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Population · Africa

Botswana population 2026

Right now · estimate

Botswana population right now

2,617,570

Births today
0
Deaths today
0
Births this year
51,088
Births minus deaths this year
+38,517

Botswana has an estimated 2,603,388 people on 1 July 2026, the UN's projection, 41,266 more than a year earlier (+1.61%). It is the 146th most populous country in the world. It is projected to keep growing until 2088, peaking at 3.9 million, then decline to 3.8 million by 2100.

UN projection The counter interpolates the UN’s 1 July figures to the second; it is an estimate, not a count.

Botswana in numbers, 2026

Births in 2026
61 thousand 167 a day
Deaths in 2026
15 thousand 41 a day
Net migration
−4 thousand more departures than arrivals
Growth rate
+1.60% growing
Fertility rate
2.63per woman above replacement (2.1)
Median age
23.7years world: 31.1
Life expectancy
69.6years
Aged 65 and over
4.1% 7.7% by 2050

Land, people and health

Capital
Gaborone
Area
600,370 km² 46th largest of 237
Population density
5per km² 225th most crowded
Urban population
68.5% 73.0% by 2050
Men and women
1.3 million / 1.3 million 99.2 men per 100 women
Life expectancy, women
72.2years men: 67.0 years
Infant mortality
26.5per 1,000 births under-5: 35.2
Birth rate
23.4per 1,000 death rate: 5.8
Net migration rate
−1.6per 1,000 net departures

Population of Botswana, 1950–2100

Projected peak: 2088, 3.9 million. By 2050: 3.4 million (+32.0% from today).

Population of Botswana
  • UN estimate
  • UN projection
3.8M 2026
› Show the numbers as a table
YearPopulation
1950413,698
1951423,556
1952433,711
1953443,973
1954454,043
1955463,926
1956473,782
1957483,788
1958494,106
1959504,878
1960516,165
1961527,942
1962540,186
1963552,966
1964566,266
1965574,664
1966577,866
1967580,932
1968583,966
1969587,066
1970590,334
1971600,481
1972622,407
1973652,408
1974685,448
1975720,380
1976758,508
1977799,574
1978849,239
1979901,742
1980937,485
1981969,996
19821,009,268
19831,046,137
19841,083,660
19851,121,945
19861,160,650
19871,199,167
19881,235,476
19891,270,274
19901,305,696
19911,341,756
19921,380,033
19931,420,115
19941,460,023
19951,498,836
19961,535,914
19971,571,691
19981,606,900
19991,641,997
20001,677,382
20011,712,254
20021,744,763
20031,775,736
20041,807,146
20051,839,877
20061,874,516
20071,911,201
20081,949,970
20091,990,673
20102,033,110
20112,073,535
20122,108,616
20132,140,682
20142,172,044
20152,203,273
20162,234,776
20172,266,747
20182,299,141
20192,332,083
20202,365,894
20212,401,441
20222,439,892
20232,480,244
2024 *2,521,139
2025 *2,562,122
2026 *2,603,388
2027 *2,644,642
2028 *2,685,608
2029 *2,726,044
2030 *2,765,918
2031 *2,804,989
2032 *2,843,233
2033 *2,880,982
2034 *2,917,978
2035 *2,954,414
2036 *2,990,135
2037 *3,025,228
2038 *3,059,532
2039 *3,093,374
2040 *3,126,640
2041 *3,159,131
2042 *3,190,970
2043 *3,222,567
2044 *3,254,015
2045 *3,285,301
2046 *3,317,002
2047 *3,348,500
2048 *3,379,112
2049 *3,408,768
2050 *3,437,430
2051 *3,465,408
2052 *3,493,077
2053 *3,519,978
2054 *3,545,430
2055 *3,570,058
2056 *3,594,089
2057 *3,617,756
2058 *3,641,214
2059 *3,662,868
2060 *3,682,968
2061 *3,702,546
2062 *3,720,811
2063 *3,737,290
2064 *3,752,679
2065 *3,767,441
2066 *3,780,896
2067 *3,793,354
2068 *3,804,747
2069 *3,814,867
2070 *3,823,499
2071 *3,830,655
2072 *3,837,865
2073 *3,844,506
2074 *3,850,178
2075 *3,855,867
2076 *3,861,536
2077 *3,866,644
2078 *3,871,222
2079 *3,874,905
2080 *3,877,213
2081 *3,878,572
2082 *3,880,018
2083 *3,881,689
2084 *3,883,106
2085 *3,884,067
2086 *3,884,584
2087 *3,885,182
2088 *3,885,442
2089 *3,885,044
2090 *3,883,332
2091 *3,879,753
2092 *3,875,608
2093 *3,871,635
2094 *3,867,504
2095 *3,863,243
2096 *3,858,668
2097 *3,853,602
2098 *3,847,968
2099 *3,842,430
2100 *3,836,825

* UN projection

Population of Botswana by year

1.7 million in 2000, 2.6 million in 2026. Every year for the last decade, then every five years to 1950. * UN projection; earlier years are UN estimates.

YearPopulationYearly changeWorld rank
2026* 2,603,388 +1.61% 146
2025* 2,562,122 +1.63% 146
2024* 2,521,139 +1.65% 146
2023 2,480,244 +1.65% 146
2022 2,439,892 +1.60% 145
2021 2,401,441 +1.50% 145
2020 2,365,894 +1.45% 145
2019 2,332,083 +1.43% 145
2018 2,299,141 +1.43% 145
2017 2,266,747 +1.43% 145
2016 2,234,776 +1.43% 145
2015 2,203,273 +1.44% 145
2010 2,033,110 +2.13% 146
2005 1,839,877 +1.81% 147
2000 1,677,382 +2.15% 148
1995 1,498,836 +2.66% 148
1990 1,305,696 +2.79% 149
1985 1,121,945 +3.53% 149
1980 937,485 +3.96% 151
1975 720,380 +5.10% 151
1970 590,334 +0.56% 153
1965 574,664 +1.48% 152
1960 516,165 +2.24% 152
1955 463,926 +2.18% 153
1950 413,698 – 154

Population forecast for Botswana

UN medium-variant projection: 3.4 million in 2050 (+32.0% from 2026), 3.8 million in 2100.

YearPopulationYearly changeWorld rank
2030 2,765,918 +1.46% 144
2035 2,954,414 +1.25% 140
2040 3,126,640 +1.08% 139
2045 3,285,301 +0.96% 139
2050 3,437,430 +0.84% 138
2060 3,682,968 +0.55% 137
2070 3,823,499 +0.23% 138
2080 3,877,213 +0.06% 137
2090 3,883,332 −0.04% 135
2100 3,836,825 −0.15% 133

Largest cities in Botswana

Urban area in 2026: the whole built-up city, measured the same way for every country (UN, 2025). * UN projection. Largest cities in the world

#CityPopulation 2026
1 Gaborone (capital) 259,178
2 Francistown 101,886
3 Molepolole 95,074
4 Lobatse 90,037

Age structure

Median age 23.7. 4.1% are 65 or older, 7.7% by 2050; 31.8% are under 15.

Botswana, 2026 Men 2026 Women 2026 2050 (projection)
100+: men 0.0% 100+: women 0.0% 100+ 95-99: men 0.0% 95-99: women 0.0% 90-94: men 0.0% 90-94: women 0.0% 90-94 85-89: men 0.1% 85-89: women 0.1% 80-84: men 0.1% 80-84: women 0.2% 80-84 75-79: men 0.3% 75-79: women 0.4% 70-74: men 0.5% 70-74: women 0.6% 70-74 65-69: men 0.8% 65-69: women 0.8% 60-64: men 1.1% 60-64: women 1.2% 60-64 55-59: men 1.4% 55-59: women 1.6% 50-54: men 1.8% 50-54: women 1.9% 50-54 45-49: men 2.2% 45-49: women 2.2% 40-44: men 2.9% 40-44: women 2.8% 40-44 35-39: men 3.8% 35-39: women 3.7% 30-34: men 4.7% 30-34: women 4.7% 30-34 25-29: men 4.6% 25-29: women 4.6% 20-24: men 4.7% 20-24: women 4.7% 20-24 15-19: men 4.7% 15-19: women 4.6% 10-14: men 4.9% 10-14: women 4.8% 10-14 5-9: men 5.4% 5-9: women 5.3% 0-4: men 5.8% 0-4: women 5.7% 0-4

Share of the total population in each age group (%)

Births per woman

2.63 in 2026; about 2.1 keeps a population stable without migration.

Fertility rate, Botswana
  • UN estimate
  • UN projection
1.8 2026
› Show the numbers as a table
YearFertility rate
19506.43
19516.44
19526.44
19536.47
19546.51
19556.55
19566.58
19576.62
19586.62
19596.62
19606.60
19616.56
19626.54
19636.58
19646.61
19656.60
19666.61
19676.60
19686.58
19696.56
19706.55
19716.54
19726.56
19736.59
19746.61
19756.61
19766.60
19776.54
19786.48
19796.39
19806.29
19816.16
19825.97
19835.78
19845.62
19855.48
19865.33
19875.10
19884.88
19894.67
19904.51
19914.37
19924.25
19934.15
19944.02
19953.79
19963.57
19973.43
19983.36
19993.31
20003.29
20013.25
20023.17
20033.11
20043.06
20053.08
20063.11
20073.13
20083.13
20093.13
20103.13
20113.10
20123.07
20133.04
20143.03
20153.01
20162.99
20172.97
20182.94
20192.91
20202.86
20212.83
20222.78
20232.73
2024 *2.70
2025 *2.66
2026 *2.63
2027 *2.59
2028 *2.56
2029 *2.52
2030 *2.49
2031 *2.46
2032 *2.44
2033 *2.40
2034 *2.38
2035 *2.35
2036 *2.32
2037 *2.30
2038 *2.28
2039 *2.25
2040 *2.23
2041 *2.21
2042 *2.20
2043 *2.18
2044 *2.17
2045 *2.15
2046 *2.14
2047 *2.12
2048 *2.11
2049 *2.09
2050 *2.08
2051 *2.06
2052 *2.05
2053 *2.04
2054 *2.03
2055 *2.01
2056 *2.00
2057 *1.99
2058 *1.98
2059 *1.97
2060 *1.96
2061 *1.95
2062 *1.94
2063 *1.94
2064 *1.93
2065 *1.92
2066 *1.91
2067 *1.91
2068 *1.90
2069 *1.90
2070 *1.89
2071 *1.88
2072 *1.87
2073 *1.87
2074 *1.87
2075 *1.86
2076 *1.86
2077 *1.85
2078 *1.85
2079 *1.84
2080 *1.84
2081 *1.83
2082 *1.83
2083 *1.82
2084 *1.82
2085 *1.82
2086 *1.81
2087 *1.81
2088 *1.81
2089 *1.81
2090 *1.80
2091 *1.80
2092 *1.80
2093 *1.80
2094 *1.80
2095 *1.79
2096 *1.79
2097 *1.79
2098 *1.79
2099 *1.78
2100 *1.78

* UN projection

Births and deaths each year

Deaths are projected to outnumber births from 2090.

Births and deaths, Botswana
  • Births
  • Deaths
  • UN estimate
  • UN projection
41.4k 2026
› Show the numbers as a table
YearBirthsDeaths
195018,8067,996
195119,3538,152
195219,9158,266
195320,5928,364
195421,2618,446
195521,9258,507
195622,5618,543
195723,1588,560
195823,6168,548
195924,0248,513
196024,3328,471
196124,5988,414
196224,8668,358
196325,4008,316
196425,9218,286
196526,2968,251
196626,3708,120
196726,4467,983
196826,5647,840
196926,7167,692
197026,9847,547
197127,3127,386
197228,3397,336
197329,8187,368
197431,6087,448
197533,2787,516
197635,0657,569
197736,6237,614
197838,2657,670
197940,3167,830
198041,8597,926
198142,1467,819
198242,7187,858
198343,0507,908
198443,5508,020
198544,1708,204
198644,7058,501
198744,5548,906
198844,2279,664
198943,83010,074
199043,90110,887
199144,05511,836
199244,64812,653
199345,32313,631
199445,65414,990
199544,80616,328
199643,94717,102
199743,86618,128
199844,58719,190
199945,53420,176
200046,85921,010
200147,78421,672
200248,23722,075
200348,64322,097
200449,35121,870
200550,97621,590
200652,75121,410
200754,15320,321
200855,37119,939
200956,52819,858
201057,66819,568
201158,13719,525
201258,49719,295
201358,19118,786
201458,20118,154
201558,33117,434
201658,67316,678
201759,10015,946
201859,54115,370
201960,05414,945
202060,40714,795
202161,04920,155
202261,61514,215
202361,29414,197
2024 *61,41814,465
2025 *61,18614,725
2026 *60,88414,981
2027 *60,49915,256
2028 *60,09515,536
2029 *59,57815,844
2030 *59,01916,151
2031 *58,50416,474
2032 *57,99416,809
2033 *57,41017,156
2034 *56,88817,499
2035 *56,43517,872
2036 *56,01218,264
2037 *55,72918,672
2038 *55,54419,089
2039 *55,42219,535
2040 *55,33619,988
2041 *55,32820,457
2042 *55,39020,940
2043 *55,42521,432
2044 *55,50821,946
2045 *55,55622,473
2046 *55,57722,999
2047 *55,55223,556
2048 *55,56024,098
2049 *55,49624,665
2050 *55,36725,255
2051 *55,23025,830
2052 *55,03126,426
2053 *54,88327,023
2054 *54,67427,632
2055 *54,42428,274
2056 *54,18028,898
2057 *53,86529,515
2058 *53,52630,162
2059 *53,20030,793
2060 *52,79931,451
2061 *52,39032,116
2062 *51,95632,769
2063 *51,55933,429
2064 *51,20934,108
2065 *50,84734,756
2066 *50,44335,408
2067 *50,11536,079
2068 *49,77936,741
2069 *49,53237,367
2070 *49,18038,019
2071 *48,89938,668
2072 *48,59039,244
2073 *48,40939,796
2074 *48,20040,325
2075 *48,03040,831
2076 *47,83841,311
2077 *47,65841,773
2078 *47,49242,187
2079 *47,29042,590
2080 *47,06742,898
2081 *46,84943,194
2082 *46,58243,461
2083 *46,32843,716
2084 *46,02443,953
2085 *45,84444,121
2086 *45,58444,267
2087 *45,32144,377
2088 *45,07644,487
2089 *44,85544,598
2090 *44,57544,677
2091 *44,25044,804
2092 *43,87644,902
2093 *43,57145,004
2094 *43,21945,140
2095 *42,92945,264
2096 *42,60745,390
2097 *42,24345,556
2098 *41,96945,705
2099 *41,65845,855
2100 *41,37446,033

* UN projection

Economy of Botswana

GDP by country →
GDP 2026
$22.1 billion 132nd largest economy
GDP per person
$8,563 US$, market rates
GDP per person (PPP)
Int$ 22,135 at purchasing power parity
Economic growth
+4.4% real GDP
Inflation
7.2% consumer prices
Unemployment
– of the labour force
Government debt
40.3% of GDP
Share of world GDP
0.0%
GDP of Botswana, current US dollars
  • IMF estimate
  • IMF projection
33B 2026
› Show the numbers as a table
YearGDP, US$
19903,799,000,000
19913,802,000,000
19923,928,000,000
19933,957,000,000
19944,258,000,000
19954,805,000,000
19964,926,000,000
19975,011,000,000
19984,808,000,000
19995,413,000,000
20005,682,000,000
20015,460,000,000
20025,395,000,000
20037,469,000,000
20048,819,000,000
20059,833,000,000
20069,919,000,000
200710,566,000,000
200810,731,000,000
200910,118,000,000
201012,637,000,000
201115,111,000,000
201213,907,000,000
201314,272,000,000
201415,470,000,000
201513,531,000,000
201615,083,000,000
201716,105,000,000
201817,032,000,000
201916,696,000,000
202014,930,000,000
202118,750,000,000
202220,321,000,000
202319,411,000,000
202419,395,000,000
202519,889,000,000
2026 *22,125,000,000
2027 *23,701,000,000
2028 *25,103,000,000
2029 *27,612,000,000
2030 *30,418,000,000
2031 *33,031,000,000

* IMF projection

Source: International Monetary Fund, World Economic Outlook (October 2026). 2026 and later are IMF projections. GDP per capita by country · Richest countries

CO₂ emissions of Botswana

CO₂ by country →
CO₂ emissions 2024
7.5 million tonnes 121st largest emitter
Per person
2.96 t world: 4.73 t
Share of world CO₂
0.02% 0.03% of its people
Change since 1990
+176% +82% since 2005
CO₂ emissions of Botswana, million tonnes a year
7.5 2024
› Show the numbers as a table
YearCO₂, million tonnes
19720.02
19730.05
19740.09
19750.19
19760.59
19770.78
19780.83
19790.94
19801.40
19811.41
19821.40
19831.33
19841.34
19851.66
19861.57
19871.84
19882.00
19892.23
19902.70
19912.63
19922.78
19933.19
19943.03
19953.04
19962.75
19972.80
19983.34
19993.16
20003.78
20013.85
20023.98
20033.83
20043.90
20054.10
20064.13
20074.23
20084.50
20093.85
20104.54
20114.03
20125.08
20135.66
20146.85
20155.42
20166.34
20177.07
20187.64
20197.49
20206.19
20216.68
20227.40
20237.25
20247.46

By source, 2024

  • Coal58.4%
  • Oil41.6%

Fossil fuels and industry, territorial; Global Carbon Budget via Our World in Data (CC BY 4.0). CO₂ per capita by country · Historical emissions

Compare with Africa

CountryPopulation 2026Growth
Botswana 2.6 million +1.60%
Nigeria 242 million +2.03%
Ethiopia 139 million +2.48%
Egypt 120 million +1.44%
DR Congo 116 million +3.13%
Tanzania 72.6 million +2.79%
South Africa 65.5 million +1.05%
Kenya 58.6 million +1.89%
Sudan 53.3 million +3.03%

All 237 countries · Fertility rate by country · Birth rate by country · Median age by country · Life expectancy by country · Population growth rate by country · Population density by country · Largest countries by area · Death rate by country · Infant mortality rate by country · Elderly population by country · Net migration rate by country · Urban population by country · Sex ratio by country

Air quality in Botswana today

Hourly AQI and a 48-hour forecast for Gaborone.

See air quality →

Questions

What is the population of Botswana in 2026?

2,603,388 on 1 July 2026, according to the UN's World Population Prospects 2024 (medium-variant projection). That is 2.6 million people, +1.61% on 2025.

Is Botswana's population growing or shrinking?

Growing: 41,266 more people in 2026 than in 2025, with 167 births and 41 deaths a day and net migration of −4,169 a year.

When will Botswana's population peak?

In 2088, at about 3.9 million, on the UN's medium projection; 3.8 million by 2100.

What is the fertility rate in Botswana?

2.63 births per woman in 2026. A population replaces itself at about 2.1.

How many babies are born in Botswana every day?

About 167 a day (61 thousand in 2026), against about 41 deaths a day.

What is the life expectancy in Botswana?

69.6 years at birth in 2026: 72.2 for women and 67.0 for men, against a world average of 73.8.

How many men and women live in Botswana?

About 1.3 million men and 1.3 million women in 2026, or 99.2 men for every 100 women.

What is the population density of Botswana?

5 people per km² of land in 2026, on a total area of 600,370 km². The world average is 64.

What was the population of Botswana in 2000?

1,677,382 (1.7 million), the UN estimate for 1 July 2000. It has grown by 55% since, to 2.6 million in 2026.

What will the population of Botswana be in 2050?

About 3.4 million on the UN's medium projection (3,437,430), +32.0% from 2026; 3.8 million by 2100.

What are the largest cities in Botswana?

Gaborone (259 thousand), Francistown (102 thousand), Molepolole (95 thousand), Lobatse (90 thousand). UN figures for 2026, counting each city’s whole built-up area.

What is the GDP of Botswana in 2026?

$22.1 billion at current prices, the 132nd largest economy in the world, on the IMF’s World Economic Outlook (October 2026) figures; real growth of +4.4%.

What is Botswana's GDP per capita?

$8,563 per person at market exchange rates in 2026, or Int$ 22,135 at purchasing power parity, which adjusts for local prices.

How much CO₂ does Botswana emit?

7.5 million tonnes from fossil fuels and industry in 2024, 2.96 t per person and 0.02% of the world total; coal is the largest source (58%).

Source and method

United Nations, Department of Economic and Social Affairs, Population Division (2024). World Population Prospects 2024, medium variant. Figures for 1950–2023 are UN estimates; later years are the medium-variant projection, which assumes fertility, mortality and migration follow their most likely paths. National statistics offices publish their own counts, which can differ. Reuse under CC BY 3.0 IGO. How we use the data.