 3 |
3 | Sweden | 4 |
... | ||
53= | Costa Rica | 32 |
54 | Uruguay | 33 |
55= | Croatia | 33 |
55= | Botswana | 33 |
57 | Nicaragua | 34 |
58= | Romania | 35 |
58= | Cameroon | 35 |
58= | Paraguay | 35 |
Africa Avg | 45.9 | |
World Avg | 36.8 | |
q=101. |
LGBT Equality Higher is better29 | ||
---|---|---|
Pos. | 2017 Score29 | |
1 | Netherlands | 103 |
2 | Belgium | 90 |
3 | Sweden | 86 |
... | ||
167= | Lebanon | -24 |
167= | Zimbabwe | -24 |
169 | St Kitts & Nevis | -25 |
170= | Botswana | -25 |
170= | Ghana | -25 |
172 | Pakistan | -26 |
173 | Egypt | -27 |
174= | Iraq | -29 |
Africa Avg | -10.4 | |
World Avg | 12.6 | |
q=196. |
Freedom of Thought Lower is better30 | ||
---|---|---|
Pos. | 202130 | |
1= | Belgium | 1.0 |
1= | Taiwan | 1.0 |
1= | Netherlands | 1.0 |
... | ||
34 | St Vincent & Grenadines | 2.3 |
35= | Marshall Islands | 2.3 |
35= | Japan | 2.3 |
35= | Botswana | 2.3 |
35= | Benin | 2.3 |
35= | Cape Verde | 2.3 |
35= | Kiribati | 2.3 |
35= | Antigua & Barbuda | 2.3 |
Africa Avg | 3.1 | |
World Avg | 3.0 | |
q=196. |
#alcohol #birth_control #botswana #demographics #health #life_expectancy #longevity #obesity #overpopulation #parenting #population #smoking #vaccines
Compared to Africa (2025)31 | ||
---|---|---|
Pos. | Lower is better Avg Rank31 | |
1 | Tunisia | 69.2 |
2 | Mauritius | 69.2 |
3 | Seychelles | 84.8 |
... | ||
8 | S. Africa | 115.9 |
9 | Egypt | 117.0 |
10 | Djibouti | 122.6 |
11 | Botswana | 129.6 |
12 | Eritrea | 130.2 |
13 | Lesotho | 131.8 |
14 | Rwanda | 134.4 |
15 | Sao Tome & Principe | 134.9 |
16 | Ghana | 135.9 |
Africa Avg | 111.13 | |
q=54. |
Health (2025)31 | ||
---|---|---|
Pos. | Lower is better Avg Rank31 | |
1 | Monaco | 14.3 |
2 | Liechtenstein | 30.1 |
3 | Isle of Man | 32.1 |
... | ||
158 | Vanuatu | 125.3 |
159 | Solomon Islands | 125.5 |
160 | Pakistan | 127.9 |
161 | Botswana | 129.6 |
162 | Eritrea | 130.2 |
163 | Haiti | 130.5 |
164 | Lesotho | 131.8 |
165 | Nauru | 133.3 |
World Avg | 96.74 | |
q=212. |
The countries with the best overall approach to public health, in terms of both public policy and individual lifestyle choices, are Monaco, Liechtenstein and The Isle of Man32. These countries are worth emulating. And, although often through no fault of the average citizen, the worst countries are S. Sudan, Angola and Nigeria32.
21 datasets are used to calculate points for each country, including multiple decades of data on its average life expectancy, its alcohol consumption rate, its fertility rate, its smoking rate, its suicide rate, its food aid and health contributions and WHO compliance, the prevalence of overweight adults, its adolescent birth rate and its immunizations take-up. The regions with the best average results per country are Scandinavia, Europe and The Balkans32, whereas the worst are Africa, Micronesia and Melanesia32.
For more, see:
Health:
Botswana is a pretty unhealthy country. Botswana does better than average when it comes to its immunizations take-up33 and in its smoking rate34 (but high for Africa). However Botswana performs less well in most areas. It does worse than average for its adolescent birth rate35 (still low for Africa), its alcohol consumption rate36, its fertility rate15 (still good for Africa) and in its average life expectancy11. And finally, it falls into the worst-performing 20 in its food aid and health contributions and WHO compliance37. The number of overweight adults has increased by 14% over the past 40 years. Life expectancy in Botswana improved by +4.9yrs in the 30 years from 1990, less than the global average of +7.9yrs. Botswana's peak fertility rate was 6.69 in 1966.Life Expectancy Higher is better11 | ||
---|---|---|
Pos. | 2021 Years11 | |
1 | Monaco | 85.9 |
2 | Hong Kong | 85.5 |
3 | Japan | 84.8 |
... | ||
171 | Niger | 61.6 |
172 | Kenya | 61.4 |
173 | Zambia | 61.2 |
174 | Botswana | 61.1 |
175 | Liberia | 60.7 |
176 | Equatorial Guinea | 60.6 |
177 | Cameroon | 60.3 |
178 | Sierra Leone | 60.1 |
Africa Avg | 62.79 | |
World Avg | 71.28 | |
q=195. |
Alcohol Consumption Lower is better36 | ||
---|---|---|
Pos. | 2016 Per Capita36 | |
1 | Bangladesh | 0.0 |
2 | Kuwait | 0.0 |
3 | Libya | 0.0 |
... | ||
124= | Dominica | 8.2 |
125 | Thailand | 8.3 |
126= | Ivory Coast | 8.4 |
126= | Botswana | 8.4 |
126= | Trinidad & Tobago | 8.4 |
126= | Vietnam | 8.4 |
130 | Ukraine | 8.6 |
131 | Netherlands | 8.7 |
Africa Avg | 4.8 | |
World Avg | 6.2 | |
q=189. |
Fertility Rate 2.0 is best15 | ||
---|---|---|
Pos. | 202215 | |
1 | US Virgin Islands | 2.00 |
2 | Ecuador | 2.00 |
3 | Nepal | 2.01 |
... | ||
128 | Ukraine | 1.27 |
129 | Poland | 1.26 |
130 | Japan | 1.26 |
131 | Botswana | 2.75 |
132 | Djibouti | 2.76 |
133 | Italy | 1.24 |
134 | Haiti | 2.77 |
135 | Mongolia | 2.77 |
Africa Avg | 3.97 | |
World Avg | 2.47 | |
q=208. |
Smoking Rates Lower is better34 | ||
---|---|---|
Pos. | 201434 | |
1 | Guinea | 15 |
2 | Solomon Islands | 26 |
3 | Kiribati | 28 |
... | ||
72 | Swaziland | 427 |
73 | Sudan | 428 |
74 | Costa Rica | 432 |
75 | Botswana | 449 |
76 | Syria | 459 |
77 | Djibouti | 476 |
78 | Ivory Coast | 477 |
79 | Nicaragua | 488 |
Africa Avg | 340 | |
World Avg | 819 | |
q=182. |
Food Aid, Health Contributions & WHO Compliance Lower is better37 | ||
---|---|---|
Pos. | 2017 Rank37 | |
1 | Sweden | 1 |
2 | Ireland | 2 |
3 | Denmark | 3 |
... | ||
142 | Mali | 142 |
143 | Niger | 143 |
144 | Marshall Islands | 144 |
145 | Botswana | 145 |
146 | Samoa | 146 |
147 | Jamaica | 147 |
148 | Togo | 148 |
149 | Tonga | 149 |
Africa Avg | 117.0 | |
World Avg | 82.0 | |
q=163. |
Overweight Adults Lower is better38 | ||
---|---|---|
Pos. | 2016 %38 | |
1 | Vietnam | 18.3 |
2 | India | 19.7 |
3 | Bangladesh | 20.0 |
... | ||
67 | Namibia | 40.6 |
68 | Brunei | 41.2 |
69 | Malaysia | 42.5 |
70 | Botswana | 43.4 |
71 | Tajikistan | 45.3 |
72 | Trinidad & Tobago | 46.0 |
73 | Antigua & Barbuda | 48.0 |
74 | St Lucia | 48.1 |
Africa Avg | 33.3 | |
World Avg | 49.0 | |
q=191. |
Children's Health:
Adolescent Birth Rate Lower is better35 | ||
---|---|---|
Pos. | 2022 Per 100035 | |
1 | Hong Kong | 1.6 |
2 | Denmark | 1.8 |
3 | S. Korea | 2.1 |
... | ||
118 | Cambodia | 45.7 |
119 | St Vincent & Grenadines | 46.5 |
120 | Philippines | 48.1 |
121 | Botswana | 48.3 |
122 | Cuba | 48.9 |
123 | Haiti | 51.8 |
124 | Seychelles | 52.1 |
125 | Yemen | 52.5 |
Africa Avg | 84.6 | |
World Avg | 43.8 | |
q=195. |
Infant Immunizations 2011-2015 Higher is better33 | ||
---|---|---|
Pos. | 2015 Avg %33 | |
1= | Hungary | 99.0 |
1= | China | 99.0 |
3 | Uzbekistan | 98.9 |
... | ||
59 | Bhutan | 95.6 |
60 | Turkey | 95.5 |
61 | Malta | 95.5 |
62 | Botswana | 95.4 |
63 | Gambia | 95.4 |
64 | Cyprus | 95.3 |
65 | Switzerland | 95.3 |
66 | Israel | 95.2 |
Africa Avg | 81.7 | |
World Avg | 88.3 | |
q=194. |
#biodiversity #botswana #climate_change #deforestation #environmentalism #food #internationalism #meat #over-exploitation #the_environment #veganism #vegetarianism
Compared to Africa (2025)39 | ||
---|---|---|
Pos. | Lower is better Avg Rank39 | |
1 | Morocco | 46.5 |
2 | Burundi | 47.8 |
3 | Mali | 51.0 |
... | ||
26 | Cape Verde | 75.6 |
27 | Malawi | 76.0 |
28 | Benin | 76.5 |
29 | Botswana | 76.8 |
30 | Congo, (Brazzaville) | 77.6 |
31 | Egypt | 78.0 |
32 | Algeria | 79.7 |
33 | Sierra Leone | 83.6 |
34 | Guinea-Bissau | 83.7 |
Africa Avg | 80.07 | |
q=53. |
Responsibility Towards The Environment (2025)39 | ||
---|---|---|
Pos. | Lower is better Avg Rank39 | |
1 | Sri Lanka | 34.9 |
2 | Uruguay | 43.2 |
3 | Switzerland | 45.0 |
... | ||
79 | Malawi | 76.0 |
80 | Benin | 76.5 |
81 | Australia | 76.6 |
82 | Botswana | 76.8 |
83 | Syria | 77.4 |
84 | Congo, (Brazzaville) | 77.6 |
85 | Latvia | 77.7 |
86 | Egypt | 78.0 |
World Avg | 84.93 | |
q=199. |
All countries' current and historical approach towards the environment is gauged via 21 datasets, including multiple decades of data on its forested percent change 2000-2020, its environmental performance, energy to GDP efficiency, its sign-up rate to major international accords on protecting the environment, the rate of rational beliefs on the environment in the population, reducing annual meat consumption per person and its score on the Green Future Index.
The countries that do the best (Sri Lanka, Uruguay and Switzerland) tend to have avoided the excesses of early industrial countries, and have not yet repeated the same mistakes of environmental destruction - at least, not on the same scale. The regions with the best average results per country are Central America, South America and Scandinavia. The worst are Eritrea, The Vatican City and Timor-Leste (E. Timor), and the worst regions Micronesia, Australasia and Melanesia.
For more, see:
Botswana is positioned 82nd in the world when it comes to its responsibility towards the environment. This rank is calculated from 6 data sets. Botswana does better than average in terms of energy to GDP efficiency40, reducing annual meat consumption per person41 (but high for Africa) and in its sign-up rate to major international accords on protecting the environment. Botswana doesn't do so well in other areas. Botswana does worse than average in terms of its environmental performance42 (still high for Africa) and in its forested percent change 2000-202043. And finally, it falls into the worst-performing 20 when it comes to the rate of rational beliefs on the environment in the population44 (one of the lowest in Africa).Forest Area Change 2000-2020 Higher is better43 | ||
---|---|---|
Pos. | Total43 | |
1 | Guernsey | 82.6% |
2 | Bahrain | 75.2% |
3 | Iceland | 64.7% |
... | ||
203 | Belize | -12.9% |
204 | Nigeria | -13.6% |
205 | El Salvador | -13.8% |
206 | Botswana | -13.9% |
207 | Sierra Leone | -14.0% |
208 | Burkina Faso | -14.4% |
209 | Antigua & Barbuda | -14.6% |
210 | Angola | -14.8% |
Africa Avg | -8.7% | |
World Avg | -0.1% | |
q=234. |
From 2010 to 2020, Botswana destroyed 7% of its forest cover, falling from 16438 thousand hectares to 15255.
Environmental Performance Higher is better42 | ||
---|---|---|
Pos. | 201842 | |
1 | Switzerland | 87.4 |
2 | France | 84.0 |
3 | Denmark | 81.6 |
... | ||
110 | Guatemala | 52.3 |
111 | Maldives | 52.1 |
112 | Moldova | 52.0 |
113 | Botswana | 51.7 |
114 | Honduras | 51.5 |
115 | Sudan | 51.5 |
116 | Oman | 51.3 |
117 | Zambia | 51.0 |
Africa Avg | 46.4 | |
World Avg | 56.4 | |
q=180. |
Energy to GDP Efficiency Lower is better40 | ||
---|---|---|
Pos. | 2022 Avg40 | |
1 | Rwanda | 0.25 |
2 | Chad | 0.26 |
3 | Tanzania | 0.31 |
... | ||
31 | Dominican Rep. | 0.63 |
32 | Haiti | 0.63 |
33 | Denmark | 0.65 |
34 | Botswana | 0.67 |
35 | Hong Kong | 0.67 |
36 | Puerto Rico | 0.68 |
37 | Angola | 0.70 |
38 | Indonesia | 0.71 |
Africa Avg | 0.83 | |
World Avg | 1.23 | |
q=165. |
International Accords on the Environment Higher is better | ||
---|---|---|
Pos. | Total Avg Rate | |
1 | Sweden | 83% |
2 | Canada | 82% |
3 | Norway | 81% |
... | ||
63 | Madagascar | 65% |
64 | China | 64% |
65 | Malaysia | 64% |
66 | Botswana | 64% |
67 | El Salvador | 64% |
68 | Iran | 64% |
69 | Argentina | 64% |
70 | Nicaragua | 64% |
Africa Avg | 56.4% | |
World Avg | 57.5% | |
q=197. |
Rational Beliefs on the Environment Higher is better44 | ||
---|---|---|
Pos. | 2011 %44 | |
1 | Argentina | 78.3% |
2 | Greece | 77.6% |
3 | Brazil | 77.1% |
... | ||
126 | Malawi | 22.0% |
127 | UAE | 20.8% |
128 | Norway | 20.5% |
129 | Botswana | 20.4% |
130 | USA | 19.7% |
131 | Kuwait | 19.6% |
132 | Zimbabwe | 19.6% |
133 | Latvia | 19.5% |
Africa Avg | 38.3% | |
World Avg | 39.9% | |
q=145. |
Meat Consumption Lower is better41 | ||
---|---|---|
Pos. | 2021 kg41 | |
1 | Congo, DR | 03.0 |
2 | Burundi | 03.5 |
3 | Bangladesh | 04.3 |
... | ||
53 | Maldives | 28.8 |
54 | Egypt | 29.1 |
55 | Laos | 29.8 |
56 | Botswana | 30.1 |
57 | Nicaragua | 31.5 |
58 | Iran | 31.6 |
59 | Morocco | 32.1 |
60 | Tajikistan | 32.4 |
Africa Avg | 24.9 | |
World Avg | 52.5 | |
q=185. |
#botswana #capitalism #corruption #economics #education #happiness #health #human_development #inequality #intelligence #life_expectancy #modernity #namibia #peace #politics #religion #religiosity #research #science #secularisation #social_development #technology #the_internet
Compared to Africa (2020)45 | ||
---|---|---|
Pos. | Lower is better Avg Rank45 | |
1 | S. Africa | 56.9 |
2 | Tunisia | 70.8 |
3= | Mauritius | 79.6 |
4 | Seychelles | 80.1 |
5 | Egypt | 80.5 |
6 | Libya | 82.0 |
7 | Kenya | 96.4 |
8 | Botswana | 96.5 |
9 | Morocco | 97.9 |
10 | Algeria | 100.2 |
11 | Gabon | 108.2 |
12 | Uganda | 109.8 |
13 | Ghana | 110.3 |
Africa Avg | 120.19 | |
q=53. |
Modernity & Learning (2020)45 | ||
---|---|---|
Pos. | Lower is better Avg Rank45 | |
1 | Finland | 7.1 |
2 | Belgium | 12.9 |
3 | Denmark | 13.6 |
... | ||
111 | Indonesia | 93.3 |
112 | Jamaica | 94.6 |
113 | Kenya | 96.4 |
114 | Botswana | 96.5 |
115 | Morocco | 97.9 |
116 | Samoa | 99.8 |
117 | Algeria | 100.2 |
118 | Tajikistan | 101.3 |
World Avg | 86.31 | |
q=190. |
The most modern countries, with the best results from education, the highest levels of research, and with the easiest access to information on the Internet, are Finland, Belgium and Denmark46. The worst countries are Eritrea, S. Sudan and Sierra Leone46. Despite improves in global education, access to tertiary (adult) education is becoming increasingly unequal between the rich haves and the poor have-nots47.
“Education, at all levels and ages, is the single most vital support for equality as well as being a country's most vital economic and social resource. [...] Every successful aspirant to modernisation and economic development, from Japan to South Korea, China to Chile, has got there with a big emphasis on education.”
Bill Emmott (2017)48
15 datasets are used to calculate points for each country, including multiple decades of data on Research and Development, Secondary Education, Length of Schooling, Intellectual Endeavours, Maths, Science & Reading, Religiosity, IQ, the percent of citizens with access to the internet, Freedom On The Internet, IT Security, IPv6 Uptake and digital quality of life. The regions with the best average results per country are Scandinavia, Baltic States and Europe46, whereas the worst are Melanesia, Africa and Micronesia46.
For more, see:
Modernity and Education:
In the 2000s, the expected duration of education in Botswana fell slightly; it was one of only 12 countries to do so in that decade. 49
Research & Development Higher is better | ||
---|---|---|
Pos. | 2016 % RDP PPP | |
1 | S. Korea | 4.2950 |
2 | Israel | 4.1150 |
3 | Japan | 3.5850 |
... | ||
80= | Kuwait | 0.3051 |
81 | Pakistan | 0.2951 |
82 | Zambia | 0.2852 |
83 | Botswana | 0.2553 |
84 | Armenia | 0.2451 |
85= | Sudan | 0.2354 |
85= | Uruguay | 0.2353 |
85= | Mongolia | 0.2351 |
Africa Avg | 0.36 | |
World Avg | 0.84 | |
q=126. |
Secondary Education Higher is better55 | ||
---|---|---|
Pos. | 201855 | |
1= | Luxembourg | 100.0% |
1= | Estonia | 100.0% |
1= | Austria | 100.0% |
... | ||
38 | Montenegro | 91.6% |
39 | Australia | 90.4% |
40 | Romania | 90.0% |
41 | Botswana | 90.0% |
42 | Serbia | 89.5% |
43 | Denmark | 89.3% |
44 | Israel | 89.1% |
45 | Sweden | 88.9% |
Africa Avg | 34.4% | |
World Avg | 63.0% | |
q=169. |
Length of Schooling Higher is better56 | ||
---|---|---|
Pos. | 2021 Years56 | |
1 | Australia | 21.1 |
2 | New Zealand | 20.3 |
3 | Greece | 20.0 |
... | ||
130 | Samoa | 12.4 |
131 | Congo, (Brazzaville) | 12.3 |
132 | San Marino | 12.3 |
133 | Botswana | 12.3 |
134 | Angola | 12.2 |
135 | Zimbabwe | 12.1 |
136 | Iraq | 12.1 |
137 | Ghana | 12.0 |
Africa Avg | 11.0 | |
World Avg | 13.5 | |
q=193. |
Intellectual Endeavours Lower is better37 | ||
---|---|---|
Pos. | 2017 Rank37 | |
1 | Ukraine | 1 |
2 | Czechia | 2 |
3 | Hungary | 3 |
... | ||
130 | Bangladesh | 130 |
131 | Mongolia | 131 |
132 | Haiti | 132 |
133 | Botswana | 133 |
134 | Suriname | 134 |
135 | Uruguay | 135 |
136 | Honduras | 136 |
137 | Papua New Guinea | 137 |
Africa Avg | 106.4 | |
World Avg | 82.0 | |
q=163. |
Religiosity Lower is better57 | ||
---|---|---|
Pos. | 2018 %57 | |
1 | China | 3 |
2 | Estonia | 6 |
3 | Czechia | 7 |
... | ||
57 | Venezuela | 67 |
58 | Turkey | 68 |
59= | Bolivia | 71 |
59= | Botswana | 71 |
61 | Brazil | 72 |
62= | Egypt | 72 |
63 | Algeria | 73 |
64= | Peru | 73 |
Africa Avg | 87.0 | |
World Avg | 54.3 | |
q=106. |
IQ Higher is better58 | ||
---|---|---|
Pos. | 200658 | |
1= | Hong Kong | 108 |
1= | Singapore | 108 |
3 | S. Korea | 106 |
... | ||
111= | Ghana | 71 |
112 | Namibia | 70 |
113= | Togo | 70 |
113= | Botswana | 70 |
113= | Rwanda | 70 |
113= | Benin | 70 |
117 | Ivory Coast | 69 |
118= | Malawi | 69 |
Africa Avg | 70.6 | |
World Avg | 85.6 | |
q=138. |
Technology and Information:
Internet Users Higher is better59 | ||
---|---|---|
Pos. | 201659 | |
1 | Iceland | 100% |
2 | Faroe Islands | 99% |
3 | Norway | 98% |
... | ||
143 | Angola | 23% |
144 | Ivory Coast | 22% |
145 | Honduras | 22% |
146 | Botswana | 21% |
147 | Libya | 21% |
148 | Zimbabwe | 21% |
149 | Equatorial Guinea | 21% |
150 | Lesotho | 21% |
Africa Avg | 18.4% | |
World Avg | 48.1% | |
q=201. |
IPv6 Uptake Higher is better60 | ||
---|---|---|
Pos. | 2017 Ratio60 | |
1 | Belgium | 55.4 |
2 | Germany | 41.8 |
3 | Switzerland | 35.1 |
... | ||
86= | Chile | 0.0 |
86= | US Virgin Islands | 0.0 |
86= | Mauritius | 0.0 |
89 | Botswana | 0.0 |
90= | El Salvador | 0.0 |
90= | Kenya | 0.0 |
90= | Cameroon | 0.0 |
90= | Kyrgyzstan | 0.0 |
Africa Avg | 0.04 | |
World Avg | 3.82 | |
q=176. |
Digital Quality of Life Higher is better61 | ||
---|---|---|
Pos. | 202461 | |
1 | Germany | 77.9% |
2 | Finland | 76.9% |
3 | France | 73.9% |
... | ||
95 | Pakistan | 33.5% |
96 | Algeria | 33.2% |
97 | Bolivia | 33.1% |
98 | Botswana | 33.1% |
99 | Benin | 32.8% |
100 | Nigeria | 32.7% |
101 | Iran | 32.5% |
102 | Namibia | 32.1% |
Africa Avg | 32.3% | |
World Avg | 48.4% | |
q=121. |
National Culture:
Botswana has an adequate long-term record on corruption.Corruption Higher is better62 | ||
---|---|---|
Pos. | 2022 Points62 | |
1 | Denmark | 90.0 |
2= | Finland | 87.0 |
2= | New Zealand | 87.0 |
... | ||
35 | Cape Verde | 60.0 |
36= | Spain | 60.0 |
36= | St Vincent & Grenadines | 60.0 |
36= | Botswana | 60.0 |
39 | Latvia | 59.0 |
40 | Qatar | 58.0 |
41= | Czechia | 56.0 |
41= | Georgia | 56.0 |
Africa Avg | 32.31 | |
World Avg | 42.98 | |
q=180. |
Happiness Higher is better63 | ||
---|---|---|
Pos. | 2024 Score63 | |
1 | Finland | 7.7 |
2 | Denmark | 7.5 |
3 | Iceland | 7.5 |
... | ||
139 | Comoros | 3.8 |
140 | Yemen | 3.6 |
141 | Congo, DR | 3.5 |
142 | Botswana | 3.4 |
143 | Zimbabwe | 3.4 |
144 | Malawi | 3.3 |
145 | Lebanon | 3.2 |
146 | Sierra Leone | 3.0 |
Africa Avg | 4.42 | |
World Avg | 5.58 | |
q=147. |
Creativity & Culture Lower is better37 | ||
---|---|---|
Pos. | 2017 Rank37 | |
1 | Belgium | 1 |
2 | Netherlands | 2 |
3 | Estonia | 3 |
... | ||
69 | Bosnia & Herzegovina | 69 |
70 | Tonga | 70 |
71 | Trinidad & Tobago | 71 |
72 | Botswana | 72 |
73 | Dominica | 73 |
74 | Antigua & Barbuda | 74 |
75 | Turkey | 75 |
76 | Kyrgyzstan | 76 |
Africa Avg | 117.8 | |
World Avg | 82.0 | |
q=163. |
Open Trading, Aid & Development Lower is better37 | ||
---|---|---|
Pos. | 2017 Rank37 | |
1 | Ireland | 1 |
2 | Denmark | 2 |
3 | Sweden | 3 |
... | ||
87 | Uganda | 87 |
88 | Vietnam | 88 |
89 | Central African Rep. | 89 |
90 | Botswana | 90 |
91 | Guinea-Bissau | 91 |
92 | Burundi | 92 |
93 | Mozambique | 93 |
94 | Guinea | 94 |
Africa Avg | 96.7 | |
World Avg | 82.0 | |
q=163. |
Peace Versus Instability:
Global Peace Index Lower is better64 | ||
---|---|---|
Pos. | 2023 Score64 | |
1 | Iceland | 1.12 |
2 | Denmark | 1.31 |
3 | Ireland | 1.31 |
... | ||
39 | Costa Rica | 1.73 |
40= | Vietnam | 1.75 |
40= | Albania | 1.75 |
42 | Botswana | 1.76 |
43 | S. Korea | 1.76 |
44 | Mongolia | 1.77 |
45 | Montenegro | 1.77 |
46 | Laos | 1.78 |
Africa Avg | 2.29 | |
World Avg | 2.07 | |
q=163. |
Peacekeeping & Security Lower is better37 | ||
---|---|---|
Pos. | 2017 Rank37 | |
1 | Samoa | 1 |
2 | S. Africa | 2 |
3 | Tunisia | 3 |
... | ||
109 | Belgium | 109 |
110 | Panama | 110 |
111 | Equatorial Guinea | 111 |
112 | Botswana | 112 |
113 | Slovakia | 113 |
114 | Suriname | 114 |
115 | Greece | 115 |
116 | Trinidad & Tobago | 116 |
Africa Avg | 83.6 | |
World Avg | 82.0 | |
q=163. |
Refugees & UN Treaties Lower is better37 | ||
---|---|---|
Pos. | 2017 Rank37 | |
1 | Austria | 1 |
2 | Germany | 2 |
3 | Netherlands | 3 |
... | ||
72 | Estonia | 72 |
73 | Guinea-Bissau | 73 |
74 | Albania | 74 |
75 | Botswana | 75 |
76 | Lebanon | 76 |
77 | Bahrain | 77 |
78 | Sri Lanka | 78 |
79 | Algeria | 79 |
Africa Avg | 104.5 | |
World Avg | 82.0 | |
q=163. |
Economic Inequality and Poverty:
Inequality in Life Expectancy Lower is better65 | ||
---|---|---|
Pos. | 201965 | |
1 | Iceland | 2.40 |
2= | Singapore | 2.50 |
2= | Hong Kong | 2.50 |
... | ||
126 | Cambodia | 18.10 |
127 | Guyana | 19.00 |
128 | S. Africa | 19.20 |
129 | Botswana | 19.40 |
130 | Rwanda | 19.50 |
131 | India | 19.70 |
132 | Madagascar | 21.10 |
133 | Senegal | 21.20 |
Africa Avg | 26.10 | |
World Avg | 14.59 | |
q=184. |
Income Inequality (Gini Coefficient) Lower is better66 | ||
---|---|---|
Pos. | 2023 %66 | |
1 | Slovakia | 24.1%67 |
2 | Slovenia | 24.3%67 |
3 | Belarus | 24.4%68 |
... | ||
159 | Angola | 51.3%69 |
160 | Zambia | 51.5%70 |
161 | Brazil | 52.0%70 |
162 | Botswana | 53.3%71 |
163 | Swaziland | 54.6%72 |
164 | Colombia | 54.8%70 |
165 | Belize | 57.7%73 |
166 | Namibia | 59.1%71 |
Africa Avg | 40.7% | |
World Avg | 36.5% | |
q=167. |
Income inequality data is rarely available for Botswana - only for 5 years between 1980 and 2019. But it always scores poorly compared to the rest of the world; in the 1990s it was the 4th-most-unequal country of 117 measured, and in the 2000s it was the most unequal country in the world (its neighbour Namibia was 2nd-worst).
#belief #buddhism #christianity #god #hinduism #humanism #islam #judaism #religion #religiosity #secularisation #theism
Religiosity (2018)57 | ||
---|---|---|
Pos. | Lower is better %57 | |
1 | China | 3 |
2 | Estonia | 6 |
3 | Czechia | 7 |
... | ||
57 | Venezuela | 67 |
58 | Turkey | 68 |
59= | Bolivia | 71 |
59= | Botswana | 71 |
61 | Brazil | 72 |
62= | Egypt | 72 |
63 | Algeria | 73 |
64= | Peru | 73 |
65 | S. Africa | 75 |
66= | Ecuador | 76 |
66= | Costa Rica | 76 |
68 | Puerto Rico | 77 |
69= | Malaysia | 77 |
69= | Colombia | 77 |
71 | Dominican Rep. | 78 |
72= | Iran | 78 |
World Avg | 54.3 | |
q=106. |
Disbelief In God (2007)74 | ||
---|---|---|
Pos. | Higher is better %74 | |
1 | Vietnam | 81 |
2 | Japan | 65 |
3 | Sweden | 64 |
... | ||
89= | Burundi | 0 |
89= | Burkina Faso | 0 |
89= | Brunei | 0 |
89= | Botswana | 0 |
89= | Syria | 0 |
89= | Sierra Leone | 0 |
89= | Thailand | 0 |
89= | Togo | 0 |
89= | Benin | 0 |
89= | Tunisia | 0 |
89= | Uganda | 0 |
89= | Bangladesh | 0 |
89= | UAE | 0 |
89= | Azerbaijan | 0 |
89= | Algeria | 0 |
89= | Yemen | 0 |
World Avg | 9.9 | |
q=137. |
Data from the Pew Forum, a professional polling outfit, states that in 2010 the religious makeup of this country was as follows in the table below75:
Christian | 72.1% |
Muslim | 0.4% |
Hindu | 0.3% |
Buddhist | 0.1% |
Folk Religion | 6% |
Jewish | 0.1% |
Unaffiliated | 20.6% |
The CIA World Factbook has slightly different data, and states: Christian 71.6%, Badimo 6%, other 1.4%, unspecified 0.4%, none 20.6% (2001 census)76.
The International Humanist and Ethical Union produced a report in 2012 entitled "Freedom of Thought" (2012)77, in which they document bias and prejudice at the national level that is based on religion, belief and/or lack of belief. Their entry for Botswana states:
“The constitution and other laws mandate a secular state and protect freedom of religion or belief. However, there are widespread state privileges for Christianity and routine bias against the nonreligious. Government meetings often begin with a Christian prayer78. Even though the constitution prohibits forced religious instruction, forced participation in religious ceremonies, or taking oaths that run counter to an individual's religious beliefs, religious education is part of the curriculum in public schools. This public education emphasizes Christianity78 but also addresses other religious groups in the country, while excluding humanists and other non-theists. Additionally, the constitution provides that every religious community may establish places for religious instruction at the community's expense.”
"Freedom of Thought" by IHEU (2012)79
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