What is freedom of expression index in Botswana?

Freedom of expression index in Botswana was 0.798 in 2025, according to V-Dem (2026) – processed by Our World in Data.

What is the highest freedom of expression index recorded in Botswana?

The highest recorded value was 0.827 in 2007.

What is the lowest freedom of expression index recorded in Botswana?

The lowest recorded value was 0.138 in 1943.

How does Botswana rank for freedom of expression index?

Botswana ranks 65th out of 176 countries with data for 2025.

Is freedom of expression index rising or falling in Botswana?

Over the last ten years it is up 2.2%. 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 Freedom of Expression Index. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.

Freedom of Expression Index in Botswana

Name: Freedom of Expression Index in Botswana
Creator: V-Dem (2026) – processed by Our World in Data
License: CC BY 4.0 (Our World in Data)

Botswana: Freedom of Expression Index was 0.798 in 2025. ◆ Volatile

Latest (2025)

0.798

Change on year

up 0.5%

World rank

65th

of 176 countries

All-time high

0.827

in 2007

All-time low

0.138

in 1943

Years of data

126

1900–2025

Freedom of Expression Index in Botswana, 1900–2025

Source: V-Dem (2026) – processed by Our World in Data.

Analysis

Botswana recorded 0.798 for freedom of expression index in 2025.

The figure is up 0.5% on the previous year and up 2.2% over ten years.

Over the whole period, freedom of expression index in Botswana peaked at 0.827 in 2007 and was at its lowest, 0.138, in 1943.

That places Botswana 65th out of 176 countries with data for 2025, putting it in the middle of the range.

The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.

Freedom of Expression Index in Botswana, year by year

Annual values for Freedom of Expression Index in Botswana, 1900 to 2025.
Year	Value	Change
1900	0.15	—
1901	0.15	+0.0%
1902	0.15	+0.0%
1903	0.15	+0.0%
1904	0.15	+0.0%
1905	0.15	+0.0%
1906	0.15	+0.0%
1907	0.15	+0.0%
1908	0.15	+0.0%
1909	0.15	+0.0%
1910	0.15	+0.0%
1911	0.15	+0.0%
1912	0.15	+0.0%
1913	0.15	+0.0%
1914	0.15	+0.0%
1915	0.148	-1.3%
1916	0.148	+0.0%
1917	0.148	+0.0%
1918	0.148	+0.0%
1919	0.148	+0.0%
1920	0.152	+2.7%
1921	0.152	+0.0%
1922	0.152	+0.0%
1923	0.152	+0.0%
1924	0.152	+0.0%
1925	0.152	+0.0%
1926	0.152	+0.0%
1927	0.152	+0.0%
1928	0.152	+0.0%
1929	0.152	+0.0%
1930	0.152	+0.0%
1931	0.152	+0.0%
1932	0.152	+0.0%
1933	0.147	-3.3%
1934	0.147	+0.0%
1935	0.147	+0.0%
1936	0.147	+0.0%
1937	0.147	+0.0%
1938	0.147	+0.0%
1939	0.147	+0.0%
1940	0.147	+0.0%
1941	0.147	+0.0%
1942	0.147	+0.0%
1943	0.138	-6.1%
1944	0.138	+0.0%
1945	0.138	+0.0%
1946	0.147	+6.5%
1947	0.147	+0.0%
1948	0.147	+0.0%
1949	0.155	+5.4%
1950	0.155	+0.0%
1951	0.155	+0.0%
1952	0.155	+0.0%
1953	0.155	+0.0%
1954	0.155	+0.0%
1955	0.155	+0.0%
1956	0.15	-3.2%
1957	0.15	+0.0%
1958	0.15	+0.0%
1959	0.15	+0.0%
1960	0.172	+14.7%
1961	0.172	+0.0%
1962	0.206	+19.8%
1963	0.206	+0.0%
1964	0.206	+0.0%
1965	0.206	+0.0%
1966	0.732	+255.3%
1967	0.747	+2.0%
1968	0.747	+0.0%
1969	0.747	+0.0%
1970	0.747	+0.0%
1971	0.747	+0.0%
1972	0.747	+0.0%
1973	0.747	+0.0%
1974	0.747	+0.0%
1975	0.747	+0.0%
1976	0.752	+0.7%
1977	0.752	+0.0%
1978	0.752	+0.0%
1979	0.752	+0.0%
1980	0.752	+0.0%
1981	0.755	+0.4%
1982	0.775	+2.6%
1983	0.775	+0.0%
1984	0.79	+1.9%
1985	0.79	+0.0%
1986	0.79	+0.0%
1987	0.79	+0.0%
1988	0.811	+2.7%
1989	0.811	+0.0%
1990	0.811	+0.0%
1991	0.811	+0.0%
1992	0.811	+0.0%
1993	0.811	+0.0%
1994	0.811	+0.0%
1995	0.811	+0.0%
1996	0.811	+0.0%
1997	0.811	+0.0%
1998	0.811	+0.0%
1999	0.811	+0.0%
2000	0.811	+0.0%
2001	0.811	+0.0%
2002	0.811	+0.0%
2003	0.811	+0.0%
2004	0.824	+1.6%
2005	0.824	+0.0%
2006	0.824	+0.0%
2007	0.827	+0.4%
2008	0.814	-1.6%
2009	0.813	-0.1%
2010	0.811	-0.2%
2011	0.814	+0.4%
2012	0.814	+0.0%
2013	0.792	-2.7%
2014	0.792	+0.0%
2015	0.781	-1.4%
2016	0.781	+0.0%
2017	0.798	+2.2%
2018	0.814	+2.0%
2019	0.795	-2.3%
2020	0.776	-2.4%
2021	0.814	+4.9%
2022	0.801	-1.6%
2023	0.809	+1.0%
2024	0.794	-1.9%
2025	0.798	+0.5%

Botswana compared with similar countries

Botswana's 0.798 is above the median for upper middle income countries, which is 0.6745, 1.2× the median. (48 countries reporting)
Botswana's 0.798 is above the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 0.616, 1.3× the median. (48 countries reporting)

Averages by decade

Decade	Average	Lowest	Highest	Years
1900s	0.15	0.15	0.15	10
1910s	0.149	0.148	0.15	10
1920s	0.152	0.152	0.152	10
1930s	0.1485	0.147	0.152	10
1940s	0.1451	0.138	0.155	10
1950s	0.153	0.15	0.155	10
1960s	0.4141	0.172	0.747	10
1970s	0.749	0.747	0.752	10
1980s	0.7839	0.752	0.811	10
1990s	0.811	0.811	0.811	10
2000s	0.817	0.811	0.827	10
2010s	0.7992	0.781	0.814	10
2020s	0.7987	0.776	0.814	6

Countries ranked near Botswana

62 Colombia 0.81 compare
62 Greece 0.81 compare
64 Haiti 0.799 compare
66 Sao Tome and Principe 0.793 compare
67 Zambia 0.778 compare
68 Romania 0.777 compare

See the full ranking of 176 places →

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)

All data for Botswana →

Frequently asked questions

What is freedom of expression index in Botswana?: Freedom of expression index in Botswana was 0.798 in 2025, according to V-Dem (2026) – processed by Our World in Data.
What is the highest freedom of expression index recorded in Botswana?: The highest recorded value was 0.827 in 2007.
What is the lowest freedom of expression index recorded in Botswana?: The lowest recorded value was 0.138 in 1943.
How does Botswana rank for freedom of expression index?: Botswana ranks 65th out of 176 countries with data for 2025.
Is freedom of expression index rising or falling in Botswana?: Over the last ten years it is up 2.2%. 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 Freedom of Expression Index. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.

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Freedom of Expression Index in Botswana. Statizoid, drawing on V-Dem (2026) – processed by Our World in Data. Retrieved 22 September 2026, from https://social-development.statizoid.com/stat/freedom-of-expression-index/botswana/

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About this data

Indicator: Freedom of Expression Index
Source: V-Dem (2026) – processed by Our World in Data
Licence: CC BY 4.0 (Our World in Data)
Coverage: 176 places, 30,035 data points, 1789–2025
Last refreshed: 18 September 2026

Central estimate of the extent to which people can discuss political matters at home and in the public sphere, the press, and media are free and can present different political perspectives, and the freedom of academic and cultural expression.