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Rural population share — all countries

Rural population share — Botswana

Rural population share in Botswana in 2025 — 32%. Ranked 120 in the world out of 217. Since 1960, the indicator has fallen by 65 pp.

2025 32% −0.5 pp vs 2024
World rank 120of 217
Period maximum 97%1960
Period minimum 32%2025

Trend over time

1960–2025 · % of population

Rural population share — Botswana, 1960–2025025507510019601967197419811988199520022009201620231960: 97%1962: 96.9%1964: 96.6%1966: 95.4%1968: 93.2%1970: 91%1972: 89.4%1974: 88.3%1976: 87.4%1978: 86.4%1980: 85.1%1982: 82.8%1984: 77.4%1986: 70%1988: 62.4%1990: 56.4%1992: 53.2%1994: 51.2%1996: 49.6%1998: 48.3%2000: 46.8%2002: 45%2004: 42.7%2006: 40.4%2008: 38.2%2010: 36.5%2012: 35.6%2014: 34.9%2016: 34.3%2018: 33.8%2020: 33.6%2022: 33.4%2024: 32.5%2025: 32%
Change over the period: −65 pp Annual average: -1 pp

Comparison, 2025

How the value compares with the world and the groups this territory belongs to: Botswana

Botswana 32%
World 42.2%
Sub-Saharan Africa 55.3%
Southern Africa computed 37.8%
Upper-middle-income countries computed 30.2%
Rural population share — Botswana, by year Botswana All countries CSV XLSX
Year % Change, pp
2025 32 −0.5 pp
2024 32.5 −0.4 pp
2023 33 −0.4 pp
2022 33.4 −0.1 pp
2021 33.5 −0.1 pp
2020 33.6 −0.1 pp
2019 33.7 −0.2 pp
2018 33.8 −0.2 pp
2017 34.1 −0.3 pp
2016 34.3 −0.3 pp
2015 34.6 −0.3 pp
2014 34.9 −0.3 pp
2013 35.2 −0.4 pp
2012 35.6 −0.4 pp
2011 36 −0.5 pp
2010 36.5 −0.7 pp
2009 37.2 −0.9 pp
2008 38.2 −1 pp
2007 39.2 −1.1 pp
2006 40.4 −1.2 pp
2005 41.5 −1.2 pp
2004 42.7 −1.2 pp
2003 43.9 −1.1 pp
2002 45 −1 pp
2001 46 −0.8 pp
2000 46.8 −0.8 pp
1999 47.6 −0.7 pp
1998 48.3 −0.7 pp
1997 48.9 −0.7 pp
1996 49.6 −0.7 pp
1995 50.4 −0.8 pp
1994 51.2 −0.9 pp
1993 52.1 −1.1 pp
1992 53.2 −1.3 pp
1991 54.5 −1.9 pp
1990 56.4 −2.7 pp
1989 59.1 −3.3 pp
1988 62.4 −3.7 pp
1987 66.1 −3.9 pp
1986 70 −3.8 pp
1985 73.8 −3.5 pp
1984 77.4 −3.1 pp
1983 80.4 −2.3 pp
1982 82.8 −1.4 pp
1981 84.2 −0.9 pp
1980 85.1 −0.7 pp
1979 85.8 −0.6 pp
1978 86.4 −0.5 pp
1977 86.9 −0.5 pp
1976 87.4 −0.5 pp
1975 87.9 −0.5 pp
1974 88.3 −0.5 pp
1973 88.9 −0.6 pp
1972 89.4 −0.7 pp
1971 90.1 −0.9 pp
1970 91 −1.1 pp
1969 92.1 −1.2 pp
1968 93.2 −1.1 pp
1967 94.4 −1 pp
1966 95.4 −0.8 pp
1965 96.2 −0.5 pp
1964 96.6 −0.2 pp
1963 96.8 −0.1 pp
1962 96.9 −0.1 pp
1961 96.9 −0.1 pp
1960 97 —

Southern Africa, 2025

The same indicator for neighboring countries — with links to their pages

SZ Eswatini 73.3 LS Lesotho 55.3 NA Namibia 49.1 ZA South Africa 36.2 BW Botswana 32
Full table for all countries

About the indicator

The share of population living outside urban settlements, as a percent of the total. It is computed as the difference between total and urban population, and therefore inherits every particularity of national definitions of urban areas.

Source: World Population Prospects (UN), license CC BY 3.0 IGO.

Other indicators for Botswana

Demography Rural population

How many people live outside cities — in absolute numbers.

Botswana by year Demography Urban population share

What part of a country's residents lives in cities — the level of urbanization.

Botswana by year Labor Employment in agriculture

The share of workers employed in agriculture, forestry and fishing.

Botswana by year Agriculture Agricultural land share

What part of the territory is used for arable land, permanent crops and pasture.

Botswana by year
All indicators for Botswana