Population · Africa · 2025 data
Botswana Population
Botswana had a population of 2.56 million in 2025, ranking #143 of 216 countries and territories (0.03% of the world). The population grew by 16.3% over the past ten years.
Population of Botswana, 1960–2025
Values in millions · World Bank Open Data (CC BY 4.0)
Population by year (table)
| Year | Population | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 2,562,122 | +1.63% |
| 2024 | 2,521,139 | +1.65% |
| 2023 | 2,480,244 | +1.65% |
| 2022 | 2,439,892 | +1.60% |
| 2021 | 2,401,441 | +1.50% |
| 2020 | 2,365,894 | +1.45% |
| 2019 | 2,332,083 | +1.43% |
| 2018 | 2,299,141 | +1.43% |
| 2017 | 2,266,747 | +1.43% |
| 2016 | 2,234,776 | +1.43% |
| 2015 | 2,203,273 | +1.44% |
| 2014 | 2,172,044 | +1.47% |
| 2013 | 2,140,682 | +1.52% |
| 2012 | 2,108,617 | +1.69% |
| 2011 | 2,073,535 | +1.99% |
| 2010 | 2,033,111 | +2.13% |
| 2009 | 1,990,673 | +2.09% |
| 2008 | 1,949,970 | +2.03% |
| 2007 | 1,911,201 | +1.96% |
| 2006 | 1,874,516 | +1.88% |
| 2005 | 1,839,877 | +1.81% |
| 2004 | 1,807,146 | +1.77% |
| 2003 | 1,775,736 | +1.78% |
| 2002 | 1,744,763 | +1.90% |
| 2001 | 1,712,254 | +2.08% |
| 2000 | 1,677,382 | +2.15% |
| 1999 | 1,641,997 | +2.18% |
| 1998 | 1,606,899 | +2.24% |
| 1997 | 1,571,691 | +2.33% |
| 1996 | 1,535,914 | +2.47% |
| 1995 | 1,498,836 | +2.66% |
| 1994 | 1,460,023 | +2.81% |
| 1993 | 1,420,115 | +2.90% |
| 1992 | 1,380,033 | +2.85% |
| 1991 | 1,341,756 | +2.76% |
| 1990 | 1,305,696 | +2.79% |
| 1989 | 1,270,274 | +2.82% |
| 1988 | 1,235,476 | +3.03% |
| 1987 | 1,199,167 | +3.32% |
| 1986 | 1,160,650 | +3.45% |
| 1985 | 1,121,945 | +3.53% |
| 1984 | 1,083,660 | +3.59% |
| 1983 | 1,046,137 | +3.65% |
| 1982 | 1,009,269 | +4.05% |
| 1981 | 969,996 | +3.47% |
| 1980 | 937,485 | +3.96% |
| 1979 | 901,742 | +6.18% |
| 1978 | 849,239 | +6.21% |
| 1977 | 799,574 | +5.41% |
| 1976 | 758,508 | +5.29% |
| 1975 | 720,380 | +5.10% |
| 1974 | 685,448 | +5.06% |
| 1973 | 652,408 | +4.82% |
| 1972 | 622,407 | +3.65% |
| 1971 | 600,481 | +1.72% |
| 1970 | 590,334 | +0.56% |
| 1969 | 587,066 | +0.53% |
| 1968 | 583,966 | +0.52% |
| 1967 | 580,933 | +0.53% |
| 1966 | 577,866 | +0.56% |
| 1965 | 574,664 | +1.48% |
| 1964 | 566,266 | +2.41% |
| 1963 | 552,966 | +2.37% |
| 1962 | 540,186 | +2.32% |
| 1961 | 527,942 | +2.28% |
| 1960 | 516,165 | — |
Demographics of Botswana
Ethnic groups
Tswana (or Setswana) 79%, Kalanga 11%, Basarwa 3%, other, including Kgalagadi and people of European ancestry 7%
Languages
Setswana 77.3%, Sekalanga 7.4%, Shekgalagadi 3.4%, English (official) 2.8%, Zezuru/Shona 2%, Sesarwa 1.7%, Sembukushu 1.6%, Ndebele 1%, other 2.8% (2011 est.)
Religions
Christian 79.1%, Badimo 4.1%, other 1.4% (includes Baha'i, Hindu, Muslim, Rastafarian), none 15.2%, unspecified 0.3% (2011 est.)
Where people live
Urban population: 72.9% of total population (2023).
Largest cities
Botswana and its neighbours
Frequently asked questions about the population of Botswana
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Population and demographics: World Bank Open Data (CC BY 4.0). Cities, ethnic groups, languages and religions: CIA World Factbook (public domain).