LGBT+ Rights Index in Botswana
Botswana: LGBT+ Rights Index was 3.42 in 2025. ◆ Volatile
LGBT+ Rights Index in Botswana, 1991–2025
Source: Velasco (2026) – with major processing by Our World in Data.
Analysis
The most recent figure for lgbt+ rights index in Botswana is 3.42, measured in 2025. That is the highest value across all 35 years on record.
That represents a change of up 9,211.2% over ten years.
Over the whole period, lgbt+ rights index in Botswana peaked at 3.42 in 2019 and was at its lowest, -0.85, in 1998.
That places Botswana 75th out of 194 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.
LGBT+ Rights Index in Botswana, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1991 | -0.6625 | — |
| 1992 | -0.6625 | -0.0% |
| 1993 | -0.6625 | -0.0% |
| 1994 | -0.6625 | -0.0% |
| 1995 | -0.725 | +9.4% |
| 1996 | -0.725 | -0.0% |
| 1997 | -0.725 | -0.0% |
| 1998 | -0.85 | +17.2% |
| 1999 | -0.85 | -0.0% |
| 2000 | -0.85 | -0.0% |
| 2001 | -0.85 | -0.0% |
| 2002 | -0.85 | -0.0% |
| 2003 | -0.85 | -0.0% |
| 2004 | -0.85 | -0.0% |
| 2005 | -0.85 | -0.0% |
| 2006 | -0.85 | -0.0% |
| 2007 | -0.85 | -0.0% |
| 2008 | -0.85 | -0.0% |
| 2009 | -0.6 | -29.4% |
| 2010 | 0.15 | -125.0% |
| 2011 | 0.15 | +0.0% |
| 2012 | 0.15 | +0.0% |
| 2013 | 0.15 | +0.0% |
| 2014 | -0.0375 | -125.0% |
| 2015 | -0.0375 | -0.0% |
| 2016 | -0.0375 | -0.0% |
| 2017 | 0.7958 | -2222.1% |
| 2018 | 0.7958 | +0.0% |
| 2019 | 3.42 | +329.3% |
| 2020 | 3.42 | +0.0% |
| 2021 | 3.42 | +0.0% |
| 2022 | 3.42 | +0.0% |
| 2023 | 3.42 | +0.0% |
| 2024 | 3.42 | +0.0% |
| 2025 | 3.42 | +0.0% |
Botswana compared with similar countries
- Botswana's 3.42 is above the median for upper middle income countries, which is 2, 1.7× the median. (58 countries reporting)
- Botswana's 3.42 is above the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is -0.6687. (48 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | -0.725 | -0.85 | -0.6625 | 9 |
| 2000s | -0.825 | -0.85 | -0.6 | 10 |
| 2010s | 0.5496 | -0.0375 | 3.42 | 10 |
| 2020s | 3.42 | 3.42 | 3.42 | 6 |
Countries ranked near Botswana
- 73 Ukraine 3.67 compare
- 74 Micronesia (country) 3.5 compare
- 76 Mozambique 3.08 compare
- 77 Nicaragua 2.83 compare
- 78 Poland 2.75 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 lgbt+ rights index in Botswana?
- Lgbt+ rights index in Botswana was 3.42 in 2025, according to Velasco (2026) – with major processing by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest lgbt+ rights index recorded in Botswana?
- The highest recorded value was 3.42 in 2019.
- What is the lowest lgbt+ rights index recorded in Botswana?
- The lowest recorded value was -0.85 in 1998.
- How does Botswana rank for lgbt+ rights index?
- Botswana ranks 75th out of 194 countries with data for 2025.
- Is lgbt+ rights index rising or falling in Botswana?
- Over the last ten years it is up 9,211.2%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Botswana data come from?
- The figures come from Velasco (2026) – with major processing by Our World in Data, published as part of LGBT+ Rights Index. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
CSV · JSON — 35 observations, free to reuse under CC BY 4.0 (Our World in Data).
About this data
Summary measure of a country's LGBTI-related laws, calculated by subtracting the sum of its regressive policy scores from the sum of its progressive policy scores.