Photo: Joachim Huber derivative work: Jjtkk · CC BY-SA 2.0 · via Wikimedia Commons, shown in greyscale
Topic 17 of 18 · Country Index 2026
Botswana: Digital & Technology
How ready is a country to use, make and trade technology?
Botswana is placed joint 109th of 198 countries on digital & technology in the Country Index 2026, from 3 of its 4 key statistics. Readings behind it: GovTech Maturity Index 0.469 (2025); Government AI Readiness Index 37.1 (2025).
Share
Digital & Technology
joint109th
of 198 countries placed
Placed from 3 of 4 key statistics
01The evidence
The 4 key statistics that decide it
Only these place Botswana on digital & technology — one vote each. Every value is the publisher’s own, read at the edition the Country Index 2026 used; the grey ticks are every other country it was compared with, lowest on the left.
0.469
GTMI score (0–1)
Higher is better
Botswana: 0.469. Across the 196 countries in this edition, values run from 0.01 (North Korea) to 0.997 (South Korea); the world median is 0.63.
- World median
- 0.63
- Best in Southern Africa
- 0.623 South Africa
- Land neighbours
- Namibia 0.363 · South Africa 0.623 · Zimbabwe 0.452
37.1
AI readiness score (0–100)
Higher is better
Ranked 109th of 195 by Oxford Insights
Botswana: 37.1. Across the 195 countries in this edition, values run from 12.12 (Guinea-Bissau) to 88.36 (United States); the world median is 40.19.
- World median
- 40.19
- Best in Southern Africa
- 53.94 South Africa
- Land neighbours
- Namibia 37.08 · South Africa 53.94 · Zimbabwe 29.53
Key 3 of 4
Government Cyber Security Capacity
V-Dem Institute, University of Gothenburg
2025 edition · data for 2025 · CC BY-SA 4.0
-0.101
Original latent estimate (≈ −3.6 to +3.7); higher = more capacity
Higher is better
Botswana: -0.101. Across the 176 countries in this edition, values run from -2.66 (Liberia) to 3.715 (Estonia); the world median is 0.196.
- World median
- 0.196
- Best in Southern Africa
- 0.517 South Africa
- Land neighbours
- Namibia -0.469 · South Africa 0.517 · Zimbabwe 0.095
Key 4 of 4
Digitally-Deliverable Services Exports
UN Trade and Development (UNCTAD)
2024 edition · data for 2024 · CC BY 3.0 IGO
No reading
Digitally-deliverable services exports (% of services exports)
Higher is better
UNCTAD publishes no 2024 figure for Botswana, so the standing rests on the other keys.
Across the 170 countries in this edition, values run from 0.377 (Gambia) to 87.15 (Ireland); the world median is 25.42.
- World median
- 25.42
- Best in Southern Africa
- 52.92 South Africa
- Land neighbours
- Namibia 25.86 · South Africa 52.92 · Zimbabwe 5.438
02Over time
Which way Botswana is moving
Each key’s published value, edition by edition, beside the world median. The Country Index 2026 is the first edition of the standing, so the standing itself has no history to chart yet.
Government AI Readiness Index
AI readiness score (0–100) · higher is better
BotswanaWorld median
Botswana rose from 33.27 in 2020 to 37.1 in 2025; the world median went from 39.58 to 40.19.
Every year’s figures
Year Botswana World median 2025 37.1 40.2 2024 38.2 43.3 2023 38.8 41.4 2022 38.4 40.3 2021 36.3 44.1 2020 33.3 39.6 Government Cyber Security Capacity
Original latent estimate (≈ −3.6 to +3.7); higher = more capacity · higher is better
BotswanaWorld median
Botswana rose from -0.234 in 2000 to -0.101 in 2025; the world median went from -0.514 to 0.196.
Every year’s figures
Year Botswana World median 2025 -0.1 0.20 2024 -0.1 0.11 2023 -0.1 0.14 2022 -0.1 0.16 2021 -0.1 0.12 2020 -0.1 0.12 2019 -0.1 0.10 2018 -0.2 -0.05 2017 -0.2 -0.08 2016 -0.2 -0.10 2015 -0.2 -0.17 2014 -0.2 -0.21 2013 -0.2 -0.21 2012 -0.2 -0.25 2011 -0.2 -0.32 2010 -0.2 -0.31 2009 -0.2 -0.50 2008 -0.2 -0.51 2007 -0.2 -0.51 2006 -0.2 -0.55 2005 -0.2 -0.55 2004 -0.2 -0.55 2003 -0.2 -0.55 2002 -0.2 -0.51 2001 -0.2 -0.51 2000 -0.2 -0.51 Digitally-Deliverable Services Exports
Digitally-deliverable services exports (% of services exports) · higher is better
BotswanaWorld median
Botswana rose from 17.93 in 2010 to 31.37 in 2023; the world median went from 19.88 to 26.03.
Every year’s figures
Year Botswana World median 2024 — 25.42 2023 31.4 26.03 2022 31.1 26.04 2021 39.1 29.80 2020 56.3 29.47 2019 18.2 18.36 2018 25.1 20.09 2017 25.7 18.32 2016 21.3 18.15 2015 19.8 19.57 2014 23.3 21.00 2013 20.3 20.50 2012 15.7 19.56 2011 23.6 19.21 2010 17.9 19.88
03In context
Botswana beside its neighbours
A position reads best beside the countries around it. Every position below is a place among all 198 countries on digital & technology, never a place within the region.
Botswana and the countries it borders
Standing among all 198; the key columns are the publishers’ own values.
| Country | Standing | GovTech Maturity IndexGTMI score (0–1) | Government AI Readiness IndexAI readiness score (0–100) | Government Cyber Security CapacityOriginal latent estimate (≈ −3.6 to +3.7); higher = more capacity | Digitally-Deliverable Services ExportsDigitally-deliverable services exports (% of services exports) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 South Africa | 61st | 0.623 | 53.94 | 0.517 | 52.92 |
| Botswana | =109th | 0.469 | 37.1 | -0.101 | — |
 Namibia | =117th | 0.363 | 37.08 | -0.469 | 25.86 |
 Zimbabwe | 138th | 0.452 | 29.53 | 0.095 | 5.438 |
“—”: no published reading in that edition. What a standing is
Across Southern Africa
Every country in the sub-region, by its place among all 198.
- South Africa61st
- Botswana=109th
- Namibia=117th
Eswatini129th
Lesotho158th
Placed either side on digital & technology
The countries immediately above and below Botswana in the topic’s list.
04Context, no vote
Where Botswana is ahead of the world, and behind
18 more statistics filed under digital & technology, published in full and deliberately given no vote in the standing. Select a row for the publisher, the rank and the links.
Ahead of the world median6
Statistics on which Botswana does better than the middle country measured.
Government Dissemination of False Information (Domestic)V-Dem Institute, University of Gothenburg · 2025 · world median -0.1141.953-0.114▲ Improved since 2015
Botswana: 1.953 · world median -0.114 · Original latent estimate (≈ −3.6 to +3.2); higher = less disinformation. V-Dem Institute, University of Gothenburg, 2025 edition, data for 2025.
Published values in that edition run from -3.392 to 2.93; higher is better.
Position 17th of 176 · derived.
Government Social Media CensorshipV-Dem Institute, University of Gothenburg · 2025 · world median 0.5051.9260.505No real change since 2015
Botswana: 1.926 · world median 0.505 · Original latent estimate (≈ −4.5 to +2.4); higher = less censorship. V-Dem Institute, University of Gothenburg, 2025 edition, data for 2025.
Published values in that edition run from -3.721 to 2.295; higher is better.
Position 18th of 176 · derived.
Government Internet ShutdownsV-Dem Institute, University of Gothenburg · 2025 · world median 1.0231.8391.023▲ Improved since 2015
Botswana: 1.839 · world median 1.023 · Original latent estimate (≈ −4 to +2); higher = fewer shutdowns. V-Dem Institute, University of Gothenburg, 2025 edition, data for 2025.
Published values in that edition run from -3.547 to 2.081; higher is better.
Position 27th of 176 · derived.
Digital Services Trade Restrictiveness IndexOECD · 2025 · world median 0.2060.1650.206▲ Improved since 2015
Botswana: 0.165 · world median 0.206 · Digital STRI (0 = open, 1 = closed). OECD, 2025 edition, data for 2025.
Published values in that edition run from 0.021 to 0.649; lower is better.
Position 78th of 125 · derived, 1st = worst.
Made or Received a Digital PaymentWorld Bank Group · 2024 · world median 51.6556.9551.65▲ Improved since 2014
Botswana: 56.95 · world median 51.65 · Adults who made or received a digital payment in the past year (% of population aged 15+). World Bank Group, 2024 edition, data for 2024.
Published values in that edition run from 12.26 to 94.91; higher is better.
Position 40th of 98 · derived.
Share of Firms' Payments Made ElectronicallyWorld Bank Group · 2026 · world median 64.2269.7864.22No earlier reading
Botswana: 69.78 · world median 64.22 · Payments made electronically in a typical month, excluding payroll and payments to government (%). World Bank Group, 2026 edition, data for 2026.
Published values in that edition run from 2.172 to 99.91; higher is better.
Behind the world median7
Statistics on which Botswana does worse than the middle country measured.
AI User Share of the Working-Age PopulationMicrosoft AI Economy Institute · 2026 · world median 15.451515.45▼ Worsened since 2025
Botswana: 15 · world median 15.45 · Generative-AI users (% of population aged 15–64). Microsoft AI Economy Institute, 2026 edition, data for 2026.
Published values in that edition run from 6.1 to 73.3; higher is better.
Firms Experiencing Internet DisruptionsWorld Bank Group · 2026 · world median 32.3532.732.35No earlier reading
Botswana: 32.7 · world median 32.35 · Firms that experienced internet outages or slow-downs (%). World Bank Group, 2026 edition, data for 2026.
Published values in that edition run from 0.735 to 82.39; lower is better.
Position 80th of 163 · derived, 1st = worst.
Mobile Phone OwnershipWorld Bank Group · 2024 · world median 91.6888.2691.68No earlier reading
Botswana: 88.26 · world median 91.68 · Adults who own a mobile phone (% of population aged 15+). World Bank Group, 2024 edition, data for 2024.
Published values in that edition run from 45.83 to 100; higher is better.
Position 85th of 140 · derived.
Frontier Technology Readiness IndexUNCTAD · 2023 · world median 0.4850.390.485No real change since 2013
Botswana: 0.39 · world median 0.485 · Frontier Technology Readiness Index (0–1). UN Trade and Development (UNCTAD), 2023 edition, data for 2023.
Published values in that edition run from 0 to 1; higher is better.
Position 107th of 170 · derived.
Firms with Their Own WebsiteWorld Bank Group · 2026 · world median 62.3945.962.39No earlier reading
Botswana: 45.9 · world median 62.39 · Firms with their own website (%). World Bank Group, 2026 edition, data for 2026.
Published values in that edition run from 1.824 to 97.88; higher is better.
Position 128th of 181 · derived.
Internet Use Among AdultsWorld Bank Group · 2024 · world median 83.0547.2683.05No earlier reading
Botswana: 47.26 · world median 83.05 · Adults who used the internet in the past three months (% of population aged 15+). World Bank Group, 2024 edition, data for 2024.
Published values in that edition run from 11.06 to 99.12; higher is better.
Position 112th of 140 · derived.
Smartphone OwnershipWorld Bank Group · 2024 · world median 78.7844.7178.78No earlier reading
Botswana: 44.71 · world median 78.78 · Adults whose main mobile phone is a smartphone (% of population aged 15+). World Bank Group, 2024 edition, data for 2024.
Published values in that edition run from 8.663 to 97.36; higher is better.
Position 118th of 140 · derived.
No better end5
These describe the shape of a country — more is not better or worse, only different — so they are never ahead or behind.
GitHub DevelopersGitHub · 2026 · world median 84,67030,65184,670No real change since 2020
Botswana: 30,651 · world median 84,670 · Developer accounts located in the economy (as of quarter end). GitHub, 2026 edition, data for 2026.
Published values in that edition run from 110 to 32,410,529.
GitHub RepositoriesGitHub · 2026 · world median 141,45438,815141,454No real change since 2020
Botswana: 38,815 · world median 141,454 · Public repositories located in the economy (as of quarter end). GitHub, 2026 edition, data for 2026.
Published values in that edition run from 142 to 77,284,974.
Anthropic AI Usage IndexAnthropic · 2026 · world median 0.960.520.96No earlier reading
Botswana: 0.52 · world median 0.96 · Claude usage index (1 = in proportion to working-age population). Anthropic, 2026 edition, data for 2026.
Published values in that edition run from 0.07 to 6.4.
GitHub Git PushesGitHub · 2025 · world median 148,71425,621148,714Moved since 2020
Botswana: 25,621 · world median 148,714 · Git pushes during the quarter. GitHub, 2025 edition, data for 2025.
Published values in that edition run from 1,967 to 40,768,192.
Share of Graduates from ICT ProgrammesUIS · 2023 · world median 5.6011.5385.601Moved since 2020
Botswana: 1.538 · world median 5.601 · Tertiary graduates from ICT programmes (% of all graduates). UNESCO Institute for Statistics (UIS), 2023 edition, data for 2023.
Published values in that edition run from 0 to 17.19.
No current reading for Botswana
Digitally-Deliverable Services Exports (last 2023), ICT Goods Exports (last 2023), ICT Services Exports (last 2023) and Primary Schools with Internet for Teaching (last 2022). Listed rather than hidden, so the page can be checked against it.
“Position · derived” is this site’s ordering of the published values, 1st = best unless the row says otherwise; the publisher ranks no country on it. Rank, position and standing
05Country Index 2026
Digital & Technology among Botswana’s 15 topics
Digital & Technology is Botswana’s 7th best-placed topic of 15. Strongest first, each marker at its share of that topic’s field.
- Peace & Security52nd of 1774/4 keys
- Environment & Sustainability55th of 1863/4 keys
- Democracy & Civil Liberties61st of 1984/4 keys
- Governance & Institutions65th of 1944/4 keys
- Risk & Resilience98th of 1934/4 keys
- Education & Knowledgejoint 102nd of 1983/4 keys
- Digital & Technologyjoint 109th of 1983/4 keys
- Economy & Innovation105th of 1764/4 keys
- Gender & Equality121st of 1834/4 keys
- Food & Agriculture134th of 1844/4 keys
- Development & Human Capital143rd of 1963/3 keys
- Health & Wellbeing157th of 2003/4 keys
- Work & Labour162nd of 1824/4 keys
- Poverty & Inequality147th of 1593/3 keys
- Energy158th of 1653/3 keys
No standing on Mobility & Trade: too few of those topics’ key statistics are published for this country.
06The top of the list
Who leads on digital & technology
The three countries placed highest of 198, and the leaders Botswana can most readily be measured against.
=1
EstoniaNorthern Europe
Joint 1st of 198 · 4 of 4 keys
Photo: Andrus Uuetalu derivative work: Jjtkk · CC BY-SA 3.0 ee, greyscale
=1
South KoreaEastern Asia
Joint 1st of 198 · 4 of 4 keys
Photo: Unknown author · CC BY-SA 2.0, greyscale
3
SingaporeSouth-eastern Asia
3rd of 198 · 4 of 4 keys
Photo: Khairul Nizam . · CC BY 2.0, greyscale
Placed highest nearby
Highest in Africa
Mauritius20th4/4 keysHighest in Southern Africa
South Africa61st4/4 keysThis page
Botswana=109th3/4 keys
Positions out of 198 placed on the topic. A country needs readings on enough keys to be placed, and the top of the list is often held on fewer of them.
07Questions
Botswana on digital & technology: questions answered
Every answer is built from the numbers on this page, so none can say something the page does not.
How does Botswana rank on digital & technology?
Botswana is placed joint 109th of 198 countries on Digital & Technology in the Country Index 2026, from 3 of its 4 key statistics (GovTech Maturity Index, Government AI Readiness Index and Government Cyber Security Capacity). The position is this site’s ordering of published statistics, not a rank any publisher printed.
What is the latest GovTech Maturity Index figure for Botswana?
0.469 in 2025 (gTMI score (0–1)), according to World Bank Group. The world median in the same edition was 0.63.
What is the latest Government AI Readiness Index figure for Botswana?
37.1 in 2025 (aI readiness score (0–100)), according to Oxford Insights. The world median in the same edition was 40.19.
How does Botswana compare with South Africa on digital & technology?
South Africa is placed 61st of 198, and Botswana joint 109th. GovTech Maturity Index: South Africa 0.623, Botswana 0.469; Government AI Readiness Index: South Africa 53.94, Botswana 37.1; Government Cyber Security Capacity: South Africa 0.517, Botswana -0.101.
How have Botswana’s digital & technology figures changed?
Government AI Readiness Index rose from 33.27 in 2020 to 37.1 in 2025; Government Cyber Security Capacity rose from -0.234 in 2000 to -0.101 in 2025; Digitally-Deliverable Services Exports rose from 17.93 in 2010 to 31.37 in 2023.
Which digital & technology statistics are missing for Botswana?
No current reading is published for Botswana on Digitally-Deliverable Services Exports, ICT Goods Exports, ICT Services Exports and Primary Schools with Internet for Teaching. They are listed rather than hidden, so the evidence on the page can be checked against it.
08Method
Method, sources and how to cite
What this topic does not measure
Broadband and mobile subscriptions, connection speeds and the cost of getting online are absent, for the licence reason above; internet use and phone ownership, from the World Bank’s own household survey, and firms’ websites and internet disruptions, from its Enterprise Surveys, are published here as context. The ICT share of goods exports votes under Mobility & Trade. Digital public services and data-protection law are not held yet. Research and development spending is filed under Education & Knowledge, and what an economy knows how to make is under Economy & Innovation.
How the Digital & Technology standing is decided
A standing is this site’s ordering, named with its edition — never a publisher’s rank. 4 key statistics vote, one vote each; every country’s published value becomes a place within that key’s own field, the places are averaged, and the average is never published. A country needs 2 of the 4 keys to be placed.
The digital & technology method, step by stepHow every standing on this site is built
The key statistics and their licences
- GovTech Maturity Index — World Bank Group, CC BY 4.0
- Government AI Readiness Index — Oxford Insights, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Government Cyber Security Capacity — V-Dem Institute, University of Gothenburg, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Digitally-Deliverable Services Exports — UN Trade and Development (UNCTAD), CC BY 3.0 IGO
The other 18 statistics on this page come from 8 publishers, each named beside its numbers, with every edition and licence on the datasets pages.
The standing itself is part of the Country Index 2026, published under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Photographs
Botswana’s banner and the countries placed highest, from their profiles: Wikimedia Commons, shown in greyscale, each used under the licence named.
- Botswana (banner) — Joachim Huber derivative work: Jjtkk, CC BY-SA 2.0
- Estonia — Andrus Uuetalu derivative work: Jjtkk, CC BY-SA 3.0 ee
- South Korea — Unknown author, CC BY-SA 2.0
- Singapore — Khairul Nizam ., CC BY 2.0
Cite this page
Nations Inquiry (2026). Botswana: Digital & Technology — standing and statistics, Country Index 2026. https://nationsinquiry.com/countries/botswana/digital