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
146th
of 236 countries
All-time high
2.48 million people
in 2023
All-time low
413,708 people
in 1950
Years of data
74
1950–2023
Population in Botswana, 1950–2023
Source: UN, World Population Prospects (2024) – processed 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 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.
That places Botswana 146th 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 in Botswana, year by year
| Year | people | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1950 | 413,708 people | — |
| 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 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
- Un population 2024 vs 2022, annual growth rate -0.0624 % change on previous year (2100)
- Population long run 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 regions with projections, annual growth rate -0.1457 % change on previous year (2100)
- 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)
- Projected population under age 5, annual growth rate -0.6864 % change on previous year (2100)
- Africa's Development Dynamics (AfDD) Table 03 - Annual population 1.39 Percent per annum (2030)
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
Total population, measured on 1 July of the year shown.