Open defecation in rural areas vs. urban areas in Botswana
Botswana: Open defecation in rural areas vs. urban areas was 16.7% in 2024. ▼ Falling
Open defecation in rural areas vs. urban areas in Botswana, 2000–2024
Source: WHO/UNICEF Joint Monitoring Programme for Water Supply, Sanitation and Hygiene (2025) – processed by Our World in Data. Measured in %.
Analysis
The most recent figure for open defecation in rural areas vs. urban areas in Botswana is 16.7%, measured in 2024. That is the lowest value across all 25 years on record.
The figure is down 6.2% on the previous year and down 39.8% over ten years.
Over the whole period, open defecation in rural areas vs. urban areas in Botswana peaked at 43.1% in 2000 and was at its lowest, 16.7%, in 2024.
That places Botswana 34th out of 175 countries with data for 2024, putting it in the top quarter.
The long-run direction has been consistently falling across the 25 years of available data.
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000s | 38.1% | 33.2% | 43.1% | 10 |
| 2010s | 27.1% | 22.2% | 32.1% | 10 |
| 2020s | 18.9% | 16.7% | 21.1% | 5 |
Countries ranked near Botswana
- 31 Zimbabwe 18.8% compare
- 32 Marshall Islands 18.7% compare
- 33 Papua New Guinea 17.3% compare
- 35 Afghanistan 15.4% compare
- 36 Laos 14.3% compare
- 37 Guinea-Bissau 14.2% compare
More reference data data for Botswana
- Temperature anomalies by month -0.391 °C (2026)
- Spring temperature anomalies -1.39 °C (2026)
- Summer temperature anomalies 0.8179 °C (2026)
- Competitive elections 1 (2025)
- Universal right to vote 2 (2025)
- Free country 2 (2025)
- Civil liberties rating 2 (2025)
- Men's universal right to vote 1 (2025)
- Chief executive of the government is elected 1 (2025)
- Democracy 6 (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is open defecation in rural areas vs. urban areas in Botswana?
- Open defecation in rural areas vs. urban areas in Botswana was 16.7% in 2024, according to WHO/UNICEF Joint Monitoring Programme for Water Supply, Sanitation and Hygiene (2025) – processed by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest open defecation in rural areas vs. urban areas recorded in Botswana?
- The highest recorded value was 43.1% in 2000.
- What is the lowest open defecation in rural areas vs. urban areas recorded in Botswana?
- The lowest recorded value was 16.7% in 2024.
- How does Botswana rank for open defecation in rural areas vs. urban areas?
- Botswana ranks 34th out of 175 countries with data for 2024.
- Is open defecation in rural areas vs. urban areas rising or falling in Botswana?
- Over the last ten years it is down 39.8%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this Botswana data come from?
- The figures come from WHO/UNICEF Joint Monitoring Programme for Water Supply, Sanitation and Hygiene (2025) – processed by Our World in Data, published as part of Open defecation in rural areas vs. urban areas. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
CSV · JSON — 25 observations, free to reuse under CC BY 4.0 (Our World in Data).
About this data
Share of people who practice open defecation. This includes defecating in fields, forests, bushes, bodies of water or other open spaces, not using any sanitation facilities.