Rural population growth (annual %) in Botswana
Botswana: Rural population growth (annual %) 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 109th out of 210 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.
Rural population growth (annual %) in Botswana, year by year
| Year | annual % | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1961 | 2.2% | — |
| 1962 | 2.2% | +1.3% |
| 1963 | 2.3% | +1.7% |
| 1964 | 2.2% | -1.7% |
| 1965 | 1.0% | -55.1% |
| 1966 | -0.3% | -127.8% |
| 1967 | -0.5% | +95.2% |
| 1968 | -0.7% | +27.1% |
| 1969 | -0.7% | +3.8% |
| 1970 | -0.6% | -13.9% |
| 1971 | 0.7% | -218.2% |
| 1972 | 2.8% | +288.6% |
| 1973 | 4.1% | +43.9% |
| 1974 | 4.4% | +7.6% |
| 1975 | 4.4% | +1.7% |
| 1976 | 4.6% | +4.4% |
| 1977 | 4.7% | +1.9% |
| 1978 | 5.4% | +14.6% |
| 1979 | 5.3% | -2.4% |
| 1980 | 3.0% | -42.7% |
| 1981 | 2.4% | -21.4% |
| 1982 | 2.3% | -4.5% |
| 1983 | 0.7% | -68.0% |
| 1984 | -0.3% | -147.1% |
| 1985 | -1.2% | +256.1% |
| 1986 | -1.9% | +57.8% |
| 1987 | -2.4% | +26.5% |
| 1988 | -2.8% | +15.0% |
| 1989 | -2.7% | -3.2% |
| 1990 | -2.0% | -26.9% |
| 1991 | -0.7% | -64.9% |
| 1992 | 0.5% | -168.3% |
| 1993 | 0.8% | +76.2% |
| 1994 | 1.0% | +17.0% |
| 1995 | 1.0% | +3.6% |
| 1996 | 1.0% | -5.2% |
| 1997 | 0.9% | -7.6% |
| 1998 | 0.8% | -9.4% |
| 1999 | 0.7% | -14.7% |
| 2000 | 0.5% | -23.7% |
| 2001 | 0.2% | -54.6% |
| 2002 | -0.2% | -202.2% |
| 2003 | -0.7% | +180.1% |
| 2004 | -0.9% | +36.3% |
| 2005 | -1.0% | +12.6% |
| 2006 | -1.0% | -0.4% |
| 2007 | -0.9% | -10.6% |
| 2008 | -0.7% | -23.9% |
| 2009 | -0.4% | -47.7% |
| 2010 | 0.1% | -124.6% |
| 2011 | 0.5% | +475.9% |
| 2012 | 0.6% | +17.6% |
| 2013 | 0.5% | -19.2% |
| 2014 | 0.5% | -1.5% |
| 2015 | 0.5% | +7.2% |
| 2016 | 0.6% | +13.2% |
| 2017 | 0.7% | +15.7% |
| 2018 | 0.8% | +15.5% |
| 2019 | 0.9% | +16.1% |
| 2020 | 1.1% | +17.0% |
| 2021 | 1.3% | +19.2% |
| 2022 | 1.4% | +7.2% |
| 2023 | 0.3% | -75.5% |
| 2024 | 0.3% | -14.5% |
| 2025 | 0.1% | -71.0% |
Botswana compared with similar countries
- Botswana's 0.1% is above the median for upper middle income countries, which is -0.6%. (59 countries reporting)
- Botswana's 0.1% is below the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 1.2%, 7% of the median. (48 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Rural population growth (annual %) in Botswana changed far more than this series normally does. A large move can be a real event or a change in how the figure was measured — the source note below says who published it.
| Year | Change | From | To |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2011 | +475.9% | 0.1% | 0.5% |
| 1972 | +288.6% | 0.7% | 2.8% |
| 1985 | -256.1% | -0.3% | -1.2% |
| 1971 | +218.2% | -0.6% | 0.7% |
| 2002 | -202.2% | 0.2% | -0.2% |
| 2003 | -180.1% | -0.2% | -0.7% |
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
- 106 French Polynesia 0.1% compare
- 107 Faroe Islands 0.1% compare
- 108 Philippines 0.1% compare
- 110 Laos 0.1% compare
- 111 Venezuela 0.1% compare
- 112 Vietnam 0.0% compare
More agriculture & rural data for Botswana
- Agriculture, forestry, and fishing, value added (current US$), annual 4.45 % change on previous year (2025)
- Agriculture, forestry, and fishing, value added (current US$), per 0.0178 current US$ per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Agriculture, forestry, and fishing, value added (current US$), per 138.54 current US$ per person (2025)
- Rural population, annual growth rate 0.0839 % change on previous year (2025)
- Rural population, per unit of GDP 0 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Rural population, per capita 0.3204 units per person (2025)
- Share of GDP from agriculture 1.8% (2025)
- Agriculture as a share of GDP vs. GDP per capita 1.8% (2025)
- Agricultural raw materials exports 0.0% (2023)
- Agricultural raw materials imports 0.8% (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 109th out of 210 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.
Download this data
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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.