What is varieties of democracy in Botswana?

Varieties of democracy in Botswana was 0.665 in 2025, according to V-Dem (2026) – processed by Our World in Data.

What is the highest varieties of democracy recorded in Botswana?

The highest recorded value was 0.722 in 2006.

What is the lowest varieties of democracy recorded in Botswana?

The lowest recorded value was 0.03 in 1900.

How does Botswana rank for varieties of democracy?

Botswana ranks 59th out of 176 countries with data for 2025.

Is varieties of democracy rising or falling in Botswana?

Over the last ten years it is down 3.6%. 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 Varieties of democracy. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.

Varieties of democracy in Botswana

Name: Varieties of democracy in Botswana
Creator: V-Dem (2026) – processed by Our World in Data
License: CC BY 4.0 (Our World in Data)

Botswana: Varieties of democracy was 0.665 in 2025. ◆ Volatile

Latest (2025)

0.665

Change on year

up 11.8%

World rank

59th

of 176 countries

All-time high

0.722

in 2006

All-time low

0.03

in 1900

Years of data

126

1900–2025

Varieties of democracy in Botswana, 1900–2025

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

Analysis

Botswana recorded 0.665 for varieties of democracy in 2025.

Compared with earlier readings it is up 11.8% on the previous year and down 3.6% over ten years.

Over the whole period, varieties of democracy in Botswana peaked at 0.722 in 2006 and was at its lowest, 0.03, in 1900.

Botswana ranks 59th of 176 countries on this measure, in the middle of the range.

The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.

Varieties of democracy in Botswana, year by year

Annual values for Varieties of democracy in Botswana, 1900 to 2025.
Year	Value	Change
1900	0.03	—
1901	0.03	+0.0%
1902	0.03	+0.0%
1903	0.03	+0.0%
1904	0.03	+0.0%
1905	0.03	+0.0%
1906	0.03	+0.0%
1907	0.03	+0.0%
1908	0.03	+0.0%
1909	0.03	+0.0%
1910	0.03	+0.0%
1911	0.03	+0.0%
1912	0.03	+0.0%
1913	0.03	+0.0%
1914	0.03	+0.0%
1915	0.03	+0.0%
1916	0.03	+0.0%
1917	0.03	+0.0%
1918	0.03	+0.0%
1919	0.03	+0.0%
1920	0.031	+3.3%
1921	0.031	+0.0%
1922	0.031	+0.0%
1923	0.031	+0.0%
1924	0.031	+0.0%
1925	0.031	+0.0%
1926	0.031	+0.0%
1927	0.031	+0.0%
1928	0.031	+0.0%
1929	0.031	+0.0%
1930	0.031	+0.0%
1931	0.031	+0.0%
1932	0.031	+0.0%
1933	0.03	-3.2%
1934	0.033	+10.0%
1935	0.033	+0.0%
1936	0.033	+0.0%
1937	0.033	+0.0%
1938	0.033	+0.0%
1939	0.033	+0.0%
1940	0.033	+0.0%
1941	0.033	+0.0%
1942	0.033	+0.0%
1943	0.032	-3.0%
1944	0.032	+0.0%
1945	0.032	+0.0%
1946	0.033	+3.1%
1947	0.033	+0.0%
1948	0.033	+0.0%
1949	0.034	+3.0%
1950	0.034	+0.0%
1951	0.035	+2.9%
1952	0.035	+0.0%
1953	0.035	+0.0%
1954	0.035	+0.0%
1955	0.035	+0.0%
1956	0.035	+0.0%
1957	0.042	+20.0%
1958	0.042	+0.0%
1959	0.053	+26.2%
1960	0.077	+45.3%
1961	0.183	+137.7%
1962	0.218	+19.1%
1963	0.218	+0.0%
1964	0.218	+0.0%
1965	0.271	+24.3%
1966	0.404	+49.1%
1967	0.594	+47.0%
1968	0.594	+0.0%
1969	0.6	+1.0%
1970	0.624	+4.0%
1971	0.624	+0.0%
1972	0.624	+0.0%
1973	0.624	+0.0%
1974	0.625	+0.2%
1975	0.627	+0.3%
1976	0.632	+0.8%
1977	0.632	+0.0%
1978	0.632	+0.0%
1979	0.632	+0.0%
1980	0.629	-0.5%
1981	0.633	+0.6%
1982	0.643	+1.6%
1983	0.643	+0.0%
1984	0.653	+1.6%
1985	0.655	+0.3%
1986	0.655	+0.0%
1987	0.655	+0.0%
1988	0.664	+1.4%
1989	0.666	+0.3%
1990	0.683	+2.6%
1991	0.683	+0.0%
1992	0.683	+0.0%
1993	0.683	+0.0%
1994	0.676	-1.0%
1995	0.684	+1.2%
1996	0.684	+0.0%
1997	0.698	+2.0%
1998	0.702	+0.6%
1999	0.703	+0.1%
2000	0.702	-0.1%
2001	0.702	+0.0%
2002	0.702	+0.0%
2003	0.702	+0.0%
2004	0.713	+1.6%
2005	0.717	+0.6%
2006	0.722	+0.7%
2007	0.72	-0.3%
2008	0.715	-0.7%
2009	0.712	-0.4%
2010	0.717	+0.7%
2011	0.719	+0.3%
2012	0.719	+0.0%
2013	0.713	-0.8%
2014	0.711	-0.3%
2015	0.69	-3.0%
2016	0.685	-0.7%
2017	0.675	-1.5%
2018	0.672	-0.4%
2019	0.656	-2.4%
2020	0.589	-10.2%
2021	0.587	-0.3%
2022	0.573	-2.4%
2023	0.564	-1.6%
2024	0.595	+5.5%
2025	0.665	+11.8%

Botswana compared with similar countries

Botswana's 0.665 is above the median for upper middle income countries, which is 0.491, 1.4× the median. (48 countries reporting)
Botswana's 0.665 is above the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 0.317, 2.1× the median. (48 countries reporting)

Averages by decade

Decade	Average	Lowest	Highest	Years
1900s	0.03	0.03	0.03	10
1910s	0.03	0.03	0.03	10
1920s	0.031	0.031	0.031	10
1930s	0.0321	0.03	0.033	10
1940s	0.0328	0.032	0.034	10
1950s	0.0381	0.034	0.053	10
1960s	0.3377	0.077	0.6	10
1970s	0.6276	0.624	0.632	10
1980s	0.6496	0.629	0.666	10
1990s	0.6879	0.676	0.703	10
2000s	0.7107	0.702	0.722	10
2010s	0.6957	0.656	0.719	10
2020s	0.5955	0.564	0.665	6

Countries ranked near Botswana

56 Croatia 0.686 compare
57 Colombia 0.679 compare
58 Peru 0.667 compare
60 Lesotho 0.661 compare
61 Nepal 0.656 compare
62 Gambia 0.641 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 varieties of democracy in Botswana?: Varieties of democracy in Botswana was 0.665 in 2025, according to V-Dem (2026) – processed by Our World in Data.
What is the highest varieties of democracy recorded in Botswana?: The highest recorded value was 0.722 in 2006.
What is the lowest varieties of democracy recorded in Botswana?: The lowest recorded value was 0.03 in 1900.
How does Botswana rank for varieties of democracy?: Botswana ranks 59th out of 176 countries with data for 2025.
Is varieties of democracy rising or falling in Botswana?: Over the last ten years it is down 3.6%. 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 Varieties of democracy. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.

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Varieties of democracy 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/varieties-democracy-vdem/botswana/

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About this data

Indicator: Varieties of democracy
Source: V-Dem (2026) – processed by Our World in Data
Licence: CC BY 4.0 (Our World in Data)
Coverage: 176 places, 29,649 data points, 1789–2025
Last refreshed: 18 September 2026

Central estimate of the extent to which political leaders are elected under comprehensive suffrage in free and fair elections, and freedoms of association and expression are guaranteed.