Urban area over the long-term in Botswana
Botswana: Urban area over the long-term was 1,792 km² per grid cell in 2025. ◆ Volatile
Latest (2025)
1,792 km² per grid cell
Change on year
up 2.2%
World rank
70th
of 202 countries
All-time high
1,792 km² per grid cell
in 2025
All-time low
0.0002 km² per grid cell
in 1000
Years of data
108
1000–2025
Urban area over the long-term in Botswana, 1000–2025
Source: HYDE (2025) – with minor processing by Our World in Data. Measured in km² per grid cell.
Analysis
In 2025, urban area over the long-term in Botswana stood at 1,792 km² per grid cell. That is the highest value across all 108 years on record.
The figure is up 2.2% on the previous year and up 33.9% over ten years.
Over the whole period, urban area over the long-term in Botswana peaked at 1,792 km² per grid cell in 2025 and was at its lowest, 0.0002 km² per grid cell, in 1000.
That places Botswana 70th out of 202 countries with data for 2025, putting it in the middle of the range.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Urban area over the long-term in Botswana, year by year
| Year | km² per grid cell | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1000 | 0.0002 km² per grid cell | — |
| 1100 | 0.0005 km² per grid cell | +222.2% |
| 1200 | 0.0016 km² per grid cell | +222.2% |
| 1300 | 0.0052 km² per grid cell | +222.2% |
| 1400 | 0.0169 km² per grid cell | +222.2% |
| 1500 | 0.0545 km² per grid cell | +222.2% |
| 1600 | 0.1756 km² per grid cell | +222.2% |
| 1700 | 0.5657 km² per grid cell | +222.2% |
| 1710 | 0.6434 km² per grid cell | +13.7% |
| 1720 | 0.7111 km² per grid cell | +10.5% |
| 1730 | 0.7859 km² per grid cell | +10.5% |
| 1740 | 0.8684 km² per grid cell | +10.5% |
| 1750 | 0.9595 km² per grid cell | +10.5% |
| 1760 | 1.06 km² per grid cell | +10.5% |
| 1770 | 1.17 km² per grid cell | +10.5% |
| 1780 | 1.29 km² per grid cell | +10.5% |
| 1790 | 1.43 km² per grid cell | +10.5% |
| 1800 | 1.58 km² per grid cell | +10.5% |
| 1810 | 1.74 km² per grid cell | +10.4% |
| 1820 | 1.93 km² per grid cell | +10.4% |
| 1830 | 2.13 km² per grid cell | +10.4% |
| 1840 | 2.35 km² per grid cell | +10.4% |
| 1850 | 2.59 km² per grid cell | +10.4% |
| 1860 | 3.11 km² per grid cell | +19.9% |
| 1870 | 3.8 km² per grid cell | +22.3% |
| 1880 | 4.6 km² per grid cell | +21.1% |
| 1890 | 5.52 km² per grid cell | +19.9% |
| 1900 | 6.75 km² per grid cell | +22.3% |
| 1910 | 8.7 km² per grid cell | +28.9% |
| 1920 | 11.12 km² per grid cell | +27.7% |
| 1930 | 14.99 km² per grid cell | +34.8% |
| 1940 | 20.05 km² per grid cell | +33.7% |
| 1950 | 28.95 km² per grid cell | +44.4% |
| 1951 | 30.15 km² per grid cell | +4.1% |
| 1952 | 31.27 km² per grid cell | +3.7% |
| 1953 | 32.33 km² per grid cell | +3.4% |
| 1954 | 33.34 km² per grid cell | +3.1% |
| 1955 | 34.3 km² per grid cell | +2.9% |
| 1956 | 35.21 km² per grid cell | +2.7% |
| 1957 | 36.08 km² per grid cell | +2.5% |
| 1958 | 36.89 km² per grid cell | +2.3% |
| 1959 | 37.67 km² per grid cell | +2.1% |
| 1960 | 38.39 km² per grid cell | +1.9% |
| 1961 | 39.05 km² per grid cell | +1.7% |
| 1962 | 39.64 km² per grid cell | +1.5% |
| 1963 | 40.15 km² per grid cell | +1.3% |
| 1964 | 41.95 km² per grid cell | +4.5% |
| 1965 | 48.34 km² per grid cell | +15.2% |
| 1966 | 55.51 km² per grid cell | +14.8% |
| 1967 | 63.54 km² per grid cell | +14.5% |
| 1968 | 72.47 km² per grid cell | +14.1% |
| 1969 | 82.32 km² per grid cell | +13.6% |
| 1970 | 93.18 km² per grid cell | +13.2% |
| 1971 | 104.75 km² per grid cell | +12.4% |
| 1972 | 110.49 km² per grid cell | +5.5% |
| 1973 | 115.99 km² per grid cell | +5.0% |
| 1974 | 122.05 km² per grid cell | +5.2% |
| 1975 | 128.84 km² per grid cell | +5.6% |
| 1976 | 134.98 km² per grid cell | +4.8% |
| 1977 | 141.94 km² per grid cell | +5.2% |
| 1978 | 149.69 km² per grid cell | +5.5% |
| 1979 | 158.07 km² per grid cell | +5.6% |
| 1980 | 167.03 km² per grid cell | +5.7% |
| 1981 | 176.17 km² per grid cell | +5.5% |
| 1982 | 194.11 km² per grid cell | +10.2% |
| 1983 | 215.29 km² per grid cell | +10.9% |
| 1984 | 238.85 km² per grid cell | +10.9% |
| 1985 | 265.01 km² per grid cell | +11.0% |
| 1986 | 293.51 km² per grid cell | +10.8% |
| 1987 | 325.1 km² per grid cell | +10.8% |
| 1988 | 360.18 km² per grid cell | +10.8% |
| 1989 | 399.06 km² per grid cell | +10.8% |
| 1990 | 442.3 km² per grid cell | +10.8% |
| 1991 | 490.05 km² per grid cell | +10.8% |
| 1992 | 516.74 km² per grid cell | +5.4% |
| 1993 | 541.01 km² per grid cell | +4.7% |
| 1994 | 565.87 km² per grid cell | +4.6% |
| 1995 | 591 km² per grid cell | +4.4% |
| 1996 | 618.75 km² per grid cell | +4.7% |
| 1997 | 646.83 km² per grid cell | +4.5% |
| 1998 | 674.91 km² per grid cell | +4.3% |
| 1999 | 702.49 km² per grid cell | +4.1% |
| 2000 | 729.29 km² per grid cell | +3.8% |
| 2001 | 759.21 km² per grid cell | +4.1% |
| 2002 | 789.76 km² per grid cell | +4.0% |
| 2003 | 821.33 km² per grid cell | +4.0% |
| 2004 | 854.51 km² per grid cell | +4.0% |
| 2005 | 889.78 km² per grid cell | +4.1% |
| 2006 | 927.37 km² per grid cell | +4.2% |
| 2007 | 967.33 km² per grid cell | +4.3% |
| 2008 | 1,010 km² per grid cell | +4.4% |
| 2009 | 1,054 km² per grid cell | +4.4% |
| 2010 | 1,102 km² per grid cell | +4.5% |
| 2011 | 1,146 km² per grid cell | +4.1% |
| 2012 | 1,192 km² per grid cell | +4.0% |
| 2013 | 1,240 km² per grid cell | +4.0% |
| 2014 | 1,288 km² per grid cell | +3.9% |
| 2015 | 1,338 km² per grid cell | +3.9% |
| 2016 | 1,388 km² per grid cell | +3.8% |
| 2017 | 1,440 km² per grid cell | +3.7% |
| 2018 | 1,493 km² per grid cell | +3.7% |
| 2019 | 1,546 km² per grid cell | +3.6% |
| 2020 | 1,600 km² per grid cell | +3.5% |
| 2021 | 1,639 km² per grid cell | +2.4% |
| 2022 | 1,677 km² per grid cell | +2.3% |
| 2023 | 1,715 km² per grid cell | +2.3% |
| 2024 | 1,754 km² per grid cell | +2.2% |
| 2025 | 1,792 km² per grid cell | +2.2% |
Botswana compared with similar countries
- Botswana's 1,792 km² per grid cell is above the median for upper middle income countries, which is 995.59 km² per grid cell, 1.8× the median. (52 countries reporting)
- Botswana's 1,792 km² per grid cell is above the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 733.88 km² per grid cell, 2.4× the median. (46 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Urban area over the long-term 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1100 | +222.2% | 0.0002 km² per grid cell | 0.0005 km² per grid cell |
| 1200 | +222.2% | 0.0005 km² per grid cell | 0.0016 km² per grid cell |
| 1300 | +222.2% | 0.0016 km² per grid cell | 0.0052 km² per grid cell |
| 1400 | +222.2% | 0.0052 km² per grid cell | 0.0169 km² per grid cell |
| 1500 | +222.2% | 0.0169 km² per grid cell | 0.0545 km² per grid cell |
| 1600 | +222.2% | 0.0545 km² per grid cell | 0.1756 km² per grid cell |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1000s | 0.0002 km² per grid cell | 0.0002 km² per grid cell | 0.0002 km² per grid cell | 1 |
| 1100s | 0.0005 km² per grid cell | 0.0005 km² per grid cell | 0.0005 km² per grid cell | 1 |
| 1200s | 0.0016 km² per grid cell | 0.0016 km² per grid cell | 0.0016 km² per grid cell | 1 |
| 1300s | 0.0052 km² per grid cell | 0.0052 km² per grid cell | 0.0052 km² per grid cell | 1 |
| 1400s | 0.0169 km² per grid cell | 0.0169 km² per grid cell | 0.0169 km² per grid cell | 1 |
| 1500s | 0.0545 km² per grid cell | 0.0545 km² per grid cell | 0.0545 km² per grid cell | 1 |
| 1600s | 0.1756 km² per grid cell | 0.1756 km² per grid cell | 0.1756 km² per grid cell | 1 |
| 1700s | 0.5657 km² per grid cell | 0.5657 km² per grid cell | 0.5657 km² per grid cell | 1 |
| 1710s | 0.6434 km² per grid cell | 0.6434 km² per grid cell | 0.6434 km² per grid cell | 1 |
| 1720s | 0.7111 km² per grid cell | 0.7111 km² per grid cell | 0.7111 km² per grid cell | 1 |
| 1730s | 0.7859 km² per grid cell | 0.7859 km² per grid cell | 0.7859 km² per grid cell | 1 |
| 1740s | 0.8684 km² per grid cell | 0.8684 km² per grid cell | 0.8684 km² per grid cell | 1 |
| 1750s | 0.9595 km² per grid cell | 0.9595 km² per grid cell | 0.9595 km² per grid cell | 1 |
| 1760s | 1.06 km² per grid cell | 1.06 km² per grid cell | 1.06 km² per grid cell | 1 |
| 1770s | 1.17 km² per grid cell | 1.17 km² per grid cell | 1.17 km² per grid cell | 1 |
| 1780s | 1.29 km² per grid cell | 1.29 km² per grid cell | 1.29 km² per grid cell | 1 |
| 1790s | 1.43 km² per grid cell | 1.43 km² per grid cell | 1.43 km² per grid cell | 1 |
| 1800s | 1.58 km² per grid cell | 1.58 km² per grid cell | 1.58 km² per grid cell | 1 |
| 1810s | 1.74 km² per grid cell | 1.74 km² per grid cell | 1.74 km² per grid cell | 1 |
| 1820s | 1.93 km² per grid cell | 1.93 km² per grid cell | 1.93 km² per grid cell | 1 |
| 1830s | 2.13 km² per grid cell | 2.13 km² per grid cell | 2.13 km² per grid cell | 1 |
| 1840s | 2.35 km² per grid cell | 2.35 km² per grid cell | 2.35 km² per grid cell | 1 |
| 1850s | 2.59 km² per grid cell | 2.59 km² per grid cell | 2.59 km² per grid cell | 1 |
| 1860s | 3.11 km² per grid cell | 3.11 km² per grid cell | 3.11 km² per grid cell | 1 |
| 1870s | 3.8 km² per grid cell | 3.8 km² per grid cell | 3.8 km² per grid cell | 1 |
| 1880s | 4.6 km² per grid cell | 4.6 km² per grid cell | 4.6 km² per grid cell | 1 |
| 1890s | 5.52 km² per grid cell | 5.52 km² per grid cell | 5.52 km² per grid cell | 1 |
| 1900s | 6.75 km² per grid cell | 6.75 km² per grid cell | 6.75 km² per grid cell | 1 |
| 1910s | 8.7 km² per grid cell | 8.7 km² per grid cell | 8.7 km² per grid cell | 1 |
| 1920s | 11.12 km² per grid cell | 11.12 km² per grid cell | 11.12 km² per grid cell | 1 |
| 1930s | 14.99 km² per grid cell | 14.99 km² per grid cell | 14.99 km² per grid cell | 1 |
| 1940s | 20.05 km² per grid cell | 20.05 km² per grid cell | 20.05 km² per grid cell | 1 |
| 1950s | 33.62 km² per grid cell | 28.95 km² per grid cell | 37.67 km² per grid cell | 10 |
| 1960s | 52.14 km² per grid cell | 38.39 km² per grid cell | 82.32 km² per grid cell | 10 |
| 1970s | 126 km² per grid cell | 93.18 km² per grid cell | 158.07 km² per grid cell | 10 |
| 1980s | 263.43 km² per grid cell | 167.03 km² per grid cell | 399.06 km² per grid cell | 10 |
| 1990s | 578.99 km² per grid cell | 442.3 km² per grid cell | 702.49 km² per grid cell | 10 |
| 2000s | 880.27 km² per grid cell | 729.29 km² per grid cell | 1,054 km² per grid cell | 10 |
| 2010s | 1,317 km² per grid cell | 1,102 km² per grid cell | 1,546 km² per grid cell | 10 |
| 2020s | 1,696 km² per grid cell | 1,600 km² per grid cell | 1,792 km² per grid cell | 6 |
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 urban area over the long-term in Botswana?
- Urban area over the long-term in Botswana was 1,792 km² per grid cell in 2025, according to HYDE (2025) – with minor processing by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest urban area over the long-term recorded in Botswana?
- The highest recorded value was 1,792 km² per grid cell in 2025.
- What is the lowest urban area over the long-term recorded in Botswana?
- The lowest recorded value was 0.0002 km² per grid cell in 1000.
- How does Botswana rank for urban area over the long-term?
- Botswana ranks 70th out of 202 countries with data for 2025.
- Is urban area over the long-term rising or falling in Botswana?
- Over the last ten years it is up 33.9%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Botswana data come from?
- The figures come from HYDE (2025) – with minor processing by Our World in Data, published as part of Urban area over the long-term. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Total built-up area of a country over time.