Botswana’s Peace Index Ranking Shifts Amid Global Trends
Botswana has experienced a slight dip in its global peace standing, moving two places down to 43rd out of 163 countries in the 2025 Global Peace Index. The Institute for Economics & Peace (IEP) released this data, highlighting a broader trend where 87 nations became less peaceful this year.
The Index evaluates countries based on three key areas: ongoing conflict, societal safety and security, and militarization.
Factors Influencing the Decline
Analysts attribute Botswana’s marginal decline to several interconnected factors. Rising defense expenditures, potentially influenced by global instability, are noted. Geopolitical events, such as conflicts in Ukraine and Gaza, are also seen as contributing to this global climate of concern.
Botswana’s overall peace score is 1.743, positioning it just behind Taiwan and ahead of Timor-Leste.
Regional Insecurity and Economic Impact
While Botswana maintains strong domestic safety indicators, the surrounding region faces increasing security challenges. Escalating violence in the Great Lakes region, extremist activities in Mozambique’s Cabo Delgado, and recent coups in West Africa contribute to a continent-wide pattern of instability.
The economic impact of violence in Botswana for 2024 is estimated at P88,270,842,360 (approximately $6.58 billion USD). This figure represents a slight reduction from the previous year’s estimate of P88,507,723,543 (approximately $6.60 billion USD).
Sub-Saharan Africa’s Peace Landscape
Peace levels declined in over half of the countries in Sub-Saharan Africa. This trend is driven by intensifying conflicts in Sudan, the Democratic Republic of Congo, and the Sahel region.
Across the broader African continent, 23 of 44 countries recorded deteriorations in peace. Increased military spending, internal displacement, and ongoing cross-border conflicts are significant drivers of this trend. The report warns that these pressures could potentially “strain domestic governance and erode the structural underpinnings of peace” if not addressed.
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