Poverty headcount ratio at societal poverty line in Botswana
Botswana: Poverty headcount ratio at societal poverty line was 36.0% in 2015. ▼ Falling
Poverty headcount ratio at societal poverty line in Botswana, 1985–2015
Source: World Bank, Poverty and Inequality Platform. Data are based on primary household survey data obtained from government statistical agencies and World Bank country departments. Data for high-income econ. Measured in % of population.
Analysis
The most recent figure for poverty headcount ratio at societal poverty line in Botswana is 36.0%, measured in 2015.
The figure is down 11.3% over ten years.
Over the whole period, poverty headcount ratio at societal poverty line in Botswana peaked at 50.1% in 1985 and was at its lowest, 35.6%, in 2009.
Botswana ranks 19th of 123 countries on this measure, in the top quarter.
Poverty headcount ratio at societal poverty line in Botswana, year by year
| Year | % of population | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1985 | 50.1% | — |
| 1993 | 43.7% | -12.8% |
| 2002 | 40.6% | -7.1% |
| 2009 | 35.6% | -12.3% |
| 2015 | 36.0% | +1.1% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1980s | 50.1% | 50.1% | 50.1% | 1 |
| 1990s | 43.7% | 43.7% | 43.7% | 1 |
| 2000s | 38.1% | 35.6% | 40.6% | 2 |
| 2010s | 36.0% | 36.0% | 36.0% | 1 |
Countries ranked near Botswana
More poverty & inequality data for Botswana
- Number of income/consumption surveys in the past decade available via the World Bank 0 surveys (2025)
- Number of income/consumption surveys in the past decade available via 0 surveys per person (2025)
- Number of income/consumption surveys in the past decade available via 0 surveys per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Fertility rate vs. share living in extreme poverty 2.73 live births per woman (2023)
- Cereal yield vs. share in extreme poverty 900.4 kg per hectare (2024)
- Cereal yield vs extreme poverty, per unit of GDP 0 units per US$ of GDP (2024)
- Cereal yield vs extreme poverty, annual growth rate 3.47 % change on previous year (2024)
- Tax revenues vs income inequality, gaps filled 22.79 (2023)
- Tax revenue as share of GDP vs. income inequality 22.8% (2023)
- Tax revenues vs income inequality, per unit of GDP 0 units per US$ of GDP (2023)
Frequently asked questions
- What is poverty headcount ratio at societal poverty line in Botswana?
- Poverty headcount ratio at societal poverty line in Botswana was 36.0% in 2015, according to World Bank, Poverty and Inequality Platform. Data are based on primary household survey data obtained from government statistical agencies and World Bank country departments. Data for high-income econ.
- What is the highest poverty headcount ratio at societal poverty line recorded in Botswana?
- The highest recorded value was 50.1% in 1985.
- What is the lowest poverty headcount ratio at societal poverty line recorded in Botswana?
- The lowest recorded value was 35.6% in 2009.
- How does Botswana rank for poverty headcount ratio at societal poverty line?
- Botswana ranks 19th out of 123 countries with data for 2015.
- Is poverty headcount ratio at societal poverty line rising or falling in Botswana?
- Over the last ten years it is down 11.3%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this Botswana data come from?
- The figures come from World Bank, Poverty and Inequality Platform. Data are based on primary household survey data obtained from government statistical agencies and World Bank country departments. Data for high-income econ, published as part of Poverty headcount ratio at societal poverty line (% of population). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
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About this data
The poverty headcount ratio at societal poverty line is the percentage of a population living in poverty according to the World Bank's Societal Poverty Line. The Societal Poverty Line is expressed in purchasing power adjusted 2021 U.S. dollars and defined as max($3.00, $1.30 + 0.5*Median). This means that when the national median is sufficiently low, the Societal Poverty line is equivalent to the extreme poverty line, $3.00. For countries with a sufficiently high national median, the Societal Poverty Line grows as countries’ median income grows.