Total population (thousands) in Botswana
Botswana: Total population (thousands) was 2,542 thousands in 2025. ▲ Rising
Latest (2025)
2,542 thousands
Change on year
up 1.6%
World rank
145th
of 233 countries
All-time high
2,542 thousands
in 2025
All-time low
588.64 thousands
in 1970
Years of data
56
1970–2025
Total population in Botswana, 1970–2025
Source: UNESCO Institute for Statistics. Measured in thousands.
Analysis
Botswana recorded 2,542 thousands for total population in 2025. That is the highest value across all 56 years on record.
The figure is up 1.6% on the previous year and up 16.2% over ten years.
Over the whole period, total population in Botswana peaked at 2,542 thousands in 2025 and was at its lowest, 588.64 thousands, in 1970.
Botswana ranks 145th of 233 countries on this measure, in the middle of the range.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 56 years of available data.
Total population (thousands) in Botswana, year by year
| Year | thousands | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1970 | 588.64 thousands | — |
| 1971 | 592.03 thousands | +0.6% |
| 1972 | 608.94 thousands | +2.9% |
| 1973 | 635.88 thousands | +4.4% |
| 1974 | 668.94 thousands | +5.2% |
| 1975 | 701.96 thousands | +4.9% |
| 1976 | 738.8 thousands | +5.2% |
| 1977 | 778.21 thousands | +5.3% |
| 1978 | 820.93 thousands | +5.5% |
| 1979 | 877.54 thousands | +6.9% |
| 1980 | 925.94 thousands | +5.5% |
| 1981 | 949.03 thousands | +2.5% |
| 1982 | 990.96 thousands | +4.4% |
| 1983 | 1,028 thousands | +3.7% |
| 1984 | 1,065 thousands | +3.6% |
| 1985 | 1,103 thousands | +3.6% |
| 1986 | 1,141 thousands | +3.5% |
| 1987 | 1,180 thousands | +3.4% |
| 1988 | 1,218 thousands | +3.2% |
| 1989 | 1,253 thousands | +2.8% |
| 1990 | 1,288 thousands | +2.8% |
| 1991 | 1,323 thousands | +2.8% |
| 1992 | 1,360 thousands | +2.8% |
| 1993 | 1,400 thousands | +2.9% |
| 1994 | 1,440 thousands | +2.9% |
| 1995 | 1,480 thousands | +2.8% |
| 1996 | 1,518 thousands | +2.6% |
| 1997 | 1,554 thousands | +2.4% |
| 1998 | 1,589 thousands | +2.3% |
| 1999 | 1,624 thousands | +2.2% |
| 2000 | 1,660 thousands | +2.2% |
| 2001 | 1,695 thousands | +2.1% |
| 2002 | 1,729 thousands | +2.0% |
| 2003 | 1,760 thousands | +1.8% |
| 2004 | 1,791 thousands | +1.8% |
| 2005 | 1,823 thousands | +1.8% |
| 2006 | 1,857 thousands | +1.8% |
| 2007 | 1,892 thousands | +1.9% |
| 2008 | 1,930 thousands | +2.0% |
| 2009 | 1,970 thousands | +2.1% |
| 2010 | 2,011 thousands | +2.1% |
| 2011 | 2,055 thousands | +2.1% |
| 2012 | 2,092 thousands | +1.8% |
| 2013 | 2,125 thousands | +1.6% |
| 2014 | 2,156 thousands | +1.5% |
| 2015 | 2,188 thousands | +1.4% |
| 2016 | 2,219 thousands | +1.4% |
| 2017 | 2,251 thousands | +1.4% |
| 2018 | 2,283 thousands | +1.4% |
| 2019 | 2,315 thousands | +1.4% |
| 2020 | 2,349 thousands | +1.4% |
| 2021 | 2,383 thousands | +1.5% |
| 2022 | 2,420 thousands | +1.5% |
| 2023 | 2,460 thousands | +1.7% |
| 2024 | 2,501 thousands | +1.7% |
| 2025 | 2,542 thousands | +1.6% |
Botswana compared with similar countries
- Botswana's 2,542 thousands is below the median for upper middle income countries, which is 6,843 thousands, 37% of the median. (58 countries reporting)
- Botswana's 2,542 thousands is below the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 14,783 thousands, 17% of the median. (48 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1970s | 701.19 thousands | 588.64 thousands | 877.54 thousands | 10 |
| 1980s | 1,085 thousands | 925.94 thousands | 1,253 thousands | 10 |
| 1990s | 1,458 thousands | 1,288 thousands | 1,624 thousands | 10 |
| 2000s | 1,811 thousands | 1,660 thousands | 1,970 thousands | 10 |
| 2010s | 2,170 thousands | 2,011 thousands | 2,315 thousands | 10 |
| 2020s | 2,442 thousands | 2,349 thousands | 2,542 thousands | 6 |
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)
- World population growth -0.2% (2100)
- Population density 6.77 people per km² (2100)
- Number of children under 5, by world region 208,485 people (2100)
Frequently asked questions
- What is total population in Botswana?
- Total population in Botswana was 2,542 thousands in 2025, according to UNESCO Institute for Statistics.
- What is the highest total population recorded in Botswana?
- The highest recorded value was 2,542 thousands in 2025.
- What is the lowest total population recorded in Botswana?
- The lowest recorded value was 588.64 thousands in 1970.
- How does Botswana rank for total population?
- Botswana ranks 145th out of 233 countries with data for 2025.
- Is total population rising or falling in Botswana?
- Over the last ten years it is up 16.2%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this Botswana data come from?
- The figures come from UNESCO Institute for Statistics, published as part of Total population (thousands). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
CSV · JSON — 56 observations, free to reuse under CC BY-SA 3.0 IGO (UNESCO Institute for Statistics).
About this data
February 2026 Data Release