Using at least basic drinking water sources in urban vs. rural areas in Botswana
Botswana: Using at least basic drinking water sources in urban vs. rural areas was 96.8% in 2024. ▬ Flat
Using at least basic drinking water sources in urban vs. rural areas in Botswana, 2000–2024
Source: WHO/UNICEF Joint Monitoring Programme for Water Supply, Sanitation and Hygiene (2025) – processed by Our World in Data. Measured in %.
Analysis
The most recent figure for using at least basic drinking water sources in urban vs. rural areas in Botswana is 96.8%, measured in 2024.
That represents a change of down 0.1% on the previous year and up 0.7% over ten years.
Over the whole period, using at least basic drinking water sources in urban vs. rural areas in Botswana peaked at 97.3% in 2019 and was at its lowest, 93.8%, in 2005.
Botswana ranks 116th of 188 countries on this measure, in the middle of the range.
Using at least basic drinking water sources in urban vs. rural areas in Botswana, year by year
| Year | % | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2000 | 94.3% | — |
| 2001 | 94.2% | -0.1% |
| 2002 | 94.1% | -0.1% |
| 2003 | 94.0% | -0.1% |
| 2004 | 93.9% | -0.1% |
| 2005 | 93.8% | -0.1% |
| 2006 | 94.1% | +0.3% |
| 2007 | 94.3% | +0.3% |
| 2008 | 94.6% | +0.3% |
| 2009 | 94.8% | +0.3% |
| 2010 | 95.1% | +0.3% |
| 2011 | 95.3% | +0.3% |
| 2012 | 95.6% | +0.3% |
| 2013 | 95.8% | +0.3% |
| 2014 | 96.1% | +0.3% |
| 2015 | 96.3% | +0.3% |
| 2016 | 96.6% | +0.3% |
| 2017 | 96.8% | +0.3% |
| 2018 | 97.1% | +0.3% |
| 2019 | 97.3% | +0.3% |
| 2020 | 97.2% | -0.1% |
| 2021 | 97.1% | -0.1% |
| 2022 | 97.0% | -0.1% |
| 2023 | 96.9% | -0.1% |
| 2024 | 96.8% | -0.1% |
Botswana compared with similar countries
- Botswana's 96.8% is below the median for upper middle income countries, which is 98.2%, 99% of the median. (55 countries reporting)
- Botswana's 96.8% is above the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 87.8%, 1.1× the median. (47 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000s | 94.2% | 93.8% | 94.8% | 10 |
| 2010s | 96.2% | 95.1% | 97.3% | 10 |
| 2020s | 97.0% | 96.8% | 97.2% | 5 |
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 using at least basic drinking water sources in urban vs. rural areas in Botswana?
- Using at least basic drinking water sources in urban vs. rural areas in Botswana was 96.8% in 2024, according to WHO/UNICEF Joint Monitoring Programme for Water Supply, Sanitation and Hygiene (2025) – processed by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest using at least basic drinking water sources in urban vs. rural areas recorded in Botswana?
- The highest recorded value was 97.3% in 2019.
- What is the lowest using at least basic drinking water sources in urban vs. rural areas recorded in Botswana?
- The lowest recorded value was 93.8% in 2005.
- How does Botswana rank for using at least basic drinking water sources in urban vs. rural areas?
- Botswana ranks 116th out of 188 countries with data for 2024.
- Is using at least basic drinking water sources in urban vs. rural areas rising or falling in Botswana?
- Over the last ten years it is up 0.7%. The long-run trend across the full record is flat.
- Where does this Botswana data come from?
- The figures come from WHO/UNICEF Joint Monitoring Programme for Water Supply, Sanitation and Hygiene (2025) – processed by Our World in Data, published as part of Using at least basic drinking water sources in urban vs. rural areas. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
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About this data
Proportion of people who use an improved drinking water source, which is either located on their premises, or at a collection point, which takes no more than 30 minutes for a roundtrip.