Present day Botswana has been inhabited for tens of thousands of years, initially by the San and other indigenous peoples, and later including the Tswana, who today make up the majority of the population. Botswana became a British protectorate in 1885, with the British governing indirectly through the chiefs, with little investment in social or physical infrastructure. At independence in 1966, Botswana was one of the world’s poorest countries. After independence, its newly-discovered diamond wealth sparked rapid economic development; the country soon established itself as one of Africa’s highest performing democracies. Its governance model is rooted in indigenous practices of participatory governance and leadership has consistently upheld multipartyism.

Botswana’s first alternation in political power, however, did not come until 2024, with the Botswana Democratic Party (BDP) having governed continuously for 58 years. In recent years, the balance of power has been a source of debate, especially as the executive exercises increasing influence in law-making processes. Corruption, the independence of the judiciary and other oversight bodies, and access to information are also salient governance issues. While Botswana has traditionally been a regional leader in its respect for civil and political rights, in 2023 the UN Human Rights Council raised concerns about the need for stronger rights protections. The country’s continued use of the death penalty is an important political issue and has also attracted international criticism, though the practice enjoys strong domestic support.

Despite critical investments made in human development, high inequality continues to be a challenge and a key social cleavage, disproportionately impacting the rural areas; roots of inequality can be traced to the colonial era. The San people have suffered multifaceted exclusion, and some members of the San community have been illegally evicted from ancestral lands in Kalahari.

Botswana continues to grapple with the HIV/AIDS epidemic, youth unemployment and gender equality gaps. It is a mid-performer in the GSoD’s Gender Equality measure,  and struggles with low levels of female participation in politics and widespread gender-based violence. Yet, Botswana’s ratification of the Maputo Protocol and recent gender sensitive legislation signal prospects for advancing women’s rights. The LGBTQIA+ community faces stigma and discrimination, but some advances have come through the legalization of same sex relations and recent court judgements upholding LGBTQIA+ rights. 

Looking ahead, it will be important to watch the newly elected government’s progress in implementing its human-rights centered approach to governance and its ambitious reform agenda. This includes proposals to strengthen the independence of the country’s anti-corruption agency and to increase parliamentary oversight of the Directorate of Intelligence and Security Service, a security agency that has been accused of perpetrating human rights abuses and targeting government opponents. Among the areas of democratic performance to watch in this regard are Absence of Corruption, Civil Liberties and Effective Parliament.

Last updated: July 2025