Homicides in Botswana
Botswana: Homicides was 273 homicides in 2021. ▬ Flat
Homicides 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.
Analysis
The most recent figure for homicides in Botswana is 273 homicides, measured in 2021.
That represents a change of up 23.5% on the previous year and down 9.9% over ten years.
Over the whole period, homicides in Botswana peaked at 312 homicides in 2003 and was at its lowest, 213 homicides, in 2001.
Botswana ranks 73rd of 179 countries on this measure, in the middle of the range.
Homicides in Botswana, year by year
| Year | homicides | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2001 | 213 homicides | — |
| 2002 | 255 homicides | +19.7% |
| 2003 | 312 homicides | +22.4% |
| 2004 | 259 homicides | -17.0% |
| 2005 | 291 homicides | +12.4% |
| 2006 | 261 homicides | -10.3% |
| 2007 | 280 homicides | +7.3% |
| 2008 | 281 homicides | +0.4% |
| 2009 | 289 homicides | +2.8% |
| 2010 | 303 homicides | +4.8% |
| 2020 | 221 homicides | -27.1% |
| 2021 | 273 homicides | +23.5% |
Botswana compared with similar countries
- Botswana's 273 homicides is above the median for upper middle income countries, which is 241.5 homicides, 1.1× the median. (52 countries reporting)
- Botswana's 273 homicides is below the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 539.5 homicides, 51% of the median. (22 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000s | 271.22 homicides | 213 homicides | 312 homicides | 9 |
| 2010s | 303 homicides | 303 homicides | 303 homicides | 1 |
| 2020s | 247 homicides | 221 homicides | 273 homicides | 2 |
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 homicides in Botswana?
- Homicides in Botswana was 273 homicides 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 homicides recorded in Botswana?
- The highest recorded value was 312 homicides in 2003.
- What is the lowest homicides recorded in Botswana?
- The lowest recorded value was 213 homicides in 2001.
- How does Botswana rank for homicides?
- Botswana ranks 73rd out of 179 countries with data for 2021.
- Is homicides rising or falling in Botswana?
- Over the last ten years it is down 9.9%. The long-run trend across the full record is flat.
- 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 Homicides. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
CSV · JSON — 12 observations, free to reuse under CC BY 4.0 (Our World in Data).
About this data
Number of intentional homicides.