Suicide rate in Botswana
Botswana: Suicide rate was 8.64 deaths per 100,000 people in 2021. ▼ Falling
Suicide rate in Botswana, 2000–2021
Source: World Health Organization (2024) – with major processing by Our World in Data. Measured in deaths per 100,000 people.
Analysis
Botswana recorded 8.64 deaths per 100,000 people for suicide rate in 2021. That is the lowest value across all 22 years on record.
Compared with earlier readings it is down 5.1% on the previous year and down 42.6% over ten years.
Over the whole period, suicide rate in Botswana peaked at 16.29 deaths per 100,000 people in 2009 and was at its lowest, 8.64 deaths per 100,000 people, in 2021.
Botswana ranks 75th of 194 countries on this measure, in the middle of the range.
The long-run direction has been consistently falling across the 22 years of available data.
Suicide rate in Botswana, year by year
| Year | deaths per 100,000 people | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2000 | 11.75 deaths per 100,000 people | — |
| 2001 | 11.39 deaths per 100,000 people | -3.1% |
| 2002 | 11.69 deaths per 100,000 people | +2.6% |
| 2003 | 10.79 deaths per 100,000 people | -7.7% |
| 2004 | 9.58 deaths per 100,000 people | -11.2% |
| 2005 | 9.07 deaths per 100,000 people | -5.3% |
| 2006 | 8.78 deaths per 100,000 people | -3.2% |
| 2007 | 11.18 deaths per 100,000 people | +27.3% |
| 2008 | 14.73 deaths per 100,000 people | +31.8% |
| 2009 | 16.29 deaths per 100,000 people | +10.6% |
| 2010 | 16.12 deaths per 100,000 people | -1.0% |
| 2011 | 15.06 deaths per 100,000 people | -6.6% |
| 2012 | 14.78 deaths per 100,000 people | -1.9% |
| 2013 | 13.95 deaths per 100,000 people | -5.6% |
| 2014 | 12.74 deaths per 100,000 people | -8.7% |
| 2015 | 11.04 deaths per 100,000 people | -13.3% |
| 2016 | 11.06 deaths per 100,000 people | +0.2% |
| 2017 | 10.9 deaths per 100,000 people | -1.4% |
| 2018 | 9.98 deaths per 100,000 people | -8.4% |
| 2019 | 9.15 deaths per 100,000 people | -8.3% |
| 2020 | 9.1 deaths per 100,000 people | -0.5% |
| 2021 | 8.64 deaths per 100,000 people | -5.1% |
Botswana compared with similar countries
- Botswana's 8.64 deaths per 100,000 people is above the median for upper middle income countries, which is 6.99 deaths per 100,000 people, 1.2× the median. (58 countries reporting)
- Botswana's 8.64 deaths per 100,000 people is above the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 7.15 deaths per 100,000 people, 1.2× the median. (48 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Suicide rate in Botswana changed far more than this series normally does. A large move can be a real event or a change in how the figure was measured — the source note below says who published it.
| Year | Change | From | To |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2008 | +31.8% | 11.18 deaths per 100,000 people | 14.73 deaths per 100,000 people |
| 2007 | +27.3% | 8.78 deaths per 100,000 people | 11.18 deaths per 100,000 people |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000s | 11.53 deaths per 100,000 people | 8.78 deaths per 100,000 people | 16.29 deaths per 100,000 people | 10 |
| 2010s | 12.48 deaths per 100,000 people | 9.15 deaths per 100,000 people | 16.12 deaths per 100,000 people | 10 |
| 2020s | 8.87 deaths per 100,000 people | 8.64 deaths per 100,000 people | 9.1 deaths per 100,000 people | 2 |
Countries ranked near Botswana
- 72 Bosnia and Herzegovina 8.72 deaths per 100,000 people compare
- 73 Namibia 8.69 deaths per 100,000 people compare
- 73 Spain 8.69 deaths per 100,000 people compare
- 76 Democratic Republic of Congo 8.61 deaths per 100,000 people compare
- 77 Ireland 8.54 deaths per 100,000 people compare
- 78 Venezuela 8.52 deaths per 100,000 people compare
More health data for Botswana
- Un projection of annual infant deaths, annual growth rate -1.75 % change on previous year (2100)
- Heat deaths vs projected death rates, annual growth rate 0.2265 % change on previous year (2090)
- Estimated changes in temperature-related death rates compared to projected death rates 1,150 deaths per 1,000 people (2090)
- Number of infants who die before age 1 281 deaths (2100)
- Neonatal tetanus - number of reported cases, gaps filled 0 (2025)
- Population ages 00-04, female, annual growth rate 0.6484 % change on previous year (2025)
- Population ages 00-04, female, per unit of GDP 0 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Population ages 00-04, female, per capita 0.0579 units per person (2025)
- Population ages 00-04, male, annual growth rate 0.9109 % change on previous year (2025)
- Population ages 00-04, male, per unit of GDP 0 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is suicide rate in Botswana?
- Suicide rate in Botswana was 8.64 deaths per 100,000 people in 2021, according to World Health Organization (2024) – with major processing by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest suicide rate recorded in Botswana?
- The highest recorded value was 16.29 deaths per 100,000 people in 2009.
- What is the lowest suicide rate recorded in Botswana?
- The lowest recorded value was 8.64 deaths per 100,000 people in 2021.
- How does Botswana rank for suicide rate?
- Botswana ranks 75th out of 194 countries with data for 2021.
- Is suicide rate rising or falling in Botswana?
- Over the last ten years it is down 42.6%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this Botswana data come from?
- The figures come from World Health Organization (2024) – with major processing by Our World in Data, published as part of Suicide rate. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Estimated number of deaths from self-harm in both sexes, per 100,000 people.