Population (International Monetary) in Botswana
Botswana: Population (International Monetary) was 2.52 million in 2024. ▲ Rising
Latest (2024)
2.52 million
Change on year
up 1.6%
World rank
139th
of 186 countries
All-time high
2.52 million
in 2024
All-time low
516,165
in 1960
Years of data
65
1960–2024
Population in Botswana, 1960–2024
Source: International Monetary Fund.
Analysis
In 2024, population in Botswana stood at 2.52 million. That is the highest value across all 65 years on record.
Compared with earlier readings it is up 1.6% on the previous year and up 16.1% over ten years.
Over the whole period, population in Botswana peaked at 2.52 million in 2024 and was at its lowest, 516,165, in 1960.
Botswana ranks 139th of 186 countries on this measure, in the middle of the range.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 65 years of available data.
Population (International Monetary) in Botswana, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1960 | 516,165 | — |
| 1961 | 527,942 | +2.3% |
| 1962 | 540,186 | +2.3% |
| 1963 | 552,966 | +2.4% |
| 1964 | 566,266 | +2.4% |
| 1965 | 574,664 | +1.5% |
| 1966 | 577,866 | +0.6% |
| 1967 | 580,933 | +0.5% |
| 1968 | 583,966 | +0.5% |
| 1969 | 587,066 | +0.5% |
| 1970 | 590,334 | +0.6% |
| 1971 | 600,481 | +1.7% |
| 1972 | 622,407 | +3.7% |
| 1973 | 652,408 | +4.8% |
| 1974 | 685,448 | +5.1% |
| 1975 | 720,380 | +5.1% |
| 1976 | 758,508 | +5.3% |
| 1977 | 799,574 | +5.4% |
| 1978 | 849,239 | +6.2% |
| 1979 | 901,742 | +6.2% |
| 1980 | 937,485 | +4.0% |
| 1981 | 969,996 | +3.5% |
| 1982 | 1.01 million | +4.0% |
| 1983 | 1.05 million | +3.7% |
| 1984 | 1.08 million | +3.6% |
| 1985 | 1.12 million | +3.5% |
| 1986 | 1.16 million | +3.5% |
| 1987 | 1.20 million | +3.3% |
| 1988 | 1.24 million | +3.0% |
| 1989 | 1.27 million | +2.8% |
| 1990 | 1.31 million | +2.8% |
| 1991 | 1.34 million | +2.8% |
| 1992 | 1.38 million | +2.9% |
| 1993 | 1.42 million | +2.9% |
| 1994 | 1.46 million | +2.8% |
| 1995 | 1.50 million | +2.7% |
| 1996 | 1.54 million | +2.5% |
| 1997 | 1.57 million | +2.3% |
| 1998 | 1.61 million | +2.2% |
| 1999 | 1.64 million | +2.2% |
| 2000 | 1.68 million | +2.2% |
| 2001 | 1.71 million | +2.1% |
| 2002 | 1.74 million | +1.9% |
| 2003 | 1.78 million | +1.8% |
| 2004 | 1.81 million | +1.8% |
| 2005 | 1.84 million | +1.8% |
| 2006 | 1.87 million | +1.9% |
| 2007 | 1.91 million | +2.0% |
| 2008 | 1.95 million | +2.0% |
| 2009 | 1.99 million | +2.1% |
| 2010 | 2.03 million | +2.1% |
| 2011 | 2.07 million | +2.0% |
| 2012 | 2.11 million | +1.7% |
| 2013 | 2.14 million | +1.5% |
| 2014 | 2.17 million | +1.5% |
| 2015 | 2.20 million | +1.4% |
| 2016 | 2.23 million | +1.4% |
| 2017 | 2.27 million | +1.4% |
| 2018 | 2.30 million | +1.4% |
| 2019 | 2.33 million | +1.4% |
| 2020 | 2.37 million | +1.4% |
| 2021 | 2.40 million | +1.5% |
| 2022 | 2.44 million | +1.6% |
| 2023 | 2.48 million | +1.7% |
| 2024 | 2.52 million | +1.6% |
Botswana compared with similar countries
- Botswana's 2.52 million is below the median for upper middle income countries, which is 6.59 million, 38% of the median. (57 countries reporting)
- Botswana's 2.52 million is below the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 14.61 million, 17% of the median. (48 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1960s | 560,802 | 516,165 | 587,066 | 10 |
| 1970s | 718,052 | 590,334 | 901,742 | 10 |
| 1980s | 1.10 million | 937,485 | 1.27 million | 10 |
| 1990s | 1.48 million | 1.31 million | 1.64 million | 10 |
| 2000s | 1.83 million | 1.68 million | 1.99 million | 10 |
| 2010s | 2.19 million | 2.03 million | 2.33 million | 10 |
| 2020s | 2.44 million | 2.37 million | 2.52 million | 5 |
Countries ranked near Botswana
More gender data for Botswana
- Child population (UN estimates and projections) 855.49 (2030)
- Child population (UN estimates and projections) (0-14), annual growth 0.6449 % change on previous year (2030)
- Population 1,910 (2030)
- Working-age population (UN estimates and projections) 1,910 (2030)
- Population (UN estimates and projections), annual growth rate 1.83 % change on previous year (2030)
- Age population, age 00, female, interpolated 29,466 (2025)
- Age population, age 00, male, interpolated 30,240 (2025)
- Age population, age 01, female, interpolated 29,267 (2025)
- Age population, age 01, male, interpolated 30,023 (2025)
- Age population, age 02, female, interpolated 29,174 (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is population in Botswana?
- Population in Botswana was 2.52 million in 2024, according to International Monetary Fund.
- What is the highest population recorded in Botswana?
- The highest recorded value was 2.52 million in 2024.
- What is the lowest population recorded in Botswana?
- The lowest recorded value was 516,165 in 1960.
- How does Botswana rank for population?
- Botswana ranks 139th out of 186 countries with data for 2024.
- Is population rising or falling in Botswana?
- Over the last ten years it is up 16.1%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this Botswana data come from?
- The figures come from International Monetary Fund, published as part of Population. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
CSV · JSON — 65 observations, free to reuse under IMF Terms and Conditions (attribution required).
About this data
Data on Gender-disaggregated on selected population characteristics.