Is Botswana safe in 2026?
Botswana scores 92.4/100 on the live safety index — very safe. The main pressure on the score comes from crime, natural disasters, economy. The score has been stable for 23 days. The 24-hour AI forecast calls the trend stable (projected 92.4/100).
92.4 /100very safe
30-day trend
Botswana's score fell by −3.7 over the last 30 days (96.1 → 92.4).
Threat breakdown
| Category | Pressure | Score / cap |
|---|---|---|
| Crime | 3.0 / 15 | |
| Natural disasters | 1.0 / 5 | |
| Economy | 1.3 / 8 | |
| Political instability | 1.7 / 15 | |
| Ecology | 0.1 / 1 | |
| Public health | 0.2 / 3 | |
| Internet freedom | 0.2 / 7 | |
| Military conflict | 0.2 / 30 | |
| Sanctions | 0.0 / 4 | |
| Nuclear risk | 0.0 / 12 |
Higher category scores mean more threat pressure; each category is capped by its weight in the 0–100 index. How scores are computed.
Official travel advisory
2 Exercise Increased Caution
The U.S. State Department places Botswana at Level 2 — Exercise Increased Caution citing crime. Our live index reads 92.4/100. That advisory was last revised Jun 17, 2026, 76 days ago; the index above is recomputed continuously from current reporting.
Theft of cash and belongings, along with other opportunistic offenses, occurs frequently throughout Botswana. Confrontational incidents are also widespread, ranging from residential intrusions and burglaries to street robberies and smash-and-grab attacks on occupied or parked cars. Risk rises after dark for pedestrians and motorists alike, and banks and cash machines are recurring settings for these incidents. Resistance during a robbery raises the danger of harm, and routine health preparation matters, including vaccination requirements and an adequate supply of prescription medicine for the full trip.
Source: U.S. Department of State, revised Jun 17, 2026. Levels run 1 (normal precautions) to 4 (do not travel). This page is not travel advice.
Latest recorded events
No threat events have been recorded for Botswana — the index is holding on baseline factors alone.
24-hour forecast
Trend: stable · projected score 92.4/100 (generated )
No recent events or momentum suggest a change in the exceptionally strong safety baseline.
Compared with nearby countries
| Country | Score | 0–100 | vs Botswana |
|---|---|---|---|
| Botswana | 92.4 | — | |
| Zimbabwe | 74.2 | −18.2 | |
| Namibia | 90.8 | −1.6 | |
| Eswatini | 79.1 | −13.3 | |
| Lesotho | 80.9 | −11.5 | |
| South Africa | 80.6 | −11.8 |