Refugee population by country or territory of origin in Botswana
Botswana: Refugee population by country or territory of origin was 384 in 2025. ◆ Volatile
Refugee population by country or territory of origin in Botswana, 1989–2025
Source: Our World in Data.
Analysis
Botswana recorded 384 for refugee population by country or territory of origin in 2025. That is the highest value across all 37 years on record.
Compared with earlier readings it is up 54.2% on the previous year and up 25.5% over ten years.
Over the whole period, refugee population by country or territory of origin in Botswana peaked at 384 in 2025 and was at its lowest, 0, in 2001.
Botswana ranks 120th of 205 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.
Refugee population by country or territory of origin in Botswana, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1989 | 5 | — |
| 1990 | 5 | +0.0% |
| 1991 | 5 | +0.0% |
| 1992 | 5 | +0.0% |
| 1993 | 5 | +0.0% |
| 1994 | 22 | +340.0% |
| 1995 | 27 | +22.7% |
| 1996 | 22 | -18.5% |
| 1997 | 16 | -27.3% |
| 1998 | 16 | +0.0% |
| 1999 | 10 | -37.5% |
| 2000 | 5 | -50.0% |
| 2001 | 0 | -100.0% |
| 2002 | 5 | — |
| 2003 | 5 | +0.0% |
| 2004 | 5 | +0.0% |
| 2005 | 0 | -100.0% |
| 2006 | 10 | — |
| 2007 | 16 | +60.0% |
| 2008 | 29 | +81.2% |
| 2009 | 32 | +10.3% |
| 2010 | 56 | +75.0% |
| 2011 | 88 | +57.1% |
| 2012 | 125 | +42.0% |
| 2013 | 165 | +32.0% |
| 2014 | 234 | +41.8% |
| 2015 | 306 | +30.8% |
| 2016 | 265 | -13.4% |
| 2017 | 279 | +5.3% |
| 2018 | 289 | +3.6% |
| 2019 | 228 | -21.1% |
| 2020 | 191 | -16.2% |
| 2021 | 122 | -36.1% |
| 2022 | 81 | -33.6% |
| 2023 | 150 | +85.2% |
| 2024 | 249 | +66.0% |
| 2025 | 384 | +54.2% |
Botswana compared with similar countries
- Botswana's 384 is below the median for upper middle income countries, which is 2,477, 16% of the median. (57 countries reporting)
- Botswana's 384 is below the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 12,726, 3% of the median. (48 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Refugee population by country or territory of origin 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1994 | +340.0% | 5 | 22 |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1980s | 5 | 5 | 5 | 1 |
| 1990s | 13.3 | 5 | 27 | 10 |
| 2000s | 10.7 | 0 | 32 | 10 |
| 2010s | 203.5 | 56 | 306 | 10 |
| 2020s | 196.17 | 81 | 384 | 6 |
Countries ranked near Botswana
- 117 Bulgaria 533 compare
- 118 United Kingdom 517 compare
- 119 Equatorial Guinea 424 compare
- 121 Panama 375 compare
- 122 Costa Rica 367 compare
- 123 Canada 360 compare
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 refugee population by country or territory of origin in Botswana?
- Refugee population by country or territory of origin in Botswana was 384 in 2025, according to Our World in Data.
- What is the highest refugee population by country or territory of origin recorded in Botswana?
- The highest recorded value was 384 in 2025.
- What is the lowest refugee population by country or territory of origin recorded in Botswana?
- The lowest recorded value was 0 in 2001.
- How does Botswana rank for refugee population by country or territory of origin?
- Botswana ranks 120th out of 205 countries with data for 2025.
- Is refugee population by country or territory of origin rising or falling in Botswana?
- Over the last ten years it is up 25.5%. 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 Refugee population by country or territory of origin. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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