GeoRealityMatch
Giraffe standing amidst savannah landscape in Gaborone, Botswana.A majestic giraffe explores the natural bushveld in Gaborone, Botswana.

Botswana

Africa · Southern Africa

High safetyVery affordable cost of livingHigh development

Life expectancy is short.

Safety

50th most peaceful of 161

Global Peace Index
1.823lower is more peacefulHigh safety
#50 of 161
IEP GPI · 2026
Homicides
11.4per 100,000 people a yearVery highUNODC / World Bank · 2021
Safety index
48.3Numbeo's safety index, higher is saferModerateNumbeo · 2026
Money

Incomes below the median country

GNI per person
$7,390national income per person, US dollarsModerate
World Bank · 2025
Rent index
6.6New York = 100Very affordableNumbeo · 2026

Income and inflation over time

Income per person rose 47% in current dollars from 2006 to 2025, and rose 16% after inflation.

GDP per person, current US$At purchasing power parityInflation

$0$13K$25K$20,698 PPP$7,778Inflation, % a year15%0200620102015202020252006, $5,292 a person, $12,563 at PPP, inflation 11.6%2007, $5,529 a person, $13,389 at PPP, inflation 7.1%2008, $5,503 a person, $13,810 at PPP, inflation 12.7%2009, $5,083 a person, $11,686 at PPP, inflation 8%2010, $6,216 a person, $12,753 at PPP, inflation 6.9%2011, $7,287 a person, $13,635 at PPP, inflation 8.5%2012, $6,596 a person, $12,737 at PPP, inflation 7.5%2013, $6,667 a person, $13,621 at PPP, inflation 5.9%2014, $7,122 a person, $15,003 at PPP, inflation 4.4%2015, $6,141 a person, $14,144 at PPP, inflation 3.1%2016, $6,749 a person, $16,228 at PPP, inflation 2.8%2017, $7,105 a person, $15,701 at PPP, inflation 3.3%2018, $7,408 a person, $15,786 at PPP, inflation 3.2%2019, $7,172 a person, $15,960 at PPP, inflation 2.8%2020, $6,323 a person, $15,292 at PPP, inflation 1.9%2021, $7,808 a person, $17,961 at PPP, inflation 7.2%2022, $8,329 a person, $19,974 at PPP, inflation 11.7%2023, $7,827 a person, $21,029 at PPP, inflation 5.1%2024, $7,650 a person, $20,612 at PPP, inflation 2.8%2025, $7,778 a person, $20,698 at PPP, inflation 2.7%$0$13K$25KInflation, % a year15%0200620102015202020252006, $5,292 a person, $12,563 at PPP, inflation 11.6%2007, $5,529 a person, $13,389 at PPP, inflation 7.1%2008, $5,503 a person, $13,810 at PPP, inflation 12.7%2009, $5,083 a person, $11,686 at PPP, inflation 8%2010, $6,216 a person, $12,753 at PPP, inflation 6.9%2011, $7,287 a person, $13,635 at PPP, inflation 8.5%2012, $6,596 a person, $12,737 at PPP, inflation 7.5%2013, $6,667 a person, $13,621 at PPP, inflation 5.9%2014, $7,122 a person, $15,003 at PPP, inflation 4.4%2015, $6,141 a person, $14,144 at PPP, inflation 3.1%2016, $6,749 a person, $16,228 at PPP, inflation 2.8%2017, $7,105 a person, $15,701 at PPP, inflation 3.3%2018, $7,408 a person, $15,786 at PPP, inflation 3.2%2019, $7,172 a person, $15,960 at PPP, inflation 2.8%2020, $6,323 a person, $15,292 at PPP, inflation 1.9%2021, $7,808 a person, $17,961 at PPP, inflation 7.2%2022, $8,329 a person, $19,974 at PPP, inflation 11.7%2023, $7,827 a person, $21,029 at PPP, inflation 5.1%2024, $7,650 a person, $20,612 at PPP, inflation 2.8%2025, $7,778 a person, $20,698 at PPP, inflation 2.7%

World Bank: GDP per person in current US dollars and at PPP, real GDP per person, consumer price inflation. Observed years only.

Health

Below-average life expectancy

Life expectancy
69.3years, at birthLow
#137 of 195
World Bank · 2024
Health coverage
60WHO universal health coverage index, 0 to 100LowWHO · 2023
Air pollution
14.2PM2.5, micrograms per cubic metre, national averageModerateWHO · 2023
Work and internet

Moderate home internet speeds

Unemployment rate
24.5%share of the labour force without a jobWorld Bank · 2025
Home internet
47 Mbpsmedian download speedModerateOokla Speedtest · 2025

Internet speeds

Home internet47 MbpsModerate

Ookla Speedtest Global Index, median download speed, ranked among the countries Ookla lists.

A majestic giraffe explores the natural bushveld in Gaborone, Botswana.
How it changed

Botswana's Human Development Index

0.731High human development

111th of 193 in UNDP's 2023 ranking, 8th of 54 in Africa.

UNDP builds the index from three dimensions: a long and healthy life, being knowledgeable, and a decent standard of living. They are measured by life expectancy at birth, mean and expected years of schooling, and gross national income per capita. UNDP Human Development Report 2025.

Nearest countries by HDI

  1. #108Gabon0.733
  2. #108Marshall Islands0.733
  3. #111Botswana0.731
  4. #111Fiji0.731
  5. #113Indonesia0.728
Full HDI ranking, all 193 countries

HDI since 1990

Year by year

Human development rose from 0.590 in 1990 to 0.731 in 2023.

0.550.680.800.73119902000201020231990: 0.5901991: 0.5901992: 0.5891993: 0.5881994: 0.5801995: 0.5831996: 0.5841997: 0.5871998: 0.5881999: 0.5922000: 0.5942001: 0.5952002: 0.5942003: 0.6022004: 0.6082005: 0.6162006: 0.6272007: 0.6402008: 0.6452009: 0.6442010: 0.6522011: 0.6612012: 0.6672013: 0.6762014: 0.6852015: 0.6902016: 0.6962017: 0.7042018: 0.7102019: 0.7182020: 0.7182021: 0.7002022: 0.7292023: 0.7310.550.680.8019902000201020231990: 0.5901991: 0.5901992: 0.5891993: 0.5881994: 0.5801995: 0.5831996: 0.5841997: 0.5871998: 0.5881999: 0.5922000: 0.5942001: 0.5952002: 0.5942003: 0.6022004: 0.6082005: 0.6162006: 0.6272007: 0.6402008: 0.6452009: 0.6442010: 0.6522011: 0.6612012: 0.6672013: 0.6762014: 0.6852015: 0.6902016: 0.6962017: 0.7042018: 0.7102019: 0.7182020: 0.7182021: 0.7002022: 0.7292023: 0.731

UNDP Human Development Report, 2025 edition. 34 annual values, none interpolated.

Twenty years here

Year by yearThe world report
Life expectancy at birth
69.3 years2024at birthUp 14.9 years from 54.4 years in 2005
Internet users
57%2024of people onlineUp 53 points from 4% in 2006
Urban population
68%2025of people in towns and citiesUp 8 points from 60% in 2006
Births per woman
2.702024births per womanDown 0.38 from 3.08 in 2005
Renewable share of energy
27%2021of energy usedDown 7 points from 34% in 2004
Access to electricity
80%2024of people with electricityUp 43 points from 38% in 2005
Infant mortality
322024deaths before age one, per 1,000 birthsDown 12 from 44 in 2005
CO2 emissions per person
2.7 t2024of CO2 per person a yearUp 0.4 t from 2.4 t in 2005
Forest area
26%2023of land under forestDown 4 points from 30% in 2004

World Bank, from the first to the last observed year of each indicator; each has its own window.

Our take

Africa's success story: diamond wealth, strong institutions, and the pristine Okavango Delta. The case against is short lives and patchy access to essential health services.

About Botswana

Botswana is one of Africa's great wildlife destinations, with vast protected wilderness areas including the Okavango Delta, one of the world's largest inland deltas and a UNESCO World Heritage Site teeming with elephants, lions, and rare birds. The country is stable, well-governed, and has prioritised low-volume, high-quality tourism that keeps its ecosystems intact. It is not a budget destination, but for those who can invest, the safari experience here is among the finest on earth.

Practical facts

  • CapitalGaborone
  • LanguagesEnglish, Tswana
  • CurrencyBotswana pula (BWP)
  • Area566,730 km²
  • Plug typeType M
  • Drives on theleft
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Borders

NamibiaSouth AfricaZambiaZimbabwe

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Quick answers

What is Botswana's Human Development Index?

Botswana's Human Development Index is 0.731 for 2023 (UNDP Human Development Report 2025), ranked #111 of 193 by UNDP.

Is Botswana safe?

Botswana scores 1.82 on the Global Peace Index (lower is more peaceful), ranked #50 of 161 countries by the Institute for Economics & Peace. That measures national-level peace, not street crime; both are covered below.

How expensive is Botswana?

Numbeo's cost-of-living index puts Botswana at 32.6 (New York = 100); that is #38 cheapest of 143 countries with data.

What is life expectancy in Botswana?

Life expectancy at birth in Botswana is 69.3 yrs (World Bank), ranked #137 of 195 countries.