Distribution of Democracy Index in Botswana
Botswana: Distribution of Democracy Index was 18 in 2018. ▲ Rising
Distribution of Democracy Index in Botswana, 1966–2018
Source: Polity 5 (2020) – processed by Our World in Data.
Analysis
The most recent figure for distribution of democracy index in Botswana is 18, measured in 2018. That is the highest value across all 53 years on record.
The figure is unchanged over ten years.
Over the whole period, distribution of democracy index in Botswana peaked at 18 in 1997 and was at its lowest, 16, in 1966.
Botswana ranks 52nd of 167 countries on this measure, in the middle of the range.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 53 years of available data.
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1960s | 16 | 16 | 16 | 4 |
| 1970s | 16 | 16 | 16 | 10 |
| 1980s | 16.3 | 16 | 17 | 10 |
| 1990s | 17.3 | 17 | 18 | 10 |
| 2000s | 18 | 18 | 18 | 10 |
| 2010s | 18 | 18 | 18 | 9 |
Countries ranked near Botswana
- 52 Belgium 18 compare
- 52 Brazil 18 compare
- 52 East Timor 18 compare
- 52 El Salvador 18 compare
- 52 Ghana 18 compare
- 52 Guatemala 18 compare
- 52 Kyrgyzstan 18 compare
- 52 Latvia 18 compare
- 52 Lesotho 18 compare
- 52 Mexico 18 compare
- 52 Myanmar 18 compare
- 52 Philippines 18 compare
- 52 Serbia 18 compare
- 52 Solomon Islands 18 compare
- 52 South Korea 18 compare
- 52 United Kingdom 18 compare
- 52 United States 18 compare
More social development data for Botswana
- Political Rights Rating 2 (2025)
- Refugees under the mandate of the UNHCR by country or territory of asy 847 (2025)
- Refugees under the mandate of the UNHCR by country or territory of ori 384 (2025)
- Electoral democracy 1 (2025)
- Key features of democracy 0.665 (2025)
- Freedom of Expression Index 0.798 (2025)
- Freedom of Association Index 0.85 (2025)
- Electoral Democracy Index 0.665 (2025)
- Participatory Democracy Index 0.369 (2025)
- Liberal Democracy Index 0.52 (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is distribution of democracy index in Botswana?
- Distribution of democracy index in Botswana was 18 in 2018, according to Polity 5 (2020) – processed by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest distribution of democracy index recorded in Botswana?
- The highest recorded value was 18 in 1997.
- What is the lowest distribution of democracy index recorded in Botswana?
- The lowest recorded value was 16 in 1966.
- How does Botswana rank for distribution of democracy index?
- Botswana ranks 52nd out of 167 countries with data for 2018.
- Is distribution of democracy index rising or falling in Botswana?
- Over the last ten years it is unchanged. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this Botswana data come from?
- The figures come from Polity 5 (2020) – processed by Our World in Data, published as part of Distribution of Democracy Index. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
CSV · JSON — 53 observations, free to reuse under CC BY 4.0 (Our World in Data).
About this data
It combines information on the extent to which open, multi-party, and competitive elections choose a chief executive who faces comprehensive institutional constraints, and political participation is competitive. It ranges from 0 to 20 (fully democratic).