Share of rural vs. urban population with electricity access in Botswana
Botswana: Share of rural vs. urban population with electricity access was 45.9% in 2024. ◆ Volatile
Share of rural vs. urban population with electricity access in Botswana, 1991–2024
Source: SDG 7.1.1 Electrification Dataset, World Bank, via World Bank (2026) – processed by Our World in Data. Measured in % of rural population.
Analysis
The most recent figure for share of rural vs. urban population with electricity access in Botswana is 45.9%, measured in 2024. That is the highest value across all 34 years on record.
The figure is up 83.6% on the previous year and up 71.3% over ten years.
Over the whole period, share of rural vs. urban population with electricity access in Botswana peaked at 45.9% in 2024 and was at its lowest, 1.6%, in 1992.
That places Botswana 177th out of 212 countries with data for 2024, putting it in the bottom quarter.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Share of rural vs. urban population with electricity access in Botswana, year by year
| Year | % of rural population | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1991 | 4.0% | — |
| 1992 | 1.6% | -58.9% |
| 1993 | 3.3% | +99.6% |
| 1994 | 4.9% | +49.0% |
| 1995 | 6.4% | +32.3% |
| 1996 | 8.0% | +23.9% |
| 1997 | 9.5% | +19.0% |
| 1998 | 10.9% | +15.7% |
| 1999 | 12.4% | +13.3% |
| 2000 | 12.1% | -2.5% |
| 2001 | 10.4% | -14.0% |
| 2002 | 6.4% | -38.5% |
| 2003 | 16.4% | +156.2% |
| 2004 | 17.9% | +9.1% |
| 2005 | 19.3% | +7.8% |
| 2006 | 20.7% | +7.3% |
| 2007 | 21.3% | +2.9% |
| 2008 | 21.6% | +1.4% |
| 2009 | 16.2% | -25.0% |
| 2010 | 25.2% | +55.6% |
| 2011 | 25.2% | +0.0% |
| 2012 | 25.3% | +0.4% |
| 2013 | 25.9% | +2.4% |
| 2014 | 26.8% | +3.5% |
| 2015 | 26.5% | -1.1% |
| 2016 | 28.8% | +8.7% |
| 2017 | 31.0% | +7.6% |
| 2018 | 29.1% | -6.1% |
| 2019 | 27.9% | -4.1% |
| 2020 | 26.2% | -6.1% |
| 2021 | 25.0% | -4.6% |
| 2022 | 25.0% | +0.0% |
| 2023 | 25.0% | +0.0% |
| 2024 | 45.9% | +83.6% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 6.8% | 1.6% | 12.4% | 9 |
| 2000s | 16.2% | 6.4% | 21.6% | 10 |
| 2010s | 27.2% | 25.2% | 31.0% | 10 |
| 2020s | 29.4% | 25.0% | 45.9% | 5 |
Countries ranked near Botswana
More energy & mining data for Botswana
- Fossil fuel consumption by fuel, per unit of GDP 0 terawatt-hours per US$ of GDP (2024)
- Primary energy use, annual growth rate 6.06 % change on previous year (2024)
- Coal consumption, per capita 0 terawatt-hours per person (2024)
- Coal consumption, per unit of GDP 0 terawatt-hours per US$ of GDP (2024)
- Primary energy use, per unit of GDP 0 terawatt-hours per US$ of GDP (2024)
- Primary energy use, per capita 0 terawatt-hours per person (2024)
- Coal production, per capita 0 terawatt-hours per person (2024)
- Coal production, per unit of GDP 0 terawatt-hours per US$ of GDP (2024)
- Fossil fuel consumption by fuel, per capita 0 terawatt-hours per person (2024)
- Fuel imports 20.5% (2023)
Frequently asked questions
- What is share of rural vs. urban population with electricity access in Botswana?
- Share of rural vs. urban population with electricity access in Botswana was 45.9% in 2024, according to SDG 7.1.1 Electrification Dataset, World Bank, via World Bank (2026) – processed by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest share of rural vs. urban population with electricity access recorded in Botswana?
- The highest recorded value was 45.9% in 2024.
- What is the lowest share of rural vs. urban population with electricity access recorded in Botswana?
- The lowest recorded value was 1.6% in 1992.
- How does Botswana rank for share of rural vs. urban population with electricity access?
- Botswana ranks 177th out of 212 countries with data for 2024.
- Is share of rural vs. urban population with electricity access rising or falling in Botswana?
- Over the last ten years it is up 71.3%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Botswana data come from?
- The figures come from SDG 7.1.1 Electrification Dataset, World Bank, via World Bank (2026) – processed by Our World in Data, published as part of Share of rural vs. urban population with electricity access. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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CSV · JSON — 34 observations, free to reuse under CC BY 4.0 (Our World in Data).
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.