Botswana Population

Botswana has Africa’s most stable and democratic form of government. However, the country is struggling with the fact that a large part of the population is affected by AIDS.

Key figures and facts

• Capital: Gaborone
• Ethnic groups: Setswana 79%, Kalanga 11%, Basarwa 3%, other 7%
• Language: Setswana 77.3%, Sekalanga 7.4%, Shekgalagadi 3.4%, English (official) 2.8%, Zezuru/Shona 2%, Sesarwa 1.7%, Sembukushu 1.6%, Ndebele 1%, others 2.8% (2011)
• Religion: Christians 79.1%, Badimo 4.1%, others 1.7%, none 15.2% (2011)
• Population: 2 292 000 (2017)
• Control Form: Republic
• Area: 581 730 km2
• Currency: Pula
• GNP per capita: 16 957 PPP $
• National Day: September 30th

Botswana Population

In 2004, Botswana’s population was estimated at just over 1.5 million and annual population growth to –0.9% (2002–04). The median age is estimated to be around 50 years for both sexes.

Botswana is very hard hit by HIV/AIDS. An estimated 25% of the 15–49 age group, and a total of approximately ¹/₃ of the population, are infected. Both birth and death rates are very high, and were calculated in 2003 respectively. 24.7 and 33.6 per thousand, in other words, mortality is now higher than birth rates. About 40% of the population is under 15 years of age. The population consists essentially of Bantu-speaking groups of people. The largest are tswana (79%) and kalanga (11%). San people, called Botswana in Botswana, make up approximately 3%.

The Bantu migrated to Botswana from the east in the first hundred years after the B.C. and drove the original residents, the San people, westward into Kalahari. These are in decline today.

The country is very sparsely populated, but with large regional differences. The highest population density is in the south-east of the country and along the railway that runs in the south-northeast, between Mafeking in South Africa and Bulawayo in Zimbabwe. The areas in the southwest (Kalahari) are almost empty. The majority of the population live in large villages, but the urban population is growing rapidly and in 1999 it was 50% (against 16% in 1980). The largest cities are the capital Gaborone (approximately 225,000 homes), Francistown (94,000), Molepolole (70,000) and Selebi Pikwe (56,000).

Population of Botswana by Year (Historical)

Year	Population	Annual Growth Rate	Population Density	Global Rank
2020	2,351,516	2.080%	4.1495	145
2019	2,303,586	2.200%	4.0649	145
2018	2,253,957	2.220%	3.9773	145
2017	2,204,969	2.090%	3.8909	145
2016	2,159,816	1.850%	3.8112	144
2015	2,120,605	1.310%	3.7420	144
2010	1,986,994	2.010%	3.5063	147
2005	1,798,967	1.830%	3.1745	147
2000	1,643,223	2.270%	2.8997	147
1995	1,469,063	2.690%	2.5924	147
1990	1,286,645	3.770%	2.2705	148
1985	1,069,471	3.560%	1.8873	149
1980	897,757	3.910%	1.5843	150
1975	741,244	3.380%	1.3081	151
1970	627,604	2.310%	1.1076	151
1965	559,883	2.180%	0.9881	151
1960	502,634	1.640%	0.8871	151
1955	463,248	2.350%	0.8176	152
1950	412,420	0.000%	0.7279	152

Major Cities in Botswana by Population

Rank	City	Population
1	Gaborone	208,300
2	Francistown	89,868
3	Molepolole	63,137
4	Selebi-Phikwe	53,616
5	Maun	49,834
6	Serowe	47,308
7	Kanye	44,605
8	Mahalapye	44,360
9	Mogoditshane	43,283
10	Mochudi	36,851
11	Lobatse	30,772
12	Palapye	30,539
13	Ramotswa	21,339
14	Thamaga	20,645
15	Mosopa	19,450
16	Letlhakane	18,025
17	Tonota	17,648
18	Janeng	16,742
19	Gabane	12,773
20	Ghanzi	9,823
21	Kasane	9,139
22	Orapa	9,078
23	Kopong	6,784
24	Letlhakeng	6,670
25	Tshabong	6,480
26	Otse	6,164
27	Shakawe	5,540
28	Metsemotlhaba	5,433
29	Rakops	5,111

Religion

About 50% of the population professes to different Christian faiths, approximately 49% belong to ethnic religions.

Language

The country’s official language is English. The mother tongue of the majority of the population is the Bantu language setswana. In the southwest, Khoisan languages ​​are also widespread.