Life expectancy at birth in Botswana

Botswana: Life expectancy at birth was 61.23 in 2021. ▲ Rising

Latest (2021)
61.23
Change on year
down 6.0%
World rank
169th
of 184 countries
All-time high
65.17
in 2020
All-time low
46.7
in 2001
Years of data
22
2000–2021

Life expectancy at birth in Botswana, 2000–2021

02040602000201020212000: 47.22001: 46.72002: 472003: 48.32004: 50.62005: 53.22006: 54.92007: 55.82008: 56.22009: 56.92010: 57.62011: 58.42012: 59.72013: 60.62014: 61.42015: 622016: 632017: 642018: 64.52019: 64.92020: 65.22021: 61.2

Source: World Health Organization, Global Health Observatory.

Analysis

The most recent figure for life expectancy at birth in Botswana is 61.23, measured in 2021.

Compared with earlier readings it is down 6.0% on the previous year and up 4.8% over ten years.

Over the whole period, life expectancy at birth in Botswana peaked at 65.17 in 2020 and was at its lowest, 46.7, in 2001.

Botswana ranks 169th of 184 countries on this measure, in the bottom quarter.

The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 22 years of available data.

Life expectancy at birth in Botswana, year by year

Annual values for Life expectancy at birth (years) in Botswana, 2000 to 2021.
Year Value Change
2000 47.16 —
2001 46.7 -1.0%
2002 46.95 +0.5%
2003 48.3 +2.9%
2004 50.64 +4.8%
2005 53.17 +5.0%
2006 54.89 +3.2%
2007 55.77 +1.6%
2008 56.18 +0.7%
2009 56.89 +1.3%
2010 57.63 +1.3%
2011 58.41 +1.4%
2012 59.75 +2.3%
2013 60.61 +1.4%
2014 61.38 +1.3%
2015 62.05 +1.1%
2016 62.99 +1.5%
2017 64.01 +1.6%
2018 64.53 +0.8%
2019 64.92 +0.6%
2020 65.17 +0.4%
2021 61.23 -6.0%

Botswana compared with similar countries

  • Botswana's 61.23 is below the median for upper middle income countries, which is 72.75, 84% of the median. (54 countries reporting)
  • Botswana's 61.23 is below the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 63.05, 97% of the median. (48 countries reporting)

Averages by decade

DecadeAverage LowestHighest Years
2000s 51.67 46.7 56.89 10
2010s 61.63 57.63 64.92 10
2020s 63.2 61.23 65.17 2

Countries ranked near Botswana

  1. 166 Equatorial Guinea 61.61 compare
  2. 167 South Africa 61.5 compare
  3. 168 Guinea 61.26 compare
  4. 170 Sierra Leone 61.02 compare
  5. 171 Zambia 60.97 compare
  6. 172 Kiribati 60.87 compare

See the full ranking of 197 places →

More health data for Botswana

All data for Botswana →

Frequently asked questions

What is life expectancy at birth in Botswana?
Life expectancy at birth in Botswana was 61.23 in 2021, according to World Health Organization, Global Health Observatory.
What is the highest life expectancy at birth recorded in Botswana?
The highest recorded value was 65.17 in 2020.
What is the lowest life expectancy at birth recorded in Botswana?
The lowest recorded value was 46.7 in 2001.
How does Botswana rank for life expectancy at birth?
Botswana ranks 169th out of 184 countries with data for 2021.
Is life expectancy at birth rising or falling in Botswana?
Over the last ten years it is up 4.8%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
Where does this Botswana data come from?
The figures come from World Health Organization, Global Health Observatory, published as part of Life expectancy at birth (years). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.

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Life expectancy at birth in Botswana. Statizoid, drawing on World Health Organization, Global Health Observatory. Retrieved 26 September 2026, from https://health.statizoid.com/stat/life-expectancy-at-birth-years/botswana/

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About this data

Indicator
Life expectancy at birth (years)
Source
World Health Organization, Global Health Observatory
Licence
CC BY-NC-SA 3.0 IGO (WHO)
Coverage
197 places, 4,334 data points, 2000–2021
Last refreshed