Youth dependency ratio in Botswana
Botswana: Youth dependency ratio was 50.6% in 2023. ▼ Falling
Latest (2023)
50.6%
Change on year
down 0.5%
World rank
66th
of 236 countries
All-time high
105.8%
in 1971
All-time low
50.6%
in 2023
Years of data
74
1950–2023
Youth dependency ratio in Botswana, 1950–2023
Source: UN, World Population Prospects (2024) – processed by Our World in Data. Measured in %.
Analysis
In 2023, youth dependency ratio in Botswana stood at 50.6%. That is the lowest value across all 74 years on record.
The figure is down 0.5% on the previous year and down 8.3% over ten years.
Over the whole period, youth dependency ratio in Botswana peaked at 105.8% in 1971 and was at its lowest, 50.6%, in 2023.
Botswana ranks 66th of 236 countries on this measure, in the middle of the range.
The long-run direction has been consistently falling across the 74 years of available data.
Youth dependency ratio in Botswana, year by year
| Year | % | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1950 | 76.2% | — |
| 1951 | 76.6% | +0.5% |
| 1952 | 77.1% | +0.6% |
| 1953 | 77.6% | +0.8% |
| 1954 | 78.5% | +1.1% |
| 1955 | 79.7% | +1.5% |
| 1956 | 81.1% | +1.8% |
| 1957 | 82.9% | +2.1% |
| 1958 | 84.8% | +2.3% |
| 1959 | 86.8% | +2.4% |
| 1960 | 89.0% | +2.4% |
| 1961 | 91.1% | +2.4% |
| 1962 | 93.2% | +2.3% |
| 1963 | 95.3% | +2.3% |
| 1964 | 96.8% | +1.6% |
| 1965 | 97.9% | +1.2% |
| 1966 | 99.4% | +1.5% |
| 1967 | 101.0% | +1.6% |
| 1968 | 102.5% | +1.5% |
| 1969 | 104.0% | +1.4% |
| 1970 | 105.3% | +1.3% |
| 1971 | 105.8% | +0.4% |
| 1972 | 104.6% | -1.1% |
| 1973 | 102.3% | -2.2% |
| 1974 | 99.9% | -2.3% |
| 1975 | 97.9% | -2.0% |
| 1976 | 96.1% | -1.9% |
| 1977 | 94.4% | -1.8% |
| 1978 | 92.1% | -2.4% |
| 1979 | 90.2% | -2.1% |
| 1980 | 90.5% | +0.3% |
| 1981 | 91.0% | +0.6% |
| 1982 | 90.9% | -0.1% |
| 1983 | 91.0% | +0.1% |
| 1984 | 91.0% | -0.0% |
| 1985 | 90.8% | -0.2% |
| 1986 | 90.6% | -0.2% |
| 1987 | 90.3% | -0.3% |
| 1988 | 89.7% | -0.7% |
| 1989 | 88.7% | -1.1% |
| 1990 | 87.4% | -1.5% |
| 1991 | 85.9% | -1.7% |
| 1992 | 84.2% | -2.0% |
| 1993 | 82.2% | -2.4% |
| 1994 | 79.9% | -2.8% |
| 1995 | 77.4% | -3.1% |
| 1996 | 74.9% | -3.2% |
| 1997 | 72.4% | -3.3% |
| 1998 | 70.1% | -3.2% |
| 1999 | 67.9% | -3.1% |
| 2000 | 65.9% | -3.0% |
| 2001 | 64.0% | -2.8% |
| 2002 | 62.2% | -2.7% |
| 2003 | 60.6% | -2.6% |
| 2004 | 59.2% | -2.3% |
| 2005 | 58.1% | -2.0% |
| 2006 | 57.1% | -1.7% |
| 2007 | 56.2% | -1.5% |
| 2008 | 55.5% | -1.3% |
| 2009 | 54.9% | -1.1% |
| 2010 | 54.5% | -0.8% |
| 2011 | 54.4% | -0.2% |
| 2012 | 54.7% | +0.7% |
| 2013 | 55.2% | +0.9% |
| 2014 | 55.4% | +0.3% |
| 2015 | 55.3% | -0.2% |
| 2016 | 55.0% | -0.6% |
| 2017 | 54.4% | -1.0% |
| 2018 | 53.7% | -1.3% |
| 2019 | 52.9% | -1.5% |
| 2020 | 52.0% | -1.7% |
| 2021 | 51.3% | -1.4% |
| 2022 | 50.9% | -0.7% |
| 2023 | 50.6% | -0.5% |
Botswana compared with similar countries
- Botswana's 50.6% is above the median for upper middle income countries, which is 35.7%, 1.4× the median. (58 countries reporting)
- Botswana's 50.6% is below the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 72.4%, 70% of the median. (48 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1950s | 80.1% | 76.2% | 86.8% | 10 |
| 1960s | 97.0% | 89.0% | 104.0% | 10 |
| 1970s | 98.9% | 90.2% | 105.8% | 10 |
| 1980s | 90.5% | 88.7% | 91.0% | 10 |
| 1990s | 78.2% | 67.9% | 87.4% | 10 |
| 2000s | 59.4% | 54.9% | 65.9% | 10 |
| 2010s | 54.6% | 52.9% | 55.4% | 10 |
| 2020s | 51.2% | 50.6% | 52.0% | 4 |
Countries ranked near Botswana
- 63 Egypt 51.8% compare
- 64 Micronesia (country) 51.7% compare
- 65 Guatemala 50.9% compare
- 67 French Guiana 50.4% compare
- 68 Haiti 49.5% compare
- 69 Turkmenistan 49.4% compare
More population data for Botswana
- Un population 2024 vs 2022, annual growth rate -0.0624 % change on previous year (2100)
- Population long run with projections, annual growth rate -0.1457 % change on previous year (2100)
- Urban and rural population 2050, annual growth rate 0.7791 % change on previous year (2050)
- Population regions with projections, annual growth rate -0.1457 % change on previous year (2100)
- Population growth rate, by level of development -0.2% (2100)
- Number of children under 5, by world region 208,485 people (2100)
- Population density 6.77 people per km² (2100)
- World population growth -0.2% (2100)
- Projected population under age 5, annual growth rate -0.6864 % change on previous year (2100)
- Africa's Development Dynamics (AfDD) Table 03 - Annual population 1.39 Percent per annum (2030)
Frequently asked questions
- What is youth dependency ratio in Botswana?
- Youth dependency ratio in Botswana was 50.6% in 2023, according to UN, World Population Prospects (2024) – processed by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest youth dependency ratio recorded in Botswana?
- The highest recorded value was 105.8% in 1971.
- What is the lowest youth dependency ratio recorded in Botswana?
- The lowest recorded value was 50.6% in 2023.
- How does Botswana rank for youth dependency ratio?
- Botswana ranks 66th out of 236 countries with data for 2023.
- Is youth dependency ratio rising or falling in Botswana?
- Over the last ten years it is down 8.3%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this Botswana data come from?
- The figures come from UN, World Population Prospects (2024) – processed by Our World in Data, published as part of Youth dependency ratio. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Number of children under 15 per 100 working-age people (aged 15 to 64).