What is press freedom in Botswana?

Press freedom in Botswana was 1 in 2016, according to Freedom House (2017) – processed by Our World in Data.

What is the highest press freedom recorded in Botswana?

The highest recorded value was 2 in 1990.

What is the lowest press freedom recorded in Botswana?

The lowest recorded value was 1 in 1979.

How does Botswana rank for press freedom?

Botswana ranks 61st out of 194 countries with data for 2016.

Is press freedom rising or falling in Botswana?

Over the last ten years it is unchanged. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.

Where does this Botswana data come from?

The figures come from Freedom House (2017) – processed by Our World in Data, published as part of Press freedom. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.

Press freedom in Botswana

Name: Press freedom in Botswana
Creator: Freedom House (2017) – processed by Our World in Data
License: CC BY 4.0 (Our World in Data)

Botswana: Press freedom was 1 in 2016. ▼ Falling

Latest (2016)

Change on year

unchanged

World rank

61st

of 194 countries

All-time high

in 1990

All-time low

in 1979

Years of data

1979–2016

Press freedom in Botswana, 1979–2016

Source: Freedom House (2017) – processed by Our World in Data.

Analysis

Botswana recorded 1 for press freedom in 2016. That is the lowest value across all 36 years on record.

Compared with earlier readings it is unchanged over ten years.

Over the whole period, press freedom in Botswana peaked at 2 in 1990 and was at its lowest, 1, in 1979.

Botswana ranks 61st of 194 countries on this measure, in the middle of the range.

The long-run direction has been consistently falling across the 36 years of available data.

Averages by decade

Decade	Average	Lowest	Highest	Years
1970s	1	1	1	1
1980s	1	1	1	8
1990s	2	2	2	10
2000s	1.5	1	2	10
2010s	1	1	1	7

Countries ranked near Botswana

See the full ranking of 194 places →

More social development data for Botswana

Refugees under the mandate of the UNHCR by country or territory of asy 847 (2025)
Refugees under the mandate of the UNHCR by country or territory of ori 384 (2025)
Physical Integrity Rights Score 1.89 (2019)
Asylum-seekers by country or territory of origin 789 (2025)
Asylum-seekers by country or territory of asylum 21 (2025)
Forcibly displaced people 868 (2025)
Self-reported life satisfaction 3.46 (2025)

All data for Botswana →

Frequently asked questions

What is press freedom in Botswana?: Press freedom in Botswana was 1 in 2016, according to Freedom House (2017) – processed by Our World in Data.
What is the highest press freedom recorded in Botswana?: The highest recorded value was 2 in 1990.
What is the lowest press freedom recorded in Botswana?: The lowest recorded value was 1 in 1979.
How does Botswana rank for press freedom?: Botswana ranks 61st out of 194 countries with data for 2016.
Is press freedom rising or falling in Botswana?: Over the last ten years it is unchanged. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
Where does this Botswana data come from?: The figures come from Freedom House (2017) – processed by Our World in Data, published as part of Press freedom. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.

Download this data

CSV · JSON — 36 observations, free to reuse under CC BY 4.0 (Our World in Data).

About this data

Indicator: Press freedom
Source: Freedom House (2017) – processed by Our World in Data
Licence: CC BY 4.0 (Our World in Data)
Coverage: 194 places, 6,417 data points, 1979–2016
Last refreshed: 06 August 2026

Based on the classification and data by Freedom House. It captures the legal, political, and economic environment of the press.