Pensions for Botswana’s elderly are growing, while care services are lacking

Study tracks 20 years
A new report warns that Botswana’s ageing population is placing growing pressure on the country’s social protection system, as economic constraints limit government spending and investment in elder care services.
Elena Moore & Thokozile Madonko
  • 2 Hours Ago

Botswana’s economy is projected to contract by 0.4% in 2026, largely due to a slowdown in the diamond sector, which contributes a third of fiscal revenues and a quarter of the country’s GDP. At the same time, government efforts to reduce debt through spending cuts are forcing difficult decisions about public expenditure, including social protection for older people.

Over the past two decades, the number of people aged 60 and older has doubled to around 279 000, representing about 8% of Botswana’s population. While this reflects improved life expectancy, it also presents growing policy and financial challenges.

A recent study examining government funding for elder care over the last 20 years found that Botswana has significantly expanded its old-age pension system, but investment in care services for older people has not kept pace.

Researchers analysed state spending between 2005 and 2024/25 across programmes such as the old-age pension, destitute allowance, disability grant, war veterans’ allowance and home-based care services. The report found that although overall spending has increased, investment in care services has declined in real terms per person.


Social protection

Botswana’s old-age pension system is widely regarded as one of the country’s most important social protection measures. It is universal, allowing all citizens above a certain age to qualify, and reaches both rural and urban communities.

In 2025, government lowered the qualifying age from 65 to 60 and increased monthly pension payments. The reforms were welcomed by many older citizens, as pensions often help cover food, transport and household expenses in a country without unemployment benefits.

However, the rapid expansion of the pension system has consumed a growing share of the broader social protection budget, leaving less funding available for care-related services.

The report warns that ageing is not only about income support, but also about healthcare, disability and long-term care needs. As people live longer, chronic illnesses and disability become more common, increasing demand for support services.


Stagnation

Despite this, access to programmes such as the destitute allowance and disability grants has stagnated or declined. Community home-based care services, which help older people remain in their homes, have also experienced funding reductions in real terms despite growing demand.

Traditionally, older people in Botswana have relied on family members for care. However, this system is under pressure due to migration, the long-term impact of HIV/Aids and increasing female participation in the labour force. Between 2012 and 2023, female labour force participation rose from 54.9% to 63.4%, leaving fewer women available to provide full-time care at home.

Many older-person households also face economic hardship. Nearly half experience food insecurity, while access to basic services such as piped water and sanitation remains limited, particularly in rural areas where most older people live.


Extreme poverty

The report also notes that around 11.9% of older people in Botswana live in extreme poverty, making them more vulnerable than any other age group. Researchers found that pensions are often stretched across entire households, reducing their effectiveness as individual support.

Access to additional assistance programmes remains difficult for many older citizens, as some support schemes rely on discretionary assessments by social workers and are not always easily accessible.

Researchers argue that Botswana’s social protection system is becoming increasingly dependent on pensions while other forms of support weaken.

These challenges come as government austerity measures place further pressure on public spending. The report warns that reducing investment in care and social services could worsen inequality in one of the world’s most unequal countries.

Healthcare services are also under strain due to shortages of workers and infrastructure, raising concerns about the long-term sustainability of care for an ageing population.

The study calls for policymakers to rethink social protection beyond pensions alone, arguing that care services should form a central part of future planning. Researchers say investment in community-based care, disability support and local partnerships could not only improve the quality of life for older people, but also create jobs and support broader economic development.

The report concludes that Botswana needs a more balanced approach to social spending that protects income security while strengthening public care services to ensure people can age with dignity. – Abridged version of a report originally published by The Conversation

*Elena Moore is a Professor of Sociology at the University of Cape Town and Thokozile Madonko is a Research Manager at the University of the Witwatersrand.