Refugees by country of asylum in Botswana
Botswana: Refugees by country of asylum was 816 people in 2024. ◆ Volatile
Refugees by country of asylum in Botswana, 1968–2024
Source: UNHCR (2025) – with major processing by Our World in Data. Measured in people.
Analysis
In 2024, refugees by country of asylum in Botswana stood at 816 people.
Compared with earlier readings it is up 7.2% on the previous year and down 69.1% over ten years.
Over the whole period, refugees by country of asylum in Botswana peaked at 23,290 people in 1979 and was at its lowest, 211 people, in 1996.
That places Botswana 130th out of 183 countries with data for 2024, putting it in the middle of the range.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Refugees by country of asylum in Botswana, year by year
| Year | people | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1968 | 3,980 people | — |
| 1969 | 3,600 people | -9.5% |
| 1970 | 4,360 people | +21.1% |
| 1971 | 8,890 people | +103.9% |
| 1972 | 4,500 people | -49.4% |
| 1973 | 4,500 people | +0.0% |
| 1974 | 2,480 people | -44.9% |
| 1975 | 2,400 people | -3.2% |
| 1976 | 2,840 people | +18.3% |
| 1977 | 4,810 people | +69.4% |
| 1978 | 19,000 people | +295.0% |
| 1979 | 23,290 people | +22.6% |
| 1980 | 1,300 people | -94.4% |
| 1981 | 1,290 people | -0.8% |
| 1982 | 1,300 people | +0.8% |
| 1983 | 4,600 people | +253.8% |
| 1984 | 4,970 people | +8.0% |
| 1985 | 5,680 people | +14.3% |
| 1986 | 4,830 people | -15.0% |
| 1987 | 5,300 people | +9.7% |
| 1988 | 2,325 people | -56.1% |
| 1989 | 1,261 people | -45.8% |
| 1990 | 1,178 people | -6.6% |
| 1991 | 1,054 people | -10.5% |
| 1992 | 497 people | -52.8% |
| 1993 | 517 people | +4.0% |
| 1994 | 503 people | -2.7% |
| 1995 | 266 people | -47.1% |
| 1996 | 211 people | -20.7% |
| 1997 | 280 people | +32.7% |
| 1998 | 2,133 people | +661.8% |
| 1999 | 1,291 people | -39.5% |
| 2000 | 3,549 people | +174.9% |
| 2001 | 3,577 people | +0.8% |
| 2002 | 2,798 people | -21.8% |
| 2003 | 2,831 people | +1.2% |
| 2004 | 2,831 people | +0.0% |
| 2005 | 3,101 people | +9.5% |
| 2006 | 3,154 people | +1.7% |
| 2007 | 2,462 people | -21.9% |
| 2008 | 3,020 people | +22.7% |
| 2009 | 3,023 people | +0.1% |
| 2010 | 2,983 people | -1.3% |
| 2011 | 3,312 people | +11.0% |
| 2012 | 2,784 people | -15.9% |
| 2013 | 2,771 people | -0.5% |
| 2014 | 2,642 people | -4.7% |
| 2015 | 2,127 people | -19.5% |
| 2016 | 2,090 people | -1.7% |
| 2017 | 2,116 people | +1.2% |
| 2018 | 2,044 people | -3.4% |
| 2019 | 1,113 people | -45.5% |
| 2020 | 617 people | -44.6% |
| 2021 | 688 people | +11.5% |
| 2022 | 733 people | +6.5% |
| 2023 | 761 people | +3.8% |
| 2024 | 816 people | +7.2% |
Botswana compared with similar countries
- Botswana's 816 people is below the median for upper middle income countries, which is 6,251 people, 13% of the median. (48 countries reporting)
- Botswana's 816 people is below the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 25,275 people, 3% of the median. (45 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Refugees by country of asylum 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1998 | +661.8% | 280 people | 2,133 people |
| 1978 | +295.0% | 4,810 people | 19,000 people |
| 1983 | +253.8% | 1,300 people | 4,600 people |
| 2000 | +174.9% | 1,291 people | 3,549 people |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1960s | 3,790 people | 3,600 people | 3,980 people | 2 |
| 1970s | 7,707 people | 2,400 people | 23,290 people | 10 |
| 1980s | 3,286 people | 1,261 people | 5,680 people | 10 |
| 1990s | 793 people | 211 people | 2,133 people | 10 |
| 2000s | 3,035 people | 2,462 people | 3,577 people | 10 |
| 2010s | 2,398 people | 1,113 people | 3,312 people | 10 |
| 2020s | 723 people | 617 people | 816 people | 5 |
Countries ranked near Botswana
- 127 Bolivia 1,117 people compare
- 128 Philippines 962 people compare
- 129 Liechtenstein 841 people compare
- 131 Bosnia and Herzegovina 495 people compare
- 132 Kuwait 488 people compare
- 133 Saudi Arabia 448 people compare
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 refugees by country of asylum in Botswana?
- Refugees by country of asylum in Botswana was 816 people in 2024, according to UNHCR (2025) – with major processing by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest refugees by country of asylum recorded in Botswana?
- The highest recorded value was 23,290 people in 1979.
- What is the lowest refugees by country of asylum recorded in Botswana?
- The lowest recorded value was 211 people in 1996.
- How does Botswana rank for refugees by country of asylum?
- Botswana ranks 130th out of 183 countries with data for 2024.
- Is refugees by country of asylum rising or falling in Botswana?
- Over the last ten years it is down 69.1%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Botswana data come from?
- The figures come from UNHCR (2025) – with major processing by Our World in Data, published as part of Refugees by country of asylum. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
CSV · JSON — 57 observations, free to reuse under CC BY 4.0 (Our World in Data).
About this data
People who fled their country of origin and are in need of international protection. Refugees are those who have already been granted asylum status in the country they moved to. This includes all refugees who live in this country, not just those who arrived that year.