Which has higher varieties of democracy, Botswana or Gambia?

Botswana, at 0.665 against 0.641 in Gambia as of 2025.

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

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 Varieties of democracy. Statizoid refreshes it automatically from the source and publishes the full history for both places.

Botswana vs Gambia: Varieties of democracy

Botswana

0.665

in 2025

Gambia

0.641

in 2025

Botswana rank

59th

Gambia rank

62nd

Varieties of democracy over time

Botswana
Gambia

How they compare

Botswana currently reports 0.665 against 0.641 in Gambia, a difference of 0.024.

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

Botswana ranks 59th and Gambia ranks 62nd of 176 countries.

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

Head to head by decade

Decade	Botswana	Gambia	Difference	Ahead
1900s	0.03	0.053	0.023	Gambia
1910s	0.03	0.053	0.023	Gambia
1920s	0.031	0.0524	0.0214	Gambia
1930s	0.0321	0.052	0.0199	Gambia
1940s	0.0328	0.0817	0.0489	Gambia
1950s	0.0381	0.1592	0.1211	Gambia
1960s	0.3377	0.3457	0.008	Gambia
1970s	0.6276	0.4722	0.1554	Botswana
1980s	0.6496	0.4589	0.1907	Botswana
1990s	0.6879	0.3045	0.3834	Botswana
2000s	0.7107	0.252	0.4587	Botswana
2010s	0.6957	0.327	0.3687	Botswana
2020s	0.5955	0.5883	0.0072	Botswana

Averages of every year both report within each decade.

Frequently asked questions

Which has higher varieties of democracy, Botswana or Gambia?: Botswana, at 0.665 against 0.641 in Gambia as of 2025.
What is the difference in varieties of democracy between Botswana and Gambia?: 0.024, with Botswana ahead.
How many years of comparable data are there for Botswana and Gambia?: 126 years are reported by both, from 1900 to 2025.
How do Botswana and Gambia rank globally for varieties of democracy?: Botswana ranks 59th and Gambia ranks 62nd of 176 countries.
Where does this data come from?: V-Dem (2026) – processed by Our World in Data, published as Varieties of democracy. Statizoid refreshes it automatically from the source and publishes the full history for both places.

Individual pages

About this data

Indicator: Varieties 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.