Botswana
Leading cause: Heart Disease · 55% plant-based · 69.6 yr life expectancy · UHC 60/100
What People Eat
Cardiovascular and dietary profile drawn from WHO Global Health Estimates. Plant-based score reflects the share of whole plant foods (grains, legumes, vegetables, fruit, nuts) in the typical national diet.
Disease Burden
Leading cause of death: Heart Disease · 132 / 100k
Bars show each rate against the global range; the tick marks the world median.
Heart disease (132/100k) leads, but Botswana's defining health story is HIV, which it has fought with strong, well-funded programs. Rising obesity and diabetes accompany a more Westernized, meat-and-maize diet as incomes grow.
Healthcare System
Sources: WHO UHC Service Coverage Index (SDG 3.8.1) & WHO Global Health Expenditure Database. Latest available year.
What Could Improve
- Sustain the strong HIV response while turning attention to rising diet-driven diabetes and CVD.
- Cut added sugar and processed foods; raise vegetable and legume intake.
Explore the evidence: Heart Disease
WHO Global Health Estimates · 2022 · age-standardized country data
→ 132 CVD deaths per 100k · 55% plant-based diet