Proportion of population below international poverty line (%) in Botswana
Botswana: Proportion of population below international poverty line (%) was 21.4% in 2015. ▼ Falling
Latest (2015)
21.4%
World rank
23rd
of 133 countries
All-time high
50.1%
in 1985
All-time low
21.1%
in 2009
Years of data
5
1985–2015
Proportion of population below international poverty line in Botswana, 1985–2015
Source: United Nations Statistics Division, SDG Global Database.
Analysis
Botswana recorded 21.4% for proportion of population below international poverty line in 2015.
The figure is down 38.5% over ten years.
Over the whole period, proportion of population below international poverty line in Botswana peaked at 50.1% in 1985 and was at its lowest, 21.1%, in 2009.
Botswana ranks 23rd of 133 countries on this measure, in the top quarter.
Proportion of population below international poverty line (%) in Botswana, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1985 | 50.1% | — |
| 1993 | 42.1% | -16.0% |
| 2002 | 34.8% | -17.3% |
| 2009 | 21.1% | -39.4% |
| 2015 | 21.4% | +1.4% |
Botswana compared with similar countries
- Botswana's 21.4% is above the median for upper middle income countries, which is 1.2%, 17.1× the median. (36 countries reporting)
- Botswana's 21.4% is below the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 38.6%, 55% of the median. (25 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1980s | 50.1% | 50.1% | 50.1% | 1 |
| 1990s | 42.1% | 42.1% | 42.1% | 1 |
| 2000s | 27.9% | 21.1% | 34.8% | 2 |
| 2010s | 21.4% | 21.4% | 21.4% | 1 |
Countries ranked near Botswana
- 20 Cameroon 26.7% compare
- 21 Pakistan 23.0% compare
- 22 Gambia 22.0% compare
- 24 Côte d'Ivoire 20.8% compare
- 24 Cote d'Ivoire 20.8% compare
- 26 Syrian Arab Republic 18.0% compare
- 26 Syria 18.0% compare
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 proportion of population below international poverty line in Botswana?
- Proportion of population below international poverty line in Botswana was 21.4% in 2015, according to United Nations Statistics Division, SDG Global Database.
- What is the highest proportion of population below international poverty line recorded in Botswana?
- The highest recorded value was 50.1% in 1985.
- What is the lowest proportion of population below international poverty line recorded in Botswana?
- The lowest recorded value was 21.1% in 2009.
- How does Botswana rank for proportion of population below international poverty line?
- Botswana ranks 23rd out of 133 countries with data for 2015.
- Is proportion of population below international poverty line rising or falling in Botswana?
- Over the last ten years it is down 38.5%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this Botswana data come from?
- The figures come from United Nations Statistics Division, SDG Global Database, published as part of Proportion of population below international poverty line (%). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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