Drivers of deforestation in Botswana
Botswana: Drivers of deforestation was 1.29 hectares in 2023. ◆ Volatile
Drivers of deforestation in Botswana, 2001–2023
Source: Singh et al. (2026) – processed by Our World in Data. Measured in hectares.
Analysis
The most recent figure for drivers of deforestation in Botswana is 1.29 hectares, measured in 2023.
That represents a change of up 95.5% on the previous year and down 94.2% over ten years.
Over the whole period, drivers of deforestation in Botswana peaked at 102.66 hectares in 2001 and was at its lowest, 0.08 hectares, in 2019.
Botswana ranks 135th of 166 countries on this measure, in the bottom quarter.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Drivers of deforestation in Botswana, year by year
| Year | hectares | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2001 | 102.66 hectares | — |
| 2002 | 45.75 hectares | -55.4% |
| 2003 | 12.04 hectares | -73.7% |
| 2004 | 69.79 hectares | +479.7% |
| 2005 | 28.35 hectares | -59.4% |
| 2006 | 14.12 hectares | -50.2% |
| 2007 | 21.72 hectares | +53.8% |
| 2008 | 13.28 hectares | -38.9% |
| 2009 | 46.28 hectares | +248.5% |
| 2010 | 8.2 hectares | -82.3% |
| 2011 | 4.31 hectares | -47.4% |
| 2012 | 17.66 hectares | +309.7% |
| 2013 | 22.26 hectares | +26.0% |
| 2014 | 20.48 hectares | -8.0% |
| 2015 | 0.11 hectares | -99.5% |
| 2016 | 0.53 hectares | +381.8% |
| 2017 | 1.33 hectares | +150.9% |
| 2018 | 0.91 hectares | -31.6% |
| 2019 | 0.08 hectares | -91.2% |
| 2020 | 3.01 hectares | +3662.5% |
| 2021 | 0.63 hectares | -79.1% |
| 2022 | 0.66 hectares | +4.8% |
| 2023 | 1.29 hectares | +95.5% |
Botswana compared with similar countries
- Botswana's 1.29 hectares is below the median for upper middle income countries, which is 74.69 hectares, 2% of the median. (50 countries reporting)
- Botswana's 1.29 hectares is below the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 751.37 hectares, 0% of the median. (43 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Drivers of deforestation 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2020 | +3662.5% | 0.08 hectares | 3.01 hectares |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000s | 39.33 hectares | 12.04 hectares | 102.66 hectares | 9 |
| 2010s | 7.59 hectares | 0.08 hectares | 22.26 hectares | 10 |
| 2020s | 1.4 hectares | 0.63 hectares | 3.01 hectares | 4 |
Countries ranked near Botswana
More environment data for Botswana
- Historical exposure to drought — Land soil moisture anomaly 6.04 Percentage change (2025)
- Historical exposure to drought — Cropland soil moisture anomaly 6.49 Percentage change (2025)
- Standard Deviation, annual growth rate 0 % change on previous year (2025)
- Standard Deviation 0.381 °C (2025)
- Temperature change 0.443 °C (2025)
- Total greenhouse gas emissions excluding LULUCF (Mt CO2e), annual -4.05 % change on previous year (2024)
- Total greenhouse gas emissions excluding LULUCF (Mt CO2e), per unit 0 Mt CO2e per US$ of GDP (2024)
- Total greenhouse gas emissions excluding LULUCF (Mt CO2e), per capita 0 Mt CO2e per person (2024)
- Methane (CH4) emissions from Agriculture (Mt CO2e), annual growth rate 0.3323 % change on previous year (2024)
- Methane (CH4) emissions from Agriculture (Mt CO2e), per unit of GDP 0 Mt CO2e per US$ of GDP (2024)
Frequently asked questions
- What is drivers of deforestation in Botswana?
- Drivers of deforestation in Botswana was 1.29 hectares in 2023, according to Singh et al. (2026) – processed by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest drivers of deforestation recorded in Botswana?
- The highest recorded value was 102.66 hectares in 2001.
- What is the lowest drivers of deforestation recorded in Botswana?
- The lowest recorded value was 0.08 hectares in 2019.
- How does Botswana rank for drivers of deforestation?
- Botswana ranks 135th out of 166 countries with data for 2023.
- Is drivers of deforestation rising or falling in Botswana?
- Over the last ten years it is down 94.2%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Botswana data come from?
- The figures come from Singh et al. (2026) – processed by Our World in Data, published as part of Drivers of deforestation. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
CSV · JSON — 23 observations, free to reuse under CC BY 4.0 (Our World in Data).
About this data
Estimates of commodity-driven deforestation, measured in hectares per year. This includes deforestation caused by the production of agricultural products and forestry, which account for approximately 90% of the world's deforestation.