Population in Botswana
Botswana: Population was 2.48 million people in 2023. ◆ Volatile
Latest (2023)
2.48 million people
Change on year
up 1.7%
World rank
147th
of 239 countries
All-time high
2.48 million people
in 2023
All-time low
60,640 people
in 1000
Years of data
241
1000–2023
Population in Botswana, 1000–2023
Source: HYDE (2023); Gapminder (2022); UN WPP (2024) – with major processing by Our World in Data. Measured in people.
Analysis
The most recent figure for population in Botswana is 2.48 million people, measured in 2023. That is the highest value across all 241 years on record.
The figure is up 1.7% on the previous year and up 15.9% over ten years.
Over the whole period, population in Botswana peaked at 2.48 million people in 2023 and was at its lowest, 60,640 people, in 1000.
Botswana ranks 147th of 239 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.
Population in Botswana, year by year
| Year | people | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1000 | 60,640 people | — |
| 1100 | 65,132 people | +7.4% |
| 1200 | 69,956 people | +7.4% |
| 1300 | 75,138 people | +7.4% |
| 1400 | 80,704 people | +7.4% |
| 1500 | 86,682 people | +7.4% |
| 1600 | 93,103 people | +7.4% |
| 1700 | 100,000 people | +7.4% |
| 1710 | 102,013 people | +2.0% |
| 1720 | 103,479 people | +1.4% |
| 1730 | 105,031 people | +1.5% |
| 1740 | 106,680 people | +1.6% |
| 1750 | 108,436 people | +1.6% |
| 1760 | 110,311 people | +1.7% |
| 1770 | 112,321 people | +1.8% |
| 1780 | 114,483 people | +1.9% |
| 1790 | 116,820 people | +2.0% |
| 1800 | 121,000 people | +3.6% |
| 1801 | 120,541 people | -0.4% |
| 1802 | 120,083 people | -0.4% |
| 1803 | 119,627 people | -0.4% |
| 1804 | 119,173 people | -0.4% |
| 1805 | 118,721 people | -0.4% |
| 1806 | 118,270 people | -0.4% |
| 1807 | 117,821 people | -0.4% |
| 1808 | 117,374 people | -0.4% |
| 1809 | 116,928 people | -0.4% |
| 1810 | 116,486 people | -0.4% |
| 1811 | 116,044 people | -0.4% |
| 1812 | 115,604 people | -0.4% |
| 1813 | 115,165 people | -0.4% |
| 1814 | 114,728 people | -0.4% |
| 1815 | 114,292 people | -0.4% |
| 1816 | 113,858 people | -0.4% |
| 1817 | 113,426 people | -0.4% |
| 1818 | 112,995 people | -0.4% |
| 1819 | 112,567 people | -0.4% |
| 1820 | 112,139 people | -0.4% |
| 1821 | 111,714 people | -0.4% |
| 1822 | 111,289 people | -0.4% |
| 1823 | 110,867 people | -0.4% |
| 1824 | 110,446 people | -0.4% |
| 1825 | 110,027 people | -0.4% |
| 1826 | 109,609 people | -0.4% |
| 1827 | 109,193 people | -0.4% |
| 1828 | 108,779 people | -0.4% |
| 1829 | 108,366 people | -0.4% |
| 1830 | 107,954 people | -0.4% |
| 1831 | 107,545 people | -0.4% |
| 1832 | 107,136 people | -0.4% |
| 1833 | 106,730 people | -0.4% |
| 1834 | 106,325 people | -0.4% |
| 1835 | 105,921 people | -0.4% |
| 1836 | 105,519 people | -0.4% |
| 1837 | 105,118 people | -0.4% |
| 1838 | 104,719 people | -0.4% |
| 1839 | 104,322 people | -0.4% |
| 1840 | 103,926 people | -0.4% |
| 1841 | 103,531 people | -0.4% |
| 1842 | 103,138 people | -0.4% |
| 1843 | 102,747 people | -0.4% |
| 1844 | 102,357 people | -0.4% |
| 1845 | 101,968 people | -0.4% |
| 1846 | 101,581 people | -0.4% |
| 1847 | 101,196 people | -0.4% |
| 1848 | 100,811 people | -0.4% |
| 1849 | 100,707 people | -0.1% |
| 1850 | 100,884 people | +0.2% |
| 1851 | 101,340 people | +0.5% |
| 1852 | 102,081 people | +0.7% |
| 1853 | 103,108 people | +1.0% |
| 1854 | 104,146 people | +1.0% |
| 1855 | 105,194 people | +1.0% |
| 1856 | 106,253 people | +1.0% |
| 1857 | 107,323 people | +1.0% |
| 1858 | 108,403 people | +1.0% |
| 1859 | 109,494 people | +1.0% |
| 1860 | 110,596 people | +1.0% |
| 1861 | 111,709 people | +1.0% |
| 1862 | 112,834 people | +1.0% |
| 1863 | 113,969 people | +1.0% |
| 1864 | 115,117 people | +1.0% |
| 1865 | 116,275 people | +1.0% |
| 1866 | 117,446 people | +1.0% |
| 1867 | 118,628 people | +1.0% |
| 1868 | 119,822 people | +1.0% |
| 1869 | 121,028 people | +1.0% |
| 1870 | 122,246 people | +1.0% |
| 1871 | 123,477 people | +1.0% |
| 1872 | 124,720 people | +1.0% |
| 1873 | 125,975 people | +1.0% |
| 1874 | 127,243 people | +1.0% |
| 1875 | 128,524 people | +1.0% |
| 1876 | 129,817 people | +1.0% |
| 1877 | 131,124 people | +1.0% |
| 1878 | 132,444 people | +1.0% |
| 1879 | 133,777 people | +1.0% |
| 1880 | 135,124 people | +1.0% |
| 1881 | 136,484 people | +1.0% |
| 1882 | 137,857 people | +1.0% |
| 1883 | 139,245 people | +1.0% |
| 1884 | 140,647 people | +1.0% |
| 1885 | 142,062 people | +1.0% |
| 1886 | 143,492 people | +1.0% |
| 1887 | 144,937 people | +1.0% |
| 1888 | 146,395 people | +1.0% |
| 1889 | 147,869 people | +1.0% |
| 1890 | 149,357 people | +1.0% |
| 1891 | 150,861 people | +1.0% |
| 1892 | 152,379 people | +1.0% |
| 1893 | 153,913 people | +1.0% |
| 1894 | 155,462 people | +1.0% |
| 1895 | 157,027 people | +1.0% |
| 1896 | 158,608 people | +1.0% |
| 1897 | 160,204 people | +1.0% |
| 1898 | 161,817 people | +1.0% |
| 1899 | 163,655 people | +1.1% |
| 1900 | 165,725 people | +1.3% |
| 1901 | 168,032 people | +1.4% |
| 1902 | 170,582 people | +1.5% |
| 1903 | 173,381 people | +1.6% |
| 1904 | 176,226 people | +1.6% |
| 1905 | 179,118 people | +1.6% |
| 1906 | 182,058 people | +1.6% |
| 1907 | 185,045 people | +1.6% |
| 1908 | 188,082 people | +1.6% |
| 1909 | 191,132 people | +1.6% |
| 1910 | 194,195 people | +1.6% |
| 1911 | 197,270 people | +1.6% |
| 1912 | 200,357 people | +1.6% |
| 1913 | 203,456 people | +1.5% |
| 1914 | 206,603 people | +1.5% |
| 1915 | 209,799 people | +1.5% |
| 1916 | 213,044 people | +1.5% |
| 1917 | 216,340 people | +1.5% |
| 1918 | 219,694 people | +1.6% |
| 1919 | 223,349 people | +1.7% |
| 1920 | 227,317 people | +1.8% |
| 1921 | 231,606 people | +1.9% |
| 1922 | 236,228 people | +2.0% |
| 1923 | 241,193 people | +2.1% |
| 1924 | 246,262 people | +2.1% |
| 1925 | 251,437 people | +2.1% |
| 1926 | 256,722 people | +2.1% |
| 1927 | 262,117 people | +2.1% |
| 1928 | 267,626 people | +2.1% |
| 1929 | 273,204 people | +2.1% |
| 1930 | 278,852 people | +2.1% |
| 1931 | 284,571 people | +2.1% |
| 1932 | 290,360 people | +2.0% |
| 1933 | 296,221 people | +2.0% |
| 1934 | 302,200 people | +2.0% |
| 1935 | 308,300 people | +2.0% |
| 1936 | 314,523 people | +2.0% |
| 1937 | 320,871 people | +2.0% |
| 1938 | 327,348 people | +2.0% |
| 1939 | 333,887 people | +2.0% |
| 1940 | 340,490 people | +2.0% |
| 1941 | 347,156 people | +2.0% |
| 1942 | 353,884 people | +1.9% |
| 1943 | 360,675 people | +1.9% |
| 1944 | 367,597 people | +1.9% |
| 1945 | 374,651 people | +1.9% |
| 1946 | 381,841 people | +1.9% |
| 1947 | 389,168 people | +1.9% |
| 1948 | 396,637 people | +1.9% |
| 1949 | 404,733 people | +2.0% |
| 1950 | 413,708 people | +2.2% |
| 1951 | 423,568 people | +2.4% |
| 1952 | 433,719 people | +2.4% |
| 1953 | 443,979 people | +2.4% |
| 1954 | 454,051 people | +2.3% |
| 1955 | 463,935 people | +2.2% |
| 1956 | 473,785 people | +2.1% |
| 1957 | 483,798 people | +2.1% |
| 1958 | 494,112 people | +2.1% |
| 1959 | 504,883 people | +2.2% |
| 1960 | 516,174 people | +2.2% |
| 1961 | 527,952 people | +2.3% |
| 1962 | 540,189 people | +2.3% |
| 1963 | 552,977 people | +2.4% |
| 1964 | 566,282 people | +2.4% |
| 1965 | 574,670 people | +1.5% |
| 1966 | 577,876 people | +0.6% |
| 1967 | 580,938 people | +0.5% |
| 1968 | 583,974 people | +0.5% |
| 1969 | 587,078 people | +0.5% |
| 1970 | 590,338 people | +0.6% |
| 1971 | 600,488 people | +1.7% |
| 1972 | 622,416 people | +3.7% |
| 1973 | 652,420 people | +4.8% |
| 1974 | 685,455 people | +5.1% |
| 1975 | 720,389 people | +5.1% |
| 1976 | 758,514 people | +5.3% |
| 1977 | 799,587 people | +5.4% |
| 1978 | 849,246 people | +6.2% |
| 1979 | 901,754 people | +6.2% |
| 1980 | 937,493 people | +4.0% |
| 1981 | 970,003 people | +3.5% |
| 1982 | 1.01 million people | +4.0% |
| 1983 | 1.05 million people | +3.7% |
| 1984 | 1.08 million people | +3.6% |
| 1985 | 1.12 million people | +3.5% |
| 1986 | 1.16 million people | +3.5% |
| 1987 | 1.20 million people | +3.3% |
| 1988 | 1.24 million people | +3.0% |
| 1989 | 1.27 million people | +2.8% |
| 1990 | 1.31 million people | +2.8% |
| 1991 | 1.34 million people | +2.8% |
| 1992 | 1.38 million people | +2.9% |
| 1993 | 1.42 million people | +2.9% |
| 1994 | 1.46 million people | +2.8% |
| 1995 | 1.50 million people | +2.7% |
| 1996 | 1.54 million people | +2.5% |
| 1997 | 1.57 million people | +2.3% |
| 1998 | 1.61 million people | +2.2% |
| 1999 | 1.64 million people | +2.2% |
| 2000 | 1.68 million people | +2.2% |
| 2001 | 1.71 million people | +2.1% |
| 2002 | 1.74 million people | +1.9% |
| 2003 | 1.78 million people | +1.8% |
| 2004 | 1.81 million people | +1.8% |
| 2005 | 1.84 million people | +1.8% |
| 2006 | 1.87 million people | +1.9% |
| 2007 | 1.91 million people | +2.0% |
| 2008 | 1.95 million people | +2.0% |
| 2009 | 1.99 million people | +2.1% |
| 2010 | 2.03 million people | +2.1% |
| 2011 | 2.07 million people | +2.0% |
| 2012 | 2.11 million people | +1.7% |
| 2013 | 2.14 million people | +1.5% |
| 2014 | 2.17 million people | +1.5% |
| 2015 | 2.20 million people | +1.4% |
| 2016 | 2.23 million people | +1.4% |
| 2017 | 2.27 million people | +1.4% |
| 2018 | 2.30 million people | +1.4% |
| 2019 | 2.33 million people | +1.4% |
| 2020 | 2.37 million people | +1.5% |
| 2021 | 2.40 million people | +1.5% |
| 2022 | 2.44 million people | +1.6% |
| 2023 | 2.48 million people | +1.7% |
Botswana compared with similar countries
- Botswana's 2.48 million people is below the median for upper middle income countries, which is 6.81 million people, 36% of the median. (58 countries reporting)
- Botswana's 2.48 million people is below the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 14.26 million people, 17% of the median. (48 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1000s | 60,640 people | 60,640 people | 60,640 people | 1 |
| 1100s | 65,132 people | 65,132 people | 65,132 people | 1 |
| 1200s | 69,956 people | 69,956 people | 69,956 people | 1 |
| 1300s | 75,138 people | 75,138 people | 75,138 people | 1 |
| 1400s | 80,704 people | 80,704 people | 80,704 people | 1 |
| 1500s | 86,682 people | 86,682 people | 86,682 people | 1 |
| 1600s | 93,103 people | 93,103 people | 93,103 people | 1 |
| 1700s | 100,000 people | 100,000 people | 100,000 people | 1 |
| 1710s | 102,013 people | 102,013 people | 102,013 people | 1 |
| 1720s | 103,479 people | 103,479 people | 103,479 people | 1 |
| 1730s | 105,031 people | 105,031 people | 105,031 people | 1 |
| 1740s | 106,680 people | 106,680 people | 106,680 people | 1 |
| 1750s | 108,436 people | 108,436 people | 108,436 people | 1 |
| 1760s | 110,311 people | 110,311 people | 110,311 people | 1 |
| 1770s | 112,321 people | 112,321 people | 112,321 people | 1 |
| 1780s | 114,483 people | 114,483 people | 114,483 people | 1 |
| 1790s | 116,820 people | 116,820 people | 116,820 people | 1 |
| 1800s | 118,954 people | 116,928 people | 121,000 people | 10 |
| 1810s | 114,516 people | 112,567 people | 116,486 people | 10 |
| 1820s | 110,243 people | 108,366 people | 112,139 people | 10 |
| 1830s | 106,129 people | 104,322 people | 107,954 people | 10 |
| 1840s | 102,196 people | 100,707 people | 103,926 people | 10 |
| 1850s | 104,823 people | 100,884 people | 109,494 people | 10 |
| 1860s | 115,742 people | 110,596 people | 121,028 people | 10 |
| 1870s | 127,935 people | 122,246 people | 133,777 people | 10 |
| 1880s | 141,411 people | 135,124 people | 147,869 people | 10 |
| 1890s | 156,328 people | 149,357 people | 163,655 people | 10 |
| 1900s | 177,938 people | 165,725 people | 191,132 people | 10 |
| 1910s | 208,411 people | 194,195 people | 223,349 people | 10 |
| 1920s | 249,371 people | 227,317 people | 273,204 people | 10 |
| 1930s | 305,713 people | 278,852 people | 333,887 people | 10 |
| 1940s | 371,683 people | 340,490 people | 404,733 people | 10 |
| 1950s | 458,954 people | 413,708 people | 504,883 people | 10 |
| 1960s | 560,811 people | 516,174 people | 587,078 people | 10 |
| 1970s | 718,061 people | 590,338 people | 901,754 people | 10 |
| 1980s | 1.10 million people | 937,493 people | 1.27 million people | 10 |
| 1990s | 1.48 million people | 1.31 million people | 1.64 million people | 10 |
| 2000s | 1.83 million people | 1.68 million people | 1.99 million people | 10 |
| 2010s | 2.19 million people | 2.03 million people | 2.33 million people | 10 |
| 2020s | 2.42 million people | 2.37 million people | 2.48 million people | 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)
- 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 in Botswana?
- Population in Botswana was 2.48 million people in 2023, according to HYDE (2023); Gapminder (2022); UN WPP (2024) – with major processing by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest population recorded in Botswana?
- The highest recorded value was 2.48 million people in 2023.
- What is the lowest population recorded in Botswana?
- The lowest recorded value was 60,640 people in 1000.
- How does Botswana rank for population?
- Botswana ranks 147th out of 239 countries with data for 2023.
- Is population rising or falling in Botswana?
- Over the last ten years it is up 15.9%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Botswana data come from?
- The figures come from HYDE (2023); Gapminder (2022); UN WPP (2024) – with major processing by Our World in Data, published as part of Population. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
CSV · JSON — 241 observations, free to reuse under CC BY 4.0 (Our World in Data).
About this data
Population by country, available from 10,000 BCE to 2023, based on data and estimates from different sources.