---
title: "Botswana: Politics & Democracy | Model Diplomat"
description: "Botswana politics: ranks #59 of 179 on the V-Dem liberal democracy index in 2025 (score 52.0/100). Current leaders, democracy trend since 1946, and upcoming elections."
url: "https://modeldiplomat.com/politics/botswana"
---

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# 🇧🇼 Botswana: Politics & Democracy

Broadly yes — Botswana scores 52.0 on the V-Dem liberal democracy index (0–100 scale), placing it among functioning democracies, though with weaker liberal safeguards than the top-ranked states.

Liberal democracy rank (2025)

\#59 of 179

Score (0–100)

52.0

10-year change

−6.7

[Full rankings →](https://modeldiplomat.com/politics/democracy-index)

## Current leaders

Duma Boko

Head of State · Umbrella for Democratic Change

since 2024-11-01

## Democracy trend

Botswana — V-Dem liberal democracy index, 1900–2025 (0–100 scale). Latest: 52.0 in 2025.

## Voting alignment

Botswana's closest UN General Assembly voting partners since 1946:

[Seychelles · 94.9%](https://modeldiplomat.com/politics/alignment/bwa-vs-syc)[Cape Verde · 94.1%](https://modeldiplomat.com/politics/alignment/bwa-vs-cpv)[São Tomé & Príncipe · 93.9%](https://modeldiplomat.com/politics/alignment/bwa-vs-stp)[All friends & foes →](https://modeldiplomat.com/politics/alignment/botswana)

## Frequently asked questions

Is Botswana a democracy?

Broadly yes — Botswana scores 52.0 on the V-Dem liberal democracy index (0–100 scale), placing it among functioning democracies, though with weaker liberal safeguards than the top-ranked states. It ranks #59 of 179 countries in 2025.

Is democracy in Botswana improving or declining?

Botswana's V-Dem liberal democracy score fell by 6.7 points over the past decade (a decline on this index), standing at 52.0 in 2025 (1-year change: +5.0).

Who leads Botswana?

Duma Boko is Botswana's head of state (Umbrella for Democratic Change).

## More on Botswana

[Full country profile](https://modeldiplomat.com/country/botswana)[Blocs & alliances](https://modeldiplomat.com/country/botswana/blocs-alliances)[Treaties](https://modeldiplomat.com/country/botswana/treaties)[Background](https://modeldiplomat.com/country/botswana/background)[Politics & democracy](https://modeldiplomat.com/politics/botswana)

- [Botswana's UN voting friends & foes](https://modeldiplomat.com/politics/alignment/botswana)
- [Where Botswana ranks on the global democracy index](https://modeldiplomat.com/politics/democracy-index)
- [Upcoming elections worldwide](https://modeldiplomat.com/politics/elections)
- [UN General Assembly voting by topic](https://modeldiplomat.com/politics/un)

Data source: Coppedge, Michael et al. 'V-Dem Country-Year Dataset v16', Varieties of Democracy (V-Dem) Project, https\://www\.v-dem.net, CC BY 4.0.