Skip to content
CountryAtlas

Botswana · Environment

Forests, air quality, land, water and protected areas.

10 indicators · 9 with data

Land

Forest cover

% of land area

115th of 213 · 21st in Sub-Saharan Africa
CompareRankingIndicator page
Forest coverBotswana's forest cover fell from 32.3 % in 1994 to 26.3 % in 2023.19952000200520102015202024%26%28%30%32%34%26.3 %

Botswana's forest cover fell from 32.3 % in 1994 to 26.3 % in 2023.

Forest area

km²

44th of 213 · 15th in Sub-Saharan Africa
CompareRankingIndicator page
Forest areaBotswana's forest area fell from 183,305 km in 1994 to 148,998 km in 2023.199520002005201020152020140k150k160k170k180k190k148,998 km

Botswana's forest area fell from 183,305 km in 1994 to 148,998 km in 2023.

Terrestrial protected areas (% of total land area)

% of land area

49th of 213 · 13th in Sub-Saharan Africa
CompareRankingIndicator page
Terrestrial protected areas (% of total land area)Botswana's terrestrial protected areas (% of total land area) fell from 29.1 % in 2013 to 27.6 % in 2025.20142016201820202022202428%28%29%29%30%27.6 %

Botswana's terrestrial protected areas (% of total land area) fell from 29.1 % in 2013 to 27.6 % in 2025.

Agricultural land (% of land area)

% of land area

77th of 209 · 25th in Sub-Saharan Africa
CompareRankingIndicator page
Agricultural land (% of land area)Botswana's agricultural land (% of land area) fell from 45.9 % in 1994 to 45.6 % in 2023.19952000200520102015202045%46%46%46%45.6 %

Botswana's agricultural land (% of land area) fell from 45.9 % in 1994 to 45.6 % in 2023.

Arable land (% of land area)

% of land area

197th of 206 · 46th in Sub-Saharan Africa
CompareRankingIndicator page
Arable land (% of land area)Botswana's arable land (% of land area) fell from 0.7 % in 1994 to 0.5 % in 2023.1995200020052010201520200%0.2%0.4%0.6%0.8%0.5 %

Botswana's arable land (% of land area) fell from 0.7 % in 1994 to 0.5 % in 2023.

Air

Air pollution (PM2.5)

micrograms per m³

67th of 200 · 4th in Sub-Saharan Africa
CompareRankingIndicator page
Air pollution (PM2.5)Botswana's air pollution (pm2.5) fell from 17.2 in 1994 to 13.2 in 2023.19952000200520102015202012141618202213.2

Botswana's air pollution (pm2.5) fell from 17.2 in 1994 to 13.2 in 2023.

Water

Water stress

% of internal resources

90th of 175 · 35th in Sub-Saharan Africa
CompareRankingIndicator page
Water stressBotswana's water stress rose from 5.1 % in 1993 to 8.9 % in 2022.1995200020052010201520204%6%8%10%8.9 %

Botswana's water stress rose from 5.1 % in 1993 to 8.9 % in 2022.

Renewable internal freshwater resources per capita

cubic metres per person

129th of 181 · 29th in Sub-Saharan Africa
CompareRankingIndicator page
Renewable internal freshwater resources per capitaBotswana's renewable internal freshwater resources per capita fell from 1,690 in 1993 to 983.7 in 2022.1995200020052010201520208001,0001,2001,4001,6001,800983.7

Botswana's renewable internal freshwater resources per capita fell from 1,690 in 1993 to 983.7 in 2022.

Access

Safe drinking water

% of population

98th of 148 · 3rd in Sub-Saharan Africa
CompareRankingIndicator page
Safe drinking waterBotswana's safe drinking water rose from 59.2 % in 2000 to 63.3 % in 2024.2000200520102015202060%65%70%63.3 %

Botswana's safe drinking water rose from 59.2 % in 2000 to 63.3 % in 2024.

›No data available (1)

These indicators exist in the registry but no source reports a value for Botswana.

Other topics