Homicide rate in 1990 vs. 2020 in Botswana
Botswana: Homicide rate in 1990 vs. 2020 was 11.37 homicides per 100,000 population in 2021. ▼ Falling
Homicide rate in 1990 vs. 2020 in Botswana, 2001–2021
Source: UN, World Population Prospects (2024); United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (2025) – with minor processing by Our World in Data. Measured in homicides per 100,000 population.
Analysis
Botswana recorded 11.37 homicides per 100,000 population for homicide rate in 1990 vs. 2020 in 2021.
The figure is up 21.7% on the previous year and down 23.7% over ten years.
Over the whole period, homicide rate in 1990 vs. 2020 in Botswana peaked at 17.57 homicides per 100,000 population in 2003 and was at its lowest, 9.34 homicides per 100,000 population, in 2020.
That places Botswana 31st out of 178 countries with data for 2021, putting it in the top quarter.
The long-run direction has been consistently falling across the 12 years of available data.
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000s | 14.7 homicides per 100,000 population | 12.44 homicides per 100,000 population | 17.57 homicides per 100,000 population | 9 |
| 2010s | 14.9 homicides per 100,000 population | 14.9 homicides per 100,000 population | 14.9 homicides per 100,000 population | 1 |
| 2020s | 10.35 homicides per 100,000 population | 9.34 homicides per 100,000 population | 11.37 homicides per 100,000 population | 2 |
Countries ranked near Botswana
- 28 Venezuela 12.65 homicides per 100,000 population compare
- 29 Eswatini 12.51 homicides per 100,000 population compare
- 30 Panama 11.71 homicides per 100,000 population compare
- 32 Nicaragua 11.35 homicides per 100,000 population compare
- 33 Uruguay 11.25 homicides per 100,000 population compare
- 34 Namibia 11.21 homicides per 100,000 population compare
More social development data for Botswana
- 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)
- Political Rights Rating 2 (2025)
- Freedom of Association Index 0.85 (2025)
- Liberal Democracy Index 0.52 (2025)
- Electoral democracy 2 (2025)
- Human Rights Index 0.845 (2025)
- Participatory Democracy Index 0.369 (2025)
- Key features of human rights 0.845 (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is homicide rate in 1990 vs. 2020 in Botswana?
- Homicide rate in 1990 vs. 2020 in Botswana was 11.37 homicides per 100,000 population in 2021, according to UN, World Population Prospects (2024); United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (2025) – with minor processing by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest homicide rate in 1990 vs. 2020 recorded in Botswana?
- The highest recorded value was 17.57 homicides per 100,000 population in 2003.
- What is the lowest homicide rate in 1990 vs. 2020 recorded in Botswana?
- The lowest recorded value was 9.34 homicides per 100,000 population in 2020.
- How does Botswana rank for homicide rate in 1990 vs. 2020?
- Botswana ranks 31st out of 178 countries with data for 2021.
- Is homicide rate in 1990 vs. 2020 rising or falling in Botswana?
- Over the last ten years it is down 23.7%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this Botswana data come from?
- The figures come from UN, World Population Prospects (2024); United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (2025) – with minor processing by Our World in Data, published as part of Homicide rate in 1990 vs. 2020. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Intentional homicide rate per 100,000 population.