Population in Botswana
Botswana: Population was 2.48 million people in 2023. ◆ Volatile
Population in Botswana, 1950–2023
Source: UN, World Population Prospects (2024) – processed by Our World in Data. Measured in people.
Analysis
In 2023, population in Botswana stood at 2.48 million people. That is the highest value across all 74 years on record.
Compared with earlier readings it 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, 413,708 people, in 1950.
Botswana ranks 146th 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.
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 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 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)
- Total fertility rate vs. wanted fertility rate 2.7 births per woman (2024)
- Refugees by country of asylum 816 people (2024)
- Fertility rate vs. unmet need for contraception 2.7 births per woman (2024)
- Total fertility rate vs. contraceptive prevalence 2.7 births per woman (2024)
- Natural population growth rate 1.9% (2023)
- Fertility rate: births per woman 2.73 live births per woman (2023)
Frequently asked questions
- What is population in Botswana?
- Population in Botswana was 2.48 million people in 2023, according to UN, World Population Prospects (2024) – processed 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 413,708 people in 1950.
- How does Botswana rank for population?
- Botswana ranks 146th out of 236 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 UN, World Population Prospects (2024) – processed by Our World in Data, published as part of Population. 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).
About this data
The total population, measured on 1 July of the year shown.