Population growth rates in Botswana
Botswana: Population growth rates was 1.64 in 2023. ◆ Volatile
Latest (2023)
1.64
Change on year
down 0.3%
World rank
72nd
of 236 countries
All-time high
6.67
in 1978
All-time low
0.519
in 1967
Years of data
74
1950–2023
Population growth rates in Botswana, 1950–2023
Source: Our World in Data.
Analysis
The most recent figure for population growth rates in Botswana is 1.64, measured in 2023.
The figure is down 0.3% on the previous year and up 11.1% over ten years.
Over the whole period, population growth rates in Botswana peaked at 6.67 in 1978 and was at its lowest, 0.519, in 1967.
That places Botswana 72nd out of 236 countries with data for 2023, putting it in the middle of the range.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Population growth rates in Botswana, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1950 | 2.35 | — |
| 1951 | 2.36 | +0.2% |
| 1952 | 2.38 | +1.0% |
| 1953 | 2.3 | -3.5% |
| 1954 | 2.19 | -4.7% |
| 1955 | 2.12 | -3.3% |
| 1956 | 2.09 | -1.5% |
| 1957 | 2.09 | +0.3% |
| 1958 | 2.13 | +1.6% |
| 1959 | 2.19 | +2.8% |
| 1960 | 2.24 | +2.3% |
| 1961 | 2.28 | +1.8% |
| 1962 | 2.31 | +1.4% |
| 1963 | 2.37 | +2.6% |
| 1964 | 2.39 | +0.8% |
| 1965 | 0.572 | -76.0% |
| 1966 | 0.539 | -5.8% |
| 1967 | 0.519 | -3.7% |
| 1968 | 0.522 | +0.6% |
| 1969 | 0.537 | +2.9% |
| 1970 | 0.573 | +6.7% |
| 1971 | 2.82 | +391.4% |
| 1972 | 4.33 | +53.7% |
| 1973 | 5.07 | +17.1% |
| 1974 | 4.82 | -4.9% |
| 1975 | 5.12 | +6.2% |
| 1976 | 5.2 | +1.6% |
| 1977 | 5.34 | +2.8% |
| 1978 | 6.67 | +24.8% |
| 1979 | 5.37 | -19.5% |
| 1980 | 2.46 | -54.1% |
| 1981 | 4.32 | +75.6% |
| 1982 | 3.63 | -16.1% |
| 1983 | 3.55 | -2.2% |
| 1984 | 3.5 | -1.4% |
| 1985 | 3.44 | -1.6% |
| 1986 | 3.34 | -3.0% |
| 1987 | 3.19 | -4.4% |
| 1988 | 2.78 | -12.9% |
| 1989 | 2.77 | -0.2% |
| 1990 | 2.73 | -1.7% |
| 1991 | 2.72 | -0.2% |
| 1992 | 2.9 | +6.6% |
| 1993 | 2.83 | -2.6% |
| 1994 | 2.72 | -3.8% |
| 1995 | 2.53 | -6.8% |
| 1996 | 2.36 | -6.9% |
| 1997 | 2.25 | -4.6% |
| 1998 | 2.18 | -3.0% |
| 1999 | 2.14 | -2.0% |
| 2000 | 2.12 | -0.7% |
| 2001 | 1.99 | -6.3% |
| 2002 | 1.77 | -11.0% |
| 2003 | 1.75 | -1.4% |
| 2004 | 1.76 | +0.7% |
| 2005 | 1.83 | +4.0% |
| 2006 | 1.9 | +3.8% |
| 2007 | 1.98 | +4.0% |
| 2008 | 2.04 | +3.2% |
| 2009 | 2.09 | +2.5% |
| 2010 | 2.13 | +1.7% |
| 2011 | 1.81 | -14.8% |
| 2012 | 1.54 | -14.8% |
| 2013 | 1.48 | -4.5% |
| 2014 | 1.43 | -2.8% |
| 2015 | 1.42 | -0.9% |
| 2016 | 1.42 | -0.1% |
| 2017 | 1.42 | +0.2% |
| 2018 | 1.42 | -0.4% |
| 2019 | 1.43 | +1.0% |
| 2020 | 1.45 | +1.3% |
| 2021 | 1.53 | +5.8% |
| 2022 | 1.64 | +7.2% |
| 2023 | 1.64 | -0.3% |
Botswana compared with similar countries
- Botswana's 1.64 is above the median for upper middle income countries, which is 0.5505, 3.0× the median. (58 countries reporting)
- Botswana's 1.64 is below the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 2.35, 70% of the median. (48 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Population growth rates 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.
| Year | Change | From | To |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1971 | +391.4% | 0.573 | 2.82 |
| 1965 | -76.0% | 2.39 | 0.572 |
| 1981 | +75.6% | 2.46 | 4.32 |
| 1972 | +53.7% | 2.82 | 4.33 |
| 1980 | -54.1% | 5.37 | 2.46 |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1950s | 2.22 | 2.09 | 2.38 | 10 |
| 1960s | 1.43 | 0.519 | 2.39 | 10 |
| 1970s | 4.53 | 0.573 | 6.67 | 10 |
| 1980s | 3.3 | 2.46 | 4.32 | 10 |
| 1990s | 2.54 | 2.14 | 2.9 | 10 |
| 2000s | 1.92 | 1.75 | 2.12 | 10 |
| 2010s | 1.55 | 1.42 | 2.13 | 10 |
| 2020s | 1.57 | 1.45 | 1.64 | 4 |
Countries ranked near Botswana
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)
- Population growth rate -0.16 (2100)
- Population density 6.77 (2100)
- Projected population under age 5 208,485 (2100)
Frequently asked questions
- What is population growth rates in Botswana?
- Population growth rates in Botswana was 1.64 in 2023, according to Our World in Data.
- What is the highest population growth rates recorded in Botswana?
- The highest recorded value was 6.67 in 1978.
- What is the lowest population growth rates recorded in Botswana?
- The lowest recorded value was 0.519 in 1967.
- How does Botswana rank for population growth rates?
- Botswana ranks 72nd out of 236 countries with data for 2023.
- Is population growth rates rising or falling in Botswana?
- Over the last ten years it is up 11.1%. 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 Population growth rates. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
CSV · JSON — 74 observations, free to reuse under CC BY 4.0 (Our World in Data).