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