What is democracy in Botswana?

Democracy in Botswana was 2 in 2018, according to Polity 5 (2020) – processed by Our World in Data.

What is the highest democracy recorded in Botswana?

The highest recorded value was 2 in 1966.

What is the lowest democracy recorded in Botswana?

The lowest recorded value was 2 in 1966.

How does Botswana rank for democracy?

Botswana ranks 1st out of 168 countries with data for 2018.

Is democracy rising or falling in Botswana?

Over the last ten years it is unchanged. The long-run trend across the full record is flat.

Where does this Botswana data come from?

The figures come from Polity 5 (2020) – processed by Our World in Data, published as part of Democracy. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.

Democracy in Botswana

Name: Democracy in Botswana
Creator: Polity 5 (2020) – processed by Our World in Data
License: CC BY 4.0 (Our World in Data)

Botswana: Democracy was 2 in 2018. ▬ Flat

Latest (2018)

Change on year

unchanged

World rank

1st

of 168 countries

All-time high

in 1966

All-time low

in 1966

Years of data

1966–2018

Democracy in Botswana, 1966–2018

Source: Polity 5 (2020) – processed by Our World in Data.

Analysis

Botswana recorded 2 for democracy in 2018. That is the highest value across all 53 years on record.

Compared with earlier readings it is unchanged over ten years.

Over the whole period, democracy in Botswana peaked at 2 in 1966 and was at its lowest, 2, in 1966.

That places Botswana 1st out of 168 countries with data for 2018, putting it in the top 10%.

Democracy in Botswana, year by year

Annual values for Democracy in Botswana, 1966 to 2018.
Year	Value	Change
1966	2	—
1967	2	+0.0%
1968	2	+0.0%
1969	2	+0.0%
1970	2	+0.0%
1971	2	+0.0%
1972	2	+0.0%
1973	2	+0.0%
1974	2	+0.0%
1975	2	+0.0%
1976	2	+0.0%
1977	2	+0.0%
1978	2	+0.0%
1979	2	+0.0%
1980	2	+0.0%
1981	2	+0.0%
1982	2	+0.0%
1983	2	+0.0%
1984	2	+0.0%
1985	2	+0.0%
1986	2	+0.0%
1987	2	+0.0%
1988	2	+0.0%
1989	2	+0.0%
1990	2	+0.0%
1991	2	+0.0%
1992	2	+0.0%
1993	2	+0.0%
1994	2	+0.0%
1995	2	+0.0%
1996	2	+0.0%
1997	2	+0.0%
1998	2	+0.0%
1999	2	+0.0%
2000	2	+0.0%
2001	2	+0.0%
2002	2	+0.0%
2003	2	+0.0%
2004	2	+0.0%
2005	2	+0.0%
2006	2	+0.0%
2007	2	+0.0%
2008	2	+0.0%
2009	2	+0.0%
2010	2	+0.0%
2011	2	+0.0%
2012	2	+0.0%
2013	2	+0.0%
2014	2	+0.0%
2015	2	+0.0%
2016	2	+0.0%
2017	2	+0.0%
2018	2	+0.0%

Botswana compared with similar countries

Botswana's 2 is above the median for upper middle income countries, which is 2, 1.0× the median. (47 countries reporting)
Botswana's 2 is above the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 1, 2.0× the median. (46 countries reporting)

Averages by decade

Decade	Average	Lowest	Highest	Years
1960s	2	2	2	4
1970s	2	2	2	10
1980s	2	2	2	10
1990s	2	2	2	10
2000s	2	2	2	10
2010s	2	2	2	9

Countries ranked near Botswana

See the full ranking of 168 places →

More reference data data for Botswana

Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Manure applied to Soils 0.0472 (2050)
Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Manure left on Pasture 1.37 (2050)
Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - IPCC Agriculture 1.42 (2050)
Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Crop Residues 0.0078 (2050)
Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Agricultural Soils 1.42 (2050)
Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Manure applied to Soils 0.1582 (2050)
Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Manure Management 0.0825 (2050)
Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Manure left on Pasture 6.97 (2050)
Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - IPCC Agriculture 7.25 (2050)
Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Crop Residues 0.0424 (2050)

All data for Botswana →

Frequently asked questions

What is democracy in Botswana?: Democracy in Botswana was 2 in 2018, according to Polity 5 (2020) – processed by Our World in Data.
What is the highest democracy recorded in Botswana?: The highest recorded value was 2 in 1966.
What is the lowest democracy recorded in Botswana?: The lowest recorded value was 2 in 1966.
How does Botswana rank for democracy?: Botswana ranks 1st out of 168 countries with data for 2018.
Is democracy rising or falling in Botswana?: Over the last ten years it is unchanged. The long-run trend across the full record is flat.
Where does this Botswana data come from?: The figures come from Polity 5 (2020) – processed by Our World in Data, published as part of Democracy. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.

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Democracy in Botswana. Statizoid, drawing on Polity 5 (2020) – processed by Our World in Data. Retrieved 22 September 2026, from https://reference.statizoid.com/stat/political-regime-polity/botswana/

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About this data

Indicator: Democracy
Source: Polity 5 (2020) – processed by Our World in Data
Licence: CC BY 4.0 (Our World in Data)
Coverage: 168 places, 18,392 data points, 1776–2020
Last refreshed: 18 September 2026

Identifies the political regime of a country using the Polity 5 data by the Center for Systemic Peace. It distinguishes between autocracies (score 0), anocracies (score 1), and democracies (score 2).