Military personnel in Botswana
Botswana: Military personnel was 9,000 people in 2022. ◆ Volatile
Latest (2022)
9,000 people
Change on year
unchanged
World rank
127th
of 194 countries
All-time high
9,000 people
in 2000
All-time low
0 people
in 1966
Years of data
57
1966–2022
Military personnel in Botswana, 1966–2022
Source: Correlates of War – National Material Capabilities Version 7.0 (2026) – with minor processing by Our World in Data. Measured in people.
Analysis
In 2022, military personnel in Botswana stood at 9,000 people. That is the highest value across all 57 years on record.
The figure is unchanged over ten years.
Over the whole period, military personnel in Botswana peaked at 9,000 people in 2000 and was at its lowest, 0 people, in 1966.
That places Botswana 127th out of 194 countries with data for 2022, putting it in the middle of the range.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Military personnel in Botswana, year by year
| Year | people | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1966 | 0 people | — |
| 1967 | 0 people | — |
| 1968 | 0 people | — |
| 1969 | 0 people | — |
| 1970 | 0 people | — |
| 1971 | 0 people | — |
| 1972 | 0 people | — |
| 1973 | 0 people | — |
| 1974 | 1,000 people | — |
| 1975 | 1,000 people | +0.0% |
| 1976 | 1,000 people | +0.0% |
| 1977 | 1,000 people | +0.0% |
| 1978 | 1,000 people | +0.0% |
| 1979 | 2,000 people | +100.0% |
| 1980 | 3,000 people | +50.0% |
| 1981 | 3,000 people | +0.0% |
| 1982 | 3,000 people | +0.0% |
| 1983 | 3,000 people | +0.0% |
| 1984 | 3,000 people | +0.0% |
| 1985 | 3,000 people | +0.0% |
| 1986 | 4,000 people | +33.3% |
| 1987 | 4,000 people | +0.0% |
| 1988 | 4,000 people | +0.0% |
| 1989 | 6,000 people | +50.0% |
| 1990 | 6,000 people | +0.0% |
| 1991 | 7,000 people | +16.7% |
| 1992 | 7,000 people | +0.0% |
| 1993 | 7,000 people | +0.0% |
| 1994 | 7,000 people | +0.0% |
| 1995 | 7,000 people | +0.0% |
| 1996 | 7,000 people | +0.0% |
| 1997 | 8,000 people | +14.3% |
| 1998 | 8,000 people | +0.0% |
| 1999 | 8,000 people | +0.0% |
| 2000 | 9,000 people | +12.5% |
| 2001 | 9,000 people | +0.0% |
| 2002 | 9,000 people | +0.0% |
| 2003 | 9,000 people | +0.0% |
| 2004 | 9,000 people | +0.0% |
| 2005 | 9,000 people | +0.0% |
| 2006 | 9,000 people | +0.0% |
| 2007 | 9,000 people | +0.0% |
| 2008 | 9,000 people | +0.0% |
| 2009 | 9,000 people | +0.0% |
| 2010 | 9,000 people | +0.0% |
| 2011 | 9,000 people | +0.0% |
| 2012 | 9,000 people | +0.0% |
| 2013 | 9,000 people | +0.0% |
| 2014 | 9,000 people | +0.0% |
| 2015 | 9,000 people | +0.0% |
| 2016 | 9,000 people | +0.0% |
| 2017 | 9,000 people | +0.0% |
| 2018 | 9,000 people | +0.0% |
| 2019 | 9,000 people | +0.0% |
| 2020 | 9,000 people | +0.0% |
| 2021 | 9,000 people | +0.0% |
| 2022 | 9,000 people | +0.0% |
Botswana compared with similar countries
- Botswana's 9,000 people is below the median for upper middle income countries, which is 23,000 people, 39% of the median. (58 countries reporting)
- Botswana's 9,000 people is below the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 14,000 people, 64% of the median. (48 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1960s | 0 people | 0 people | 0 people | 4 |
| 1970s | 700 people | 0 people | 2,000 people | 10 |
| 1980s | 3,600 people | 3,000 people | 6,000 people | 10 |
| 1990s | 7,200 people | 6,000 people | 8,000 people | 10 |
| 2000s | 9,000 people | 9,000 people | 9,000 people | 10 |
| 2010s | 9,000 people | 9,000 people | 9,000 people | 10 |
| 2020s | 9,000 people | 9,000 people | 9,000 people | 3 |
Countries ranked near Botswana
- 127 Central African Republic 9,000 people compare
- 127 New Zealand 9,000 people compare
- 127 Sierra Leone 9,000 people compare
- 127 Tajikistan 9,000 people compare
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 military personnel in Botswana?
- Military personnel in Botswana was 9,000 people in 2022, according to Correlates of War – National Material Capabilities Version 7.0 (2026) – with minor processing by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest military personnel recorded in Botswana?
- The highest recorded value was 9,000 people in 2000.
- What is the lowest military personnel recorded in Botswana?
- The lowest recorded value was 0 people in 1966.
- How does Botswana rank for military personnel?
- Botswana ranks 127th out of 194 countries with data for 2022.
- Is military personnel rising or falling in Botswana?
- Over the last ten years it is unchanged. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Botswana data come from?
- The figures come from Correlates of War – National Material Capabilities Version 7.0 (2026) – with minor processing by Our World in Data, published as part of Military personnel. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
CSV · JSON — 57 observations, free to reuse under CC BY 4.0 (Our World in Data).
About this data
Troops under the command of the national government, intended for use against foreign adversaries, and held ready for combat as of January 1 of the given year.