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Sheet 23 of 195 · AfricaBWA · 22.0°S 24.3°E

Botswana

Republic of Botswana · Lefatshe la Botswana

Capital
Gaborone
Population
2.56 million 2025
Area
582,000 km²
Neighbours
4
Locator map of BotswanaBOTSWANAGaboroneNAMIBIASOUTH AFRICAZIMBABWEZAMBIAMOZAMBIQUEANGOLA0250 km
Botswana hatched, Gaborone marked with a triangle, land neighbours shaded. Orthographic projection centred on 22.3°S 24.7°E; the scale bar is true at the centre.

Landlocked in Southern Africa, Botswana has four land neighbours: Namibia, South Africa, Zambia and Zimbabwe. The land border with Zambia is too small to draw at this map's scale. Its area of 582,000 km² puts it 46th in the world and 22nd of 54 in Africa.

Its population was 2.56 million in 2025 (World Bank), the 54th-smallest of the 194 countries with data. With 4.4 people per km², only eight countries are more thinly populated. 68.0% of people lived in urban areas in 2025.

GDP per capita was US$7,778 in 2025 (World Bank, current US$), 96th of 191 and 4th of 52 in Africa. Life expectancy at birth was 69.3 years in 2024.

Its main landmass lies entirely in the Southern and Eastern hemispheres. North to south it runs about 1,008 km, between 26.9°S and 17.8°S. Gaborone's antipode is in the North Pacific Ocean, about 470 km from the United States, the nearest land.

How it compares Africa: 54 countries

MeasureFigureWorldAfrica
Population2,562,1222025, World Bank141st of 19444th of 54
Area582,000 km²world-countries46th of 19522nd of 54
GDPUS$19.9 billion2025, World Bank, current US$133rd of 19129th of 52
GDP per capitaUS$7,7782025, World Bank, current US$96th of 1914th of 52
Population density4.4 per km²population 2025, World Bank; area, world-countries186th of 19452nd of 54
Life expectancy69.3 years2024, World Bank135th of 19410th of 54
Urban population68.0%2025, World Bank82nd of 19410th of 54
Forest area27.8% of land2024, World Bank106th of 19420th of 54
Population growth+1.61% a year2025, World Bank64th of 19442nd of 54
Internet users57.5%2024, World Bank139th of 18818th of 53
Fertility rate2.70 births per woman2024, World Bank64th of 19445th of 54
Land neighbours4world-countries; among the 19559th of 19523rd of 54
 Ranks run from the largest value (1st) among the countries with data; equal values share a rank.

Closest in areaKenya, Madagascar and Ukraine

Closest in populationGabon, Lesotho and Moldova

Neighbours 4 countries by land, nearest capital first

  • South Africa261 km
    Gaborone to Pretoria, capital to capital
  • Zimbabwe927 km
    Gaborone to Harare, capital to capital
  • Namibia928 km
    Gaborone to Windhoek, capital to capital
  • Zambia1,056 km
    Gaborone to Lusaka, capital to capital; border too short to draw at the 1:50m scale of this map

Where on Earth main landmass

Hemispheres
Southern and Eastern
Capital
Gaborone
24.65°S 25.91°E
Northernmost latitude
17.79°S
Southernmost latitude
26.85°S
Westernmost longitude
19.98°E
Easternmost longitude
29.36°E
North to south
about 1,008 km
Antipode of Gaborone
24.65°N 154.09°W
in the North Pacific Ocean, about 470 km from the nearest land (United States)