Number of people living in urban and rural areas in Botswana
Botswana: Number of people living in urban and rural areas was 1.74 million people in 2025. ◆ Volatile
Number of people living in urban and rural areas in Botswana, 1950–2025
Source: United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs, Population Division (2025) – with minor processing by Our World in Data. Measured in people.
Analysis
The most recent figure for number of people living in urban and rural areas in Botswana is 1.74 million people, measured in 2025. That is the highest value across all 76 years on record.
Compared with earlier readings it is up 2.4% on the previous year and up 20.8% over ten years.
Over the whole period, number of people living in urban and rural areas in Botswana peaked at 1.74 million people in 2025 and was at its lowest, 11,170 people, in 1950.
Botswana ranks 139th of 236 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.
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1950s | 12,801 people | 11,170 people | 14,858 people | 10 |
| 1960s | 25,329 people | 15,494 people | 46,553 people | 10 |
| 1970s | 86,128 people | 53,131 people | 128,075 people | 10 |
| 1980s | 294,889 people | 140,061 people | 519,734 people | 10 |
| 1990s | 723,082 people | 569,878 people | 861,154 people | 10 |
| 2000s | 1.06 million people | 892,447 people | 1.25 million people | 10 |
| 2010s | 1.42 million people | 1.29 million people | 1.55 million people | 10 |
| 2020s | 1.65 million people | 1.57 million people | 1.74 million people | 6 |
Countries ranked near Botswana
More population data for Botswana
- 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)
- Total fertility rate vs. wanted fertility rate 2.7 births per woman (2024)
- Refugees by country of asylum 816 people (2024)
- Fertility rate vs. unmet need for contraception 2.7 births per woman (2024)
- Total fertility rate vs. contraceptive prevalence 2.7 births per woman (2024)
- Natural population growth rate 1.9% (2023)
- Fertility rate: births per woman 2.73 live births per woman (2023)
Frequently asked questions
- What is number of people living in urban and rural areas in Botswana?
- Number of people living in urban and rural areas in Botswana was 1.74 million people in 2025, according to United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs, Population Division (2025) – with minor processing by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest number of people living in urban and rural areas recorded in Botswana?
- The highest recorded value was 1.74 million people in 2025.
- What is the lowest number of people living in urban and rural areas recorded in Botswana?
- The lowest recorded value was 11,170 people in 1950.
- How does Botswana rank for number of people living in urban and rural areas?
- Botswana ranks 139th out of 236 countries with data for 2025.
- Is number of people living in urban and rural areas rising or falling in Botswana?
- Over the last ten years it is up 20.8%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Botswana data come from?
- The figures come from United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs, Population Division (2025) – with minor processing by Our World in Data, published as part of Number of people living in urban and rural areas. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Number of people living in urban areas, based on each country's national definition.