Population of Botswana

As of July 2026, the population of Botswana is 2.6 million. The number of inhabitants has increased by 42 thousand in the last year, representing a growth of 1.61%. The median age of the population has increased in recent years, rising from 21.7 years in 2016 to 23.7 years in 2026. Currently, life expectancy at birth is 69.6 years and population density is 4.6 inhabitants per square kilometer.

Population Growth

The population growth rate of Botswana peaked in 1978, reaching around 6.67% annually, but has since declined to approximately 1.6% in 2026. The annual increase in the number of people has also decreased from a peak of around 56.61 thousand in 1978 to nearly 41.74 thousand in 2026.

Life Expectancy

In Botswana, life expectancy at birth has been increasing, with the indicator rising from 55.1 years in 2006 to 69.6 years in 2026, representing an increase of more than 14 years over the past 2 decades.

Most populous cities in Botswana

The cities of Botswana are mostly small, but 2 stand out with more than 100 thousand inhabitants. The most populous city is Gaborone, con una diferencia significativa sobre las demás, alcanzando approximately 246.3 thousand inhabitants. It is followed by Francistown, City of Francistown with 103.4 thousand and Mogoditshane, Kweneng with 88 thousand.

These are the 20 most populous cities in Botswana: