Net migration metrics in Botswana

Botswana: Net migration metrics was -6,487 in 2023. ◆ Volatile

Latest (2023)
-6,487
Change on year
up 11.2%
World rank
176th
of 236 countries
All-time high
26,015
in 1978
All-time low
-16,054
in 1970
Years of data
74
1950–2023

Net migration metrics in Botswana, 1950–2023

-20.0k-10.0k010.0k20.0k30.0k195019862023

Source: Our World in Data.

Analysis

The most recent figure for net migration metrics in Botswana is -6,487, measured in 2023.

The figure is up 11.2% on the previous year and up 17.2% over ten years.

Over the whole period, net migration metrics in Botswana peaked at 26,015 in 1978 and was at its lowest, -16,054, in 1970.

Botswana ranks 176th of 236 countries on this measure, in the middle of the range.

The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.

Net migration metrics in Botswana, year by year

Annual values for Net migration metrics in Botswana, 1950 to 2023.
Year Value Change
1950 -1,081 —
1951 -1,204 +11.4%
1952 -1,335 +10.9%
1953 -2,025 +51.7%
1954 -2,870 +41.7%
1955 -3,595 +25.3%
1956 -4,137 +15.1%
1957 -4,468 +8.0%
1958 -4,551 +1.9%
1959 -4,481 -1.5%
1960 -4,331 -3.3%
1961 -4,168 -3.8%
1962 -4,028 -3.4%
1963 -4,000 -0.7%
1964 -4,126 +3.1%
1965 -14,753 +257.6%
1966 -15,140 +2.6%
1967 -15,438 +2.0%
1968 -15,681 +1.6%
1969 -15,870 +1.2%
1970 -16,054 +1.2%
1971 -3,016 -81.2%
1972 5,937 -296.9%
1973 10,615 +78.8%
1974 8,854 -16.6%
1975 11,086 +25.2%
1976 11,914 +7.5%
1977 13,708 +15.1%
1978 26,015 +89.8%
1979 15,918 -38.8%
1980 -10,849 -168.2%
1981 7,610 -170.1%
1982 1,751 -77.0%
1983 1,980 +13.1%
1984 2,393 +20.9%
1985 2,683 +12.1%
1986 2,558 -4.7%
1987 2,624 +2.6%
1988 -215 -108.2%
1989 1,495 -795.3%
1990 2,580 +72.6%
1991 4,311 +67.1%
1992 8,026 +86.2%
1993 8,441 +5.2%
1994 9,023 +6.9%
1995 9,464 +4.9%
1996 9,368 -1.0%
1997 9,597 +2.4%
1998 9,685 +0.9%
1999 9,762 +0.8%
2000 9,798 +0.4%
2001 7,991 -18.4%
2002 4,747 -40.6%
2003 4,488 -5.5%
2004 4,314 -3.9%
2005 4,283 -0.7%
2006 4,270 -0.3%
2007 3,926 -8.1%
2008 4,343 +10.6%
2009 4,960 +14.2%
2010 5,151 +3.9%
2011 -1,019 -119.8%
2012 -6,636 +551.2%
2013 -7,836 +18.1%
2014 -8,893 +13.5%
2015 -9,599 +7.9%
2016 -10,286 +7.2%
2017 -10,916 +6.1%
2018 -11,623 +6.5%
2019 -11,770 +1.3%
2020 -11,330 -3.7%
2021 -4,083 -64.0%
2022 -7,306 +78.9%
2023 -6,487 -11.2%

Botswana compared with similar countries

  • Botswana's -6,487 is below the median for upper middle income countries, which is -2,817, 2.3× the median. (58 countries reporting)
  • Botswana's -6,487 is below the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is -3,998, 1.6× the median. (48 countries reporting)

Biggest year-on-year movements

Years where Net migration metrics in Botswana changed far more than this series normally does. A large move can be a real event or a change in how the figure was measured — the source note below says who published it.

YearChange FromTo
1989 +795.3% -215 1,495
2012 -551.2% -1,019 -6,636
1972 +296.9% -3,016 5,937
1965 -257.6% -4,126 -14,753
1981 +170.1% -10,849 7,610
1980 -168.2% 15,918 -10,849

Averages by decade

DecadeAverage LowestHighest Years
1950s -2,975 -4,551 -1,081 10
1960s -9,754 -15,870 -4,000 10
1970s 8,498 -16,054 26,015 10
1980s 1,203 -10,849 7,610 10
1990s 8,026 2,580 9,762 10
2000s 5,312 3,926 9,798 10
2010s -7,343 -11,770 5,151 10
2020s -7,302 -11,330 -4,083 4

Countries ranked near Botswana

  1. 173 Malawi -5,811 compare
  2. 174 Uzbekistan -6,004 compare
  3. 175 Guyana -6,161 compare
  4. 177 Poland -7,824 compare
  5. 178 Nicaragua -7,996 compare
  6. 179 Eswatini -8,549 compare

See the full ranking of 236 places →

More population data for Botswana

All data for Botswana →

Frequently asked questions

What is net migration metrics in Botswana?
Net migration metrics in Botswana was -6,487 in 2023, according to Our World in Data.
What is the highest net migration metrics recorded in Botswana?
The highest recorded value was 26,015 in 1978.
What is the lowest net migration metrics recorded in Botswana?
The lowest recorded value was -16,054 in 1970.
How does Botswana rank for net migration metrics?
Botswana ranks 176th out of 236 countries with data for 2023.
Is net migration metrics rising or falling in Botswana?
Over the last ten years it is up 17.2%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
Where does this Botswana data come from?
The figures come from Our World in Data, published as part of Net migration metrics. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.

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Net migration metrics in Botswana. Statizoid, drawing on Our World in Data. Retrieved 11 November 2026, from https://population.statizoid.com/stat/net-migration-metrics/botswana/

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About this data

Indicator
Net migration metrics
Source
Our World in Data
Licence
CC BY 4.0 (Our World in Data)
Coverage
236 places, 17,464 data points, 1950–2023
Last refreshed