Living in Cities in Botswana: 1800 to Today (and Tomorrow)

Look across the landscape of human experience in Botswana, and you trace a quiet, profound shift in how generations gather, build, and share space. The percentage of people living in cities is more than a simple metric; it measures the evolving geography of daily routines, commerce, and community. Every increment tells the story of families moving closer together over centuries, reshaping the boundaries between rural traditions and urban horizons.

The historical arc unfolds slowly at first. In the 1800s estimate it was 4 %, inching up incrementally through the decades until it reached 6 % in the 1900s estimate. Growth remained measured through mid-century, standing at 11 in the 1950s, before accelerating into 15 in the 1960s, 19 in the 1970s, 23 in the 1980s, 27 in the 1990s, 31 in the 2000s, and 36 in the 2010s. In the 2020s, living in cities in Botswana stands at 41 % — ranking #114 of 157 countries. Projections point steadily forward, anticipating 43 in the 2030s projection, 45 in the 2040s projection, 47 in the 2050s projection, 49 in the 2060s projection, 51 in the 2070s projection, 53 in the 2080s projection, 55 in the 2090s projection, and finally reaching 57 in the 2100s projection.

If you were born during these shifting eras, your daily life was anchored by these changing national proportions, dictating whether your neighbors lived just down the road or across the street. These numbers define the physical framework of your childhood, your work, and your community. Keep exploring Life Expectancy at Birth in Botswana Income per Person (GDP per capita, PPP) in Botswana Child Mortality (under 5) in Botswana Years of Schooling in Botswana Children per Woman in Botswana Full country profile: Botswana. Where do YOU rank among everyone ever born? →