Botswana
- Capital:
- Gaborone
- Continent:
- Africa
- Region(s):
- Southern Africa, Sub-Saharan Africa
- Largest Cities:
- Gaborone, Francistown, Mogoditshane
- Abbreviation:
- BWA
2,603,388
As of Jan 1, 2026 - Source
2,603,388
As of Jan 1, 2026 - Source
Botswana's population is projected to be 3,853,602 by 2097.
Historical
Switch the toggle to see projected data.
| Year ↓ | Population | Change | Pop. Rank |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | 2,603,388 | 1.63% | 146 |
| 2025 | 2,562,122 | 1.61% | 146 |
| 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 |
| 2015 | 2,203,273 | 1.62% | 145 |
| 2010 | 2,033,111 | 2.02% | 146 |
| 2005 | 1,839,877 | 1.87% | 147 |
| 2000 | 1,677,382 | 2.28% | 148 |
| Year ↑ | Population | Change | Pop. Rank |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | 2,603,388 | 1.63% | 146 |
| 2032 | 2,843,233 | 1.46% | 141 |
| 2037 | 3,025,228 | 1.25% | 139 |
| 2042 | 3,190,970 | 1.07% | 139 |
| 2047 | 3,348,499 | 0.97% | 137 |
| 2052 | 3,493,077 | 0.85% | 138 |
| 2057 | 3,617,756 | 0.7% | 137 |
| 2062 | 3,720,811 | 0.56% | 137 |
| 2067 | 3,793,354 | 0.39% | 138 |
| 2072 | 3,837,865 | 0.23% | 138 |
98K
100K
250K
Gaborone has a metropolitan area population of 251,682, comprising 9.67%% of Botswana's total population.
| Rank | City | 2026 Pop. ↓ | % of National Pop. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Gaborone | 251,682 | 9.67% |
| 2 | Francistown | 105,037 | 4.03% |
| 3 | Mogoditshane | 98,889 | 3.8% |
| 4 | Maun | 93,986 | 3.61% |
| 5 | Molepolole | 77,659 | 2.98% |
| 6 | Tlokweng | 62,484 | 2.4% |
| 7 | Palapye | 58,229 | 2.24% |
| 8 | Serowe | 57,442 | 2.21% |
| 9 | Mochudi | 51,528 | 1.98% |
| 10 | Mahalapye | 50,301 | 1.93% |
As of 2026, Botswana has a total population of 2,603,388, ranking as the 146th most populous nation in the world.
Botswana has a net population change of approximately 115 people per day, driven by 167 births, 41 deaths, and net emigration of 11 people.
Botswana represents 0.03% of the total global population and 0.16% of Africa's population.
Botswana has a population density of 4.6 people per km² (approximately 11.9 per mi²), making it the 219th most densely populated country in the world.
Currently, 63.85% of the population resides in urban areas, a figure that is increasing annually.
*Rates last updated: June 8, 2026
As of 2026, the largest ethnicity in Botswana is Tswana (or Setswana) (79%) , followed by Kalanga (11%) .
As of 2026, Christian is the largest religion in Botswana, comprising 79.1% of the population.