Population aged 65 years or older (thousands) in Botswana
Botswana: Population aged 65 years or older (thousands) was 103.2 thousands in 2025. ▲ Rising
Latest (2025)
103.2 thousands
Change on year
up 2.9%
World rank
155th
of 233 countries
All-time high
103.2 thousands
in 2025
All-time low
24.21 thousands
in 1970
Years of data
56
1970–2025
Population aged 65 years or older in Botswana, 1970–2025
Source: UNESCO Institute for Statistics. Measured in thousands.
Analysis
Botswana recorded 103.2 thousands for population aged 65 years or older in 2025. That is the highest value across all 56 years on record.
Compared with earlier readings it is up 2.9% on the previous year and up 34.0% over ten years.
Over the whole period, population aged 65 years or older in Botswana peaked at 103.2 thousands in 2025 and was at its lowest, 24.21 thousands, in 1970.
Botswana ranks 155th of 233 countries on this measure, in the middle of the range.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 56 years of available data.
Population aged 65 years or older (thousands) in Botswana, year by year
| Year | thousands | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1970 | 24.21 thousands | — |
| 1971 | 24.45 thousands | +1.0% |
| 1972 | 24.61 thousands | +0.6% |
| 1973 | 24.74 thousands | +0.5% |
| 1974 | 24.9 thousands | +0.7% |
| 1975 | 25.12 thousands | +0.9% |
| 1976 | 25.39 thousands | +1.1% |
| 1977 | 25.74 thousands | +1.4% |
| 1978 | 26.18 thousands | +1.7% |
| 1979 | 26.86 thousands | +2.6% |
| 1980 | 27.73 thousands | +3.2% |
| 1981 | 28.55 thousands | +2.9% |
| 1982 | 29.46 thousands | +3.2% |
| 1983 | 30.48 thousands | +3.5% |
| 1984 | 31.66 thousands | +3.9% |
| 1985 | 33.02 thousands | +4.3% |
| 1986 | 34.55 thousands | +4.6% |
| 1987 | 36.29 thousands | +5.0% |
| 1988 | 38.16 thousands | +5.1% |
| 1989 | 39.89 thousands | +4.5% |
| 1990 | 41.42 thousands | +3.8% |
| 1991 | 42.84 thousands | +3.4% |
| 1992 | 44.09 thousands | +2.9% |
| 1993 | 45.24 thousands | +2.6% |
| 1994 | 46.42 thousands | +2.6% |
| 1995 | 47.68 thousands | +2.7% |
| 1996 | 49.06 thousands | +2.9% |
| 1997 | 50.55 thousands | +3.0% |
| 1998 | 52.13 thousands | +3.1% |
| 1999 | 53.73 thousands | +3.1% |
| 2000 | 55.31 thousands | +2.9% |
| 2001 | 56.82 thousands | +2.7% |
| 2002 | 58.29 thousands | +2.6% |
| 2003 | 59.71 thousands | +2.4% |
| 2004 | 61.06 thousands | +2.3% |
| 2005 | 62.31 thousands | +2.1% |
| 2006 | 63.51 thousands | +1.9% |
| 2007 | 64.66 thousands | +1.8% |
| 2008 | 65.86 thousands | +1.9% |
| 2009 | 67.08 thousands | +1.8% |
| 2010 | 68.39 thousands | +2.0% |
| 2011 | 69.8 thousands | +2.1% |
| 2012 | 71.12 thousands | +1.9% |
| 2013 | 72.61 thousands | +2.1% |
| 2014 | 74.38 thousands | +2.4% |
| 2015 | 77.03 thousands | +3.6% |
| 2016 | 79.89 thousands | +3.7% |
| 2017 | 82.78 thousands | +3.6% |
| 2018 | 85.62 thousands | +3.4% |
| 2019 | 88.38 thousands | +3.2% |
| 2020 | 90.99 thousands | +3.0% |
| 2021 | 93.1 thousands | +2.3% |
| 2022 | 92.72 thousands | -0.4% |
| 2023 | 96.62 thousands | +4.2% |
| 2024 | 100.3 thousands | +3.8% |
| 2025 | 103.2 thousands | +2.9% |
Botswana compared with similar countries
- Botswana's 103.2 thousands is below the median for upper middle income countries, which is 529.18 thousands, 20% of the median. (58 countries reporting)
- Botswana's 103.2 thousands is below the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 448.46 thousands, 23% of the median. (48 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1970s | 25.22 thousands | 24.21 thousands | 26.86 thousands | 10 |
| 1980s | 32.98 thousands | 27.73 thousands | 39.89 thousands | 10 |
| 1990s | 47.32 thousands | 41.42 thousands | 53.73 thousands | 10 |
| 2000s | 61.46 thousands | 55.31 thousands | 67.08 thousands | 10 |
| 2010s | 77 thousands | 68.39 thousands | 88.38 thousands | 10 |
| 2020s | 96.16 thousands | 90.99 thousands | 103.2 thousands | 6 |
Countries ranked near Botswana
- 152 Macao 105.87 thousands compare
- 153 Luxembourg 105.84 thousands compare
- 154 Gabon 105.32 thousands compare
- 156 Guadeloupe 90.97 thousands compare
- 157 Lesotho 90.94 thousands compare
- 158 Martinique 88.12 thousands compare
More population data for Botswana
- Population regions 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 long run with projections, annual growth rate -0.1457 % change on previous year (2100)
- Un population 2024 vs 2022, annual growth rate -0.0624 % change on previous year (2100)
- Africa's Development Dynamics (AfDD) Table 05 - Demographic estimates 3,679 Persons (2050)
- Africa's Development Dynamics (AfDD) Table 03 - Annual population 1.39 Percent per annum (2030)
- Projected population under age 5, annual growth rate -0.6864 % change on previous year (2100)
- World population growth -0.2% (2100)
- Population density 6.77 people per km² (2100)
- Number of children under 5, by world region 208,485 people (2100)
Frequently asked questions
- What is population aged 65 years or older in Botswana?
- Population aged 65 years or older in Botswana was 103.2 thousands in 2025, according to UNESCO Institute for Statistics.
- What is the highest population aged 65 years or older recorded in Botswana?
- The highest recorded value was 103.2 thousands in 2025.
- What is the lowest population aged 65 years or older recorded in Botswana?
- The lowest recorded value was 24.21 thousands in 1970.
- How does Botswana rank for population aged 65 years or older?
- Botswana ranks 155th out of 233 countries with data for 2025.
- Is population aged 65 years or older rising or falling in Botswana?
- Over the last ten years it is up 34.0%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this Botswana data come from?
- The figures come from UNESCO Institute for Statistics, published as part of Population aged 65 years or older (thousands). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
CSV · JSON — 56 observations, free to reuse under CC BY-SA 3.0 IGO (UNESCO Institute for Statistics).
About this data
February 2026 Data Release