Botswana
Africa · Southern Africa
Africa's success story: diamond wealth, strong institutions, and the pristine Okavango Delta.
At a Glance
📈Botswana's Human Development Index
0.708
High human development#112 of 191 countries worldwide, #8 of 54 in Africa.
Higher than 42% of countries with data. UNDP Human Development Report.
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.
Closest indicators in this dataset
World Bank, own vintages. UNDP’s own component values are not carried here, so these are related measures rather than the index inputs.
Nearest countries by HDI
Full HDI ranking, all 191 countries →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.
- Africa's longest continuous multi-party democracy since independence in 1966.
- Went from one of the world's poorest countries to upper-middle income in 30 years — using diamonds.
- Has the largest elephant population in the world: over 130,000.
Quick Facts
Capital
Gaborone
Languages
English, Tswana
Currency
P BWP
Area
566,730 km²
Nomad Hub
Fixed Broadband
47Mbps
GDP / Capita
$8K
PPP / Capita
$21K
Inflation
2.7%
Unemployment
24.5%
Innovation (GII)
24.6
GNI / Capita
$7K
Tax Revenue
22.4%
FDI Inflows
2.4%
Cost of Living
32.6
Price Level Index
64th pct
20-Year Trend + IMF Forecast
Income & inflation over time
HDI since 1990
0.587 → 0.708 (+0.121)Year by year →UNDP Human Development Report, 2023-24 edition. 33 annual values, none interpolated; hover any point for its year.
Twenty years here
Year by year →The world report →World Bank observations, first to last available year per indicator (roughly 2005–2024; each series has its own window).
Thinking about Botswana for real?
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💬Quick answers
What is Botswana's Human Development Index?
Botswana's Human Development Index is 0.708 (UNDP Human Development Report), ranked #112 of 191 countries.
Is Botswana safe?
Botswana scores 1.82 on the Global Peace Index (lower is more peaceful), ranked #50 of 160 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.