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Rock paintings in Tsodilo Hills, Botswana

Photo: Joachim Huber derivative work: Jjtkk · CC BY-SA 2.0 · via Wikimedia Commons, shown in greyscale

Topic 16 of 18 · Country Index 2026

Botswana: Energy

Where does a country’s electricity come from, and who can get it?

Botswana is placed 158th of 165 countries on energy in the Country Index 2026, from 3 of its 3 key statistics. Readings behind it: Carbon Intensity of Electricity 852.48 (2024); Renewable Share of Electricity Generation 0.292 (2024).

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Energy

158th

of 165 countries placed

Placed from 3 of 3 key statistics

Country Index 2026, all topics121st of 183 →

01The evidence

The 3 key statistics that decide it

Only these place Botswana on energy — 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.

Why these keys

  1. Key 1 of 3

    Carbon Intensity of Electricity

    Ember

    Why it is a key

    2024 edition · data for 2024 · CC BY 4.0

    852.48

    Carbon intensity (gCO₂e per kWh generated)

    Lower is better

    Botswana: 852.48. Across the 165 countries in this edition, values run from 23.73 (Bhutan) to 1,306 (Turkmenistan); the world median is 433.75.

    World median
    433.75
    Best in Southern Africa
    52.44 Namibia
    Land neighbours
    Namibia 52.44 · Zimbabwe 383.72

  2. Key 2 of 3

    Renewable Share of Electricity Generation

    Ember

    Why it is a key

    2024 edition · data for 2024 · CC BY 4.0

    0.292

    Renewables (% of electricity generated)

    Higher is better

    Botswana: 0.292. Across the 165 countries in this edition, values run from 0 (Gambia) to 100 (Paraguay); the world median is 32.06.

    World median
    32.06
    Best in Southern Africa
    97.56 Namibia
    Land neighbours
    Namibia 97.56 · Zimbabwe 57.12

  3. Key 3 of 3

    World Energy Trilemma Index

    World Energy Council

    Why it is a key

    2023 edition · data for 2023 · Express reuse grant (no Creative Commons licence named)

    51.1

    Trilemma score (0–100)

    Higher is better

    Ranked 79th of 99 by World Energy Council

    Botswana: 51.1. Across the 126 countries in this edition, values run from 27.7 (Niger) to 83.2 (Denmark); the world median is 63.8.

    World median
    63.8
    Best in Southern Africa
    57.6 South Africa
    Land neighbours
    Namibia 55.8 · South Africa 57.6 · Zimbabwe 41.6

03In context

Botswana beside its neighbours

A position reads best beside the countries around it. Every position below is a place among all 165 countries on energy, never a place within the region.

Southern Africa
1st165thNot placed · 59 countries with too few key statisticsNo data

The whole world on energy

Botswana and the countries it borders

Standing among all 165; the key columns are the publishers’ own values.

CountryStandingCarbon Intensity of ElectricityCarbon intensity (gCO₂e per kWh generated)Renewable Share of Electricity GenerationRenewables (% of electricity generated)World Energy Trilemma IndexTrilemma score (0–100)
Namibia39th52.4497.5655.8
Zimbabwe89th383.7257.1241.6
Botswana158th852.480.29251.1
South Africanot placed——57.6

“—”: no published reading in that edition. What a standing is

Across Southern Africa

Every country in the sub-region, by its place among all 165.

Placed either side on energy

The countries immediately above and below Botswana in the topic’s list.

04Context, no vote

Where Botswana is ahead of the world, and behind

22 more statistics filed under energy, published in full and deliberately given no vote in the standing. Select a row for the publisher, the rank and the links.

Every country

Ahead of the world median3

Statistics on which Botswana does better than the middle country measured.

  • Energy Intensity of GDP (PPP)EIA · 2024 · world median 2.7382.1▼ Worsened since 2014

    Botswana: 2.1 · world median 2.738 · Energy use per dollar of GDP (thousand Btu per US$ at PPP). U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA), 2024 edition, data for 2024.

    Published values in that edition run from 0.666 to 17.45; lower is better.

    Chart and every countryThe 2024 dataset

  • Firms Identifying Electricity as a Major ConstraintWorld Bank Group · 2026 · world median 25.7723.76No earlier reading

    Botswana: 23.76 · world median 25.77 · Firms rating electricity a major or very severe constraint (%). World Bank Group, 2026 edition, data for 2026.

    Published values in that edition run from 0 to 84.77; lower is better.

    Position 100th of 179 · derived, 1st = worst.

    Chart and every countryThe 2026 dataset

  • CO₂ Emissions per CapitaGlobal Carbon Project · 2024 · world median 3.212.96▲ Improved since 2014

    Botswana: 2.96 · world median 3.21 · Fossil CO₂ (tonnes per person). Global Carbon Project, 2024 edition, data for 2024.

    Published values in that edition run from 0.054 to 41.27; lower is better.

    Position 110th of 210 · derived, 1st = worst.

    Chart and every countryThe 2024 dataset

Behind the world median6

Statistics on which Botswana does worse than the middle country measured.

  • Access to ElectricityWorld Bank Group · 2024 · world median 10080.2No real change since 2014

    Botswana: 80.2 · world median 100 · Population with electricity access (%). World Bank Group, 2024 edition, data for 2024.

    Published values in that edition run from 5.4 to 100; higher is better.

    Chart and every countryThe 2024 dataset

  • Firms Owning or Sharing a GeneratorWorld Bank Group · 2026 · world median 24.8550.41No earlier reading

    Botswana: 50.41 · world median 24.85 · Firms owning or sharing a generator (%). World Bank Group, 2026 edition, data for 2026.

    Published values in that edition run from 0.158 to 90.51; lower is better.

    Chart and every countryThe 2026 dataset

  • Wind and Solar Share of Electricity GenerationEmber · 2024 · world median 5.2790.292▼ Worsened since 2014

    Botswana: 0.292 · world median 5.279 · Wind and solar (% of electricity generated). Ember, 2024 edition, data for 2024.

    Published values in that edition run from 0 to 69.12; higher is better.

    Chart and every countryThe 2024 dataset

  • Access to Electricity, RuralWorld Bank Group · 2024 · world median 10045.9No real change since 2014

    Botswana: 45.9 · world median 100 · Rural population with electricity access (%). World Bank Group, 2024 edition, data for 2024.

    Published values in that edition run from 0.7 to 100; higher is better.

    Chart and every countryThe 2024 dataset

  • Low-Carbon Share of Electricity GenerationEmber · 2024 · world median 37.320.292▼ Worsened since 2014

    Botswana: 0.292 · world median 37.32 · Low-carbon sources (% of electricity generated). Ember, 2024 edition, data for 2024.

    Published values in that edition run from 0 to 100; higher is better.

    Position 156th of 162 · derived.

    Chart and every countryThe 2024 dataset

  • Coal Share of Electricity GenerationEmber · 2024 · world median 098.25No real change since 2014

    Botswana: 98.25 · world median 0 · Coal (% of electricity generated). Ember, 2024 edition, data for 2024.

    Published values in that edition run from 0 to 98.25; lower is better.

    Chart and every countryThe 2024 dataset

No better end13

These describe the shape of a country — more is not better or worse, only different — so they are never ahead or behind.

  • Photovoltaic Power Potential (PVOUT)World Bank Group (ESMAP), data by Solargis · 2020 · world median 4.2735.107No earlier reading

    Botswana: 5.107 · world median 4.273 · Practical solar power potential (kWh per kWp per day, long-term average). World Bank Group (ESMAP), data by Solargis, 2020 edition, data for 2020.

    Published values in that edition run from 2.513 to 5.379.

    Chart and every countryThe 2020 dataset

  • Net Electricity Imports (share of generation)Ember · 2024 · world median 036.15Moved since 2014

    Botswana: 36.15 · world median 0 · Net electricity imports (% of domestic generation). Ember, 2024 edition, data for 2024.

    Published values in that edition run from -70.16 to 707.07.

    Chart and every countryThe 2024 dataset

  • Operating Coal Power CapacityGlobal Energy Monitor · 2026 · world median 525732No earlier reading

    Botswana: 732 · world median 525 · Coal-fired capacity in operation (megawatts). Global Energy Monitor, 2026 edition, data for 2026.

    Published values in that edition run from 0 to 1,263,101.

    Chart and every countryThe 2026 dataset

  • Primary Energy ProductionEIA · 2024 · world median 0.0770.055Moved since 2014

    Botswana: 0.055 · world median 0.077 · Primary energy produced (quadrillion Btu). U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA), 2024 edition, data for 2024.

    Published values in that edition run from 0 to 130.76.

    Chart and every countryThe 2024 dataset

  • Nuclear Share of Electricity GenerationEmber · 2024 · world median 00No real change since 2014

    Botswana: 0 · world median 0 · Nuclear (% of electricity generated). Ember, 2024 edition, data for 2024.

    Published values in that edition run from 0 to 67.4.

    Chart and every countryThe 2024 dataset

  • Primary Energy Consumption per CapitaEIA · 2024 · world median 49.533.48No real change since 2014

    Botswana: 33.48 · world median 49.5 · Energy use per person (million Btu). U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA), 2024 edition, data for 2024.

    Published values in that edition run from 0.95 to 766.07.

    Chart and every countryThe 2024 dataset

  • Natural Gas ProductionEIA · 2024 · world median 00No real change since 2014

    Botswana: 0 · world median 0 · Dry natural gas produced (billion cubic metres). U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA), 2024 edition, data for 2024.

    Published values in that edition run from 0 to 1,069.

    Chart and every countryThe 2024 dataset

  • Crude Oil ProductionEIA · 2025 · world median 00No real change since 2015

    Botswana: 0 · world median 0 · Crude oil produced (thousand barrels per day). U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA), 2025 edition, data for 2025.

    Published values in that edition run from 0 to 13,586.

    Chart and every countryThe 2025 dataset

  • Solar Electricity Installed CapacityEIA · 2024 · world median 0.1440.01Moved since 2014

    Botswana: 0.01 · world median 0.144 · Solar generating capacity installed (gigawatts). U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA), 2024 edition, data for 2024.

    Published values in that edition run from 0 to 886.66.

    Chart and every countryThe 2024 dataset

  • Gas Share of Electricity GenerationEmber · 2024 · world median 2.5850Moved since 2014

    Botswana: 0 · world median 2.585 · Natural gas (% of electricity generated). Ember, 2024 edition, data for 2024.

    Published values in that edition run from 0 to 99.97.

    Chart and every countryThe 2024 dataset

  • Solar Share of Electricity GenerationEmber · 2024 · world median 3.0490.292Moved since 2014

    Botswana: 0.292 · world median 3.049 · Solar (% of electricity generated). Ember, 2024 edition, data for 2024.

    Published values in that edition run from 0 to 50.

    Chart and every countryThe 2024 dataset

  • Operating Wind Power CapacityGlobal Energy Monitor · 2026 · world median 1000No earlier reading

    Botswana: 0 · world median 100 · Wind farm capacity in operation (megawatts). Global Energy Monitor, 2026 edition, data for 2026.

    Published values in that edition run from 0 to 542,758.

    Chart and every countryThe 2026 dataset

  • Hydro Share of Electricity GenerationEmber · 2024 · world median 12.850No real change since 2014

    Botswana: 0 · world median 12.85 · Hydropower (% of electricity generated). Ember, 2024 edition, data for 2024.

    Published values in that edition run from 0 to 100.

    Chart and every countryThe 2024 dataset

No current reading for Botswana

Primary Schools with Electricity (last 2022), RISE Clean Cooking Policy Score, RISE Electricity Access Policy Score, RISE Energy Efficiency Policy Score and RISE Renewable Energy Policy Score. 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

Energy among Botswana’s 15 topics

Energy is Botswana’s 15th best-placed topic of 15. Strongest first, each marker at its share of that topic’s field.

On the profile
  1. Peace & Security52nd of 177
  2. Environment & Sustainability55th of 186
  3. Democracy & Civil Liberties61st of 198
  4. Governance & Institutions65th of 194
  5. Risk & Resilience98th of 193
  6. Education & Knowledgejoint 102nd of 198
  7. Digital & Technologyjoint 109th of 198
  8. Economy & Innovation105th of 176
  9. Gender & Equality121st of 183
  10. Food & Agriculture134th of 184
  11. Development & Human Capital143rd of 196
  12. Health & Wellbeing157th of 200
  13. Work & Labour162nd of 182
  14. Poverty & Inequality147th of 159
  15. Energy158th of 165

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 energy

The three countries placed highest of 165, and the leaders Botswana can most readily be measured against.

All 165 countries
  1. 1

    Bhutan

    Southern Asia

    1st of 165 · 2 of 3 keys

    Photo: VIkramjit Kakati derivative work: ויקיג'אנקי · CC BY-SA 3.0, greyscale

  2. 2

    Norway

    Northern Europe

    2nd of 165 · 3 of 3 keys

    Photo: Ximonic , Simo Räsänen · CC BY-SA 3.0, greyscale

  3. 3

    Uganda

    Eastern Africa

    3rd of 165 · 2 of 3 keys

    Photo: Rod Waddington from Kergunyah, Australia · CC BY-SA 2.0, greyscale

Placed highest nearby

  1. Highest in Africa

    Uganda3rd2/3 keys

  2. Highest in Southern Africa

    Namibia39th3/3 keys

  3. This page

    Botswana158th3/3 keys

Positions out of 165 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 energy: 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 energy?

Botswana is placed 158th of 165 countries on Energy in the Country Index 2026, from 3 of its 3 key statistics (Carbon Intensity of Electricity, Renewable Share of Electricity Generation and World Energy Trilemma Index). The position is this site’s ordering of published statistics, not a rank any publisher printed.

What is the latest Carbon Intensity of Electricity figure for Botswana?

852.48 in 2024 (carbon intensity (gCO₂e per kWh generated)), according to Ember. The world median in the same edition was 433.75.

What is the latest Renewable Share of Electricity Generation figure for Botswana?

0.292 in 2024 (renewables (% of electricity generated)), according to Ember. The world median in the same edition was 32.06.

How does Botswana compare with South Africa on energy?

South Africa is not placed on Energy, holding too few of its key statistics, and Botswana 158th. World Energy Trilemma Index: South Africa 57.6, Botswana 51.1.

How have Botswana’s energy figures changed?

Carbon Intensity of Electricity fell from 852.63 in 2000 to 852.48 in 2024; Renewable Share of Electricity Generation rose from 0 in 2000 to 0.292 in 2024.

Which energy statistics are missing for Botswana?

No current reading is published for Botswana on Primary Schools with Electricity, RISE Clean Cooking Policy Score, RISE Electricity Access Policy Score, RISE Energy Efficiency Policy Score and RISE Renewable Energy Policy Score. 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

This is deliberately the electricity and energy-system subject, not an infrastructure one: roads, railways, ports, water and telecommunications would each need a global series this site does not hold. Emissions are under Environment & Sustainability. Access to electricity is published here in full but takes no part in any ranking — more than half the world’s countries now report 100%, and a position derived from that would read “1, 1, 1 … 123”, which is noise rather than information.

About energy, in full

How the Energy standing is decided

A standing is this site’s ordering, named with its edition — never a publisher’s rank. 3 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 3 keys to be placed.

The energy method, step by stepHow every standing on this site is built

The key statistics and their licences

The other 22 statistics on this page come from 6 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.

Cite this page

Nations Inquiry (2026). Botswana: Energy — standing and statistics, Country Index 2026. https://nationsinquiry.com/countries/botswana/energy

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