Relative poverty: Share of population below 40% of the median in Botswana
Botswana: Relative poverty: Share of population below 40% of the median was 12.8% in 2015. ▼ Falling
Relative poverty: Share of population below 40% of the median in Botswana, 1985–2015
Source: World Bank Poverty and Inequality Platform (2026) – with major processing by Our World in Data. Measured in %.
Analysis
Botswana recorded 12.8% for relative poverty: share of population below 40% of the median in 2015. That is the lowest value across all 5 years on record.
The figure is down 14.7% over ten years.
Over the whole period, relative poverty: share of population below 40% of the median in Botswana peaked at 16.4% in 1985 and was at its lowest, 12.8%, in 2015.
Botswana ranks 12th of 120 countries on this measure, in the top 10%.
Relative poverty: Share of population below 40% of the median in Botswana, year by year
| Year | % | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1985 | 16.4% | — |
| 1993 | 16.3% | -0.7% |
| 2002 | 15.0% | -8.2% |
| 2009 | 14.9% | -0.4% |
| 2015 | 12.8% | -14.3% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1980s | 16.4% | 16.4% | 16.4% | 1 |
| 1990s | 16.3% | 16.3% | 16.3% | 1 |
| 2000s | 15.0% | 14.9% | 15.0% | 2 |
| 2010s | 12.8% | 12.8% | 12.8% | 1 |
Countries ranked near Botswana
- 9 South Africa 13.1% compare
- 10 North Macedonia 13.1% compare
- 11 Guatemala 12.9% compare
- 13 Costa Rica 12.6% compare
- 14 United States of America 12.1% compare
- 15 Bolivia, Plurinational State of 11.4% 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 relative poverty: share of population below 40% of the median in Botswana?
- Relative poverty: share of population below 40% of the median in Botswana was 12.8% in 2015, according to World Bank Poverty and Inequality Platform (2026) – with major processing by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest relative poverty: share of population below 40% of the median recorded in Botswana?
- The highest recorded value was 16.4% in 1985.
- What is the lowest relative poverty: share of population below 40% of the median recorded in Botswana?
- The lowest recorded value was 12.8% in 2015.
- How does Botswana rank for relative poverty: share of population below 40% of the median?
- Botswana ranks 12th out of 120 countries with data for 2015.
- Is relative poverty: share of population below 40% of the median rising or falling in Botswana?
- Over the last ten years it is down 14.7%. 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 (2026) – with major processing by Our World in Data, published as part of Relative poverty: Share of population below 40% of the median. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
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About this data
Percentage of population living in households with an income or consumption below 40% of the median.