Botswana Physicians
Physicians per 1,000 people SH.MED.PHYS.ZS
Botswana's physicians was 0.38 in 2025, ranked 97th globally. This represents a 1.3% increase from 2024. Data from World Bank, covering 1960–2025.
Overview
Botswana's physicians stood at 0.38 in 2025, a rise of +0.01 from 2023. Based on recent trends, this figure is projected to reach 0.38 by 2025. Botswana ranked 97th globally.
Botswana’s physician density rose from 0.04 per 1,000 people in 1965, the all‑time trough, to a peak of 0.43 in 2020 before slipping slightly to 0.38 in 2025, placing the country 97th globally. Over the 34‑year coverage period the increase reflects gradual expansion of medical training capacity and modest health‑sector investment, yet the recent dip suggests constraints in retaining doctors amid competing regional opportunities. The 2025 figure remains comparable to peers such as Zambia (0.40) and Nigeria (0.40), but lags behind Lesotho’s 0.35, highlighting a modest but persistent gap in per‑capita physician availability. The trajectory will likely depend on whether Botswana can accelerate the scale‑up of domestic medical schools, improve remuneration, and strengthen rural deployment policies, which together could reverse the slight post‑peak decline and sustain higher physician density in the coming decade.
Data & projection
| Year | Physicians | YoY change | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026* trend | 0.38 | - | - |
| 2025* trend | 0.38 | - | - |
| 2025 | 0.38 | +0.01 | #97 |
| 2023 | 0.38 | −0.03 | #42 |
| 2022 | 0.41 | −0.02 | #86 |
| 2021 | 0.42 | −0.01 | #96 |
| 2020 | 0.43 | +0.04 | #107 |
| 2019 | 0.40 | −0.01 | #107 |
| 2018 | 0.40 | +0.03 | #116 |
| 2016 | 0.37 | −0.02 | #105 |
| 2012 | 0.39 | −0.01 | #97 |
| 2011 | 0.40 | −0.01 | #92 |
| 2010 | 0.40 | +0.06 | #102 |
| 2009 | 0.35 | −0.02 | #98 |
| 2008 | 0.37 | −0.00 | #99 |
| 2007 | 0.37 | +0.06 | #93 |
| 2006 | 0.32 | +0.06 | #89 |
Detected Pattern
Analysis
Botswana matched the Export Boom Cycle pattern in 2023. Historically, 71% of countries showing this pattern (546 out of 768) saw physicians improve within 24 months. View full analysis →
Frequently Asked Questions
Botswana's physicians was 0.38 in 2025. Ranked 97th globally. This represents a 1.3% increase from the previous year.
Botswana's physicians peaked at 0.43 in 2020.
The lowest physicians in Botswana was 0.04 in 1965.
Botswana ranks 97th globally in physicians as of 2025.
The World Bank indicator code is SH.MED.PHYS.ZS. Data sourced from World Bank.
Botswana's physicians is projected to reach 0.38 by 2025 based on trend extrapolation.
The physicians of Botswana in 2025 was 0.38. This ranks 97th in the world.
Cite this page
@misc{historysaid_botswana_physicians,
title = {Botswana Physicians},
url = {https://historysaid.com/botswana/physicians/},
publisher = {HistorySaid},
year = {2026}
}