Rural population growth in Botswana
Botswana: Rural population growth was 0.1% in 2025. ◆ Volatile
Rural population growth in Botswana, 1961–2025
Source: World Urbanization Prospects, United Nations (UN). Measured in annual %.
Analysis
Botswana recorded 0.1% for rural population growth in 2025.
The figure is down 71.0% on the previous year and down 84.0% over ten years.
Over the whole period, rural population growth in Botswana peaked at 5.4% in 1978 and was at its lowest, -2.8%, in 1988.
That places Botswana 108th out of 207 countries with data for 2025, putting it in the middle of the range.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1960s | 0.9% | -0.7% | 2.3% | 9 |
| 1970s | 3.6% | -0.6% | 5.4% | 10 |
| 1980s | -0.3% | -2.8% | 3.0% | 10 |
| 1990s | 0.4% | -2.0% | 1.0% | 10 |
| 2000s | -0.5% | -1.0% | 0.5% | 10 |
| 2010s | 0.6% | 0.1% | 0.9% | 10 |
| 2020s | 0.7% | 0.1% | 1.4% | 6 |
Countries ranked near Botswana
- 105 French Polynesia 0.1% compare
- 106 Faroe Islands 0.1% compare
- 107 Philippines 0.1% compare
- 109 Laos 0.1% compare
- 110 Venezuela 0.1% compare
- 111 Vietnam 0.0% compare
More agriculture & rural data for Botswana
- Agricultural raw materials exports 0.0% (2023)
- Agricultural raw materials imports 0.8% (2023)
- Rural population 32.0% (2025)
- Rural population 821,007 (2025)
- Agriculture, forestry, and fishing, value added 1.8% (2025)
- Agriculture, forestry, and fishing, value added 354.96 million current US$ (2025)
- Land under cereal production 60,588 hectares (2024)
- Cereal yield 900.4 kg per hectare (2024)
- Cereal production 54,554 metric tons (2024)
- Fertilizer consumption 93.08 kilograms per hectare of arable land (2023)
Frequently asked questions
- What is rural population growth in Botswana?
- Rural population growth in Botswana was 0.1% in 2025, according to World Urbanization Prospects, United Nations (UN).
- What is the highest rural population growth recorded in Botswana?
- The highest recorded value was 5.4% in 1978.
- What is the lowest rural population growth recorded in Botswana?
- The lowest recorded value was -2.8% in 1988.
- How does Botswana rank for rural population growth?
- Botswana ranks 108th out of 207 countries with data for 2025.
- Is rural population growth rising or falling in Botswana?
- Over the last ten years it is down 84.0%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Botswana data come from?
- The figures come from World Urbanization Prospects, United Nations (UN), published as part of Rural population growth (annual %). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Annual rural population growth rate for year t is the exponential rate of growth of midyear rural population from year t-1 to t, expressed as a percentage. Rural population refers to people living in rural areas as defined by national statistical offices. It is calculated as the difference between total population and urban population.