Life stages in Botswana

Botswana’s life-course services combine formal government systems with community-based and informal support. The 2022 Population and Housing Census counted 2,359,609 people: about 31% were under 15, 63% were aged 15 to 64 and 6% were 65 or older. About 66.5% of the population lived in urban areas and 33.5% in rural areas; rural districts had a higher share of older people and can face greater distances, isolation and care-access gaps. A child is under 18 under the Children’s Act 2009. Child protection covers violence, abuse, neglect, exploitation and harmful practices. Children may receive protection through Child Welfare services, Social Welfare Officers, children’s homes and Magistrate Courts, including when they live in an abusive or poor household, head a household, live with illness or disability, stay on the street or come into conflict with the law. A protection application can use a founding affidavit, supporting documents, a certificate of urgency and a draft order; filing with the court clerk is free. Birth registration creates the identity record needed for many later services. Births in Botswana must be registered through the Department of Civil and National Registration, regardless of the parents’ nationality. Registration within 60 days is normally completed the same day, while late registration can take about 14 days. Depending on the place of birth, documents may include a hospital notification or Kgosi confirmation, an Under-5 medical card, an affidavit and witnesses. The birth certificate or registered birth record supports access to education, grants and other public services. Early childhood education and primary school cover the first education years. Primary education runs from Standard 1 to Standard 7; entry is generally from age 5.5 in January or age 6 by June. An alternative education pathway is available for children who have left school and covers ages 4.5 to 18, with year-round registration, a birth certificate and the parent’s or guardian’s Omang. Confirmation is expected within a maximum of five working days and the duration can vary. From age 19, adult basic education and a primary-school-leaving examination equivalence pathway can support people who did not complete earlier schooling. Youth policy generally covers ages 15 to 35, although some operational programmes use an 18-to-35 range. Botswana’s National Youth Policy 2026–2036 focuses on education and skills, health and protection, employment and entrepreneurship, governance and inclusion. The Department of Youth and the Botswana National Youth Council are central public bodies. The Youth Development Fund supports citizens aged 18 to 35 who are out of school, unemployed or underemployed below BWP 2,500 per month. Funding may combine a 50% loan with a 50% grant; cooperatives generally contain 5 to 10 members, applications are commonly submitted during May or June and processing takes about 45 working days. Adulthood does not have one uniform statutory label. Practical markers include obtaining an Omang, which citizens can apply for from age 16 and which generally takes about 14 working days, voting from age 18 with an Omang, entering employment, continuing education, forming a household and taking on care responsibilities. Tertiary sponsorship commonly requires citizenship, that the applicant is not gainfully employed and that the qualification will be completed before age 35, with special pathways for groups such as orphans and vulnerable children, remote-area communities and students with special educational needs. A response may take about 10 working days. Adult education and work opportunities remain closely connected to migration, household duties and the labour market. Marriage and partnership create another legal transition. The Marriage Act 18 of 2001 provides for civil marriage registration, while customary, Muslim, Hindu and other religious ceremonies follow distinct pathways. Adults aged 18 or older can generally marry directly; a person below 18 requires written consent from a parent or guardian. A marriage notice period of 21 days normally applies before solemnisation. Where a marriage uses community of property, a Youth Development Fund application requires written consent from the spouse. Botswana generally treats age 65 and above as older age for public support. The Older Age Pension is available to eligible Botswana citizens through registration with Social Development, a District Commissioner, a service provider or headquarters. The 2025/26 government position records BWP 1,400 per month from 1 April 2025, while an older government service page still shows BWP 830; the current amount should therefore be confirmed locally before applying. Payment may be made in cash or by bank transfer. A proxy can act when illness, age or disability prevents attendance, and a life declaration is generally required every six months. Arrears can accumulate for up to six months, applications may cover a maximum of 23 months and payment is suspended during imprisonment. A proposed reduction of the age threshold to 60 has not been established as current law. Care dependency has no directly evidenced national equivalent of a universal care grade, long-term-care insurance or standard care allowance. Community Home-Based Care combines clinic referrals, care coordinators, training, case management and palliative care with support from families, neighbours, volunteers and social workers. It is used especially for older age, disability, HIV, chronic illness and people who cannot live independently. The Persons with Disability Act 2024 recognises carers including spouses or former spouses, dating partners, siblings, parents, household members and other assistants, and protects carers against discrimination while requiring reasonable adjustments. No nationwide standard cash payment for family carers is evidenced. People facing severe poverty may qualify for Destitute Allowance if they are citizens who cannot adequately support themselves. Applications can be made through a Social & Community Development Officer or Botswana Post and an investigation and decision take about one month. Published income thresholds conflict: one government page lists BWP 120 without dependants and BWP 150 with dependants, while another local information source lists BWP 300 and a maximum of six livestock. The applicable threshold and documents, including Omang or passport and dependants’ birth certificates, should be confirmed with the responsible district office. The National Disaster Management Office and the Office of the President coordinate emergency assistance for people affected by disasters such as floods. Emergency support does not require documents and is provided free of charge, with the Botswana Defence Force and local authorities assisting when needed. These systems do not replace the ordinary age-, education-, protection- or care-related services that apply outside an emergency.