COUNTRY PROFILEBotswana
Botswana's population is 2,562,122 (2025) — the 143rd-largest in the world and the 44th-largest in Africa, growing by about 40,983 people a year.
2,584,984
Population right now, ticking live from the last confirmed count.▲ growing2,562,122 (World Bank, 2025) + +40,983/year × elapsed time since 2025-12-31 — open formula, updates every tick
Botswana Facts at a Glance
Five numbers that summarise the country — population trend, rank, density, wealth, share of humanity.
Population2025
2,562,122
World rank
#143
of 217 tracked geographies
Density
4.5 / km²
566,730 km² land area
GDP / capita
$7,778
#131 economy overall
Share of humanity
1 in 3205 people on Earth lives in Botswana
Botswana's Population Growth
Yes — Botswana's population rose by 40,983 people (+1.63%) between 2024 and 2025. The fertility rate is 2.7 births per woman. Net migration was negative in the latest year on record.
You, in Botswana
A personal read on the numbers above — nothing is stored, it never leaves your browser.
Enter a birth year between 1960 and 2025 to see where you'd land.
Botswana Demographics
Every indicator has its own source and dataset year — shown honestly rather than smoothed into one.
Population density2025
4.5 people / km²
566,730 km² land area, 2025
Median age2025
24.5 years
half the population is older, half younger
Life expectancy2024
69.3 years
M 66.8 · F 71.9
Average height2019
173.2 cm (male)
female 162.1 cm
Homicide rate2021
11.4 per 100,000
#161 safest of 196
Air quality (PM2.5)2023
13.2 µg/m³
lower is cleaner
Urban population2025
68.0 %
share living in cities
Fertility rate2025
2.7 births / woman
replacement level ≈ 2.1
Net migration2025
−5,665 people
negative in latest year
Botswana in World Rankings
Every world ranking we publish, where this country sits in each one, and its overall percentile profile.
Population2,562,122 people
#143 / 217
→
GDP$19.9B
#131 / 186
→
Life expectancy69.3 years
#158 / 217
→
Average height173.2 cm (male)
#105 / 200
→
Cleanest air13.24 µg/m³ PM2.5
#67 / 200
→
Safest countries11.4 homicides / 100k
#161 / 196
→
Most dangerous11.4 homicides / 100k
#35 / 196
→
Percentile in each ranking — further from centre is a higher rank (closer to #1).
Population, 1960 to 2025
66 years of estimates from the same source.
Source: World Bank (SP.POP.TOTL) · annual estimates, 1960–2025 · hover the line for any year.
Age & sex structure
17 five-year bands, male and female, 2025.
Male — 1,276,496Female — 1,285,626
Largest cities
By population, GeoNames city-proper figures (not metro area).
Where is Botswana Located?
- Capital
- Gaborone
- Currency
- Pula (BWP)
- Language(s)
- English, Tswana
- Region
- Sub-Saharan Africa
- Continent
- 54 countries in Africa →
- Land area
- 566,730 km²
- Area (GeoNames)
- 600,370 km²
- Borders
- 3 countries
Shares a border with
Zimbabwe
South Africa
NamibiaBotswanaVSExplore Botswana in Every Ranking
Jump straight to the full world table for any of these indicators.
Frequently asked
What is the population of Botswana?
Botswana's population is 2,562,122 as of 2025 (World Bank estimate), ranking #143 of 217 countries and territories by population.
How many people live in Botswana?
2,562,122 people, as of the 2025 World Bank estimate — the most recent figure this page tracks.
What is Botswana's population density?
4.5 people per km², based on a land area of 566,730 km².
What is Botswana ranked in population worldwide?
#143 of 217 countries and territories by population — see the full ranking table for every country's position.
What is the life expectancy in Botswana?
69.3 years on average (2024) — 66.8 for men, 71.9 for women.
What is Botswana's GDP?
$19.9B, ranking #131 of 186 economies we track — $7,778 per capita.
Sources
World Bank Open Data
CC BY 4.0 · population, GDP, life expectancy, homicide, PM2.5, vitals
data.worldbank.org →