Botswana Population
Sub-Saharan Africa · 143rd most populous · Upper middle income
Population right now (estimate)
2,616,200
The population of Botswana is about 2,616,200 as of 22 October 2026 (estimate), and 2.6 million for 2026 as a whole — 0.03% of the world's people.
Botswana is ranked 143rd of 217 by population. The population is still growing, by about 1.61% a year. By 2050 it is projected to reach about 3.4 million. That is 5.0 times its 1960 population of 516 thousand. It is sparsely populated, with only 4.6 people per square kilometre. 68% of people live in cities (2025).
Population 2026
2.6 million
Yearly change
+1.61%
World rank
143rd
Share of world
0.03%
Density
5/km²
Land area
566,730 km²
Life expectancy
69.3 yrs
Births per woman
2.70
GDP per capita
$7,778
GDP
$19.9B
Population of Botswana, 1960–2050
Botswana population by year
| Year | Population | Yearly change | Density (per km²) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1960 | 516,165 | — | 1 |
| 1970 | 590,334 | +0.56% | 1 |
| 1980 | 937,485 | +3.96% | 2 |
| 1990 | 1,305,696 | +2.79% | 2 |
| 2000 | 1,677,382 | +2.15% | 3 |
| 2010 | 2,033,111 | +2.13% | 4 |
| 2020 | 2,365,894 | +1.45% | 4 |
| 2024 | 2,521,139 | +1.65% | 4 |
| 2026proj. | 2,603,388 | +1.61% | 5 |
| 2030proj. | 2,765,918 | +1.46% | 5 |
| 2040proj. | 3,126,640 | +1.08% | 6 |
| 2050proj. | 3,437,430 | +0.84% | 6 |
Botswana vs Bangladesh
Bangladesh (178 million) has 68.3 times as many people as Botswana. Bangladesh is 297.4 times more densely populated.
Botswana population: questions and answers
What is the population of Botswana in 2026?
About 2,603,388 (2.6 million), based on World Bank projections.
Is Botswana's population growing?
Yes, by about 1.61% a year (2026).
What is the population density of Botswana?
About 5 people per km², with a land area of 566,730 km².
What will the population of Botswana be in 2050?
About 3.4 million on World Bank projections.
What is the capital of Botswana?
Gaborone.
What is the life expectancy in Botswana?
69.3 years at birth (2024).
Sources: World Bank Open Data — World Development Indicators and Population Estimates and Projections (CC BY 4.0); Wikidata (CC0). Data retrieved 2026-10-22. Live figures are mathematical estimates interpolated between the World Bank's mid-year values, not real-time counts.