Photo: Joachim Huber derivative work: Jjtkk · CC BY-SA 2.0 · via Wikimedia Commons, shown in greyscale
Topic 05 of 18 · Country Index 2026
Botswana: Health & Wellbeing
How long, and how well fed, do people live?
Botswana is placed 157th of 200 countries on health & wellbeing in the Country Index 2026, from 3 of its 4 key statistics. Readings behind it: Life Expectancy at Birth 69.16 (2023); Under-Five Mortality Rate 33.31 (2024).
Share
Health & Wellbeing
157th
of 200 countries placed
Placed from 3 of 4 key statistics
- 69.16Life Expectancy at Birth, 2023Years a newborn would live at current death rates
- 33.31Under-Five Mortality Rate, 2024Deaths before age five (per 1,000 live births)
- —Stunting Prevalence in Children Under Five, 2024No reading for this country
- 20.4Prevalence of Severe Food Insecurity, 2024Population in severe food insecurity (%)
01The evidence
The 4 key statistics that decide it
Only these place Botswana on health & wellbeing — one vote each. Every value is the publisher’s own, read at the edition the Country Index 2026 used — or, for a survey-based key, each country’s latest reading; the grey ticks are every other country it was compared with, lowest on the left.
Key 1 of 4
Life Expectancy at Birth
UN DESA Population Division
2023 edition · data for 2023 · CC BY 3.0 IGO
69.16
Years a newborn would live at current death rates
Higher is better
Botswana: 69.16. Across the 222 countries in this edition, values run from 54.46 (Nigeria) to 86.37 (Monaco); the world median is 74.63.
- World median
- 74.63
- Best in Southern Africa
- 69.16 Botswana
- Land neighbours
- Namibia 67.38 · South Africa 66.14 · Zimbabwe 62.77
Key 2 of 4
Under-Five Mortality Rate
UN Inter-agency Group for Child Mortality Estimation (UN IGME)
2024 edition · data for 2024 · CC BY 3.0 IGO
33.31
Deaths before age five (per 1,000 live births)
Lower is better
Botswana: 33.31. Across the 200 countries in this edition, values run from 1.26 (San Marino) to 115.65 (Nigeria); the world median is 14.54.
- World median
- 14.54
- Best in Southern Africa
- 33.31 Botswana
- Land neighbours
- Namibia 39.46 · South Africa 35.06 · Zimbabwe 64.66
Key 3 of 4
Stunting Prevalence in Children Under Five
UNICEF, WHO and World Bank Group (Joint Malnutrition Estimates)
Latest reading per country, 2014–2024 · CC BY 3.0 IGO
No reading
Children under 5 who are stunted (%)
Lower is better
UNICEF, WHO and World Bank Group (Joint Malnutrition Estimates) publishes no reading from 2014–2024 for Botswana, so the standing rests on the other keys.
Across the 162 countries at their latest reading, values run from 0.518 (Latvia) to 52.8 (Burundi); the world median is 13.8.
- World median
- 13.8
- Best in Southern Africa
- 20.03 Eswatini
- Land neighbours
- Namibia 22.72 · South Africa 21.33 · Zimbabwe 25.9
Key 4 of 4
Prevalence of Severe Food Insecurity
Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO)
2024 edition · data for 2024 · CC BY 4.0
20.4
Population in severe food insecurity (%)
Lower is better
Botswana: 20.4. Across the 125 countries in this edition, values run from 0.6 (Brazil) to 62.9 (South Sudan); the world median is 4.9.
- World median
- 4.9
- Best in Southern Africa
- 8.4 South Africa
- Land neighbours
- Namibia 28.1 · South Africa 8.4 · Zimbabwe 25.3
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.
Life Expectancy at Birth
Years a newborn would live at current death rates · higher is better
BotswanaWorld median
Botswana rose from 52.26 in 2000 to 69.16 in 2023; the world median went from 70.68 to 74.63.
Every year’s figures
Year Botswana World median 2023 69.2 74.630 2022 68.7 74.313 2021 63.3 72.433 2020 67.6 73.063 2019 67.2 74.196 2018 66.4 74.081 2017 65.4 74.029 2016 64.3 74.013 2015 63.2 73.783 2014 62.2 73.330 2013 61.2 73.386 2012 60.4 73.210 2011 59.7 73.003 2010 59.1 72.827 2009 58.3 72.426 2008 57.7 72.264 2007 56.7 72.113 2006 55.1 72.027 2005 54.4 71.876 2004 53.6 71.477 2003 52.9 71.409 2002 52.4 71.173 2001 52.2 70.926 2000 52.3 70.678 Under-Five Mortality Rate
Deaths before age five (per 1,000 live births) · lower is better
BotswanaWorld median
Botswana fell from 79.84 in 2000 to 33.31 in 2024; the world median went from 30.43 to 14.54.
Every year’s figures
Year Botswana World median 2024 33.3 14.5 2023 34.6 15.2 2022 35.7 14.7 2021 37.1 15.1 2020 38.9 15.3 2019 40.0 15.7 2018 41.2 16.3 2017 42.1 16.8 2016 45.1 17.5 2015 46.7 17.9 2014 49.0 18.3 2013 50.3 18.7 2012 53.9 18.8 2011 58.8 19.0 2010 58.4 19.2 2009 60.6 20.8 2008 63.7 20.7 2007 64.3 21.8 2006 66.0 22.8 2005 70.8 24.0 2004 75.7 25.9 2003 76.7 26.9 2002 77.9 28.0 2001 79.3 29.1 2000 79.8 30.4 Prevalence of Severe Food Insecurity
Population in severe food insecurity (%) · lower is better
BotswanaWorld median
Botswana rose from 18.4 in 2015 to 20.4 in 2024; the world median went from 3.4 to 4.9.
Every year’s figures
Year Botswana World median 2024 20.4 4.9 2023 23.3 4.7 2022 26.6 5.4 2021 26.7 5.7 2020 25.4 5.6 2019 23.7 5.0 2018 23.1 4.2 2017 22.8 4.0 2016 21.5 3.4 2015 18.4 3.4
03In context
Botswana beside its neighbours
A position reads best beside the countries around it. Every position below is a place among all 200 countries on health & wellbeing, never a place within the region.
Botswana and the countries it borders
Standing among all 200; the key columns are the publishers’ own values.
| Country | Standing | Life Expectancy at BirthYears a newborn would live at current death rates | Under-Five Mortality RateDeaths before age five (per 1,000 live births) | Stunting Prevalence in Children Under FiveChildren under 5 who are stunted (%) | Prevalence of Severe Food InsecurityPopulation in severe food insecurity (%) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 South Africa | =148th | 66.14 | 35.06 | 21.33 | 8.4 |
| Botswana | 157th | 69.16 | 33.31 | 28.94 | 20.4 |
 Namibia | 175th | 67.38 | 39.46 | 22.72 | 28.1 |
 Zimbabwe | 181st | 62.77 | 64.66 | 25.9 | 25.3 |
“—”: no published reading in that edition. What a standing is
Across Southern Africa
Every country in the sub-region, by its place among all 200.
Placed either side on health & wellbeing
The countries immediately above and below Botswana in the topic’s list.
04Context, no vote
Where Botswana is ahead of the world, and behind
46 more statistics filed under health & wellbeing, 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 median8
Statistics on which Botswana does better than the middle country measured.
Demand for Family Planning Satisfied by Modern MethodsUN DESA Population Division · 2023 · world median 71.2586.271.25No real change since 2013
Botswana: 86.2 · world median 71.25 · Share of women aged 15–49 wanting to avoid pregnancy who use a modern method (%). UN DESA Population Division, 2023 edition, data for 2023.
Published values in that edition run from 8.4 to 92.4; higher is better.
Position 21st of 196 · derived.
Institutional DeliveriesUNICEF · 2025 · world median 96.999.796.9No earlier reading
Botswana: 99.7 · world median 96.9 · Live births delivered in a health facility (%). UNICEF, 2025 edition, data for 2025.
Published values in that edition run from 11.5 to 100; higher is better.
Malaria Mortality (P. falciparum)MAP · 2024 · world median 8.1060.1118.106▲ Improved since 2014
Botswana: 0.111 · world median 8.106 · Deaths from P. falciparum malaria per 100,000 people per year. Malaria Atlas Project (MAP), 2024 edition, data for 2024.
Published values in that edition run from 0 to 133.27; lower is better.
Malaria Incidence (P. falciparum)MAP · 2025 · world median 52.470.43652.47No real change since 2015
Botswana: 0.436 · world median 52.47 · New P. falciparum malaria cases per 1,000 people per year. Malaria Atlas Project (MAP), 2025 edition, data for 2025.
Published values in that edition run from 0 to 334.75; lower is better.
Immunisation Coverage, DTP3WUENIC · 2025 · world median 919591▲ Improved since 2015
Botswana: 95 · world median 91 · Infants given a third dose of DTP vaccine (%). WHO and UNICEF (WUENIC), 2025 edition, data for 2025.
Published values in that edition run from 39 to 99; higher is better.
Agreement That Vaccines Are SafeWellcome Trust · 2018 · world median 77.6579.4277.65No earlier reading
Botswana: 79.42 · world median 77.65 · People aged 15+ who agree that vaccines are safe (% of those who had heard of vaccines). Wellcome Trust, 2018 edition, data for 2018.
Published values in that edition run from 29.29 to 97.91; higher is better.
Position 67th of 144 · derived.
Oral Rehydration Salts for Children with DiarrhoeaUNICEF · 2024 · world median 41.542.941.5No earlier reading
Botswana: 42.9 · world median 41.5 · Children under 5 with diarrhoea given oral rehydration salts (%). UNICEF, 2024 edition, data for 2024.
Published values in that edition run from 9.9 to 95.4; higher is better.
Position 60th of 127 · derived.
PM2.5 Air Pollution ExposureAtmospheric Composition Analysis Group, Washington University in St. Louis · 2023 · world median 14.4514.214.45▼ Worsened since 2013
Botswana: 14.2 · world median 14.45 · Population-weighted PM2.5 concentration (µg/m³). Atmospheric Composition Analysis Group, Washington University in St. Louis, 2023 edition, data for 2023.
Published values in that edition run from 2.5 to 68.2; lower is better.
Position 113th of 220 · derived, 1st = worst.
Behind the world median30
Statistics on which Botswana does worse than the middle country measured.
Early Initiation of BreastfeedingUNICEF · 2024 · world median 52.9552.8252.95No earlier reading
Botswana: 52.82 · world median 52.95 · Newborns put to the breast within one hour of birth (%). UNICEF, 2024 edition, data for 2024.
Published values in that edition run from 7.749 to 93.1; higher is better.
Position 70th of 136 · derived.
Global Multidimensional Poverty IndexOPHI · 2025 · world median 0.0390.0730.039▼ Worsened since 2020
Botswana: 0.073 · world median 0.039 · MPI (0–1). Oxford Poverty and Human Development Initiative (OPHI), 2025 edition, data for 2025.
Published values in that edition run from 0 to 0.517; lower is better.
Position 49th of 109 · derived, 1st = worst.
Human Development IndexUNDP Human Development Report Office · 2023 · world median 0.7620.7310.762▲ Improved since 2013
Botswana: 0.731 · world median 0.762 · HDI score (0–1). UNDP Human Development Report Office, 2023 edition, data for 2023.
Published values in that edition run from 0.388 to 0.972; higher is better.
Ranked 111th of 193 by UNDP Human Development Report Office.
Antenatal Care Coverage, At Least Four VisitsUNICEF · 2025 · world median 8173.381No earlier reading
Botswana: 73.3 · world median 81 · Women with a live birth who had 4+ antenatal visits (%). UNICEF, 2025 edition, data for 2025.
Published values in that edition run from 22.6 to 100; higher is better.
Position 96th of 153 · derived.
Life Expectancy at Age 65UN DESA Population Division · 2023 · world median 16.3914.8816.39▲ Improved since 2013
Botswana: 14.88 · world median 16.39 · Further years a 65-year-old would live at current death rates. UN DESA Population Division, 2023 edition, data for 2023.
Published values in that edition run from 12.13 to 23.21; higher is better.
Position 145th of 222 · derived.
Immunisation Coverage, Measles First Dose (MCV1)WUENIC · 2025 · world median 908390▼ Worsened since 2015
Botswana: 83 · world median 90 · Infants given a first dose of measles vaccine (%). WHO and UNICEF (WUENIC), 2025 edition, data for 2025.
Published values in that edition run from 13 to 99; higher is better.
Share of Dietary Energy Supply from Cereals, Roots and TubersFAO · 2022 · world median 415141▲ Improved since 2012
Botswana: 51 · world median 41 · Share of dietary energy supply from cereals, roots and tubers (%). Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), 2022 edition, data for 2022.
Published values in that edition run from 21 to 82; lower is better.
Excess Mortality During the COVID-19 PandemicAriel Karlinsky and Dmitry Kobak (World Mortality Dataset) · 2026 · world median 272.35388.5272.35No earlier reading
Botswana: 388.5 · world median 272.35 · Excess deaths per 100,000 people, March 2020 to the end of each country's data (at most December 2023). Ariel Karlinsky and Dmitry Kobak (World Mortality Dataset), 2026 edition, data for 2026.
Published values in that edition run from -264.9 to 1,013; lower is better.
Adolescent Birth Rate (Ages 15–19)UN DESA Population Division · 2023 · world median 27.4653.827.46▼ Worsened since 2013
Botswana: 53.8 · world median 27.46 · Live births per 1,000 women aged 15–19. UN DESA Population Division, 2023 edition, data for 2023.
Published values in that edition run from 0.465 to 163.09; lower is better.
Position 66th of 222 · derived, 1st = worst.
Dietary Energy SupplyFAO · 2024 · world median 2,9822,7152,982▲ Improved since 2014
Botswana: 2,715 · world median 2,982 · Dietary energy supply (kcal per person per day). Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), 2024 edition, data for 2024.
Published values in that edition run from 1,757 to 3,962; higher is better.
Position 110th of 155 · derived.
Adult Mortality (Probability of Dying Between 15 and 60)UN DESA Population Division · 2023 · world median 133.7188.7133.7▲ Improved since 2013
Botswana: 188.7 · world median 133.7 · Deaths before age 60 per 1,000 people alive at 15, at that year's death rates. UN DESA Population Division, 2023 edition, data for 2023.
Published values in that edition run from 25.15 to 415.44; lower is better.
Position 63rd of 222 · derived, 1st = worst.
Exclusive Breastfeeding Under Six MonthsUNICEF · 2024 · world median 40.7429.9940.74No earlier reading
Botswana: 29.99 · world median 40.74 · Infants under 6 months exclusively breastfed (%). UNICEF, 2024 edition, data for 2024.
Published values in that edition run from 3.497 to 83.3; higher is better.
Position 99th of 136 · derived.
Mortality Rate, Ages 5–14UN IGME · 2024 · world median 2.8585.5752.858No real change since 2014
Botswana: 5.575 · world median 2.858 · Deaths between ages 5 and 14 (per 1,000 children aged 5). UN Inter-agency Group for Child Mortality Estimation (UN IGME), 2024 edition, data for 2024.
Published values in that edition run from 0.392 to 59.04; lower is better.
Position 53rd of 200 · derived, 1st = worst.
Gender Inequality IndexUNDP Human Development Report Office · 2023 · world median 0.3510.490.351▼ Worsened since 2013
Botswana: 0.49 · world median 0.351 · GII (0 = full equality, 1 = maximum inequality). UNDP Human Development Report Office, 2023 edition, data for 2023.
Published values in that edition run from 0.003 to 0.838; lower is better.
Ranked 127th of 172 by UNDP Human Development Report Office.
Neonatal Mortality RateUN IGME · 2024 · world median 8.13417.648.134No real change since 2014
Botswana: 17.64 · world median 8.134 · Deaths in the first 28 days (per 1,000 live births). UN Inter-agency Group for Child Mortality Estimation (UN IGME), 2024 edition, data for 2024.
Published values in that edition run from 0.544 to 39.47; lower is better.
Position 52nd of 200 · derived, 1st = worst.
Days Above 35°CECMWF · 2025 · world median 3.4830.373.48▲ Improved since 2015
Botswana: 30.37 · world median 3.48 · Days a year with a maximum temperature above 35°C, averaged over the country’s land. World Bank Group (Climate Change Knowledge Portal), from Copernicus ERA5 (ECMWF), 2025 edition, data for 2025.
Published values in that edition run from 0 to 222.89; lower is better.
Stillbirth RateUN IGME · 2023 · world median 8.16313.918.163No real change since 2013
Botswana: 13.91 · world median 8.163 · Stillbirths (per 1,000 total births). UN Inter-agency Group for Child Mortality Estimation (UN IGME), 2023 edition, data for 2023.
Published values in that edition run from 1.18 to 34.9; lower is better.
Position 51st of 200 · derived, 1st = worst.
Maternal Mortality RatioMMEIG · 2023 · world median 46.65155.146.65No real change since 2013
Botswana: 155.1 · world median 46.65 · Maternal deaths per 100,000 live births. UN Maternal Mortality Estimation Inter-Agency Group (MMEIG), 2023 edition, data for 2023.
Published values in that edition run from 0.11 to 992.83; lower is better.
Position 48th of 195 · derived, 1st = worst.
Vegetable Supply per PersonFAO · 2023 · world median 102.6948.88102.69▼ Worsened since 2013
Botswana: 48.88 · world median 102.69 · Vegetables available as food (kg per person per year). Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), 2023 edition, data for 2023.
Published values in that edition run from 6.89 to 412.72; higher is better.
Infant Mortality RateUN IGME · 2024 · world median 12.2632.112.26▲ Improved since 2014
Botswana: 32.1 · world median 12.26 · Deaths before age one (per 1,000 live births). UN Inter-agency Group for Child Mortality Estimation (UN IGME), 2024 edition, data for 2024.
Published values in that edition run from 1.214 to 71.87; lower is better.
Position 43rd of 200 · derived, 1st = worst.
Share of Population Unable to Afford a Healthy DietFAO · 2025 · world median 26.459.926.4No real change since 2017
Botswana: 59.9 · world median 26.4 · Share of the population unable to afford a healthy diet (%). Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), 2025 edition, data for 2025.
Published values in that edition run from 0.6 to 93.9; lower is better.
Position 31st of 145 · derived, 1st = worst.
Wasting Prevalence in Children Under FiveUNICEF, WHO and World Bank Group (Joint Malnutrition Estimates) · 2024 · world median 3.5467.3153.546No earlier reading
Botswana: 7.315 · world median 3.546 · Children under 5 who are wasted (%). UNICEF, WHO and World Bank Group (Joint Malnutrition Estimates), 2024 edition, data for 2024.
Published values in that edition run from 0.1 to 22.74; lower is better.
Position 34th of 163 · derived, 1st = worst.
Human Capital IndexWorld Bank Group · 2020 · world median 0.5640.4140.564▲ Improved since 2010
Botswana: 0.414 · world median 0.564 · HCI score (0–1). World Bank Group, 2020 edition, data for 2020.
Published values in that edition run from 0.292 to 0.879; higher is better.
Position 139th of 172 · derived.
Fruit Supply per PersonFAO · 2023 · world median 84.8346.6484.83▲ Improved since 2013
Botswana: 46.64 · world median 84.83 · Fruit available as food, excluding wine (kg per person per year). Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), 2023 edition, data for 2023.
Published values in that edition run from 4.27 to 379.63; higher is better.
Prevalence of Moderate or Severe Food InsecurityFAO · 2024 · world median 20.95220.9No real change since 2015
Botswana: 52 · world median 20.9 · Population in moderate or severe food insecurity (%). Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), 2024 edition, data for 2024.
Published values in that edition run from 1 to 88.8; lower is better.
Position 26th of 135 · derived, 1st = worst.
Overweight Prevalence in Children Under FiveUNICEF, WHO and World Bank Group (Joint Malnutrition Estimates) · 2024 · world median 5.511.495.5▼ Worsened since 2014
Botswana: 11.49 · world median 5.5 · Children under 5 who are overweight (%). UNICEF, WHO and World Bank Group (Joint Malnutrition Estimates), 2024 edition, data for 2024.
Published values in that edition run from 0.623 to 26.43; lower is better.
Position 21st of 163 · derived, 1st = worst.
Low Birthweight PrevalenceUNICEF and WHO (Joint Low Birthweight Estimates) · 2020 · world median 10.2116.8310.21No real change since 2010
Botswana: 16.83 · world median 10.21 · Live births weighing under 2,500 g (%). UNICEF and WHO (Joint Low Birthweight Estimates), 2020 edition, data for 2020.
Published values in that edition run from 3.993 to 27.44; lower is better.
Position 19th of 158 · derived, 1st = worst.
Coefficient of Variation of Habitual Caloric ConsumptionFAO · 2024 · world median 0.250.350.25No real change since 2014
Botswana: 0.35 · world median 0.25 · Coefficient of variation of habitual calorie consumption across the population (standard deviation ÷ mean). Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), 2024 edition, data for 2024.
Published values in that edition run from 0.17 to 0.4; lower is better.
Prevalence of UndernourishmentFAO · 2023 · world median 5.2245.2No real change since 2013
Botswana: 24 · world median 5.2 · Population undernourished (%). Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), 2023 edition, data for 2023.
Published values in that edition run from 2.5 to 54.2; lower is better.
Position 17th of 104 · derived, 1st = worst.
Care-Seeking for Children with Symptoms of PneumoniaUNICEF · 2024 · world median 67.71467.7No earlier reading
Botswana: 14 · world median 67.7 · Children under 5 with pneumonia symptoms taken to a health provider (%). UNICEF, 2024 edition, data for 2024.
Published values in that edition run from 14 to 99.1; higher is better.
Position 127th of 127 · derived.
No better end8
These describe the shape of a country — more is not better or worse, only different — so they are never ahead or behind.
Modern Contraceptive PrevalenceUN DESA Population Division · 2023 · world median 35.456.435.4No real change since 2013
Botswana: 56.4 · world median 35.4 · Share of all women aged 15–49 using a modern contraceptive method (%). UN DESA Population Division, 2023 edition, data for 2023.
Published values in that edition run from 2 to 73.8.
Contraceptive Prevalence (Any Method)UN DESA Population Division · 2023 · world median 41.2557.641.25No real change since 2013
Botswana: 57.6 · world median 41.25 · Share of all women aged 15–49 using any contraceptive method (%). UN DESA Population Division, 2023 edition, data for 2023.
Published values in that edition run from 6.6 to 78.7.
Average Weekly Hours WorkedILO · 2025 · world median 38.8943.2838.89Moved since 2015
Botswana: 43.28 · world median 38.89 · Average weekly hours actually worked per employed person. International Labour Organization (ILO), 2025 edition, data for 2025.
Published values in that edition run from 23.64 to 54.7.
Position 37th of 182 · derived, counted from the highest value.
Pesticide Use per HectareFAO · 2024 · world median 1.734.781.73Moved since 2014
Botswana: 4.78 · world median 1.73 · Pesticide use (kg per hectare of cropland). Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), 2024 edition, data for 2024.
Published values in that edition run from 0 to 37.72.
Position 56th of 178 · derived, counted from the highest value.
Cost of a Healthy DietFAO · 2025 · world median 4.554.444.55Moved since 2017
Botswana: 4.44 · world median 4.55 · Cost of the cheapest locally available healthy diet, PPP dollars per person per day. Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), 2025 edition, data for 2025.
Published values in that edition run from 2.66 to 8.27.
Meat Supply per PersonFAO · 2023 · world median 57.8343.2757.83Moved since 2013
Botswana: 43.27 · world median 57.83 · Meat available as food (kg per person per year, carcass weight). Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), 2023 edition, data for 2023.
Published values in that edition run from 3.49 to 156.95.
Fish and Seafood Supply per PersonFAO · 2023 · world median 16.172.2216.17Moved since 2013
Botswana: 2.22 · world median 16.17 · Fish and seafood available as food (kg per person per year, live-weight equivalent). Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), 2023 edition, data for 2023.
Published values in that edition run from 0.38 to 83.81.
Catastrophic Out-of-Pocket Health SpendingWorld Bank Group · 2019 · world median 6.881.0036.88No earlier reading
Botswana: 1.003 · world median 6.88 · Population in households spending more than 10% of their budget on health out of pocket (%). World Bank Group, 2019 edition, data for 2019.
Published values in that edition run from 0.133 to 31.21.
No current reading for Botswana
Adults Who Have Been Too Anxious or Depressed to Carry On, Births Attended by Skilled Health Staff (last 2021), Caesarean Section Rate, Children with Functional Difficulties, Fatal Occupational Injuries, Female Genital Mutilation Prevalence, Global Report on Food Crises, HPV Vaccination Coverage, Girls (last 2024), INFORM Severity Index, Insecticide-Treated Net Use, Malaria Incidence (P. vivax), Minimum Dietary Diversity, Children Aged 6–23 Months, Postnatal Care for Newborns Within Two Days, Severe Child Food Poverty, Children Aged 6–23 Months and Violent Discipline of Children. 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
Health & Wellbeing among Botswana’s 15 topics
Health & Wellbeing is Botswana’s 12th 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 health & wellbeing
The three countries placed highest of 200, and the leaders Botswana can most readily be measured against.
1
San MarinoSouthern Europe
1st of 200 · 2 of 4 keys
Photo: Matl derivative work: Jjtkk · CC BY-SA 3.0, greyscale
2
MonacoWestern Europe
2nd of 200 · 2 of 4 keys
Photo: Martin Weber derivative work: Jjtkk · CC BY-SA 3.0, greyscale
3
AndorraSouthern Europe
3rd of 200 · 2 of 4 keys
Photo: Tiia Monto derivative work: Jjtkk · CC BY-SA 3.0, greyscale
Placed highest nearby
Highest placed on all 4 keys
South Korea5th4/4 keysHighest in Africa
Cabo Verde80th4/4 keysHighest in Southern Africa
South Africa=148th4/4 keysThis page
Botswana157th3/4 keys
Positions out of 200 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.
07Analysis
Charts and analysis about Botswana and health & wellbeing
On health & wellbeing
Global Hunger Index 2025: Countries with the Most Alarming Hunger Crisis
Thirteen countries scored across four editions — 2000, 2008, 2016 and 2025 — and five the report could not score at all. DR Congo and South Sudan share 121st place on 37.5.
On health & wellbeing
World Happiness Report 2025: Finland Leads Again as the US and UK Face Major Declines
The ten highest life evaluations of 2025, drawn on a world map, and the six things the report uses to explain them. Costa Rica and Mexico are the only two outside Europe and the Middle East.
08Questions
Botswana on health & wellbeing: 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 health & wellbeing?
Botswana is placed 157th of 200 countries on Health & Wellbeing in the Country Index 2026, from 3 of its 4 key statistics (Life Expectancy at Birth, Under-Five Mortality Rate and Prevalence of Severe Food Insecurity). The position is this site’s ordering of published statistics, not a rank any publisher printed.
What is the latest Life Expectancy at Birth figure for Botswana?
69.16 in 2023 (years a newborn would live at current death rates), according to UN DESA Population Division. The world median in the same edition was 74.63.
What is the latest Under-Five Mortality Rate figure for Botswana?
33.31 in 2024 (deaths before age five (per 1,000 live births)), according to UN Inter-agency Group for Child Mortality Estimation (UN IGME). The world median in the same edition was 14.54.
How does Botswana compare with South Africa on health & wellbeing?
South Africa is placed joint 148th of 200, and Botswana 157th. Life Expectancy at Birth: South Africa 66.14, Botswana 69.16; Under-Five Mortality Rate: South Africa 35.06, Botswana 33.31; Prevalence of Severe Food Insecurity: South Africa 8.4, Botswana 20.4.
How have Botswana’s health & wellbeing figures changed?
Life Expectancy at Birth rose from 52.26 in 2000 to 69.16 in 2023; Under-Five Mortality Rate fell from 79.84 in 2000 to 33.31 in 2024; Prevalence of Severe Food Insecurity rose from 18.4 in 2015 to 20.4 in 2024.
Which health & wellbeing statistics are missing for Botswana?
No current reading is published for Botswana on Adults Who Have Been Too Anxious or Depressed to Carry On, Births Attended by Skilled Health Staff, Caesarean Section Rate, Children with Functional Difficulties, Fatal Occupational Injuries, Female Genital Mutilation Prevalence, Global Report on Food Crises, HPV Vaccination Coverage, Girls, INFORM Severity Index, Insecticide-Treated Net Use, Malaria Incidence (P. vivax), Minimum Dietary Diversity, Children Aged 6–23 Months, Postnatal Care for Newborns Within Two Days, Severe Child Food Poverty, Children Aged 6–23 Months and Violent Discipline of Children. They are listed rather than hidden, so the evidence on the page can be checked against it.
09Method
Method, sources and how to cite
What this topic does not measure
Health spending, hospital beds and doctors per person are not measured, because more of any of them does not guarantee better outcomes. Mental health and self-reported happiness are not part of this topic. Food supply per person is measured under Food & Agriculture. Maternal mortality and many other indicators are published here as context; maternal mortality is a key in Development & Human Capital instead.
How the Health & Wellbeing 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 health & wellbeing method, step by stepHow every standing on this site is built
The key statistics and their licences
- Life Expectancy at Birth — UN DESA Population Division, CC BY 3.0 IGO
- Under-Five Mortality Rate — UN Inter-agency Group for Child Mortality Estimation (UN IGME), CC BY 3.0 IGO
- Stunting Prevalence in Children Under Five — UNICEF, WHO and World Bank Group (Joint Malnutrition Estimates), CC BY 3.0 IGO
- Prevalence of Severe Food Insecurity — Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), CC BY 4.0
The other 46 statistics on this page come from 17 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
- San Marino — Matl derivative work: Jjtkk, CC BY-SA 3.0
- Monaco — Martin Weber derivative work: Jjtkk, CC BY-SA 3.0
- Andorra — Tiia Monto derivative work: Jjtkk, CC BY-SA 3.0
Cite this page
Nations Inquiry (2026). Botswana: Health & Wellbeing — standing and statistics, Country Index 2026. https://nationsinquiry.com/countries/botswana/health