180 countries ranked by safety, peace, freedom and LGBT+ equality
Visiting: Not RecommendedLGBT+ visiting: Not Recommended
Nowhere does a safari quite like Botswana. The Okavango Delta in flood season is one of the natural wonders of the world, Chobe has elephants in their tens of thousands, and the Makgadikgadi salt pans shimmer off to the horizon. The catch is a murder rate that's stubbornly among the world's worst. Organised safaris keep you well away from almost all of it, but go with a tour rather than winging it.
Intentional homicides per 100,000 people — lower is better.
Botswana: 13.0
Ranked 22nd in the world for the highest homicide rate.
12.98 homicides per 100,000 people in 2023 — a high rate by any standard.
Higher than 84% of the 230 countries and territories measured.
How peaceful the country is — lower is better.
Botswana: 1.7
Ranked 57th most peaceful country in the world.
More peaceful than 74% of the 163 countries ranked, scoring 1.743.
Down 2 places since 2024.
Personal and economic freedom — higher is better.
Botswana: 7.4
Ranked 64th freest country in the world.
Freer than 62% of the 165 countries measured — 7.47 out of 10.
Day-to-day life (speech, movement, religion) scores 7.86; doing business and owning property, 6.92.
LGBT+ equality in law and daily life — higher is better.
Botswana: 5.6
Ranked 47th most equal in the world for LGBT+ people.
Better for LGBT+ equality than 75% of the 197 countries scored — 56 out of 100.
The law runs ahead of public opinion here — legal protections score 60 out of 100, everyday attitudes 51.