Rural population density in Botswana
Botswana: Rural population density was 300.97 rural population per sq. km of arable land in 2011. ▲ Rising
Latest (2011)
300.97 rural population per sq. km of arable land
Change on year
down 0.5%
World rank
26th
of 53 countries
All-time high
436.53 rural population per sq. km of arable land
in 2007
All-time low
130.15 rural population per sq. km of arable land
in 1961
Years of data
51
1961–2011
Rural population density in Botswana, 1961–2011
Source: Food and Agriculture Organization and World Bank population estimates. Measured in rural population per sq. km of arable land.
Analysis
The most recent figure for rural population density in Botswana is 300.97 rural population per sq. km of arable land, measured in 2011.
Compared with earlier readings it is down 0.5% on the previous year and down 26.6% over ten years.
Over the whole period, rural population density in Botswana peaked at 436.53 rural population per sq. km of arable land in 2007 and was at its lowest, 130.15 rural population per sq. km of arable land, in 1961.
Botswana ranks 26th of 53 countries on this measure, in the middle of the range.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 51 years of available data.
Rural population density in Botswana, year by year
| Year | rural population per sq. km of arable land | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1961 | 130.15 rural population per sq. km of arable land | — |
| 1962 | 133.19 rural population per sq. km of arable land | +2.3% |
| 1963 | 136.43 rural population per sq. km of arable land | +2.4% |
| 1964 | 139.89 rural population per sq. km of arable land | +2.5% |
| 1965 | 143.21 rural population per sq. km of arable land | +2.4% |
| 1966 | 146.12 rural population per sq. km of arable land | +2.0% |
| 1967 | 149.23 rural population per sq. km of arable land | +2.1% |
| 1968 | 152.53 rural population per sq. km of arable land | +2.2% |
| 1969 | 156.01 rural population per sq. km of arable land | +2.3% |
| 1970 | 159.67 rural population per sq. km of arable land | +2.3% |
| 1971 | 163.47 rural population per sq. km of arable land | +2.4% |
| 1972 | 167.02 rural population per sq. km of arable land | +2.2% |
| 1973 | 171.22 rural population per sq. km of arable land | +2.5% |
| 1974 | 175.73 rural population per sq. km of arable land | +2.6% |
| 1975 | 180.61 rural population per sq. km of arable land | +2.8% |
| 1976 | 185.65 rural population per sq. km of arable land | +2.8% |
| 1977 | 191 rural population per sq. km of arable land | +2.9% |
| 1978 | 196.53 rural population per sq. km of arable land | +2.9% |
| 1979 | 201.06 rural population per sq. km of arable land | +2.3% |
| 1980 | 206.46 rural population per sq. km of arable land | +2.7% |
| 1981 | 208.81 rural population per sq. km of arable land | +1.1% |
| 1982 | 209.78 rural population per sq. km of arable land | +0.5% |
| 1983 | 211.45 rural population per sq. km of arable land | +0.8% |
| 1984 | 212.85 rural population per sq. km of arable land | +0.7% |
| 1985 | 212.95 rural population per sq. km of arable land | +0.0% |
| 1986 | 210.84 rural population per sq. km of arable land | -1.0% |
| 1987 | 207.2 rural population per sq. km of arable land | -1.7% |
| 1988 | 204.08 rural population per sq. km of arable land | -1.5% |
| 1989 | 198.02 rural population per sq. km of arable land | -3.0% |
| 1990 | 191.12 rural population per sq. km of arable land | -3.5% |
| 1991 | 268.85 rural population per sq. km of arable land | +40.7% |
| 1992 | 323.74 rural population per sq. km of arable land | +20.4% |
| 1993 | 231.66 rural population per sq. km of arable land | -28.4% |
| 1994 | 205.26 rural population per sq. km of arable land | -11.4% |
| 1995 | 234.49 rural population per sq. km of arable land | +14.2% |
| 1996 | 236.13 rural population per sq. km of arable land | +0.7% |
| 1997 | 273.01 rural population per sq. km of arable land | +15.6% |
| 1998 | 357.37 rural population per sq. km of arable land | +30.9% |
| 1999 | 342.96 rural population per sq. km of arable land | -4.0% |
| 2000 | 234.96 rural population per sq. km of arable land | -31.5% |
| 2001 | 410.07 rural population per sq. km of arable land | +74.5% |
| 2002 | 333.14 rural population per sq. km of arable land | -18.8% |
| 2003 | 415.96 rural population per sq. km of arable land | +24.9% |
| 2004 | 358.1 rural population per sq. km of arable land | -13.9% |
| 2005 | 333.56 rural population per sq. km of arable land | -6.9% |
| 2006 | 396.72 rural population per sq. km of arable land | +18.9% |
| 2007 | 436.53 rural population per sq. km of arable land | +10.0% |
| 2008 | 283.67 rural population per sq. km of arable land | -35.0% |
| 2009 | 249.29 rural population per sq. km of arable land | -12.1% |
| 2010 | 302.38 rural population per sq. km of arable land | +21.3% |
| 2011 | 300.97 rural population per sq. km of arable land | -0.5% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1960s | 142.97 rural population per sq. km of arable land | 130.15 rural population per sq. km of arable land | 156.01 rural population per sq. km of arable land | 9 |
| 1970s | 179.2 rural population per sq. km of arable land | 159.67 rural population per sq. km of arable land | 201.06 rural population per sq. km of arable land | 10 |
| 1980s | 208.24 rural population per sq. km of arable land | 198.02 rural population per sq. km of arable land | 212.95 rural population per sq. km of arable land | 10 |
| 1990s | 266.46 rural population per sq. km of arable land | 191.12 rural population per sq. km of arable land | 357.37 rural population per sq. km of arable land | 10 |
| 2000s | 345.2 rural population per sq. km of arable land | 234.96 rural population per sq. km of arable land | 436.53 rural population per sq. km of arable land | 10 |
| 2010s | 301.67 rural population per sq. km of arable land | 300.97 rural population per sq. km of arable land | 302.38 rural population per sq. km of arable land | 2 |
Countries ranked near Botswana
- 23 Equatorial Guinea 335.11 rural population per sq. km of arable land compare
- 24 Sierra Leone 331.19 rural population per sq. km of arable land compare
- 25 Mozambique 316.54 rural population per sq. km of arable land compare
- 27 Congo 300.96 rural population per sq. km of arable land compare
- 28 Tanzania, United Republic of 291.88 rural population per sq. km of arable land compare
- 29 Guinea-Bissau 289.31 rural population per sq. km of arable land compare
More environment data for Botswana
- Historical exposure to drought — Land soil moisture anomaly 6.04 Percentage change (2025)
- Historical exposure to drought — Cropland soil moisture anomaly 6.49 Percentage change (2025)
- Standard Deviation, annual growth rate 0 % change on previous year (2025)
- Standard Deviation 0.381 °C (2025)
- Temperature change 0.443 °C (2025)
- Graphic papers — Import quantity, annual growth rate -14.62 % change on previous year (2024)
- Graphic papers — Import quantity, per unit of GDP 0 t per US$ of GDP (2024)
- Graphic papers — Import quantity, per capita 0.0043 t per person (2024)
- Graphic papers — Import value, annual growth rate 0.7255 % change on previous year (2024)
- Graphic papers — Import value, per unit of GDP 0 1000 USD per US$ of GDP (2024)
Frequently asked questions
- What is rural population density in Botswana?
- Rural population density in Botswana was 300.97 rural population per sq. km of arable land in 2011, according to Food and Agriculture Organization and World Bank population estimates.
- What is the highest rural population density recorded in Botswana?
- The highest recorded value was 436.53 rural population per sq. km of arable land in 2007.
- What is the lowest rural population density recorded in Botswana?
- The lowest recorded value was 130.15 rural population per sq. km of arable land in 1961.
- How does Botswana rank for rural population density?
- Botswana ranks 26th out of 53 countries with data for 2011.
- Is rural population density rising or falling in Botswana?
- Over the last ten years it is down 26.6%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this Botswana data come from?
- The figures come from Food and Agriculture Organization and World Bank population estimates, published as part of Rural population density (rural population per sq. km of arable land). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
CSV · JSON — 51 observations, free to reuse under CC BY 4.0 (World Bank Open Data).
About this data
Rural population density is the rural population divided by the arable land area. Rural population is calculated as the difference between the total population and the urban population. Arable land includes land defined by the FAO as land under temporary crops (double-cropped areas are counted once), temporary meadows for mowing or for pasture, land under market or kitchen gardens, and land temporarily fallow. Land abandoned as a result of shifting cultivation is excluded.