Share of women in parliament in Botswana
Botswana: Share of women in parliament was 9.0% in 2025. ◆ Volatile
Latest (2025)
9.0%
Change on year
down 18.9%
World rank
159th
of 174 countries
All-time high
17.0%
in 1999
All-time low
0.0%
in 1961
Years of data
65
1961–2025
Share of women in parliament in Botswana, 1961–2025
Source: V-Dem (2026) – processed by Our World in Data. Measured in %.
Analysis
Botswana recorded 9.0% for share of women in parliament in 2025.
The figure is down 18.9% on the previous year and down 5.5% over ten years.
Over the whole period, share of women in parliament in Botswana peaked at 17.0% in 1999 and was at its lowest, 0.0%, in 1961.
Botswana ranks 159th of 174 countries on this measure, in the bottom quarter.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Share of women in parliament in Botswana, year by year
| Year | % | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1961 | 0.0% | — |
| 1962 | 0.0% | — |
| 1963 | 0.0% | — |
| 1964 | 0.0% | — |
| 1965 | 0.0% | — |
| 1966 | 0.0% | — |
| 1967 | 0.0% | — |
| 1968 | 0.0% | — |
| 1969 | 0.0% | — |
| 1970 | 0.0% | — |
| 1971 | 0.0% | — |
| 1972 | 0.0% | — |
| 1973 | 0.0% | — |
| 1974 | 0.0% | — |
| 1975 | 0.0% | — |
| 1976 | 0.0% | — |
| 1977 | 0.0% | — |
| 1978 | 0.0% | — |
| 1979 | 5.4% | — |
| 1980 | 5.4% | -0.1% |
| 1981 | 5.4% | +0.0% |
| 1982 | 5.4% | +0.0% |
| 1983 | 5.4% | +0.0% |
| 1984 | 5.1% | -5.0% |
| 1985 | 5.1% | -0.5% |
| 1986 | 5.1% | +0.0% |
| 1987 | 5.1% | +0.0% |
| 1988 | 5.1% | +0.0% |
| 1989 | 5.0% | -2.0% |
| 1990 | 5.0% | +0.0% |
| 1991 | 5.0% | +0.0% |
| 1992 | 5.0% | +0.0% |
| 1993 | 5.0% | +0.0% |
| 1994 | 8.5% | +70.2% |
| 1995 | 8.5% | -0.1% |
| 1996 | 8.5% | +0.0% |
| 1997 | 8.5% | +0.0% |
| 1998 | 8.5% | +0.0% |
| 1999 | 17.0% | +100.2% |
| 2000 | 17.0% | +0.0% |
| 2001 | 17.0% | +0.0% |
| 2002 | 17.0% | +0.0% |
| 2003 | 17.0% | +0.0% |
| 2004 | 11.1% | -34.7% |
| 2005 | 11.1% | +0.0% |
| 2006 | 11.1% | +0.0% |
| 2007 | 11.1% | +0.0% |
| 2008 | 11.1% | +0.0% |
| 2009 | 7.9% | -28.5% |
| 2010 | 7.9% | +0.0% |
| 2011 | 7.9% | +0.0% |
| 2012 | 7.9% | +0.0% |
| 2013 | 7.9% | +0.0% |
| 2014 | 9.5% | +19.9% |
| 2015 | 9.5% | +0.0% |
| 2016 | 9.5% | +0.0% |
| 2017 | 9.5% | +0.0% |
| 2018 | 9.5% | +0.0% |
| 2019 | 10.8% | +13.1% |
| 2020 | 10.8% | +0.0% |
| 2021 | 10.8% | +0.0% |
| 2022 | 11.1% | +3.1% |
| 2023 | 11.1% | +0.0% |
| 2024 | 11.1% | +0.0% |
| 2025 | 9.0% | -18.9% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1960s | 0.0% | 0.0% | 0.0% | 9 |
| 1970s | 0.5% | 0.0% | 5.4% | 10 |
| 1980s | 5.2% | 5.0% | 5.4% | 10 |
| 1990s | 8.0% | 5.0% | 17.0% | 10 |
| 2000s | 13.2% | 7.9% | 17.0% | 10 |
| 2010s | 9.0% | 7.9% | 10.8% | 10 |
| 2020s | 10.6% | 9.0% | 11.1% | 6 |
Countries ranked near Botswana
More gender data for Botswana
- Child population (UN estimates and projections) 855.49 (2030)
- Child population (UN estimates and projections) (0-14), annual growth 0.6449 % change on previous year (2030)
- Age population, age 00, female, interpolated 29,466 (2025)
- Age population, age 00, male, interpolated 30,240 (2025)
- Age population, age 01, female, interpolated 29,267 (2025)
- Age population, age 01, male, interpolated 30,023 (2025)
- Age population, age 02, female, interpolated 29,174 (2025)
- Age population, age 02, male, interpolated 29,925 (2025)
- Age population, age 03, female, interpolated 30,402 (2025)
- Age population, age 03, male, interpolated 30,984 (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is share of women in parliament in Botswana?
- Share of women in parliament in Botswana was 9.0% in 2025, according to V-Dem (2026) – processed by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest share of women in parliament recorded in Botswana?
- The highest recorded value was 17.0% in 1999.
- What is the lowest share of women in parliament recorded in Botswana?
- The lowest recorded value was 0.0% in 1961.
- How does Botswana rank for share of women in parliament?
- Botswana ranks 159th out of 174 countries with data for 2025.
- Is share of women in parliament rising or falling in Botswana?
- Over the last ten years it is down 5.5%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Botswana data come from?
- The figures come from V-Dem (2026) – processed by Our World in Data, published as part of Share of women in parliament. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
CSV · JSON — 65 observations, free to reuse under CC BY 4.0 (Our World in Data).
About this data
Percentage of women in the lower or single chamber of the legislature.