Homicide rate in Botswana
Botswana: Homicide rate was 11.37 homicides per 100,000 population in 2021. ▼ Falling
Latest (2021)
11.37 homicides per 100,000 population
Change on year
up 21.7%
World rank
31st
of 179 countries
All-time high
17.57 homicides per 100,000 population
in 2003
All-time low
9.34 homicides per 100,000 population
in 2020
Years of data
12
2001–2021
Homicide rate 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 2021.
That represents a change of up 21.7% on the previous year and down 23.7% over ten years.
Over the whole period, homicide rate 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 179 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.
Homicide rate in Botswana, year by year
| Year | homicides per 100,000 population | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2001 | 12.44 homicides per 100,000 population | — |
| 2002 | 14.62 homicides per 100,000 population | +17.5% |
| 2003 | 17.57 homicides per 100,000 population | +20.2% |
| 2004 | 14.33 homicides per 100,000 population | -18.4% |
| 2005 | 15.82 homicides per 100,000 population | +10.4% |
| 2006 | 13.92 homicides per 100,000 population | -12.0% |
| 2007 | 14.65 homicides per 100,000 population | +5.2% |
| 2008 | 14.41 homicides per 100,000 population | -1.6% |
| 2009 | 14.52 homicides per 100,000 population | +0.7% |
| 2010 | 14.9 homicides per 100,000 population | +2.7% |
| 2020 | 9.34 homicides per 100,000 population | -37.3% |
| 2021 | 11.37 homicides per 100,000 population | +21.7% |
Botswana compared with similar countries
- Botswana's 11.37 homicides per 100,000 population is above the median for upper middle income countries, which is 4.06 homicides per 100,000 population, 2.8× the median. (52 countries reporting)
- Botswana's 11.37 homicides per 100,000 population is above the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 5.43 homicides per 100,000 population, 2.1× the median. (22 countries reporting)
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 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 homicide rate in Botswana?
- Homicide rate 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 recorded in Botswana?
- The highest recorded value was 17.57 homicides per 100,000 population in 2003.
- What is the lowest homicide rate recorded in Botswana?
- The lowest recorded value was 9.34 homicides per 100,000 population in 2020.
- How does Botswana rank for homicide rate?
- Botswana ranks 31st out of 179 countries with data for 2021.
- Is homicide rate 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. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Intentional homicide rate per 100,000 population.