Botswana: Level of water stress: freshwater withdrawal as a proportion of available freshwater resources

Key figures

What the numbers say

In 2022, Botswana's level of water stress: freshwater withdrawal as a proportion of available freshwater resources fell 8.7% on 2021 (from 2.44 to 2.23).

Across the 30 yearly changes before that (1992 to 2021), the average change was +2.6% and a typical year strayed about 3.9% from that (the standard deviation). This year's change was 2.9 standard deviations below that average, so it was unusually large compared with the rest of the record.

On record, the biggest yearly rise was 9.1% in 2020 and the biggest yearly fall was 8.7% in 2022. The numbers show how large and when, not why; for the cause, look at what happened in that country in those years.

From 2013 to 2022 the straight-line trend is upward, about 0.04 a year. A straight line explains 71% of the movement over 10 observed years.

Worked out from the yearly values above. How the checks work: standard deviation, z-scores and straight-line trends.

How it compares

In 2022, Botswana had the 144th highest value of the 176 economies reporting that year. Higher is not always better: for some indicators the lowest value is the one to aim for. See the full ranking.

Closest to Botswana in the 2022 ranking

• Zambia — 140th of 176: 2.84
• Lesotho — 141st of 176: 2.57
• Slovak Republic — 142nd of 176: 2.43
• Nicaragua — 144th of 176: 2.22
• Gambia, The — 145th of 176: 2.21
• Lithuania — 146th of 176: 2.17

What this measures

The level of water stress: freshwater withdrawal as a proportion of available freshwater resources is the ratio between total freshwater withdrawn by all major sectors and total renewable freshwater resources, after taking into account environmental water requirements. Main sectors, as defined by ISIC standards, include agriculture; forestry and fishing; manufacturing; electricity industry; and services. This indicator is also known as water withdrawal intensity.

Limitations: Water withdrawal as a percentage of water resources is a good indicator of pressure on limited water resources, one of the most important natural resources. However, it only partially addresses the issues related to sustainable water management. Supplementary indicators that capture the multiple dimensions of water management would combine data on water demand management, behavioural changes with regard to water use and the availability of appropriate infrastructure, and measure progress in increasing the efficiency and sustainability of water use, in particular in relation to population and economic growth.

All 38 values

Level of water stress: freshwater withdrawal as a proportion of available freshwater resources in nearby economies

• Angola — 1.87 (2022)
• Benin — 0.98 (2022)
• Burkina Faso — 7.82 (2022)
• Burundi — 10.19 (2022)
• Cabo Verde — 59.68 (2022)
• Cameroon — 1.56 (2022)
• Central African Republic — 0.34 (2022)

More environment data for Botswana

• Rural population — 821,007 (2025)
• Rural population (% of total population) — 32.04% (2025)
• Urban population — 1.74 million (2025)
• Urban population (% of total population) — 67.96% (2025)
• Aquaculture production (metric tons) — 156 (2024)
• Capture fisheries production (metric tons) — 40 (2024)
• Total fisheries production (metric tons) — 196 (2024)
• Rural population growth (annual %) — 0.08% (2025)
• Urban population growth (annual %) — 2.34% (2025)
• Agricultural land (sq. km) — 258,615 (2024)

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Questions people ask

What is Botswana's level of water stress: freshwater withdrawal as a proportion of available freshwater resources?

2.23 in 2022, according to the World Bank (World Development Indicators).

How has it changed since 1985?

It is up 136.95% from 0.94 in 1985 (2.36% a year on average, compounded). The highest value was 2.44 in 2021 and the lowest 0.94 in 1985.

How does Botswana rank?

144th highest of 176 economies with data for 2022.

Is the latest change in level of water stress: freshwater withdrawal as a proportion of available freshwater resources unusual for Botswana?

Source

World Bank, World Development Indicators, indicator ER.H2O.FWST.ZS, licensed CC BY 4.0. Original source: AQUASTAT - FAO's Global Information System on Water and Agriculture, Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), uri: https://data.apps.fao.org/aquastat/, publisher: Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), date accessed: 20240529 Figures are fetched from the World Bank API and refreshed monthly; see the series on data.worldbank.org. The full definition and method are in the World Bank's metadata glossary. Comparisons use the same World Bank release.

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