Population and Demographics of Botswana
Population changed +1.65% in 2024 · median age 23 years
Age composition is uneven, with 32.13% below age 15 versus 4.04% at 65 and above; the working-age group accounts for 63.83%. That context matters for the outlook: the 2050 medium projection is 3.44 million, 36.3% higher than in 2024.
Population Over Time in Botswana
Since 2000, Botswana's population has grown from 1.677M to 2.521M, a net shift of about 0.84 million. Looking ahead, the medium projection points to 3.437M in 2050, 36.3% higher than the 2024 level. The chart connects dated reference points only and should not be read as an annual interpolated series.
Age Structure and Sex Balance
In 2024, Botswana's age mix can be described as young on the broad UN age-group measures. Under-15s account for 32.13% of residents and people 65+ for 4.04%, leaving 63.83% in the broad 15 to 64 range. The age balance is weighted toward younger residents.
Population by broad age group
Botswana's 2024 population is 50.2% female and 49.8% male in the World Bank series. The split is close to even.
Female and male population share
Females made up 50.2% of the population in the World Bank's 2024 series, compared with 49.8% males.
What Is Shaping Population Change
The short-run measure for Botswana is +1.65% population change in 2024, alongside fertility of 2.7, beside an age profile led by 63.83% in the 15-to-64 group.
Across the historical reference points, Botswana moved +50.3% from 2000 to 2024, before the medium projection moves another +36.3% to 2050; component causes are not assigned without separate births, deaths and migration data.
2024 estimate for Botswana. The world comparison value is 2.25 children per woman.
Botswana vs. World
Against the 2024 world benchmarks, Botswana's annual population change was higher than the global pace, fertility was above the world level, and its population was younger than the world median-age profile.
| Indicator | Botswana | World | Year |
|---|---|---|---|
| Annual population change | +1.65% | +0.87% | 2024 |
| Total fertility rate | 2.7 | 2.25 | 2024 |
| Median age | 23 | 30.6 | 2024 |
This comparison avoids mixed-year arithmetic by keeping Botswana and the world on the same 2024 harmonized demographic table.
Key Takeaways
Botswana has 2,521,139 people in the 2024 estimate, with the population changing +1.65% over the year.
The 2024 age structure is 32.13% under 15, 63.83% aged 15 to 64 and 4.04% aged 65 or older.
The World Bank 2024 sex-share series is 50.2% female and 49.8% male.
On the medium path, 2050 reaches 3.437M, a +36.3% shift from the 2024 level.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the population of Botswana?
The 2024 harmonized population estimate for Botswana is 2,521,139 people.
Is the population of Botswana growing or declining?
In the 2024 estimate, Botswana's population is growing, with annual change of +1.65%.
What percentage of the population of Botswana is aged 65 or older?
People aged 65 or older account for 4.04% of Botswana's 2024 population in the UN WPP-based broad age data.
What is the projected population of Botswana in 2050?
The UN World Population Prospects 2024 medium projection puts Botswana's 2050 population at 3,437,430.
What is the fertility rate in Botswana?
The 2024 harmonized fertility estimate for Botswana is 2.7 children per woman.
Sources & methodology
This profile uses United Nations World Population Prospects 2024 as the primary framework for globally comparable population, age, fertility and projection data. The World Bank is the primary source for the female population share. Some country values were accessed through secondary retrieval interfaces that republish or organize UN data; those interfaces are identified below as secondary and are not treated as the original statistical publishers.
View sources used for this page
Primary global framework for the population estimates and projections.
Harmonized 2024 country table based on UN World Population Prospects 2024.
Harmonized broad age shares based on UN World Population Prospects 2024.
Harmonized reference for the 2000 population point.
Harmonized 2050 country projection based on UN World Population Prospects 2024.
Used for the 2024 female share; the male share is calculated as the remainder to 100%.