Self-reported life satisfaction in Botswana
Botswana: Self-reported life satisfaction was 3.46 in 2025. ▼ Falling
Self-reported life satisfaction in Botswana, 2011–2025
Source: Wellbeing Research Centre (2026) – with major processing by Our World in Data.
Analysis
The most recent figure for self-reported life satisfaction in Botswana is 3.46, measured in 2025.
Compared with earlier readings it is up 0.8% on the previous year and down 12.8% over ten years.
Over the whole period, self-reported life satisfaction in Botswana peaked at 4.58 in 2011 and was at its lowest, 3.38, in 2023.
Botswana ranks 150th of 157 countries on this measure, in the bottom quarter.
The long-run direction has been consistently falling across the 14 years of available data.
Self-reported life satisfaction in Botswana, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2011 | 4.58 | — |
| 2012 | 3.97 | -13.3% |
| 2014 | 4.33 | +9.1% |
| 2015 | 3.97 | -8.3% |
| 2016 | 3.77 | -5.2% |
| 2017 | 3.59 | -4.7% |
| 2018 | 3.49 | -2.8% |
| 2019 | 3.48 | -0.3% |
| 2020 | 3.47 | -0.3% |
| 2021 | 3.47 | +0.1% |
| 2022 | 3.44 | -1.0% |
| 2023 | 3.38 | -1.5% |
| 2024 | 3.44 | +1.6% |
| 2025 | 3.46 | +0.8% |
Botswana compared with similar countries
- Botswana's 3.46 is below the median for upper middle income countries, which is 5.94, 58% of the median. (43 countries reporting)
- Botswana's 3.46 is below the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 4.38, 79% of the median. (42 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2010s | 3.9 | 3.48 | 4.58 | 8 |
| 2020s | 3.44 | 3.38 | 3.47 | 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 self-reported life satisfaction in Botswana?
- Self-reported life satisfaction in Botswana was 3.46 in 2025, according to Wellbeing Research Centre (2026) – with major processing by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest self-reported life satisfaction recorded in Botswana?
- The highest recorded value was 4.58 in 2011.
- What is the lowest self-reported life satisfaction recorded in Botswana?
- The lowest recorded value was 3.38 in 2023.
- How does Botswana rank for self-reported life satisfaction?
- Botswana ranks 150th out of 157 countries with data for 2025.
- Is self-reported life satisfaction rising or falling in Botswana?
- Over the last ten years it is down 12.8%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this Botswana data come from?
- The figures come from Wellbeing Research Centre (2026) – with major processing by Our World in Data, published as part of Self-reported life satisfaction. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
CSV · JSON — 14 observations, free to reuse under CC BY 4.0 (Our World in Data).
About this data
Average of survey responses. The survey question asks respondents their current position on a hypothetical ladder, where the best possible life for them is a 10, and the worst possible life is a 0.