Botswana Population History
1960 - 2026
Botswana's population has grown from 516,165 in 1960 to 2,480,244 in 2023, a total increase of 380.5% (4.81x). The population reached its all-time recorded high in 2023.
1960 Population
516,165
2023 Population
2.5M
Total Growth
380.5%
Peak Year
2023
Population by Decade
1960
516,165
1970
590,334
1980
937,485
1990
1.3M
2000
1.7M
2010
2.0M
2020
2.4M
2023
2.5M
Growth Rate by Period
1960-1965
+2.17%
1965-1970
+0.54%
1970-1975
+4.06%
1975-1980
+5.41%
1980-1985
+3.66%
1985-1990
+3.08%
1990-1995
+2.80%
1995-2000
+2.28%
2000-2005
+1.87%
2005-2010
+2.02%
2010-2015
+1.62%
2015-2020
+1.43%
Year-by-Year Population
| Year | Population | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2023 | 2,480,244 | +40,352 |
| 2022 | 2,439,892 | +38,451 |
| 2021 | 2,401,441 | +35,547 |
| 2020 | 2,365,894 | +33,811 |
| 2019 | 2,332,083 | +32,942 |
| 2018 | 2,299,141 | +32,394 |
| 2017 | 2,266,747 | +31,971 |
| 2016 | 2,234,776 | +31,503 |
| 2015 | 2,203,273 | +31,229 |
| 2014 | 2,172,044 | +31,362 |
| 2013 | 2,140,682 | +32,065 |
| 2012 | 2,108,617 | +35,082 |
| 2011 | 2,073,535 | +40,424 |
| 2010 | 2,033,111 | +42,438 |
| 2009 | 1,990,673 | +40,703 |
| 2008 | 1,949,970 | +38,769 |
| 2007 | 1,911,201 | +36,685 |
| 2006 | 1,874,516 | +34,639 |
| 2005 | 1,839,877 | +32,731 |
| 2004 | 1,807,146 | +31,410 |
| 2003 | 1,775,736 | +30,973 |
| 2002 | 1,744,763 | +32,509 |
| 2001 | 1,712,254 | +34,872 |
| 2000 | 1,677,382 | +35,385 |
| 1999 | 1,641,997 | +35,098 |
| 1998 | 1,606,899 | +35,208 |
| 1997 | 1,571,691 | +35,777 |
| 1996 | 1,535,914 | +37,078 |
| 1995 | 1,498,836 | +38,813 |
| 1994 | 1,460,023 | +39,908 |
| 1993 | 1,420,115 | +40,082 |
| 1992 | 1,380,033 | +38,277 |
| 1991 | 1,341,756 | +36,060 |
| 1990 | 1,305,696 | +35,422 |
| 1989 | 1,270,274 | +34,798 |
| 1988 | 1,235,476 | +36,309 |
| 1987 | 1,199,167 | +38,517 |
| 1986 | 1,160,650 | +38,705 |
| 1985 | 1,121,945 | +38,285 |
| 1984 | 1,083,660 | +37,523 |
| 1983 | 1,046,137 | +36,868 |
| 1982 | 1,009,269 | +39,273 |
| 1981 | 969,996 | +32,511 |
| 1980 | 937,485 | +35,743 |
| 1979 | 901,742 | +52,503 |
| 1978 | 849,239 | +49,665 |
| 1977 | 799,574 | +41,066 |
| 1976 | 758,508 | +38,128 |
| 1975 | 720,380 | +34,932 |
| 1974 | 685,448 | +33,040 |
| 1973 | 652,408 | +30,001 |
| 1972 | 622,407 | +21,926 |
| 1971 | 600,481 | +10,147 |
| 1970 | 590,334 | +3,268 |
| 1969 | 587,066 | +3,100 |
| 1968 | 583,966 | +3,033 |
| 1967 | 580,933 | +3,067 |
| 1966 | 577,866 | +3,202 |
| 1965 | 574,664 | +8,398 |
| 1964 | 566,266 | +13,300 |
| 1963 | 552,966 | +12,780 |
| 1962 | 540,186 | +12,244 |
| 1961 | 527,942 | +11,777 |
| 1960 | 516,165 | — |