Botswana
- Capital:
- Gaborone
- Continent:
- Africa
- Region(s):
- Southern Africa, Sub-Saharan Africa
- Largest Cities:
- Gaborone, Francistown, Molepolole
- Abbreviation:
- BWA
* As of 6/9/2025
1 birth
Every 8.6 minutes
1 death
Every 36.0 minutes
1 emigrant
Every 1.5 hours
1 person
Every 12.9 minutes
The Republic of Botswana is an African country located toward the southern tip of Africa. More than 70% of this flat country is made up of the Kalahari Desert. It’s bordered by Zimbabwe, Namibia and South Africa and shares very short borders with Zambia and Kazungula.
Gaborone is the largest city in Botswana, and also the capital. The population in Gaborone is approximately 232,000. More than 10% of the population lives in the capital. The majority of the population in Botswana lives within 100 kilometers of Gaborone. In Botswana, 61% of the population has urbanized, and the current urbanization rate is 2.3%.
The religious affiliations in Botswana are primarily spread across 3 different groups. Roman Catholic Diocese has a strong influence, particularly in the lower half of the country. In Gaborone there is a significant Hindu following, and a Hindu temple of worship is available in the capital city. Those of the Muslim faith also have access to several mosques serving the communities around Botswana.
79% of the population is indigenous Botswana and are known as Tswana. Major minority ethnic groups include the Kalanga and the San. There are about 10,000 San who still live the hunter-gatherer lifestyle. Botswana’s government has been criticized for attempting to remove the San from the country.
Only 3% of the population identify as white Africans. Botswana has a sizable Indian population of Indian-Africans of many generations who came from South Africa, Mauritius, Kenya and elsewhere. The country also has tens of thousands of Zimbabweans who came seeking better economic conditions.
The median age in Botswana is reported to be at 24.5 years of age in 2018, with a total life expectancy of approximately 63.3 years. The birthrate in the same year is at 22.1 births per 1,000 population, with a competing death rate of approximately 9 individuals passing away per 1,000 population.
While Botswana has the highest Human Development Index among continental Sub-Saharan African countries, it is one of the hardest hit in the world by the HIV/AIDS epidemic. About 25% of Botswana’s population is estimated to be infected. Botswana has the third highest HIV/AIDS prevalence rate in the world as of 2018.
In 2018, Botswana makes a ranking of 146, leaving only 10 states with lesser ratings in this report. The overall happiness rating is based on a zero to ten point scale, with a score of merely 3.590. The report takes a variety of scored factors into consideration for the ranking. A total of six indicators are factored in, including GDP per capita, social support, healthy life expectancy, freedom to make life choices, generosity, and perceptions of corruption.