Botswana vs Zimbabwe: Share of rural vs. urban population with electricity access
Botswana
45.9%
in 2024
Zimbabwe
46.6%
in 2024
Botswana rank
177th
Zimbabwe rank
176th
Share of rural vs. urban population with electricity access over time
- Botswana
- Zimbabwe
How they compare
Zimbabwe currently reports 46.6% against 45.9% in Botswana, a difference of 0.7%.
The two have swapped places 10 times across 33 shared years of data; in 1992 it was Zimbabwe ahead.
Botswana ranks 177th and Zimbabwe ranks 176th of 212 countries.
Across the 4 decades both report, Botswana averaged higher in 3 and Zimbabwe in 1.
Head to head by decade
| Decade | Botswana | Zimbabwe | Difference | Ahead |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 7.1% | 7.1% | 0.0% | Botswana |
| 2000s | 16.2% | 10.7% | 5.5% | Botswana |
| 2010s | 27.2% | 19.2% | 8.0% | Botswana |
| 2020s | 29.4% | 40.1% | 10.7% | Zimbabwe |
Averages of every year both report within each decade.
Frequently asked questions
- Which has higher share of rural vs. urban population with electricity access, Botswana or Zimbabwe?
- Zimbabwe, at 46.6% against 45.9% in Botswana as of 2024.
- What is the difference in share of rural vs. urban population with electricity access between Botswana and Zimbabwe?
- 0.7%, with Zimbabwe ahead.
- How many years of comparable data are there for Botswana and Zimbabwe?
- 33 years are reported by both, from 1992 to 2024.
- How do Botswana and Zimbabwe rank globally for share of rural vs. urban population with electricity access?
- Botswana ranks 177th and Zimbabwe ranks 176th of 212 countries.
- Where does this data come from?
- SDG 7.1.1 Electrification Dataset, World Bank, via World Bank (2026) – processed by Our World in Data, published as Share of rural vs. urban population with electricity access. Statizoid refreshes it automatically from the source and publishes the full history for both places.
Individual pages
About this data
Having access to electricity is defined in international statistics as having an electricity source that can provide very basic lighting, and charge a phone or power a radio for 4 hours per day.