Botswana (Republic of Botswana)

Botswana Republic of Botswana
Status	Independent State
Social and Moral Index	120th 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

1. Overview
2. Botswana National and Social Development
3. Botswana's Demographics and Migration
4. Botswana's Human Rights, Equality & Tolerance
   1. Human Rights & Tolerance Datasets
   2. Gender Equality Datasets
   3. Prejudice Datasets
5. Botswana's Health
   1. Health Datasets
   2. Children's Health Datasets
6. Botswana's Responsibility Towards The Environment
7. Botswana's Modernity and Learning
   1. Modernity Datasets
   2. Education Datasets
   3. Technology and Information Datasets
8. Botswana's Culture, Peace and Inequality
   1. National Culture Datasets
   2. Peace Versus Instability Datasets
   3. Economic Inequality and Poverty Datasets
9. Religion and Beliefs
10. Links

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1. Overview

#UK

“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.”

"The World" by Lonely Planet (2014)₁₀

2. Botswana National and Social Development

#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	28.1
2	Norway	29.9
3	Sweden	31.0
	...
117	Tonga	96.0
118	Ghana	96.2
119	Palau	96.5
120	Botswana	96.5
121	Algeria	97.7
122	Belize	98.3
123	Azerbaijan	98.5
124	Uzbekistan	98.5
	Africa Avg	115.3
	World Avg	89.4
q=200.

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.

3. Botswana's Demographics and Migration

#birth_control #demographics #fertility #health #immigration #life_expectancy #longevity #migration #overpopulation #population #yemen

Population Datasets:

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, once you take mortality into account₁₄. The highest fertility rate ever detected in a single year was in Yemen in 1985, at 8.86.₁₅

Population2
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. Also scored for 1990s-2010s.

Fertility Rate 2.0 is best16
Pos.		202216
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. Also scored for 1960s-2010s.

Old-Age Dependency Ratio Lower is better17
Pos.		2016 Per 10017
1	Uganda	04.3
2	Mali	04.5
3=	Chad	04.7
	...
47=	Solomon Islands	07.0
47=	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.

• The Population of the Earth
• Abortion, Birth Control and Contraception

Migration Datasets:

Immigrants18
Pos.		2017 %18
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.

Emigrants19
Pos.		2010 %19
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.

4. Botswana's Human Rights, Equality & Tolerance

#equality #freedom #gender_equality #human_rights #morals #politics #prejudice #tolerance

Compared to Africa (2025)20
Pos.		Lower is better Avg Rank20
1	Cape Verde	66.3
2	S. Africa	70.7
3	Mauritius	74.9
4	Seychelles	82.0
5	Namibia	85.9
6	Ghana	88.7
7	Botswana	90.0
8	Lesotho	91.9
9	Burkina Faso	93.3
10	Senegal	95.2
11	Madagascar	98.8
12	Rwanda	102.5
13	Mali	102.9
	Africa Avg	116.66
q=54.

Human Rights, Equality & Tolerance (2025)20
Pos.		Lower is better Avg Rank20
1	Sweden	7.8
2	Netherlands	8.7
3	Denmark	8.8
	...
90	Ghana	88.7
91	Nauru	89.3
92	Fiji	89.5
93	Botswana	90.0
94	St Lucia	90.3
95	Palau	91.4
96	Guyana	91.5
97	Lesotho	91.9
	World Avg	89.80
q=199.

The best countries in the world at ensuring human rights, fostering equality and promoting tolerance, are Sweden, The Netherlands and Denmark₂₁. These countries are displaying the best traits that humanity has to offer. The worst countries are Somalia, Eritrea and Saudi Arabia₂₁.

31 datasets are used to calculate points for each country, including multiple decades of data on supporting press freedom, combatting 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 Europe₂₁, whereas the worst are The Middle East, Africa and Asia₂₁.

For more, see:

• " Which are the Best Countries for Human Rights, Equality and Tolerance?" by Vexen Crabtree (2025).

4.1. Human Rights & Tolerance Datasets

#botswana #freedom #human_rights #international_law #mass_media #politics #slavery

Press Freedom Higher is better22
Pos.		202522
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. Also scored for 2000s-2010s.

Slavery in the 2020s Lower is better23
Pos.		Slavery in the 2020s Per 100023
1=	Switzerland	0.50
1=	Norway	0.50
3=	Germany	0.60
	...
15	Taiwan	1.70
16=	UK	1.80
16=	Canada	1.80
16=	Botswana	1.80
19=	Uruguay	1.90
19=	Austria	1.90
19=	Algeria	1.90
22=	France	2.10
	Africa Avg	6.90
	World Avg	7.15
q=160. Also scored for 2010s-2020s.

Personal, Civil & Economic Freedom Lower is better24
Pos.		2014 Rank24
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
67=	Tonga	2.0
67=	Samoa	2.0
67=	Botswana	2.0
67=	Romania	2.0
67=	Trinidad & Tobago	2.0
67=	Monaco	2.0
67=	Poland	2.0
	Africa Avg	4.8
	World Avg	3.7
q=205. Also scored for 1970s-2010s.

Nominal Commitment to HR Higher is better25
Pos.		2009 Treaties25
1	Argentina	24
2=	Chile	23
2=	Costa Rica	23
	...
116=	Jordan	14
116=	China	14
116=	Mauritius	14
116=	Botswana	14
116=	Madagascar	14
116=	Syria	14
116=	Sudan	14
116=	Cameroon	14
	Africa Avg	14.8
	World Avg	15.1
q=194.

HR Treaties Lag Lower is better26
Pos.		2019 Avg Yrs/Treaty26
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)₂₇

4.2. Gender Equality Datasets

#gender #gender_equality #human_rights #misogyny #politics #women

Botswana is an unequal country, with male rights dominating those of women.

See:

• "Religion Versus Womankind" by Vexen Crabtree (2007)
• "Christianity and Women: Biblical Misogyny and Male Dominance" by Vexen Crabtree (2019)

Gender Inequality Lower is better28
Pos.		202228
1	Denmark	0.01
2	Norway	0.01
3	Switzerland	0.02
	...
116	Myanmar	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. Also scored for 1990s-2010s.

Year Women Can Vote Lower is better
Pos.		Year Women Can Vote Year
1	New Zealand	1893
2	Australia	1902
3	Finland	1906
	...
147=	Libya	1964
147=	Papua New Guinea	1964
149=	Lesotho	1965
149=	Botswana	1965
151=	Tuvalu	1967
151=	Kiribati	1967
151=	Ecuador	1967
154=	Swaziland	1968
	Africa Avg	1961
	World Avg	1930
q=189.

4.3. Prejudice Datasets

#2020s #antisemitism #freethought #homosexuality #religious_tolerance

Anti-Semite Opinions Lower is better29
Pos.		2014 %29
1	Laos	0
2	Philippines	3
3	Sweden	4
	...
53=	Costa Rica	32
54=	Uruguay	33
54=	Croatia	33
54=	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 in the 2020s Higher is better30
Pos.		LGBT Equality in the 2020s Score30
1=	Germany	4.88
1=	Spain	4.88
3	Portugal	4.81
	...
71	Belize	0.90
72=	Lesotho	0.89
72=	Seychelles	0.89
74	Botswana	0.88
75	Paraguay	0.84
76	Angola	0.83
77	Sao Tome & Principe	0.81
78=	Micronesia	0.80
	Africa Avg	-3.78
	World Avg	-1.21
q=215. Also scored for 1970s-2020s.

Historically, however, indigenous cultures like the Khoikhoi and Tswana recognized same-sex practices without stigma and homosexuality was not seen as opposed to heterosexuality; men often had wives and male partners simultaneously. But colonial-era sodomy laws penalized homosexuality with 7 years' imprisonment under Section 164 of the Penal Code. This created long-lasting prejudice. As late as 2017, ILGA researchers found that Botswana only had a few legal protections against anti-LGBT employment discrimination. Homosexuality wasn't decriminalized until 2019.

Actions taken at the United Nations:

•  ⇣  Voted against the 2014 Resolution 27/32 at the UN Human Rights Council against discrimiantion based on sexual orientation and gender identity.
•  ⇣  Voted against the 2016 UN Human Rights Council Resolution 32/2 to create the Independent Expert on protection against violence and discrimination based on sexual orientation and gender identity.

Freedom of Thought Lower is better31
Pos.		202131
1=	Belgium	1.0
1=	Taiwan	1.0
1=	Netherlands	1.0
	...
34=	St Vincent & Grenadines	2.3
34=	Marshall Islands	2.3
34=	Japan	2.3
34=	Botswana	2.3
34=	Benin	2.3
34=	Cape Verde	2.3
34=	Kiribati	2.3
34=	Antigua & Barbuda	2.3
	Africa Avg	3.1
	World Avg	3.0
q=196.

5. Botswana's Health

#health

Compared to Africa (2025)32
Pos.		Lower is better Avg Rank32
1	Mauritius	72.2
2	Tunisia	73.9
3	Seychelles	78.0
4	Morocco	85.7
5	Cape Verde	97.0
6	Algeria	97.2
7	Libya	100.6
8	Sao Tome & Principe	108.5
9	Botswana	108.7
10	Egypt	113.2
11	Ghana	117.4
12	Rwanda	117.5
13	Kenya	119.7
	Africa Avg	127.77
q=54.

Health (2025)32
Pos.		Lower is better Avg Rank32
1	Monaco	10.3
2	Liechtenstein	30.1
3	Japan	40.8
	...
130	Honduras	108.2
131	Puerto Rico	108.3
132	Sao Tome & Principe	108.5
133	Botswana	108.7
134	Tajikistan	109.8
135	Cambodia	109.8
136	Myanmar	110.1
137	Venezuela	110.1
	World Avg	97.39
q=207.

The countries with the best overall approach to public health, in terms of both public policy and individual lifestyle choices, are Monaco, Liechtenstein and Japan₃₃. These countries are worth emulating. And, although often through no fault of the average citizen, the worst countries are Angola, Somalia and S. Sudan₃₃.

42 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, obesity rate, its adolescent birth rate, delivery rate of infant DTP immunizations, delivery rate of 7x Infant Immunizations 2011-2015 and childhood mortality. The regions with the best average results per country are Scandinavia, Europe and The Mediterranean₃₃, whereas the worst are Micronesia, Africa and Melanesia₃₃.

For more, see:

• "Countries With the Healthiest Cultures and Health Policies" by Vexen Crabtree (2025).

5.1. Health Datasets

#2010s #alcohol #birth_control #botswana #demographics #health #life_expectancy #longevity #mental_health #obesity #overpopulation #smoking #suicide

Botswana is a pretty unhealthy country. Botswana does better than average in the prevalence of overweight adults₃₄ (but bad for Africa), delivery rate of 7x Infant Immunizations 2011-2015₃₅, delivery rate of infant DTP immunizations in the 2020s₃₆ and in its smoking rate₃₇. Botswana still has work to do. Botswana does worse than average for its adolescent birth rate₃₈ (still low for Africa), its alcohol consumption rate₃₉, its fertility rate₁₆ (still low for Africa), its suicide rate₄₀, childhood mortality in the 2020s₄₁ and in its average life expectancy₁₁. And finally, it sits amongst the bottom 20 when it comes to its food aid and health contributions and WHO compliance₄₂. The number of overweight adults has increased by 14% over the last 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. Also scored for 1990s-2010s.

Alcohol Consumption Lower is better39
Pos.		2016 Per Capita39
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 best16
Pos.		202216
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. Also scored for 1960s-2010s.

Smoking in the 2020s Lower is better37
Pos.		Smoking in the 2020s %37
1	Nigeria	3.3%
2	Ghana	3.4%
3	Panama	5.2%
	...
72	Cambodia	17.3%
73	Palau	17.4%
74	Cuba	17.5%
75=	Botswana	18.8%
75=	Bhutan	18.8%
77	Pakistan	19.0%
78	Thailand	19.2%
79	Japan	19.2%
	Africa Avg	12.4%
	World Avg	20.0%
q=165. Also scored for 2000s-2020s.

Suicide Rate in the 2010s Lower is better40
Pos.		Suicide Rate in the 2010s Per 100k40
1=	Jordan	1.00
1=	Sao Tome & Principe	1.00
1=	Antigua & Barbuda	1.00
	...
137	Trinidad & Tobago	12.23
138	Samoa	12.44
139=	Iceland	12.55
139=	Botswana	12.55
141	Canada	12.58
142	Portugal	12.74
143	Australia	12.83
144	Germany	13.03
	Africa Avg	7.70
	World Avg	9.24
q=185. Also scored for 2000s-2010s.

Food Aid, Health Contributions & WHO Compliance Lower is better42
Pos.		2017 Rank42
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 better34
Pos.		1976 %34
1	Bangladesh	4.7
2	Vietnam	5.1
3	Nepal	5.4
	...
56=	S. Korea	12.3
56=	Zambia	12.3
58	Gabon	12.9
59	Botswana	13.6
60	Japan	15.2
61	Lesotho	15.4
62	Namibia	15.7
63	Swaziland	15.8
	Africa Avg	13.4
	World Avg	27.1
q=191.

Adult Obesity Lower is better43
Pos.		2022 %43
1	Vietnam	2.1%
2	Timor-Leste (E. Timor)	2.2%
3	Ethiopia	2.4%
	...
65	Netherlands	16.9%
66	Austria	17.0%
67	Equatorial Guinea	17.2%
68	Botswana	17.5%
69	Maldives	17.6%
70	Afghanistan	17.6%
71	Spain	19.2%
72	Lesotho	19.3%
	Africa Avg	13.7%
	World Avg	24.7%
q=199. Also scored for 1990s-2010s.

5.2. Children's Health Datasets

#children's_health #health #parenting #population #vaccines

Adolescent Birth Rate Lower is better38
Pos.		2022 Per 100038
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. Also scored for 1990s-2010s.

Infant DTP Immunizations (2020s) Higher is better36
Pos.		Infant DTP Immunizations (2020s) Avg %36
1=	Luxembourg	99.0
1=	Oman	99.0
1=	Niue	99.0
	...
71=	El Salvador	95.7
71=	USA	95.7
73	Cayman Islands	95.6
74=	Botswana	95.6
74=	Uruguay	95.6
74=	Spain	95.6
74=	Malaysia	95.6
78	Mauritius	95.5
	Africa Avg	82.9
	World Avg	88.5
q=211. Also scored for 1980s-2020s.

7x Infant Immunizations (2011-2015) Higher is better35
Pos.		2015 Avg %35
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.

Infant Mortality (2020s) Lower is better41
Pos.		Infant Mortality (2020s) Per 100041
1	San Marino	2.11
2	Finland	2.59
3	Luxembourg	2.60
	...
147	Comoros	49.44
148	Mauritania	49.55
149	Rwanda	50.42
150	Botswana	50.43
151	Papua New Guinea	52.31
152	Namibia	52.36
153	Myanmar	52.96
154	Senegal	53.83
	Africa Avg	71.63
	World Avg	32.19
q=195. Also scored for 1960s-2020s.

6. Botswana's Responsibility Towards The Environment

#biodiversity #botswana #climate_change #deforestation #environmentalism #food #internationalism #meat #over-exploitation #the_environment #veganism #vegetarianism

Compared to Africa (2025)44
Pos.		Lower is better Avg Rank44
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	78.58
q=53.

Responsibility Towards The Environment (2025)44
Pos.		Lower is better Avg Rank44
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.

We have known for a long term that we must protect the environment from habitation destruction, over-exploitation, pollution, and the emissions that cause climate change. In 1998, Greenpeace wrote that "Environment can no longer be meaningfully separated from health, quality of life, democracy, education, economy or trade"₄₅. What countries have been doing the right thing, via legislation and national culture? 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:

• "Countries With the Best Environmental Records" by Vexen Crabtree (2025).

With respect to its responsibility towards the environment, Botswana is 82nd in the world. This is formulated from 21 data sets. Botswana does better than average in energy to GDP efficiency₄₆, reducing annual meat consumption per person₄₇ (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 when it comes to its environmental performance₄₈ (still high for Africa) and in its forested percent change 2000-2020₄₉. And finally, it falls into the worst 20 for the rate of rational beliefs on the environment in the population₅₀ (amongst the lowest in Africa).

Environmental Performance Higher is better48
Pos.		201848
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 better46
Pos.		2022 Avg46
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. Also scored for 1960s-2010s.

International Accords on the Environment Higher is better
Pos.		International Accords on the Environment 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. Also scored for 1970s-2020s.

Rational Beliefs on the Environment Higher is better50
Pos.		2011 %50
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 better47
Pos.		2021 kg47
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. Also scored for 2010s.

7. Botswana's Modernity and Learning

#education #modernity #technology #the_internet

Compared to Africa (2025)51
Pos.		Lower is better Avg Rank51
1	S. Africa	63.3
2	Seychelles	63.4
3	Tunisia	68.7
	...
8	Gabon	87.6
9	Cape Verde	87.7
10	Libya	92.8
11	Botswana	104.8
12	Kenya	107.0
13	Djibouti	107.9
14	Ghana	111.9
15	Cameroon	115.0
16	Nigeria	115.5
	Africa Avg	124.71
q=54.

Modernity & Learning (2025)51
Pos.		Lower is better Avg Rank51
1	Finland	6.1
2	Iceland	8.1
3	Denmark	8.8
	...
123	St Lucia	98.9
124	Jamaica	99.7
125	Indonesia	100.1
126	Botswana	104.8
127	Kenya	107.0
128	Maldives	107.2
129	Djibouti	107.9
130	Samoa	109.0
	World Avg	84.96
q=197.

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, Iceland and Denmark₅₂. The worst countries are S. Sudan, Eritrea and Somalia₅₂. Despite improves in global education, access to tertiary (adult) education is becoming increasingly unequal between the rich haves and the poor have-nots₅₃.

“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)₅₄

27 datasets are used to calculate points for each country, including multiple decades of data on Research and Development, Intellectual Endeavours, metric system adoption rate, Religiosity, IQ, Secondary Education, Length of Schooling, Maths, Science & Reading, 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 Europe₅₂, whereas the worst are Melanesia, Africa and Micronesia₅₂.

For more, see:

• " Which Countries are Most Modern, With the Best Education and Internet Access?" by Vexen Crabtree (2025).

7.1. Modernity Datasets

#intelligence #metric #religion #religiosity #research #science #secularisation

Research & Development Higher is better
Pos.		2016 % RDP PPP
1	S. Korea	4.2955
2	Israel	4.1155
3	Japan	3.5855
	...
80=	Kuwait	0.3056
81	Pakistan	0.2956
82	Zambia	0.2857
83	Botswana	0.2558
84	Armenia	0.2456
85=	Sudan	0.2359
85=	Uruguay	0.2358
85=	Mongolia	0.2356
	Africa Avg	0.36
	World Avg	0.84
q=126.

Intellectual Endeavours Lower is better42
Pos.		2017 Rank42
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.

Metric System Adoption Rate Higher is better60
Pos.		2025 %60
1=	Slovakia	100
1=	Poland	100
1=	Portugal	100
	...
161=	Bangladesh	90
161=	Brunei	90
161=	Central African Rep.	90
161=	Botswana	90
161=	Angola	90
161=	Chad	90
161=	Comoros	90
161=	Palestine	90
	Africa Avg	90
	World Avg	92
q=187. Also scored for 1960s-2020s.

Adopted metric in 1969. Progression:

• 1960 (40%): Colonial mix; science/administration metric.
• 1970 (60%): Post-independence metrication accelerates.
• 1980 (80%): Commerce/education largely metric.
• 2000 (90%): Metric dominant; minor informal legacy.
• 2025 (90%).

Religiosity Lower is better61
Pos.		2018 %61
1	China	3
2	Estonia	6
3	Czechia	7
	...
57	Venezuela	67
58	Turkey	68
59=	Bolivia	71
59=	Botswana	71
61=	Brazil	72
61=	Egypt	72
63=	Algeria	73
63=	Peru	73
	Africa Avg	87.0
	World Avg	54.3
q=106.

IQ Higher is better62
Pos.		200662
1=	Hong Kong	108
1=	Singapore	108
3	S. Korea	106
	...
111=	Ghana	71
112=	Namibia	70
112=	Togo	70
112=	Botswana	70
112=	Rwanda	70
112=	Benin	70
117=	Ivory Coast	69
117=	Malawi	69
	Africa Avg	70.6
	World Avg	85.6
q=138.

7.2. Education Datasets

#botswana #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. ₆₃

Secondary Education Higher is better64
Pos.		201864
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 better65
Pos.		2021 Years65
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. Also scored for 1990s-2010s.

7.3. Technology and Information Datasets

#modernity #technology #the_internet

Internet Users (2020s) Higher is better
Pos.		Internet Users (2020s)
1=	Iceland	99%
1=	Kuwait	99%
1=	UAE	99%
	...
87	Barbados	78%
88	Iran	78%
89	Armenia	78%
90	Botswana	77%
91	Bulgaria	77%
92	Georgia	77%
93	Paraguay	77%
94	Mongolia	77%
	Africa Avg	41.0%
	World Avg	67.8%
q=188. Also scored for 1990s-2020s.

IPv6 Uptake Higher is better66
Pos.		2017 Ratio66
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
89=	El Salvador	0.0
89=	Kenya	0.0
89=	Cameroon	0.0
89=	Kyrgyzstan	0.0
	Africa Avg	0.04
	World Avg	3.82
q=176.

Digital Quality of Life Higher is better67
Pos.		202467
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.

8. Botswana's Culture, Peace and Inequality

#charitability #culture #equality #human_development #inequality #peace

Compared to Africa (2025)68
Pos.		Lower is better Avg Rank68
1	Mauritius	51.4
2	Seychelles	66.9
3	Tunisia	76.2
4	Morocco	82.5
5	Ghana	87.6
6	S. Africa	88.2
7	Botswana	88.8
8	Egypt	92.2
9	Senegal	92.4
10	Namibia	94.0
11	Algeria	94.4
12	Sao Tome & Principe	96.1
13	Cape Verde	97.4
	Africa Avg	110.07
q=54.

Culture, Peace & Inequality (2025)68
Pos.		Lower is better Avg Rank68
1	Denmark	11.6
2	Finland	13.4
3	Netherlands	13.6
	...
107	Cuba	88.2
108	Georgia	88.3
109	Bolivia	88.7
110	Botswana	88.8
111	Nicaragua	88.8
112	Sri Lanka	89.0
113	Kyrgyzstan	89.5
114	Marshall Islands	89.6
	World Avg	81.27
q=187.

This is the final pillar of the Social and Moral Development Index; it has 32 datasets, including multiple decades of data on World Giving Index, resisting corruption, overall happiness, Creativity and Culture, passport utility (so far), Open Trading, Aid and Development, its Global Peace Index rating, Peacekeeping and Security, Refugees and UN Treaties, the impact of terrorism, poverty (so far), life expectancy inequality, Income Inequality (Gini Coefficient) and Multidimensional Poverty.

For more, see:

• "Which are the Countries for International Contributions, Creativity, Peace and Inequality?" by Vexen Crabtree (2025).

8.1. National Culture Datasets

#corruption #happiness #internationalism #politics

Botswana has an adequate long-term record on corruption.

Corruption Higher is better69
Pos.		2022 Points69
1	Denmark	90.0
2=	Finland	87.0
2=	New Zealand	87.0
	...
35=	Cape Verde	60.0
35=	Spain	60.0
35=	St Vincent & Grenadines	60.0
35=	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. Also scored for 1990s-2010s.

Happiness Higher is better70
Pos.		2024 Score70
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. Also scored for 2010s.

Creativity & Culture Lower is better42
Pos.		2017 Rank42
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.

Passport Reach (2020s) Higher is better71
Pos.		Passport Reach (2020s) Q71
1	Singapore	192.2
2	Japan	192.0
3	S. Korea	190.7
	...
101	Nauru	89.3
102	Guyana	88.7
103	Fiji	88.5
104=	Botswana	86.8
104=	Jamaica	86.8
106	Bahrain	85.8
107	Romania	82.7
108	Saudi Arabia	82.3
	Africa Avg	62.9
	World Avg	108.8
q=195. Also scored for 2000s-2020s.

Open Trading, Aid & Development Lower is better42
Pos.		2017 Rank42
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.

8.2. Peace Versus Instability Datasets

#human_development #peace #politics

Global Peace Index Lower is better72
Pos.		2023 Score72
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. Also scored for 2010s.

Peacekeeping & Security Lower is better42
Pos.		2017 Rank42
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 better42
Pos.		2017 Rank42
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.

8.3. Economic Inequality and Poverty Datasets

#capitalism #economics #health #inequality #life_expectancy #namibia #social_development

Inequality in Life Expectancy Lower is better73
Pos.		201973
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 better74
Pos.		2023 %74
1	Slovakia	24.1%75
2	Slovenia	24.3%75
3	Belarus	24.4%76
	...
159	Angola	51.3%77
160	Zambia	51.5%78
161	Brazil	52.0%78
162	Botswana	53.3%79
163	Swaziland	54.6%80
164	Colombia	54.8%78
165	Belize	57.7%81
166	Namibia	59.1%79
	Africa Avg	40.7%
	World Avg	36.5%
q=167. Also scored for 1980s-2010s.

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).

9. Religion and Beliefs

#buddhism #christianity #hinduism #humanism #islam #judaism #religion #religiosity #secularisation #theism

Religiosity (2018)61
Pos.		Lower is better %61
1	China	3
2	Estonia	6
3	Czechia	7
	...
57	Venezuela	67
58	Turkey	68
59=	Bolivia	71
59=	Botswana	71
61=	Brazil	72
61=	Egypt	72
63=	Algeria	73
63=	Peru	73
65	S. Africa	75
66=	Ecuador	76
66=	Costa Rica	76
68=	Puerto Rico	77
68=	Malaysia	77
68=	Colombia	77
71=	Dominican Rep.	78
71=	Iran	78
	World Avg	54.3
q=106.

Pew Forum polling over the decades has found the following adherency rates:₈₂:

	2010	2020
Christian	80.5%	82.3%
Unaffiliated	14.7%	14.7%
Other	3.76%	2.29%
Muslim	0.716%	0.33%
Buddhist	0.248%	0.228%
Hindu	0.143%	0.137%
Jewish	<0.1%	<0.1%

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)₈₃.

The International Humanist and Ethical Union produced a report in 2012 entitled "Freedom of Thought" (2012)₈₄, 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 prayer₈₅. 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 Christianity₈₅ 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)₈₆

Links:

• A List of All Religions and Belief Systems
• Secularisation Theory: Will Modern Society Reject Religion? What is Secularism?