Terrestrial and marine protected areas in Botswana
Botswana: Terrestrial and marine protected areas was 27.6% in 2025. ▬ Flat
Terrestrial and marine protected areas in Botswana, 2013–2025
Source: Protected Planet: The World Database on Protected Areas (WDPA) and World Database on Other Effective Area-based Conservation Measures (WD-OECM), UN Environment Programme World Conservation Monitoring . Measured in % of total territorial area.
Analysis
The most recent figure for terrestrial and marine protected areas in Botswana is 27.6%, measured in 2025. That is the lowest value across all 13 years on record.
The figure is down 5.2% on the previous year and down 5.2% over ten years.
Over the whole period, terrestrial and marine protected areas in Botswana peaked at 29.1% in 2013 and was at its lowest, 27.6%, in 2025.
Botswana ranks 37th of 213 countries on this measure, in the top quarter.
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2010s | 29.1% | 29.1% | 29.1% | 7 |
| 2020s | 28.9% | 27.6% | 29.1% | 6 |
Countries ranked near Botswana
More climate change data for Botswana
- Population growth 1.6% (2025)
- Population, total 2.56 million (2025)
- Urban population growth 2.3% (2025)
- Urban population 1.74 million (2025)
- Urban population 68.0% (2025)
- Annual freshwater withdrawals, total 0.2133 billion cubic meters (2022)
- Annual freshwater withdrawals, total 8.9% (2022)
- Terrestrial protected areas 27.6% (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is terrestrial and marine protected areas in Botswana?
- Terrestrial and marine protected areas in Botswana was 27.6% in 2025, according to Protected Planet: The World Database on Protected Areas (WDPA) and World Database on Other Effective Area-based Conservation Measures (WD-OECM), UN Environment Programme World Conservation Monitoring .
- What is the highest terrestrial and marine protected areas recorded in Botswana?
- The highest recorded value was 29.1% in 2013.
- What is the lowest terrestrial and marine protected areas recorded in Botswana?
- The lowest recorded value was 27.6% in 2025.
- How does Botswana rank for terrestrial and marine protected areas?
- Botswana ranks 37th out of 213 countries with data for 2025.
- Is terrestrial and marine protected areas rising or falling in Botswana?
- Over the last ten years it is down 5.2%. The long-run trend across the full record is flat.
- Where does this Botswana data come from?
- The figures come from Protected Planet: The World Database on Protected Areas (WDPA) and World Database on Other Effective Area-based Conservation Measures (WD-OECM), UN Environment Programme World Conservation Monitoring , published as part of Terrestrial and marine protected areas (% of total territorial area). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
CSV · JSON — 13 observations, free to reuse under CC BY 4.0 (World Bank Open Data).
About this data
Terrestrial protected areas are totally or partially protected areas of at least 1,000 hectares that are designated by national authorities as scientific reserves with limited public access, national parks, natural monuments, nature reserves or wildlife sanctuaries, protected landscapes, and areas managed mainly for sustainable use. Marine protected areas are areas of intertidal or subtidal terrain--and overlying water and associated flora and fauna and historical and cultural features--that have been reserved by law or other effective means to protect part or all of the enclosed environment. Sites protected under local or provincial law are excluded.