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Botswana

Population

2,616,383

Estimated as of Oct 22, 2026View source
Population rank
146th
Share of world
0.03%
Annual change
+41,2661.63%

Population of Botswana

02M4M6M8M10M95% prediction intervalProjected peak20262.6M2050 projection3.4M↑ 31% from 202619601980200020202040206020802100

Source: United Nations — World Population Prospects (2024 Revision)

Current population estimate: 2,616,383. 2050 projection: 3,437,430.Use the arrow keys on the chart to inspect individual years.

Historical population estimates for Botswana. Annual change is shown as a percentage.
20262,603,3881.63%146
20252,562,1221.61%146
20202,365,8941.45%145
20192,332,0831.43%145
20182,299,1411.43%145
20172,266,7471.43%145
20152,203,2731.62%145
20102,033,1112.02%146
20051,839,8771.87%147
20001,677,3822.28%148

Showing 10 of 19 years.

Population by City

Gaborone is home to 251,682 people, 9.67% of Botswana's population.

City population200K100K40K
Gaborone 251.7KFrancistown 105.0KMogoditshane 98.9KMaun 94.0KMolepolole 77.7KTlokweng 62.5KPalapye 58.2KSerowe 57.4KMochudi 51.5KMahalapye 50.3K
Largest cities by 2026 population and share of the national population.
1Gaborone251.7K9.67%
2Francistown105.0K4.03%
3Mogoditshane98.9K3.80%
4Maun94.0K3.61%
5Molepolole77.7K2.98%
6Tlokweng62.5K2.40%
7Palapye58.2K2.24%
8Serowe57.4K2.21%
9Mochudi51.5K1.98%
10Mahalapye50.3K1.93%

Botswana by the Numbers

Estimated as of Oct 22, 2026

Population
Botswana is home to an estimated 2,616,383 people, the 146th largest population in the world.
Daily change
Botswana has a net population change of approximately 115 people per day, driven by 167 births, 41 deaths, and net emigration of 11 people.
Share of world
Botswana makes up 0.03% of the world's population and 0.16% of Africa's.
Density
4.6 people per km² of land (11.9 per mi²), ranking 223rd among countries and territories.
Urban living
67.96% of people live in urban areas.

Botswana Demographics

Age & longevity

MaleFemale100+ years, male: 4100+ years, female: 3795–99 years, male: 5895–99 years, female: 25690–94 years, male: 39690–94 years, female: 1,18785–89 years, male: 1,48685–89 years, female: 3,20680–84 years, male: 3,68480–84 years, female: 6,26275–79 years, male: 8,12175–79 years, female: 11,44770–74 years, male: 13,98370–74 years, female: 15,72565–69 years, male: 19,69065–69 years, female: 21,44060–64 years, male: 28,28760–64 years, female: 30,95055–59 years, male: 37,51255–59 years, female: 40,92050–54 years, male: 46,64750–54 years, female: 49,05845–49 years, male: 57,75745–49 years, female: 58,19140–44 years, male: 75,74440–44 years, female: 73,61135–39 years, male: 98,56635–39 years, female: 96,66430–34 years, male: 123,52830–34 years, female: 123,51425–29 years, male: 120,08525–29 years, female: 120,83220–24 years, male: 122,50020–24 years, female: 122,52515–19 years, male: 121,71515–19 years, female: 120,61910–14 years, male: 126,64210–14 years, female: 125,0685–9 years, male: 139,4865–9 years, female: 138,1350–4 years, male: 150,7020–4 years, female: 147,162100+95–9990–9485–8980–8475–7970–7465–6960–6455–5950–5445–4940–4435–3930–3425–2920–2415–1910–145–90–450K50K100K100K

Hover or tap an age group to see exact counts. Use the up and down arrow keys to inspect age groups.

Median age

24.7 yrs

World: 31

Life expectancy

69.6 yrs

World: 73.8

Male

49.80%

Female

50.20%

Life expectancy 67Life expectancy 72.2

Ethnicity

79%

Tswana (or Setswana)

  • Tswana (or Setswana)79%
  • Kalanga11%
  • Other7%
  • Basarwa3%
Data notes

Source estimate: 2011 est.

Other: includes Kgalagadi and White

Religion

79.1%

Christian, the largest religion

  • Christian79.1%
  • None15.2%
  • Badimo4.1%
  • Other1.4%
  • Unspecified0.3%
Data notes

Source estimate: 2011 est.

Other: includes Baha'i, Hindu, Muslim, Rastafarian

Related Pages

Sources

  1. World Population Prospects (2024 Revision) - United Nations population estimates and projections.
  2. World Population Prospects (2024 Revision) - Botswana United Nations Graphs/Profiles
  3. World Bank / UN World Urbanization Prospects - 2025: Urban population (% of total population), using national definitions.
  4. Statistics Botswana