Score = Legal 46/60 + Scene 10/40 = 56/100
Botswana ranks #57 of 208 countries and territories in the GayOut Gay Travel Index 2026, with a composite score of 56/100 — a legal safety component of 46/60 and a scene score of 10/40. Updated 2026-08-17 · release 2026.3.
| Criminalization | Legal (2019) |
|---|---|
| Partnership | ● No (marriage equality) |
| Anti-discrimination | ● Yes |
| Gender recognition | Legal route — recognition possible via medical or administrative process |
| Enforcement reality | Calm — no active persecution documented |
Research note: 2017 High Court marker rulings; 2019 decriminalization — GayOut Index 2026.3 legal research (ILGA World / Human Dignity Trust / Rainbow Europe / Equaldex).
Fulfilment per component (100 = maximum). Weights: criminalisation 35% · partnership 20% · enforcement 20% · anti-discrimination 15% · gender recognition 10%.
| LGBTQ+ venues listed | 13 |
|---|---|
| Dedicated gay bars | 2 |
| Gay saunas | 0 |
| Gay bars per million | 0.74 |
| Saunas per million | 0 |
| Events per million | 0 |
| Cities with a scene | 1 |
| Pride parades | 0 |
| Queer film festivals | 0 |
| Coverage grade | A |
| Scene score | 10/40 (raw scene index 25/100) |
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13 venues tracked in the frozen 2026.3 dataset (all categories) · 3 browsable venue pages in the live directory today.
Botswana is rated Some caution on the GayOut Gay Travel Index 2026, scoring 56/100 overall with a legal safety component of 46/60. On enforcement reality, no active persecution is documented.
No. Same-sex marriage is not legal in Botswana. Overall legal status: Legal (2019).
Yes. GayOut lists 13 LGBTQ+ venues in Botswana, including 2 dedicated gay bars, across 1 cities with a scene, and tracks 0 Pride parades there.
Gaborone has the largest documented LGBTQ+ scene in Botswana, with 3 venues listed in the GayOut directory.
GayOut currently lists 2 dedicated gay bars and 0 gay saunas in Botswana. Counts exclude venues that are merely gay-friendly.