Average years of schooling among adults in Botswana
Botswana: Average years of schooling among adults was 10.48 years in 2023. ▲ Rising
Average years of schooling among adults in Botswana, 1990–2023
Source: UNDP, Human Development Report (2025) – with minor processing by Our World in Data. Measured in years.
Analysis
In 2023, average years of schooling among adults in Botswana stood at 10.48 years. That is the highest value across all 34 years on record.
Compared with earlier readings it is up 9.6% over ten years.
Over the whole period, average years of schooling among adults in Botswana peaked at 10.48 years in 2021 and was at its lowest, 5.52 years, in 1990.
That places Botswana 83rd out of 192 countries with data for 2023, putting it in the middle of the range.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 34 years of available data.
Average years of schooling among adults in Botswana, year by year
| Year | years | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1990 | 5.52 years | — |
| 1991 | 5.76 years | +4.3% |
| 1992 | 6 years | +4.1% |
| 1993 | 6.23 years | +4.0% |
| 1994 | 6.47 years | +3.8% |
| 1995 | 6.71 years | +3.7% |
| 1996 | 6.89 years | +2.7% |
| 1997 | 7.07 years | +2.6% |
| 1998 | 7.25 years | +2.5% |
| 1999 | 7.43 years | +2.5% |
| 2000 | 7.61 years | +2.4% |
| 2001 | 7.74 years | +1.8% |
| 2002 | 7.88 years | +1.7% |
| 2003 | 8.01 years | +1.7% |
| 2004 | 8.15 years | +1.7% |
| 2005 | 8.28 years | +1.6% |
| 2006 | 8.4 years | +1.4% |
| 2007 | 8.52 years | +1.4% |
| 2008 | 8.63 years | +1.4% |
| 2009 | 8.75 years | +1.4% |
| 2010 | 8.87 years | +1.3% |
| 2011 | 9.1 years | +2.6% |
| 2012 | 9.33 years | +2.5% |
| 2013 | 9.56 years | +2.5% |
| 2014 | 9.79 years | +2.4% |
| 2015 | 10.02 years | +2.3% |
| 2016 | 10.1 years | +0.8% |
| 2017 | 10.18 years | +0.8% |
| 2018 | 10.26 years | +0.8% |
| 2019 | 10.34 years | +0.8% |
| 2020 | 10.42 years | +0.8% |
| 2021 | 10.48 years | +0.6% |
| 2022 | 10.48 years | +0.0% |
| 2023 | 10.48 years | +0.0% |
Botswana compared with similar countries
- Botswana's 10.48 years is above the median for upper middle income countries, which is 10.11 years, 1.0× the median. (58 countries reporting)
- Botswana's 10.48 years is above the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 5.96 years, 1.8× the median. (47 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 6.53 years | 5.52 years | 7.43 years | 10 |
| 2000s | 8.2 years | 7.61 years | 8.75 years | 10 |
| 2010s | 9.75 years | 8.87 years | 10.34 years | 10 |
| 2020s | 10.46 years | 10.42 years | 10.48 years | 4 |
Countries ranked near Botswana
More education data for Botswana
- Teachers in secondary education, both sexes (number), gaps filled 15,284 (2021)
- Repeaters in primary education, all grades, both sexes (number), gaps 9,590 (2022)
- Enrolment in pre-primary education, male (number), gaps filled 20,760 (2022)
- Enrolment in pre-primary education, female (number), gaps filled 20,779 (2022)
- Secondary education, pupils, gaps filled 175,513 (2021)
- Primary education, duration (years), annual growth rate 0 % change on previous year (2025)
- Primary education, pupils, gaps filled 381,674 (2022)
- Primary education, pupils, annual growth rate 4.49 % change on previous year (2022)
- Primary education, pupils, per unit of GDP 0 units per US$ of GDP (2022)
- Primary education, pupils, per capita 0.1564 units per person (2022)
Frequently asked questions
- What is average years of schooling among adults in Botswana?
- Average years of schooling among adults in Botswana was 10.48 years in 2023, according to UNDP, Human Development Report (2025) – with minor processing by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest average years of schooling among adults recorded in Botswana?
- The highest recorded value was 10.48 years in 2021.
- What is the lowest average years of schooling among adults recorded in Botswana?
- The lowest recorded value was 5.52 years in 1990.
- How does Botswana rank for average years of schooling among adults?
- Botswana ranks 83rd out of 192 countries with data for 2023.
- Is average years of schooling among adults rising or falling in Botswana?
- Over the last ten years it is up 9.6%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this Botswana data come from?
- The figures come from UNDP, Human Development Report (2025) – with minor processing by Our World in Data, published as part of Average years of schooling among adults. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Average number of years (excluding years spent repeating individual grades) adults over 25 years participated in formal education.