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By 2026, Botswana is projected to be home to 2,603,388 people. That is a 6-fold increase on the 413,697 recorded in 1950. It is expanding at +1.60% a year, adding about 41.7K people a year. With only 5 people/km², it is one of the world's more sparsely settled countries. Half the population is younger than 23.7 years, and the age structure is steadily tilting older: the median is projected to reach 30.3 by 2050. The sexes are close to evenly balanced, at 99 males per 100 females. By 2100, UN projections see it rising to 3,836,825, up 47% from 2026.
Total population
2,603,388
Density
5 people/km²
Median age
23.7 years
Growth rate
+1.60%
Botswana is experiencing rapid population growth, adding tens of thousands of people each year. The population is aging rapidly; median age will rise from 24 in 2026 to 30 by 2050. Population density is low at 5 people per km². UN projections show continued growth to 3.8M by 2100.