Media Corruption Score in Botswana
Botswana: Media Corruption Score was 0.372 in 2025. ◆ Volatile
Latest (2025)
0.372
Change on year
up 18.8%
World rank
91st
of 175 countries
All-time high
2.44
in 2013
All-time low
-0.183
in 1900
Years of data
126
1900–2025
Media Corruption Score in Botswana, 1900–2025
Source: V-Dem (2026) – processed by Our World in Data.
Analysis
Botswana recorded 0.372 for media corruption score in 2025.
That represents a change of up 18.8% on the previous year and down 76.4% over ten years.
Over the whole period, media corruption score in Botswana peaked at 2.44 in 2013 and was at its lowest, -0.183, in 1900.
That places Botswana 91st out of 175 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.
Media Corruption Score in Botswana, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1900 | -0.183 | — |
| 1901 | -0.183 | -0.0% |
| 1902 | -0.183 | -0.0% |
| 1903 | -0.183 | -0.0% |
| 1904 | -0.183 | -0.0% |
| 1905 | -0.183 | -0.0% |
| 1906 | -0.183 | -0.0% |
| 1907 | -0.183 | -0.0% |
| 1908 | -0.183 | -0.0% |
| 1909 | -0.183 | -0.0% |
| 1910 | -0.183 | -0.0% |
| 1911 | -0.183 | -0.0% |
| 1912 | -0.183 | -0.0% |
| 1913 | -0.183 | -0.0% |
| 1914 | -0.183 | -0.0% |
| 1915 | -0.183 | -0.0% |
| 1916 | -0.183 | -0.0% |
| 1917 | -0.183 | -0.0% |
| 1918 | -0.183 | -0.0% |
| 1919 | -0.183 | -0.0% |
| 1920 | -0.183 | -0.0% |
| 1921 | -0.183 | -0.0% |
| 1922 | -0.183 | -0.0% |
| 1923 | -0.183 | -0.0% |
| 1924 | -0.183 | -0.0% |
| 1925 | -0.183 | -0.0% |
| 1926 | -0.183 | -0.0% |
| 1927 | -0.183 | -0.0% |
| 1928 | -0.183 | -0.0% |
| 1929 | -0.183 | -0.0% |
| 1930 | -0.183 | -0.0% |
| 1931 | -0.183 | -0.0% |
| 1932 | -0.183 | -0.0% |
| 1933 | -0.183 | -0.0% |
| 1934 | -0.183 | -0.0% |
| 1935 | -0.183 | -0.0% |
| 1936 | -0.183 | -0.0% |
| 1937 | -0.183 | -0.0% |
| 1938 | -0.183 | -0.0% |
| 1939 | -0.183 | -0.0% |
| 1940 | -0.183 | -0.0% |
| 1941 | -0.183 | -0.0% |
| 1942 | 0.618 | -437.7% |
| 1943 | 0.618 | +0.0% |
| 1944 | 0.618 | +0.0% |
| 1945 | 0.618 | +0.0% |
| 1946 | 0.618 | +0.0% |
| 1947 | 0.618 | +0.0% |
| 1948 | 0.618 | +0.0% |
| 1949 | 0.618 | +0.0% |
| 1950 | 0.618 | +0.0% |
| 1951 | 0.618 | +0.0% |
| 1952 | 0.618 | +0.0% |
| 1953 | 0.618 | +0.0% |
| 1954 | 0.618 | +0.0% |
| 1955 | 0.618 | +0.0% |
| 1956 | 0.618 | +0.0% |
| 1957 | 0.618 | +0.0% |
| 1958 | 0.618 | +0.0% |
| 1959 | 0.618 | +0.0% |
| 1960 | 0.618 | +0.0% |
| 1961 | 0.618 | +0.0% |
| 1962 | 0.618 | +0.0% |
| 1963 | 0.618 | +0.0% |
| 1964 | 0.618 | +0.0% |
| 1965 | 0.618 | +0.0% |
| 1966 | 1.58 | +156.3% |
| 1967 | 1.58 | +0.0% |
| 1968 | 1.58 | +0.0% |
| 1969 | 1.58 | +0.0% |
| 1970 | 1.58 | +0.0% |
| 1971 | 1.58 | +0.0% |
| 1972 | 1.58 | +0.0% |
| 1973 | 1.58 | +0.0% |
| 1974 | 1.58 | +0.0% |
| 1975 | 1.58 | +0.0% |
| 1976 | 1.58 | +0.0% |
| 1977 | 1.58 | +0.0% |
| 1978 | 1.58 | +0.0% |
| 1979 | 1.58 | +0.0% |
| 1980 | 1.58 | +0.0% |
| 1981 | 1.58 | +0.0% |
| 1982 | 1.58 | +0.0% |
| 1983 | 1.58 | +0.0% |
| 1984 | 1.58 | +0.0% |
| 1985 | 1.58 | +0.0% |
| 1986 | 1.58 | +0.0% |
| 1987 | 1.58 | +0.0% |
| 1988 | 1.58 | +0.0% |
| 1989 | 1.58 | +0.0% |
| 1990 | 1.58 | +0.0% |
| 1991 | 1.58 | +0.0% |
| 1992 | 1.58 | +0.0% |
| 1993 | 1.58 | +0.0% |
| 1994 | 1.58 | +0.0% |
| 1995 | 1.58 | +0.0% |
| 1996 | 1.58 | +0.0% |
| 1997 | 1.58 | +0.0% |
| 1998 | 1.58 | +0.0% |
| 1999 | 1.58 | +0.0% |
| 2000 | 1.58 | +0.0% |
| 2001 | 1.58 | +0.0% |
| 2002 | 1.58 | +0.0% |
| 2003 | 1.58 | +0.0% |
| 2004 | 1.58 | +0.0% |
| 2005 | 1.58 | +0.0% |
| 2006 | 1.58 | +0.0% |
| 2007 | 1.58 | +0.0% |
| 2008 | 1.58 | +0.0% |
| 2009 | 1.58 | +0.0% |
| 2010 | 1.96 | +23.7% |
| 2011 | 1.96 | +0.0% |
| 2012 | 1.96 | +0.0% |
| 2013 | 2.44 | +24.7% |
| 2014 | 2.44 | +0.0% |
| 2015 | 1.57 | -35.7% |
| 2016 | 1.57 | +0.0% |
| 2017 | 1.85 | +17.5% |
| 2018 | 1.85 | +0.0% |
| 2019 | 1.85 | +0.0% |
| 2020 | 1.04 | -43.8% |
| 2021 | 1.24 | +19.2% |
| 2022 | 1.24 | +0.0% |
| 2023 | 0.578 | -53.3% |
| 2024 | 0.313 | -45.8% |
| 2025 | 0.372 | +18.8% |
Botswana compared with similar countries
- Botswana's 0.372 is above the median for upper middle income countries, which is 0.2855, 1.3× the median. (48 countries reporting)
- Botswana's 0.372 is above the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 0.2435, 1.5× the median. (48 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1900s | -0.183 | -0.183 | -0.183 | 10 |
| 1910s | -0.183 | -0.183 | -0.183 | 10 |
| 1920s | -0.183 | -0.183 | -0.183 | 10 |
| 1930s | -0.183 | -0.183 | -0.183 | 10 |
| 1940s | 0.4578 | -0.183 | 0.618 | 10 |
| 1950s | 0.618 | 0.618 | 0.618 | 10 |
| 1960s | 1 | 0.618 | 1.58 | 10 |
| 1970s | 1.58 | 1.58 | 1.58 | 10 |
| 1980s | 1.58 | 1.58 | 1.58 | 10 |
| 1990s | 1.58 | 1.58 | 1.58 | 10 |
| 2000s | 1.58 | 1.58 | 1.58 | 10 |
| 2010s | 1.95 | 1.57 | 2.44 | 10 |
| 2020s | 0.7967 | 0.313 | 1.24 | 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 media corruption score in Botswana?
- Media corruption score in Botswana was 0.372 in 2025, according to V-Dem (2026) – processed by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest media corruption score recorded in Botswana?
- The highest recorded value was 2.44 in 2013.
- What is the lowest media corruption score recorded in Botswana?
- The lowest recorded value was -0.183 in 1900.
- How does Botswana rank for media corruption score?
- Botswana ranks 91st out of 175 countries with data for 2025.
- Is media corruption score rising or falling in Botswana?
- Over the last ten years it is down 76.4%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Botswana data come from?
- The figures come from V-Dem (2026) – processed by Our World in Data, published as part of Media Corruption Score. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
CSV · JSON — 126 observations, free to reuse under CC BY 4.0 (Our World in Data).
About this data
Gauges the frequency with which journalists, publishers, or broadcasters accept payments to modify news content, indicating the integrity (or corruption) of the media sphere.