HIV/AIDS in Botswana

Botswana is experiencing one of the most severe HIV/AIDS epidemics in the world. The national HIV prevalence rate among adults ages 15 to 49 is 24.8 percent, which is the third highest in the world, behind Lesotho and Eswatini.^[1] HIV/AIDS threatens the many developmental gains Botswana has achieved since its independence in 1966, including economic growth, political stability, a rise in life expectancy, and the establishment of functioning public educational and health care systems.

The prevalence and impact of HIV/AIDS in Botswana is notoriously hard to estimate. For example, it was in 2006 calculated that high HIV infection rates should cause slight annual population decline.^[2] However the 2011 census showed robust population growth averaging 1.9% per year since the previous census in 2001.^[3]

^ "HIV & Aids in Botswana". AVERT International HIV & Aids Charity. Retrieved 15 January 2013.
^ Central Intelligence Agency (2007). "Botswana". The World Factbook 2007. Retrieved 18 February 2014.
^ 2011 Population & Housing Census Preliminary Results Brief

[avert-1] "HIV & Aids in Botswana". AVERT International HIV & Aids Charity. Retrieved 15 January 2013.

[cia_gutenberg-2] Central Intelligence Agency (2007). "Botswana". The World Factbook 2007. Retrieved 18 February 2014.

[3] 2011 Population & Housing Census Preliminary Results Brief

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