Direct Democracy Index in Botswana
Botswana: Direct Democracy Index was 0.013 in 2025. ◆ Volatile
Latest (2025)
0.013
Change on year
unchanged
World rank
128th
of 175 countries
All-time high
0.131
in 1987
All-time low
0
in 1900
Years of data
126
1900–2025
Direct Democracy Index in Botswana, 1900–2025
Source: V-Dem (2026) – processed by Our World in Data.
Analysis
The most recent figure for direct democracy index in Botswana is 0.013, measured in 2025.
Compared with earlier readings it is down 75.0% over ten years.
Over the whole period, direct democracy index in Botswana peaked at 0.131 in 1987 and was at its lowest, 0, in 1900.
Botswana ranks 128th of 175 countries on this measure, in the middle of the range.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Direct Democracy Index in Botswana, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1900 | 0 | — |
| 1901 | 0 | — |
| 1902 | 0 | — |
| 1903 | 0 | — |
| 1904 | 0 | — |
| 1905 | 0 | — |
| 1906 | 0 | — |
| 1907 | 0 | — |
| 1908 | 0 | — |
| 1909 | 0 | — |
| 1910 | 0 | — |
| 1911 | 0 | — |
| 1912 | 0 | — |
| 1913 | 0 | — |
| 1914 | 0 | — |
| 1915 | 0 | — |
| 1916 | 0 | — |
| 1917 | 0 | — |
| 1918 | 0 | — |
| 1919 | 0 | — |
| 1920 | 0 | — |
| 1921 | 0 | — |
| 1922 | 0 | — |
| 1923 | 0 | — |
| 1924 | 0 | — |
| 1925 | 0 | — |
| 1926 | 0 | — |
| 1927 | 0 | — |
| 1928 | 0 | — |
| 1929 | 0 | — |
| 1930 | 0 | — |
| 1931 | 0 | — |
| 1932 | 0 | — |
| 1933 | 0 | — |
| 1934 | 0 | — |
| 1935 | 0 | — |
| 1936 | 0 | — |
| 1937 | 0 | — |
| 1938 | 0 | — |
| 1939 | 0 | — |
| 1940 | 0 | — |
| 1941 | 0 | — |
| 1942 | 0 | — |
| 1943 | 0 | — |
| 1944 | 0 | — |
| 1945 | 0 | — |
| 1946 | 0 | — |
| 1947 | 0 | — |
| 1948 | 0 | — |
| 1949 | 0 | — |
| 1950 | 0 | — |
| 1951 | 0 | — |
| 1952 | 0 | — |
| 1953 | 0 | — |
| 1954 | 0 | — |
| 1955 | 0 | — |
| 1956 | 0 | — |
| 1957 | 0 | — |
| 1958 | 0 | — |
| 1959 | 0 | — |
| 1960 | 0 | — |
| 1961 | 0 | — |
| 1962 | 0 | — |
| 1963 | 0 | — |
| 1964 | 0 | — |
| 1965 | 0 | — |
| 1966 | 0.013 | — |
| 1967 | 0.013 | +0.0% |
| 1968 | 0.013 | +0.0% |
| 1969 | 0.013 | +0.0% |
| 1970 | 0.013 | +0.0% |
| 1971 | 0.013 | +0.0% |
| 1972 | 0.013 | +0.0% |
| 1973 | 0.013 | +0.0% |
| 1974 | 0.013 | +0.0% |
| 1975 | 0.013 | +0.0% |
| 1976 | 0.013 | +0.0% |
| 1977 | 0.013 | +0.0% |
| 1978 | 0.013 | +0.0% |
| 1979 | 0.013 | +0.0% |
| 1980 | 0.013 | +0.0% |
| 1981 | 0.013 | +0.0% |
| 1982 | 0.013 | +0.0% |
| 1983 | 0.013 | +0.0% |
| 1984 | 0.013 | +0.0% |
| 1985 | 0.013 | +0.0% |
| 1986 | 0.013 | +0.0% |
| 1987 | 0.131 | +907.7% |
| 1988 | 0.131 | +0.0% |
| 1989 | 0.131 | +0.0% |
| 1990 | 0.131 | +0.0% |
| 1991 | 0.131 | +0.0% |
| 1992 | 0.123 | -6.1% |
| 1993 | 0.116 | -5.7% |
| 1994 | 0.108 | -6.9% |
| 1995 | 0.1 | -7.4% |
| 1996 | 0.092 | -8.0% |
| 1997 | 0.131 | +42.4% |
| 1998 | 0.131 | +0.0% |
| 1999 | 0.131 | +0.0% |
| 2000 | 0.131 | +0.0% |
| 2001 | 0.131 | +0.0% |
| 2002 | 0.131 | +0.0% |
| 2003 | 0.131 | +0.0% |
| 2004 | 0.131 | +0.0% |
| 2005 | 0.131 | +0.0% |
| 2006 | 0.123 | -6.1% |
| 2007 | 0.116 | -5.7% |
| 2008 | 0.108 | -6.9% |
| 2009 | 0.1 | -7.4% |
| 2010 | 0.092 | -8.0% |
| 2011 | 0.084 | -8.7% |
| 2012 | 0.076 | -9.5% |
| 2013 | 0.068 | -10.5% |
| 2014 | 0.06 | -11.8% |
| 2015 | 0.052 | -13.3% |
| 2016 | 0.045 | -13.5% |
| 2017 | 0.037 | -17.8% |
| 2018 | 0.029 | -21.6% |
| 2019 | 0.021 | -27.6% |
| 2020 | 0.013 | -38.1% |
| 2021 | 0.013 | +0.0% |
| 2022 | 0.013 | +0.0% |
| 2023 | 0.013 | +0.0% |
| 2024 | 0.013 | +0.0% |
| 2025 | 0.013 | +0.0% |
Botswana compared with similar countries
- Botswana's 0.013 is below the median for upper middle income countries, which is 0.06, 22% of the median. (48 countries reporting)
- Botswana's 0.013 is below the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 0.033, 39% of the median. (48 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1900s | 0 | 0 | 0 | 10 |
| 1910s | 0 | 0 | 0 | 10 |
| 1920s | 0 | 0 | 0 | 10 |
| 1930s | 0 | 0 | 0 | 10 |
| 1940s | 0 | 0 | 0 | 10 |
| 1950s | 0 | 0 | 0 | 10 |
| 1960s | 0.0052 | 0 | 0.013 | 10 |
| 1970s | 0.013 | 0.013 | 0.013 | 10 |
| 1980s | 0.0484 | 0.013 | 0.131 | 10 |
| 1990s | 0.1194 | 0.092 | 0.131 | 10 |
| 2000s | 0.1233 | 0.1 | 0.131 | 10 |
| 2010s | 0.0564 | 0.021 | 0.092 | 10 |
| 2020s | 0.013 | 0.013 | 0.013 | 6 |
Countries ranked near Botswana
- 128 Czechia 0.013 compare
- 128 El Salvador 0.013 compare
- 128 Eswatini 0.013 compare
- 128 Ethiopia 0.013 compare
- 128 Guyana 0.013 compare
- 128 Iraq 0.013 compare
- 128 Israel 0.013 compare
- 128 Jamaica 0.013 compare
- 128 Lesotho 0.013 compare
- 128 Malawi 0.013 compare
- 128 Panama 0.013 compare
- 128 Papua New Guinea 0.013 compare
- 128 Yemen 0.013 compare
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 direct democracy index in Botswana?
- Direct democracy index in Botswana was 0.013 in 2025, according to V-Dem (2026) – processed by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest direct democracy index recorded in Botswana?
- The highest recorded value was 0.131 in 1987.
- What is the lowest direct democracy index recorded in Botswana?
- The lowest recorded value was 0 in 1900.
- How does Botswana rank for direct democracy index?
- Botswana ranks 128th out of 175 countries with data for 2025.
- Is direct democracy index rising or falling in Botswana?
- Over the last ten years it is down 75.0%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Botswana data come from?
- The figures come from V-Dem (2026) – processed by Our World in Data, published as part of Direct Democracy Index. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
CSV · JSON — 126 observations, free to reuse under CC BY 4.0 (Our World in Data).
About this data
Measures the extent of how easy it is for citizens to vote on specific issues themselves in popular initiatives, referendums, and plebiscites.