Annual precipitation in Botswana
Botswana: Annual precipitation was 685.73 millimeters in 2025. ▬ Flat
Latest (2025)
685.73 millimeters
Change on year
up 160.5%
World rank
135th
of 192 countries
All-time high
718.8 millimeters
in 1958
All-time low
140.15 millimeters
in 1954
Years of data
86
1940–2025
Annual precipitation in Botswana, 1940–2025
Source: Contains modified Copernicus Climate Change Service information (2026) – with major processing by Our World in Data. Measured in millimeters.
Analysis
In 2025, annual precipitation in Botswana stood at 685.73 millimeters.
Compared with earlier readings it is up 160.5% on the previous year and up 160.2% over ten years.
Over the whole period, annual precipitation in Botswana peaked at 718.8 millimeters in 1958 and was at its lowest, 140.15 millimeters, in 1954.
That places Botswana 135th out of 192 countries with data for 2025, putting it in the middle of the range.
Annual precipitation in Botswana, year by year
| Year | millimeters | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1940 | 404.67 millimeters | — |
| 1941 | 383.4 millimeters | -5.3% |
| 1942 | 506.21 millimeters | +32.0% |
| 1943 | 500.12 millimeters | -1.2% |
| 1944 | 511.95 millimeters | +2.4% |
| 1945 | 435.79 millimeters | -14.9% |
| 1946 | 380.75 millimeters | -12.6% |
| 1947 | 486.84 millimeters | +27.9% |
| 1948 | 578.71 millimeters | +18.9% |
| 1949 | 246.38 millimeters | -57.4% |
| 1950 | 577.91 millimeters | +134.6% |
| 1951 | 548.62 millimeters | -5.1% |
| 1952 | 476.55 millimeters | -13.1% |
| 1953 | 577.77 millimeters | +21.2% |
| 1954 | 140.15 millimeters | -75.7% |
| 1955 | 646.81 millimeters | +361.5% |
| 1956 | 319.33 millimeters | -50.6% |
| 1957 | 610.73 millimeters | +91.3% |
| 1958 | 718.8 millimeters | +17.7% |
| 1959 | 303.02 millimeters | -57.8% |
| 1960 | 392.06 millimeters | +29.4% |
| 1961 | 505.71 millimeters | +29.0% |
| 1962 | 571.28 millimeters | +13.0% |
| 1963 | 479.34 millimeters | -16.1% |
| 1964 | 316.74 millimeters | -33.9% |
| 1965 | 209.62 millimeters | -33.8% |
| 1966 | 552.42 millimeters | +163.5% |
| 1967 | 536.19 millimeters | -2.9% |
| 1968 | 400.08 millimeters | -25.4% |
| 1969 | 460.53 millimeters | +15.1% |
| 1970 | 383.45 millimeters | -16.7% |
| 1971 | 405.47 millimeters | +5.7% |
| 1972 | 484.05 millimeters | +19.4% |
| 1973 | 435.61 millimeters | -10.0% |
| 1974 | 579.33 millimeters | +33.0% |
| 1975 | 453.47 millimeters | -21.7% |
| 1976 | 492.4 millimeters | +8.6% |
| 1977 | 589.41 millimeters | +19.7% |
| 1978 | 524.53 millimeters | -11.0% |
| 1979 | 357.64 millimeters | -31.8% |
| 1980 | 371.91 millimeters | +4.0% |
| 1981 | 500.51 millimeters | +34.6% |
| 1982 | 430.88 millimeters | -13.9% |
| 1983 | 408.08 millimeters | -5.3% |
| 1984 | 313.86 millimeters | -23.1% |
| 1985 | 386.5 millimeters | +23.1% |
| 1986 | 441.82 millimeters | +14.3% |
| 1987 | 356.14 millimeters | -19.4% |
| 1988 | 570.73 millimeters | +60.3% |
| 1989 | 478.46 millimeters | -16.2% |
| 1990 | 387.59 millimeters | -19.0% |
| 1991 | 545.2 millimeters | +40.7% |
| 1992 | 256.63 millimeters | -52.9% |
| 1993 | 460.24 millimeters | +79.3% |
| 1994 | 357.9 millimeters | -22.2% |
| 1995 | 417.52 millimeters | +16.7% |
| 1996 | 493.06 millimeters | +18.1% |
| 1997 | 481.29 millimeters | -2.4% |
| 1998 | 416.94 millimeters | -13.4% |
| 1999 | 405.24 millimeters | -2.8% |
| 2000 | 687.07 millimeters | +69.5% |
| 2001 | 563.75 millimeters | -17.9% |
| 2002 | 290.69 millimeters | -48.4% |
| 2003 | 302.37 millimeters | +4.0% |
| 2004 | 466.92 millimeters | +54.4% |
| 2005 | 396.91 millimeters | -15.0% |
| 2006 | 624.58 millimeters | +57.4% |
| 2007 | 294.49 millimeters | -52.9% |
| 2008 | 440.04 millimeters | +49.4% |
| 2009 | 512.22 millimeters | +16.4% |
| 2010 | 525.04 millimeters | +2.5% |
| 2011 | 531.14 millimeters | +1.2% |
| 2012 | 376.67 millimeters | -29.1% |
| 2013 | 394.9 millimeters | +4.8% |
| 2014 | 609.38 millimeters | +54.3% |
| 2015 | 263.51 millimeters | -56.8% |
| 2016 | 420.93 millimeters | +59.7% |
| 2017 | 630.76 millimeters | +49.8% |
| 2018 | 395.24 millimeters | -37.3% |
| 2019 | 311.4 millimeters | -21.2% |
| 2020 | 499.26 millimeters | +60.3% |
| 2021 | 612.27 millimeters | +22.6% |
| 2022 | 467.66 millimeters | -23.6% |
| 2023 | 328.92 millimeters | -29.7% |
| 2024 | 263.2 millimeters | -20.0% |
| 2025 | 685.73 millimeters | +160.5% |
Botswana compared with similar countries
- Botswana's 685.73 millimeters is below the median for upper middle income countries, which is 1,018 millimeters, 67% of the median. (50 countries reporting)
- Botswana's 685.73 millimeters is below the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 970.56 millimeters, 71% of the median. (48 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Annual precipitation in Botswana changed far more than this series normally does. A large move can be a real event or a change in how the figure was measured — the source note below says who published it.
| Year | Change | From | To |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1955 | +361.5% | 140.15 millimeters | 646.81 millimeters |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1940s | 443.48 millimeters | 246.38 millimeters | 578.71 millimeters | 10 |
| 1950s | 491.97 millimeters | 140.15 millimeters | 718.8 millimeters | 10 |
| 1960s | 442.4 millimeters | 209.62 millimeters | 571.28 millimeters | 10 |
| 1970s | 470.54 millimeters | 357.64 millimeters | 589.41 millimeters | 10 |
| 1980s | 425.89 millimeters | 313.86 millimeters | 570.73 millimeters | 10 |
| 1990s | 422.16 millimeters | 256.63 millimeters | 545.2 millimeters | 10 |
| 2000s | 457.9 millimeters | 290.69 millimeters | 687.07 millimeters | 10 |
| 2010s | 445.9 millimeters | 263.51 millimeters | 630.76 millimeters | 10 |
| 2020s | 476.17 millimeters | 263.2 millimeters | 685.73 millimeters | 6 |
Countries ranked near Botswana
More climate change data for Botswana
- Nutrient nitrogen N (total) — Synthetic fertilizers (Agricultural) 17.55 million kg (2023)
- Emissions from livestock — Emissions (CO2eq) 5,640 kt (2050)
- Emissions from livestock — Emissions (CO2eq) from N2O 1,795 kt (2050)
- Emissions from livestock — Emissions (CO2eq) from CH4 3,846 kt (2050)
- Emissions from livestock — Emissions 6.77 kt (2050)
- Emissions from livestock — Emissions 137.34 kt (2050)
- Emissions from crops — Emissions (CO2eq) 17.36 kt (2050)
- Emissions from crops — Emissions (CO2eq) from N2O 14.07 kt (2050)
- Emissions from crops — Emissions (CO2eq) from CH4 3.29 kt (2050)
- Emissions from crops — Emissions 0.0531 kt (2050)
Frequently asked questions
- What is annual precipitation in Botswana?
- Annual precipitation in Botswana was 685.73 millimeters in 2025, according to Contains modified Copernicus Climate Change Service information (2026) – with major processing by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest annual precipitation recorded in Botswana?
- The highest recorded value was 718.8 millimeters in 1958.
- What is the lowest annual precipitation recorded in Botswana?
- The lowest recorded value was 140.15 millimeters in 1954.
- How does Botswana rank for annual precipitation?
- Botswana ranks 135th out of 192 countries with data for 2025.
- Is annual precipitation rising or falling in Botswana?
- Over the last ten years it is up 160.2%. The long-run trend across the full record is flat.
- Where does this Botswana data come from?
- The figures come from Contains modified Copernicus Climate Change Service information (2026) – with major processing by Our World in Data, published as part of Annual precipitation. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
CSV · JSON — 86 observations, free to reuse under CC BY 4.0 (Our World in Data).
About this data
Total annual precipitation—rain and snow—calculated as the sum of daily averages, reported as the depth of water falling to Earth's surface, excluding fog and dew.