Which has higher key features of democracy, Botswana or Lesotho?

Botswana, at 0.665 against 0.661 in Lesotho as of 2025.

How many years of comparable data are there for Botswana and Lesotho?

126 years are reported by both, from 1900 to 2025.

Where does this data come from?

V-Dem (2026) – processed by Our World in Data, published as Key features of democracy. Statizoid refreshes it automatically from the source and publishes the full history for both places.

Botswana vs Lesotho: Key features of democracy

Botswana

0.665

in 2025

Lesotho

0.661

in 2025

Botswana rank

59th

Lesotho rank

60th

Key features of democracy over time

Botswana
Lesotho

How they compare

Botswana currently reports 0.665 against 0.661 in Lesotho, a difference of 0.004.

The two have swapped places 3 times across 126 shared years of data; in 1900 it was Lesotho ahead.

Botswana ranks 59th and Lesotho ranks 60th of 176 countries.

Across the 13 decades both report, Botswana averaged higher in 6 and Lesotho in 7.

Head to head by decade

Decade	Botswana	Lesotho	Difference	Ahead
1900s	0.03	0.045	0.015	Lesotho
1910s	0.03	0.045	0.015	Lesotho
1920s	0.031	0.045	0.014	Lesotho
1930s	0.0321	0.045	0.0129	Lesotho
1940s	0.0328	0.045	0.0122	Lesotho
1950s	0.0381	0.0688	0.0307	Lesotho
1960s	0.3377	0.1828	0.1549	Botswana
1970s	0.6276	0.1186	0.509	Botswana
1980s	0.6496	0.1239	0.5257	Botswana
1990s	0.6879	0.3073	0.3806	Botswana
2000s	0.7107	0.527	0.1837	Botswana
2010s	0.6957	0.5858	0.1099	Botswana
2020s	0.5955	0.6452	0.0497	Lesotho

Averages of every year both report within each decade.

Frequently asked questions

Which has higher key features of democracy, Botswana or Lesotho?: Botswana, at 0.665 against 0.661 in Lesotho as of 2025.
What is the difference in key features of democracy between Botswana and Lesotho?: 0.004, with Botswana ahead.
How many years of comparable data are there for Botswana and Lesotho?: 126 years are reported by both, from 1900 to 2025.
How do Botswana and Lesotho rank globally for key features of democracy?: Botswana ranks 59th and Lesotho ranks 60th of 176 countries.
Where does this data come from?: V-Dem (2026) – processed by Our World in Data, published as Key features of democracy. Statizoid refreshes it automatically from the source and publishes the full history for both places.

Individual pages

About this data

Indicator: Key features of democracy
Source: V-Dem (2026) – processed by Our World in Data
Licence: CC BY 4.0 (Our World in Data)
Coverage: 176 places, 29,649 data points, 1789–2025
Last refreshed: 07 August 2026

Central estimate of the extent to which political leaders are elected under comprehensive suffrage in free and fair elections, and freedoms of association and expression are guaranteed.