Land use over the long-term in Botswana
Botswana: Land use over the long-term was 25.60 million hectares in 2025. ▲ Rising
Latest (2025)
25.60 million hectares
Change on year
unchanged
World rank
28th
of 202 countries
All-time high
25.60 million hectares
in 1961
All-time low
3.91 million hectares
in 1000
Years of data
108
1000–2025
Land use over the long-term in Botswana, 1000–2025
Source: HYDE (2025) – with minor processing by Our World in Data. Measured in hectares.
Analysis
Botswana recorded 25.60 million hectares for land use over the long-term in 2025. That is the highest value across all 108 years on record.
That represents a change of unchanged over ten years.
Over the whole period, land use over the long-term in Botswana peaked at 25.60 million hectares in 1961 and was at its lowest, 3.91 million hectares, in 1000.
That places Botswana 28th out of 202 countries with data for 2025, putting it in the top quarter.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 108 years of available data.
Land use over the long-term in Botswana, year by year
| Year | hectares | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1000 | 3.91 million hectares | — |
| 1100 | 4.16 million hectares | +6.3% |
| 1200 | 4.43 million hectares | +6.3% |
| 1300 | 4.71 million hectares | +6.3% |
| 1400 | 5.00 million hectares | +6.3% |
| 1500 | 5.32 million hectares | +6.3% |
| 1600 | 5.66 million hectares | +6.3% |
| 1700 | 6.02 million hectares | +6.3% |
| 1710 | 6.02 million hectares | -0.0% |
| 1720 | 6.01 million hectares | -0.1% |
| 1730 | 6.01 million hectares | -0.1% |
| 1740 | 6.00 million hectares | -0.1% |
| 1750 | 5.99 million hectares | -0.1% |
| 1760 | 5.98 million hectares | -0.1% |
| 1770 | 5.98 million hectares | -0.1% |
| 1780 | 5.97 million hectares | -0.1% |
| 1790 | 5.96 million hectares | -0.1% |
| 1800 | 5.95 million hectares | -0.2% |
| 1810 | 5.94 million hectares | -0.2% |
| 1820 | 5.93 million hectares | -0.2% |
| 1830 | 5.92 million hectares | -0.2% |
| 1840 | 5.91 million hectares | -0.2% |
| 1850 | 5.90 million hectares | -0.2% |
| 1860 | 6.39 million hectares | +8.4% |
| 1870 | 7.07 million hectares | +10.6% |
| 1880 | 7.74 million hectares | +9.5% |
| 1890 | 8.39 million hectares | +8.4% |
| 1900 | 9.28 million hectares | +10.6% |
| 1910 | 10.81 million hectares | +16.6% |
| 1920 | 12.49 million hectares | +15.5% |
| 1930 | 15.22 million hectares | +21.9% |
| 1940 | 18.41 million hectares | +20.9% |
| 1950 | 24.20 million hectares | +31.5% |
| 1951 | 24.70 million hectares | +2.1% |
| 1952 | 24.90 million hectares | +0.8% |
| 1953 | 25.04 million hectares | +0.6% |
| 1954 | 25.14 million hectares | +0.4% |
| 1955 | 25.21 million hectares | +0.3% |
| 1956 | 25.26 million hectares | +0.2% |
| 1957 | 25.31 million hectares | +0.2% |
| 1958 | 25.35 million hectares | +0.2% |
| 1959 | 25.41 million hectares | +0.2% |
| 1960 | 25.49 million hectares | +0.3% |
| 1961 | 25.60 million hectares | +0.4% |
| 1962 | 25.60 million hectares | +0.0% |
| 1963 | 25.60 million hectares | +0.0% |
| 1964 | 25.60 million hectares | +0.0% |
| 1965 | 25.60 million hectares | +0.0% |
| 1966 | 25.60 million hectares | +0.0% |
| 1967 | 25.60 million hectares | +0.0% |
| 1968 | 25.60 million hectares | +0.0% |
| 1969 | 25.60 million hectares | +0.0% |
| 1970 | 25.60 million hectares | +0.0% |
| 1971 | 25.60 million hectares | +0.0% |
| 1972 | 25.60 million hectares | +0.0% |
| 1973 | 25.60 million hectares | +0.0% |
| 1974 | 25.60 million hectares | +0.0% |
| 1975 | 25.60 million hectares | +0.0% |
| 1976 | 25.60 million hectares | +0.0% |
| 1977 | 25.60 million hectares | +0.0% |
| 1978 | 25.60 million hectares | +0.0% |
| 1979 | 25.60 million hectares | +0.0% |
| 1980 | 25.60 million hectares | +0.0% |
| 1981 | 25.60 million hectares | +0.0% |
| 1982 | 25.60 million hectares | +0.0% |
| 1983 | 25.60 million hectares | +0.0% |
| 1984 | 25.60 million hectares | +0.0% |
| 1985 | 25.60 million hectares | +0.0% |
| 1986 | 25.60 million hectares | +0.0% |
| 1987 | 25.60 million hectares | +0.0% |
| 1988 | 25.60 million hectares | +0.0% |
| 1989 | 25.60 million hectares | +0.0% |
| 1990 | 25.60 million hectares | +0.0% |
| 1991 | 25.60 million hectares | +0.0% |
| 1992 | 25.60 million hectares | +0.0% |
| 1993 | 25.60 million hectares | +0.0% |
| 1994 | 25.60 million hectares | +0.0% |
| 1995 | 25.60 million hectares | +0.0% |
| 1996 | 25.60 million hectares | +0.0% |
| 1997 | 25.60 million hectares | +0.0% |
| 1998 | 25.60 million hectares | +0.0% |
| 1999 | 25.60 million hectares | +0.0% |
| 2000 | 25.60 million hectares | +0.0% |
| 2001 | 25.60 million hectares | +0.0% |
| 2002 | 25.60 million hectares | +0.0% |
| 2003 | 25.60 million hectares | +0.0% |
| 2004 | 25.60 million hectares | +0.0% |
| 2005 | 25.60 million hectares | +0.0% |
| 2006 | 25.60 million hectares | +0.0% |
| 2007 | 25.60 million hectares | +0.0% |
| 2008 | 25.60 million hectares | +0.0% |
| 2009 | 25.60 million hectares | +0.0% |
| 2010 | 25.60 million hectares | +0.0% |
| 2011 | 25.60 million hectares | +0.0% |
| 2012 | 25.60 million hectares | +0.0% |
| 2013 | 25.60 million hectares | +0.0% |
| 2014 | 25.60 million hectares | +0.0% |
| 2015 | 25.60 million hectares | +0.0% |
| 2016 | 25.60 million hectares | +0.0% |
| 2017 | 25.60 million hectares | +0.0% |
| 2018 | 25.60 million hectares | +0.0% |
| 2019 | 25.60 million hectares | +0.0% |
| 2020 | 25.60 million hectares | +0.0% |
| 2021 | 25.60 million hectares | +0.0% |
| 2022 | 25.60 million hectares | +0.0% |
| 2023 | 25.60 million hectares | +0.0% |
| 2024 | 25.60 million hectares | +0.0% |
| 2025 | 25.60 million hectares | +0.0% |
Botswana compared with similar countries
- Botswana's 25.60 million hectares is above the median for upper middle income countries, which is 1.58 million hectares, 16.2× the median. (52 countries reporting)
- Botswana's 25.60 million hectares is above the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 6.45 million hectares, 4.0× the median. (46 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1000s | 3.91 million hectares | 3.91 million hectares | 3.91 million hectares | 1 |
| 1100s | 4.16 million hectares | 4.16 million hectares | 4.16 million hectares | 1 |
| 1200s | 4.43 million hectares | 4.43 million hectares | 4.43 million hectares | 1 |
| 1300s | 4.71 million hectares | 4.71 million hectares | 4.71 million hectares | 1 |
| 1400s | 5.00 million hectares | 5.00 million hectares | 5.00 million hectares | 1 |
| 1500s | 5.32 million hectares | 5.32 million hectares | 5.32 million hectares | 1 |
| 1600s | 5.66 million hectares | 5.66 million hectares | 5.66 million hectares | 1 |
| 1700s | 6.02 million hectares | 6.02 million hectares | 6.02 million hectares | 1 |
| 1710s | 6.02 million hectares | 6.02 million hectares | 6.02 million hectares | 1 |
| 1720s | 6.01 million hectares | 6.01 million hectares | 6.01 million hectares | 1 |
| 1730s | 6.01 million hectares | 6.01 million hectares | 6.01 million hectares | 1 |
| 1740s | 6.00 million hectares | 6.00 million hectares | 6.00 million hectares | 1 |
| 1750s | 5.99 million hectares | 5.99 million hectares | 5.99 million hectares | 1 |
| 1760s | 5.98 million hectares | 5.98 million hectares | 5.98 million hectares | 1 |
| 1770s | 5.98 million hectares | 5.98 million hectares | 5.98 million hectares | 1 |
| 1780s | 5.97 million hectares | 5.97 million hectares | 5.97 million hectares | 1 |
| 1790s | 5.96 million hectares | 5.96 million hectares | 5.96 million hectares | 1 |
| 1800s | 5.95 million hectares | 5.95 million hectares | 5.95 million hectares | 1 |
| 1810s | 5.94 million hectares | 5.94 million hectares | 5.94 million hectares | 1 |
| 1820s | 5.93 million hectares | 5.93 million hectares | 5.93 million hectares | 1 |
| 1830s | 5.92 million hectares | 5.92 million hectares | 5.92 million hectares | 1 |
| 1840s | 5.91 million hectares | 5.91 million hectares | 5.91 million hectares | 1 |
| 1850s | 5.90 million hectares | 5.90 million hectares | 5.90 million hectares | 1 |
| 1860s | 6.39 million hectares | 6.39 million hectares | 6.39 million hectares | 1 |
| 1870s | 7.07 million hectares | 7.07 million hectares | 7.07 million hectares | 1 |
| 1880s | 7.74 million hectares | 7.74 million hectares | 7.74 million hectares | 1 |
| 1890s | 8.39 million hectares | 8.39 million hectares | 8.39 million hectares | 1 |
| 1900s | 9.28 million hectares | 9.28 million hectares | 9.28 million hectares | 1 |
| 1910s | 10.81 million hectares | 10.81 million hectares | 10.81 million hectares | 1 |
| 1920s | 12.49 million hectares | 12.49 million hectares | 12.49 million hectares | 1 |
| 1930s | 15.22 million hectares | 15.22 million hectares | 15.22 million hectares | 1 |
| 1940s | 18.41 million hectares | 18.41 million hectares | 18.41 million hectares | 1 |
| 1950s | 25.05 million hectares | 24.20 million hectares | 25.41 million hectares | 10 |
| 1960s | 25.59 million hectares | 25.49 million hectares | 25.60 million hectares | 10 |
| 1970s | 25.60 million hectares | 25.60 million hectares | 25.60 million hectares | 10 |
| 1980s | 25.60 million hectares | 25.60 million hectares | 25.60 million hectares | 10 |
| 1990s | 25.60 million hectares | 25.60 million hectares | 25.60 million hectares | 10 |
| 2000s | 25.60 million hectares | 25.60 million hectares | 25.60 million hectares | 10 |
| 2010s | 25.60 million hectares | 25.60 million hectares | 25.60 million hectares | 10 |
| 2020s | 25.60 million hectares | 25.60 million hectares | 25.60 million hectares | 6 |
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 land use over the long-term in Botswana?
- Land use over the long-term in Botswana was 25.60 million hectares in 2025, according to HYDE (2025) – with minor processing by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest land use over the long-term recorded in Botswana?
- The highest recorded value was 25.60 million hectares in 1961.
- What is the lowest land use over the long-term recorded in Botswana?
- The lowest recorded value was 3.91 million hectares in 1000.
- How does Botswana rank for land use over the long-term?
- Botswana ranks 28th out of 202 countries with data for 2025.
- Is land use over the long-term rising or falling in Botswana?
- Over the last ten years it is unchanged. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this Botswana data come from?
- The figures come from HYDE (2025) – with minor processing by Our World in Data, published as part of Land use over the long-term. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
CSV · JSON — 108 observations, free to reuse under CC BY 4.0 (Our World in Data).
About this data
Total grazingland area for each separate country over time.