What is participatory democracy index in Botswana?

Participatory democracy index in Botswana was 0.369 in 2025, according to V-Dem (2026) – processed by Our World in Data.

What is the highest participatory democracy index recorded in Botswana?

The highest recorded value was 0.478 in 2005.

What is the lowest participatory democracy index recorded in Botswana?

The lowest recorded value was 0.017 in 1900.

How does Botswana rank for participatory democracy index?

Botswana ranks 67th out of 176 countries with data for 2025.

Is participatory democracy index rising or falling in Botswana?

Over the last ten years it is down 15.8%. 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 Participatory Democracy Index. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.

Participatory Democracy Index in Botswana

Name: Participatory Democracy Index in Botswana
Creator: V-Dem (2026) – processed by Our World in Data
License: CC BY 4.0 (Our World in Data)

Botswana: Participatory Democracy Index was 0.369 in 2025. ◆ Volatile

Latest (2025)

0.369

Change on year

up 11.5%

World rank

67th

of 176 countries

All-time high

0.478

in 2005

All-time low

0.017

in 1900

Years of data

126

1900–2025

Participatory Democracy Index in Botswana, 1900–2025

Source: V-Dem (2026) – processed by Our World in Data.

Analysis

The most recent figure for participatory democracy index in Botswana is 0.369, measured in 2025.

The figure is up 11.5% on the previous year and down 15.8% over ten years.

Over the whole period, participatory democracy index in Botswana peaked at 0.478 in 2005 and was at its lowest, 0.017, in 1900.

That places Botswana 67th out of 176 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.

Participatory Democracy Index in Botswana, year by year

Annual values for Participatory Democracy Index in Botswana, 1900 to 2025.
Year	Value	Change
1900	0.017	—
1901	0.017	+0.0%
1902	0.017	+0.0%
1903	0.017	+0.0%
1904	0.017	+0.0%
1905	0.017	+0.0%
1906	0.017	+0.0%
1907	0.017	+0.0%
1908	0.017	+0.0%
1909	0.017	+0.0%
1910	0.017	+0.0%
1911	0.017	+0.0%
1912	0.017	+0.0%
1913	0.017	+0.0%
1914	0.017	+0.0%
1915	0.017	+0.0%
1916	0.017	+0.0%
1917	0.017	+0.0%
1918	0.017	+0.0%
1919	0.017	+0.0%
1920	0.017	+0.0%
1921	0.017	+0.0%
1922	0.017	+0.0%
1923	0.017	+0.0%
1924	0.017	+0.0%
1925	0.017	+0.0%
1926	0.017	+0.0%
1927	0.017	+0.0%
1928	0.017	+0.0%
1929	0.017	+0.0%
1930	0.017	+0.0%
1931	0.017	+0.0%
1932	0.017	+0.0%
1933	0.017	+0.0%
1934	0.017	+0.0%
1935	0.017	+0.0%
1936	0.017	+0.0%
1937	0.017	+0.0%
1938	0.017	+0.0%
1939	0.017	+0.0%
1940	0.017	+0.0%
1941	0.017	+0.0%
1942	0.017	+0.0%
1943	0.017	+0.0%
1944	0.017	+0.0%
1945	0.017	+0.0%
1946	0.017	+0.0%
1947	0.019	+11.8%
1948	0.019	+0.0%
1949	0.02	+5.3%
1950	0.02	+0.0%
1951	0.02	+0.0%
1952	0.02	+0.0%
1953	0.02	+0.0%
1954	0.02	+0.0%
1955	0.02	+0.0%
1956	0.02	+0.0%
1957	0.021	+5.0%
1958	0.021	+0.0%
1959	0.022	+4.8%
1960	0.024	+9.1%
1961	0.039	+62.5%
1962	0.045	+15.4%
1963	0.045	+0.0%
1964	0.045	+0.0%
1965	0.117	+160.0%
1966	0.213	+82.1%
1967	0.304	+42.7%
1968	0.348	+14.5%
1969	0.352	+1.1%
1970	0.366	+4.0%
1971	0.366	+0.0%
1972	0.366	+0.0%
1973	0.366	+0.0%
1974	0.367	+0.3%
1975	0.367	+0.0%
1976	0.368	+0.3%
1977	0.368	+0.0%
1978	0.368	+0.0%
1979	0.369	+0.3%
1980	0.368	-0.3%
1981	0.371	+0.8%
1982	0.392	+5.7%
1983	0.392	+0.0%
1984	0.399	+1.8%
1985	0.402	+0.8%
1986	0.406	+1.0%
1987	0.426	+4.9%
1988	0.434	+1.9%
1989	0.435	+0.2%
1990	0.447	+2.8%
1991	0.447	+0.0%
1992	0.446	-0.2%
1993	0.444	-0.4%
1994	0.438	-1.4%
1995	0.439	+0.2%
1996	0.438	-0.2%
1997	0.455	+3.9%
1998	0.466	+2.4%
1999	0.467	+0.2%
2000	0.467	+0.0%
2001	0.467	+0.0%
2002	0.467	+0.0%
2003	0.467	+0.0%
2004	0.474	+1.5%
2005	0.478	+0.8%
2006	0.475	-0.6%
2007	0.473	-0.4%
2008	0.471	-0.4%
2009	0.466	-1.1%
2010	0.462	-0.9%
2011	0.462	+0.0%
2012	0.461	-0.2%
2013	0.457	-0.9%
2014	0.457	+0.0%
2015	0.438	-4.2%
2016	0.434	-0.9%
2017	0.407	-6.2%
2018	0.414	+1.7%
2019	0.391	-5.6%
2020	0.36	-7.9%
2021	0.393	+9.2%
2022	0.372	-5.3%
2023	0.317	-14.8%
2024	0.331	+4.4%
2025	0.369	+11.5%

Botswana compared with similar countries

Botswana's 0.369 is above the median for upper middle income countries, which is 0.294, 1.3× the median. (48 countries reporting)
Botswana's 0.369 is above the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 0.2095, 1.8× the median. (48 countries reporting)

Averages by decade

Decade	Average	Lowest	Highest	Years
1900s	0.017	0.017	0.017	10
1910s	0.017	0.017	0.017	10
1920s	0.017	0.017	0.017	10
1930s	0.017	0.017	0.017	10
1940s	0.0177	0.017	0.02	10
1950s	0.0204	0.02	0.022	10
1960s	0.1532	0.024	0.352	10
1970s	0.3671	0.366	0.369	10
1980s	0.4025	0.368	0.435	10
1990s	0.4487	0.438	0.467	10
2000s	0.4705	0.466	0.478	10
2010s	0.4383	0.391	0.462	10
2020s	0.357	0.317	0.393	6

Countries ranked near Botswana

64 Bulgaria 0.397 compare
65 Sao Tome and Principe 0.391 compare
66 Moldova 0.389 compare
68 Malawi 0.366 compare
69 Ghana 0.361 compare
70 North Macedonia 0.354 compare

See the full ranking of 176 places →

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)

All data for Botswana →

Frequently asked questions

What is participatory democracy index in Botswana?: Participatory democracy index in Botswana was 0.369 in 2025, according to V-Dem (2026) – processed by Our World in Data.
What is the highest participatory democracy index recorded in Botswana?: The highest recorded value was 0.478 in 2005.
What is the lowest participatory democracy index recorded in Botswana?: The lowest recorded value was 0.017 in 1900.
How does Botswana rank for participatory democracy index?: Botswana ranks 67th out of 176 countries with data for 2025.
Is participatory democracy index rising or falling in Botswana?: Over the last ten years it is down 15.8%. 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 Participatory Democracy Index. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.

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Participatory Democracy Index in Botswana. Statizoid, drawing on V-Dem (2026) – processed by Our World in Data. Retrieved 22 September 2026, from https://social-development.statizoid.com/stat/participatory-democracy-index/botswana/

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About this data

Indicator: Participatory Democracy Index
Source: V-Dem (2026) – processed by Our World in Data
Licence: CC BY 4.0 (Our World in Data)
Coverage: 176 places, 29,363 data points, 1789–2025
Last refreshed: 18 September 2026

Central estimate of the extent of suffrage, the freedom and fairness of elections, freedoms of association and expression, as well as the extent to which citizens can engage in regional and local government, civil society organizations, and direct democracy.