Urban population growth in Botswana
Botswana: Urban population growth was 2.3% in 2025. ◆ Volatile
Urban population growth in Botswana, 1961–2025
Source: World Urbanization Prospects, United Nations (UN). Measured in annual %.
Analysis
The most recent figure for urban population growth in Botswana is 2.3%, measured in 2025.
The figure is up 2.2% on the previous year and up 22.7% over ten years.
Over the whole period, urban population growth in Botswana peaked at 20.3% in 1967 and was at its lowest, 1.6%, in 2021.
Botswana ranks 62nd of 215 countries on this measure, 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 | 12.2% | 4.4% | 20.3% | 9 |
| 1970s | 10.1% | 8.9% | 13.2% | 10 |
| 1980s | 14.0% | 8.9% | 18.0% | 10 |
| 1990s | 5.0% | 3.5% | 9.2% | 10 |
| 2000s | 3.7% | 3.5% | 3.9% | 10 |
| 2010s | 2.1% | 1.7% | 3.3% | 10 |
| 2020s | 2.0% | 1.6% | 2.3% | 6 |
Countries ranked near Botswana
More climate change data for Botswana
- Population growth 1.6% (2025)
- Population, total 2.56 million (2025)
- Urban population 1.74 million (2025)
- Urban population 68.0% (2025)
- Annual freshwater withdrawals, total 0.2133 billion cubic meters (2022)
- Annual freshwater withdrawals, total 8.9% (2022)
- Terrestrial protected areas 27.6% (2025)
- Terrestrial and marine protected areas 27.6% (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is urban population growth in Botswana?
- Urban population growth in Botswana was 2.3% in 2025, according to World Urbanization Prospects, United Nations (UN).
- What is the highest urban population growth recorded in Botswana?
- The highest recorded value was 20.3% in 1967.
- What is the lowest urban population growth recorded in Botswana?
- The lowest recorded value was 1.6% in 2021.
- How does Botswana rank for urban population growth?
- Botswana ranks 62nd out of 215 countries with data for 2025.
- Is urban population growth rising or falling in Botswana?
- Over the last ten years it is up 22.7%. 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 Urban population growth (annual %). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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CSV · JSON — 65 observations, free to reuse under CC BY 4.0 (World Bank Open Data).
About this data
Annual urban population growth rate for year t is the exponential rate of growth of midyear urban population from year t-1 to t, expressed as a percentage. Urban population refers to people living in urban areas as defined by national statistical offices. It is calculated using World Bank total population estimates and urban ratios from the United Nations World Urbanization Prospects.