Air passengers in Botswana
Botswana: Air passengers was 172,720 in 2023. ◆ Volatile
Air passengers in Botswana, 1979–2023
Source: International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO), via World Bank (2026) – processed by Our World in Data.
Analysis
In 2023, air passengers in Botswana stood at 172,720.
Compared with earlier readings it is up 38.8% on the previous year and down 36.3% over ten years.
Over the whole period, air passengers in Botswana peaked at 415,864 in 2011 and was at its lowest, 10,400, in 1979.
Botswana ranks 134th of 183 countries on this measure, in the middle of the range.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Air passengers in Botswana, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1979 | 10,400 | — |
| 1980 | 39,000 | +275.0% |
| 1981 | 50,000 | +28.2% |
| 1982 | 46,700 | -6.6% |
| 1983 | 50,300 | +7.7% |
| 1984 | 54,500 | +8.3% |
| 1985 | 58,900 | +8.1% |
| 1986 | 54,000 | -8.3% |
| 1987 | 60,100 | +11.3% |
| 1988 | 57,700 | -4.0% |
| 1989 | 82,100 | +42.3% |
| 1990 | 101,300 | +23.4% |
| 1991 | 102,300 | +1.0% |
| 1992 | 111,200 | +8.7% |
| 1993 | 122,600 | +10.3% |
| 1994 | 100,500 | -18.0% |
| 1995 | 99,900 | -0.6% |
| 1996 | 104,000 | +4.1% |
| 1997 | 116,400 | +11.9% |
| 1998 | 123,700 | +6.3% |
| 1999 | 144,100 | +16.5% |
| 2000 | 163,909 | +13.7% |
| 2001 | 169,526 | +3.4% |
| 2002 | 179,041 | +5.6% |
| 2003 | 188,842 | +5.5% |
| 2004 | 212,951 | +12.8% |
| 2005 | 229,987 | +8.0% |
| 2006 | 213,587 | -7.1% |
| 2007 | 227,624 | +6.6% |
| 2008 | 236,182 | +3.8% |
| 2009 | 233,515 | -1.1% |
| 2010 | 290,195 | +24.3% |
| 2011 | 415,864 | +43.3% |
| 2012 | 415,130 | -0.2% |
| 2013 | 270,996 | -34.7% |
| 2014 | 205,992 | -24.0% |
| 2015 | 226,549 | +10.0% |
| 2016 | 254,396 | +12.3% |
| 2017 | 223,673 | -12.1% |
| 2018 | 253,417 | +13.3% |
| 2019 | 254,439 | +0.4% |
| 2021 | 172,017 | -32.4% |
| 2022 | 124,414 | -27.7% |
| 2023 | 172,720 | +38.8% |
Botswana compared with similar countries
- Botswana's 172,720 is below the median for upper middle income countries, which is 1.37 million, 13% of the median. (52 countries reporting)
- Botswana's 172,720 is above the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 109,542, 1.6× the median. (47 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Air passengers 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1980 | +275.0% | 10,400 | 39,000 |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1970s | 10,400 | 10,400 | 10,400 | 1 |
| 1980s | 55,330 | 39,000 | 82,100 | 10 |
| 1990s | 112,600 | 99,900 | 144,100 | 10 |
| 2000s | 205,516 | 163,909 | 236,182 | 10 |
| 2010s | 281,065 | 205,992 | 415,864 | 10 |
| 2020s | 156,384 | 124,414 | 172,720 | 3 |
Countries ranked near Botswana
More reference data data for Botswana
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Manure applied to Soils 0.0472 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Manure left on Pasture 1.37 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - IPCC Agriculture 1.42 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Crop Residues 0.0078 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Agricultural Soils 1.42 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Manure applied to Soils 0.1582 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Manure Management 0.0825 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Manure left on Pasture 6.97 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - IPCC Agriculture 7.25 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Crop Residues 0.0424 (2050)
Frequently asked questions
- What is air passengers in Botswana?
- Air passengers in Botswana was 172,720 in 2023, according to International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO), via World Bank (2026) – processed by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest air passengers recorded in Botswana?
- The highest recorded value was 415,864 in 2011.
- What is the lowest air passengers recorded in Botswana?
- The lowest recorded value was 10,400 in 1979.
- How does Botswana rank for air passengers?
- Botswana ranks 134th out of 183 countries with data for 2023.
- Is air passengers rising or falling in Botswana?
- Over the last ten years it is down 36.3%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Botswana data come from?
- The figures come from International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO), via World Bank (2026) – processed by Our World in Data, published as part of Air passengers. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
CSV · JSON — 44 observations, free to reuse under CC BY 4.0 (Our World in Data).
About this data
Domestic and international passengers of airlines registered in the country. Passengers counted each time they travel.