wildlife
Botswana has the largest population of African elephants of any country, estimated at well over 100,000.
Botswana
Republic of Botswana
Population, GDP, and key facts about Botswana — updated for 2026.
Capital · GABORONEContinent · AFRICAISO · BWA
Botswana quick facts
- Population
- 2,521,139
- Area
- 581,730 km²
- Population density
- 4 people/km²
- GDP
- US$ 19.3 Billion
- GDP per capita
- US$ 7.6K
- Capital
- Gaborone
- Currency
- Botswana pula (P, BWP)
- Minimum wage
- US$ 138.8/month · P 1,883/month (2024)
- Languages
- English, Tswana
Botswana at human scale
Where does Botswana rank in the world?
Compare Botswana with other countries
Compare Botswana with any country →Botswana's energy mix
Fossil fuels · 100%Renewables · 0%
- Coal98%
- Oil1%
- Solar0%
Share of Botswana's own electricity generation by source, 2024. Source: Our World in Data (Ember Yearly Electricity Data and the Energy Institute Statistical Review of World Energy).
Everything we know about Botswana
nature
The Okavango Delta in Botswana is one of the world's few large inland river deltas — instead of reaching the sea, it fans out into the Kalahari Desert.
Countries near Botswana
How many countries do you think Botswana could fit?
Pour other countries into Botswana's own outline, by real area, and see how many it takes to fill it up.
Fill the Country →Frequently asked questions about Botswana
What is the capital of Botswana?
The capital of Botswana is Gaborone.
What is Botswana's population?
Botswana has a population of 2,521,139.
What is Botswana's GDP per capita?
Botswana's GDP per capita is US$ 7.6K.
What is the currency of Botswana?
The currency of Botswana is the Botswana pula (BWP).
What is the minimum wage in Botswana?
Botswana's statutory minimum wage is about US$ 138.8 per month (as of 2024) — P 1,883 per month in local currency.
Is Botswana bigger than Gabon?
Botswana is about 2.2× the size of Gabon by land area.
Data from the World Bank, updated November 2026.