Asylum-seekers by country or territory of asylum in Botswana
Botswana: Asylum-seekers by country or territory of asylum was 21 in 2025. ◆ Volatile
Asylum-seekers by country or territory of asylum in Botswana, 2000–2025
Source: Refugee Population Statistics Database, UN High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR).
Analysis
Botswana recorded 21 for asylum-seekers by country or territory of asylum in 2025.
That represents a change of up 200.0% on the previous year and down 84.2% over ten years.
Over the whole period, asylum-seekers by country or territory of asylum in Botswana peaked at 1,075 in 2003 and was at its lowest, 0, in 2006.
Botswana ranks 148th of 179 countries on this measure, in the bottom quarter.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Asylum-seekers by country or territory of asylum in Botswana, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2000 | 65 | — |
| 2001 | 716 | +1001.5% |
| 2002 | 974 | +36.0% |
| 2003 | 1,075 | +10.4% |
| 2004 | 1,030 | -4.2% |
| 2005 | 52 | -95.0% |
| 2006 | 0 | -100.0% |
| 2007 | 5 | — |
| 2008 | 181 | +3520.0% |
| 2009 | 202 | +11.6% |
| 2010 | 251 | +24.3% |
| 2011 | 244 | -2.8% |
| 2012 | 212 | -13.1% |
| 2013 | 173 | -18.4% |
| 2014 | 195 | +12.7% |
| 2015 | 133 | -31.8% |
| 2016 | 78 | -41.4% |
| 2017 | 65 | -16.7% |
| 2018 | 268 | +312.3% |
| 2019 | 150 | -44.0% |
| 2020 | 422 | +181.3% |
| 2021 | 58 | -86.3% |
| 2022 | 97 | +67.2% |
| 2023 | 97 | +0.0% |
| 2024 | 7 | -92.8% |
| 2025 | 21 | +200.0% |
Botswana compared with similar countries
- Botswana's 21 is below the median for upper middle income countries, which is 538, 4% of the median. (48 countries reporting)
- Botswana's 21 is below the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 7,378, 0% of the median. (45 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Asylum-seekers by country or territory of asylum in Botswana changed far more than this series normally does. A large move can be a real event or a change in how the figure was measured — the source note below says who published it.
| Year | Change | From | To |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2008 | +3520.0% | 5 | 181 |
| 2001 | +1001.5% | 65 | 716 |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000s | 430 | 0 | 1,075 | 10 |
| 2010s | 176.9 | 65 | 268 | 10 |
| 2020s | 117 | 7 | 422 | 6 |
Countries ranked near Botswana
More social development data for Botswana
- Refugees under the mandate of the UNHCR by country or territory of 847 (2025)
- Refugees under the mandate of the UNHCR by country or territory of 384 (2025)
- Political Rights Rating 2 (2025)
- Electoral democracy 1 (2025)
- Political rights rating fh, annual growth rate 0 % change on previous year (2025)
- Political rights rating fh, gaps filled 2 (2025)
- Refugees under the mandate of the UNHCR by country or territory of 0.0001 units per person (2025)
- Refugees under the mandate of the UNHCR by country or territory of 384 (2025)
- Refugees under the mandate of the UNHCR by country or territory of 0.0003 units per person (2025)
- Refugees under the mandate of the UNHCR by country or territory of 0 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is asylum-seekers by country or territory of asylum in Botswana?
- Asylum-seekers by country or territory of asylum in Botswana was 21 in 2025, according to Refugee Population Statistics Database, UN High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR).
- What is the highest asylum-seekers by country or territory of asylum recorded in Botswana?
- The highest recorded value was 1,075 in 2003.
- What is the lowest asylum-seekers by country or territory of asylum recorded in Botswana?
- The lowest recorded value was 0 in 2006.
- How does Botswana rank for asylum-seekers by country or territory of asylum?
- Botswana ranks 148th out of 179 countries with data for 2025.
- Is asylum-seekers by country or territory of asylum rising or falling in Botswana?
- Over the last ten years it is down 84.2%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Botswana data come from?
- The figures come from Refugee Population Statistics Database, UN High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), published as part of Asylum-seekers by country or territory of asylum. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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CSV · JSON — 26 observations, free to reuse under CC BY 4.0 (World Bank Open Data).
About this data
Asylum-seekers are individuals who have sought international protection and whose claims for refugee status have not yet been determined. This includes those who are in various stages of the asylum process, such as initial application, appeal, or awaiting final decision. In specific contexts, asylum-seekers may also include those who are seeking protection under complementary forms of protection, and those enjoying temporary protection, but whose claims are still under consideration.