Botswana birth & fertility rate decline on charts

Botswana has a birth rate of 24.7 (annual births per 1,000 people) and a fertility rate of 2.73 (the average number of children a woman is expected to have over her lifetime based on current age-specific birth rates).

In 1960, the fertility rate in Botswana was 6.6 children per woman — 2.41 times higher than in 2023.

Botswana birth rate statistics:

Botswana is ranked 54/196 by birth rate now and was ranked 56/194 in 1960.
The mean age at childbearing (for all the births, not just the first) is 28.6, a change from 29.5 in 1990.
Annual births per 1,000 women ages 15-19 (adolescent birth rate or teenage mother rate) changed from 134.5 in 1960 to 53.8 in 2023.
27.5% of the population in 2024 is composed of women of reproductive age (15-49), a change from 22.7% in 1960.

Fertility rate in Botswana by year

1x

Year	Fertility rate	Rank
2023	2.73	63
2022	2.79	64
2021	2.83	64
2020	2.86	65
2019	2.91	64
2018	2.94	64
2017	2.97	67
2016	2.99	68
2015	3.01	70
2014	3.03	70
2013	3.05	67
2012	3.07	69
2011	3.1	68
2010	3.14	69
2009	3.13	70
2008	3.13	70
2007	3.13	72
2006	3.11	72
2005	3.08	74
2004	3.06	75
2003	3.11	77
2002	3.18	78
2001	3.25	78
2000	3.29	79
1999	3.31	80
1998	3.36	80
1997	3.43	82
1996	3.57	81
1995	3.79	78
1994	4.02	75
1993	4.15	75
1992	4.26	77
1991	4.37	79
1990	4.51	80
1989	4.67	80
1988	4.88	75
1987	5.1	73
1986	5.33	71
1985	5.48	69
1984	5.63	66
1983	5.79	64
1982	5.97	63
1981	6.16	59
1980	6.29	59
1979	6.4	59
1978	6.48	53
1977	6.54	52
1976	6.6	52
1975	6.61	51
1974	6.61	52
1973	6.59	52
1972	6.56	54
1971	6.54	55
1970	6.55	55
1969	6.56	59
1968	6.58	59
1967	6.6	60
1966	6.61	63
1965	6.6	66
1964	6.61	63
1963	6.58	68
1962	6.54	69
1961	6.56	67
1960	6.6	65

Data sources: World Bank | Health (1960–2023, retrieved 2026-04-06).

GeoRank.org/birth-rate/botswana | CC BY

According to the latest birth rate data available, the fertility rate in Botswana is 2.73, which is above the replacement level of 2.1 children per woman. In 1993, the fertility rate was 4.15 — a 34.2% decline in 30 years.

Check population clock for a dynamic visualization of the changing population.

The chart above shows the historical changes in fertility rate and ranking compared to other countries, where a lower rank number indicates a higher relative fertility rate.

Births, deaths, and natural population change by year

1x

Year	People
Year	Natural change	Births	Deaths
2023	47,098	61,294	14,196
2022	47,400	61,614	14,214
2021	40,894	61,049	20,155
2020	45,610	60,406	14,796
2019	45,110	60,053	14,943
2018	44,171	59,540	15,369
2017	43,154	59,100	15,946
2016	41,993	58,671	16,678
2015	40,897	58,331	17,434
2014	40,046	58,199	18,153
2013	39,404	58,190	18,786
2012	39,202	58,497	19,295
2011	38,613	58,137	19,524
2010	38,101	57,669	19,568
2009	36,671	56,527	19,856
2008	35,433	55,371	19,938
2007	33,832	54,153	20,321
2006	31,340	52,750	21,410
2005	29,385	50,975	21,590
2004	27,481	49,351	21,870
2003	26,545	48,642	22,097
2002	26,163	48,237	22,074
2001	26,112	47,783	21,671
2000	25,850	46,859	21,009
1999	25,358	45,534	20,176
1998	25,397	44,586	19,189
1997	25,738	43,865	18,127
1996	26,847	43,947	17,100
1995	28,478	44,806	16,328
1994	30,664	45,654	14,990
1993	31,691	45,322	13,631
1992	31,995	44,648	12,653
1991	32,219	44,055	11,836
1990	33,015	43,901	10,886
1989	33,756	43,830	10,074
1988	34,564	44,227	9,663
1987	35,647	44,553	8,906
1986	36,203	44,704	8,501
1985	35,966	44,169	8,203
1984	35,530	43,550	8,020
1983	35,142	43,049	7,907
1982	34,859	42,717	7,858
1981	34,327	42,145	7,818
1980	33,934	41,859	7,925
1979	32,486	40,315	7,829
1978	30,596	38,265	7,669
1977	29,009	36,622	7,613
1976	27,497	35,065	7,568
1975	25,762	33,277	7,515
1974	24,160	31,608	7,448
1973	22,449	29,817	7,368
1972	21,004	28,339	7,335
1971	19,926	27,312	7,386
1970	19,438	26,984	7,546
1969	19,024	26,716	7,692
1968	18,725	26,564	7,839
1967	18,463	26,445	7,982
1966	18,250	26,369	8,119
1965	18,045	26,296	8,251
1964	17,634	25,920	8,286
1963	17,084	25,399	8,315
1962	16,507	24,865	8,358
1961	16,185	24,598	8,413
1960	15,861	24,332	8,471

Data sources: World Bank | Health (1960–2023, retrieved 2026-04-06).

GeoRank.org/birth-rate/botswana | CC BY

Over the past 10 years, the natural population change in Botswana (from births and deaths only, excluding migration) has been +1.88% annually. On average, 43,637 more people were born each year than died.

Excluding migration, the natural population change due to births and deaths from 2022 to 2023 was 1.9% — 47,098 more people were born than died.

In 2023, Botswana ranks 98/196 for absolute natural population change and 51/196 for natural change rate, where a lower rank number indicates faster natural growth and a higher number indicates greater decline.

Birth rates in Botswana compared to other countries

	Botswana	Rank
Fertility rate	2.73	63/196
Birth rate	24.7	54/196
Population change due to births and deaths	+47,098	98/196
Natural population change rate	+1.9%	51/196
Population growth	+1.65%	66/197
Age at first childbirth	19 years	134/137
Average age at childbearing	28.6 years	127/197
Annual births per 1,000 women ages 15-19	51.7	66/197
Annual births per 1,000 women ages 20-29	129.4	70/197
Annual births per 1,000 women ages 30+	44	54/197
Female of reproductive age (15-49), share of population	27.5%	11/196
Any modern method of contraceptive prevalence among married women ages 15-49	42.1%	100/179
Share of births attended by skilled health staff	99.8%	37/191
Maternal mortality per live birth	0.16%	47/193
Neonatal mortality rate (before reaching 28 days of age)	2.09%	45/193
Infant mortality rate (before reaching 1 year of age)	3.82%	31/196
Mortality rate before reaching 5 years of age	3.96%	43/192
Life expectancy	69.6 years	141/197

Birth rates by women's age

Annual births per 1,000 women

1x

Year	Annual births per 1,000 women
Year	Total	15-19	20-29	30+
2026	46.5	51.7	129.4	44
2025	47.5	52.5	131.1	44.8
2024	48.5	53.3	132.8	45.4
2023	49.2	53.6	134.1	45.6
2022	50.4	54.4	136.8	46.1
2021	50.7	55.1	139.2	45.9
2020	50.9	55.7	141.3	46.2
2019	51.3	56.4	143.5	47
2018	51.6	54.5	145.7	48.3
2017	51.9	50.2	148	49.6
2016	52.2	54.4	146.9	50.1
2015	52.5	57.1	146.4	50.6
2014	53.1	55.2	147.7	51.6
2013	53.8	55.6	148.1	52.3
2012	54.8	55.2	149.8	52.7
2011	55.4	55.1	151.4	52.8
2010	56	57.2	153.3	52.4
2009	56	58.9	153.6	51.5
2008	56	60.8	154.3	50.5
2007	55.8	62.7	154.9	49.6
2006	55.4	64.4	154.8	48.8
2005	54.5	65.2	153.6	47.8
2004	53.6	65.9	152.7	47.3
2003	53.7	67.9	154.4	47.9
2002	54.2	69.8	157.5	49.2
2001	54.6	71.9	160.4	50.7
2000	54.6	74.2	161	51.9
1999	54.2	76.1	160.1	52.8
1998	54.1	78.7	159.8	54.2
1997	54.4	81.6	160.4	55.9
1996	55.7	84.5	165.1	58.9
1995	58.1	89.4	172.7	63.3
1994	60.7	94.7	180.9	67.6
1993	61.9	97.2	185.1	70.2
1992	62.7	98.9	188	72
1991	63.6	100.7	191.3	74.1
1990	65.1	105.5	196	76.3
1989	66.8	111.1	201.1	78.4
1988	69.3	117.8	208.2	81.3
1987	71.9	124.3	215.8	84.8
1986	74.6	127.7	224.2	88.5
1985	76.2	129.1	230.4	90.6
1984	77.8	130.4	236.2	92.5
1983	79.6	132	242.8	94.8
1982	81.9	135.4	250.1	97.3
1981	84	139	257.7	99.8
1980	86.3	142.2	263.3	100.7
1979	86.2	144.9	268.1	101.3
1978	86.3	147.4	273.9	101.8
1977	87.1	149.1	277	102.9
1976	87.4	150.9	279.9	103.8
1975	86.8	147.2	281.2	104.6
1974	86.1	143.4	281.9	105.3
1973	84.8	138.9	281.2	105.4
1972	83.9	134.9	281	105.4
1971	83.5	131	280.4	105.6
1970	84.1	131.4	280	106.6
1969	84.3	132	279.4	107.4
1968	84.8	132.8	277.3	108.3
1967	85.5	130.9	277.5	109.1
1966	86.3	130.8	278.1	109.5
1965	87.1	132.5	278.3	109.6
1964	87.5	135.4	279.1	109.2
1963	87.8	134.1	278.1	107.8
1962	88.1	133.4	276.9	106.3
1961	89.2	134.1	278.9	105.8
1960	90.4	135	281.1	105.5

Data sources: United Nations | World Population Prospects (1960–2026, retrieved 2026-03-10); World Bank | Health (1960–2024, retrieved 2026-04-06).

GeoRank.org/birth-rate/botswana | CC BY

Above is a chart displaying birth rates in Botswana by maternal age. In 2026, of all live births, 10.3% will be to women under age 20, 51.9% to women ages 20-29, and 37.8% to women ages 30 and above. The respective shares in 1990 were 17%, 50.3%, and 32.8%.

Children 0-14 years as share of population by year

1x

Year	Children 0-14 as share of population
Year	Botswana	World
2100	16.9%	16.5%
2099	16.9%	16.6%
2098	17%	16.6%
2097	17.1%	16.7%
2096	17.2%	16.8%
2095	17.3%	16.8%
2094	17.4%	16.9%
2093	17.5%	17%
2092	17.5%	17%
2091	17.6%	17.1%
2090	17.7%	17.2%
2089	17.8%	17.2%
2088	17.8%	17.3%
2087	17.9%	17.4%
2086	18%	17.4%
2085	18.1%	17.5%
2084	18.2%	17.5%
2083	18.2%	17.6%
2082	18.3%	17.7%
2081	18.4%	17.7%
2080	18.5%	17.8%
2079	18.6%	17.8%
2078	18.7%	17.9%
2077	18.9%	17.9%
2076	19%	18%
2075	19.1%	18%
2074	19.3%	18.1%
2073	19.4%	18.2%
2072	19.6%	18.2%
2071	19.8%	18.3%
2070	20%	18.3%
2069	20.2%	18.4%
2068	20.3%	18.5%
2067	20.5%	18.6%
2066	20.7%	18.6%
2065	20.9%	18.7%
2064	21.1%	18.8%
2063	21.3%	18.9%
2062	21.5%	19.1%
2061	21.7%	19.2%
2060	21.8%	19.3%
2059	22%	19.4%
2058	22.2%	19.5%
2057	22.4%	19.6%
2056	22.5%	19.8%
2055	22.7%	19.9%
2054	22.9%	20%
2053	23%	20.1%
2052	23.2%	20.2%
2051	23.4%	20.3%
2050	23.6%	20.4%
2049	23.9%	20.5%
2048	24.1%	20.6%
2047	24.4%	20.7%
2046	24.7%	20.8%
2045	25%	20.9%
2044	25.3%	20.9%
2043	25.7%	21%
2042	26.1%	21.1%
2041	26.5%	21.2%
2040	26.9%	21.2%
2039	27.4%	21.3%
2038	27.9%	21.4%
2037	28.3%	21.5%
2036	29%	21.6%
2035	29.4%	21.8%
2034	29.8%	22%
2033	30.1%	22.2%
2032	30.5%	22.4%
2031	30.8%	22.7%
2030	31.1%	23%
2029	31.3%	23.3%
2028	31.5%	23.6%
2027	31.7%	23.9%
2026	31.9%	24.2%
2025	32%	24.6%
2024	32.1%	24.7%
2023	32.3%	25%
2022	32.4%	25.3%
2021	32.6%	25.6%
2020	32.9%	25.8%
2019	33.3%	26%
2018	33.6%	26.2%
2017	33.9%	26.4%
2016	34.2%	26.5%
2015	34.4%	26.6%
2014	34.4%	26.8%
2013	34.4%	26.9%
2012	34.2%	27%
2011	34%	27.1%
2010	34.1%	27.3%
2009	34.2%	27.5%
2008	34.5%	27.6%
2007	34.8%	27.9%
2006	35.1%	28.1%
2005	35.5%	28.5%
2004	35.9%	28.8%
2003	36.5%	29.2%
2002	37.1%	29.6%
2001	37.7%	30%
2000	38.4%	30.4%
1999	39.1%	30.8%
1998	39.8%	31.1%
1997	40.6%	31.5%
1996	41.4%	31.8%
1995	42.2%	32.1%
1994	43%	32.3%
1993	43.7%	32.5%
1992	44.2%	32.7%
1991	44.7%	32.9%
1990	45.1%	33%
1989	45.5%	33.2%
1988	45.8%	33.4%
1987	46%	33.6%
1986	46.1%	33.8%
1985	46.2%	34%
1984	46.2%	34.3%
1983	46.2%	34.6%
1982	46.2%	34.9%
1981	46.2%	35.2%
1980	46.1%	35.5%
1979	46%	35.9%
1978	46.5%	36.3%
1977	47%	36.7%
1976	47.3%	36.9%
1975	47.7%	37.1%
1974	48.2%	37.2%
1973	48.6%	37.3%
1972	49.1%	37.5%
1971	49.3%	37.6%
1970	49.2%	37.7%
1969	48.9%	37.8%
1968	48.6%	37.9%
1967	48.2%	38%
1966	47.9%	38%
1965	47.5%	38%
1964	47.2%	38%
1963	46.8%	37.8%
1962	46.2%	37.6%
1961	45.6%	37.5%
1960	45.1%	37.4%

Data sources: World Bank | Health (1960–2024, retrieved 2026-04-06); United Nations | World Population Prospects (2025–2100, retrieved 2026-03-10).

GeoRank.org/birth-rate/botswana | CC BY

The share of children aged 0-14 in Botswana was 45.1% in 1960, 44.2% in 1992, and 32.1% as of the latest data in 2024.

More about the demographics of Botswana.

Fertility rates around the globe

1x

Data sources: World Bank | Health (1960–2023, retrieved 2026-04-06).

GeoRank.org/birth-rate/botswana | CC BY

Maternal mortality by year

1x

Year	Maternal mortality per 100K births
Year	Botswana	World
2023	155	197
2022	120	203
2021	165	242
2020	98	211
2019	100	207
2018	99	211
2017	46	215
2016	72	220
2015	141	228
2014	212	231
2013	221	235
2012	288	239
2011	269	247
2010	228	253
2009	213	258
2008	199	264
2007	201	269
2006	204	276
2005	166	283
2004	151	291
2003	142	301
2002	140	311
2001	138	321
2000	136	328
1999	131	340
1998	126	360
1997	123	358
1996	130	366
1995	148	371
1994	182	382
1993	230	389
1992	263	395
1991	283	395
1990	296	391
1989	300	401
1988	319	414
1987	302	429
1986	304	438
1985	313	460

Data sources: World Bank | Gender (1985–2023, retrieved 2026-04-06).

GeoRank.org/birth-rate/botswana | CC BY

The maternal mortality rate in Botswana was 155 deaths per 100,000 live births in 2023 — a 0.16% chance of dying during childbirth or within 42 days of pregnancy termination. This is a 14% increase compared to the year 2000.

Under-five mortality by year

Probability that a newborn baby will die before reaching age five

1x

Year	Under 5 mortality rate
Year	Botswana	World
2023	3.96%	2.49%
2022	4.07%	2.59%
2021	4.2%	2.66%
2020	4.39%	2.75%
2019	4.5%	2.86%
2018	4.59%	2.97%
2017	4.65%	3.11%
2016	4.9%	3.22%
2015	4.98%	3.35%
2014	5.11%	3.48%
2013	5.1%	3.61%
2012	5.34%	3.77%
2011	5.68%	3.97%
2010	5.58%	4.11%
2009	5.78%	4.31%
2008	6.03%	4.5%
2007	6.16%	4.7%
2006	6.43%	4.92%
2005	7.03%	5.16%
2004	7.63%	5.43%
2003	7.85%	5.65%
2002	8%	5.94%
2001	8.12%	6.21%
2000	8.11%	6.48%
1999	7.91%	6.75%
1998	7.57%	7.05%
1997	7.37%	7.28%
1996	7.1%	7.52%
1995	6.74%	7.76%
1994	6.72%	7.98%
1993	6.2%	8.19%
1992	5.7%	8.46%
1991	5.29%	8.66%
1990	5.01%	8.81%
1989	4.87%	9.02%
1988	4.88%	9.31%
1987	5%	9.47%
1986	5.22%	9.81%
1985	5.5%	10.1%
1984	5.8%	10.4%
1983	6.12%	10.6%
1982	6.47%	10.8%
1981	6.86%	11%
1980	7.29%	11.4%
1979	7.74%	11.7%
1978	8.23%	12.2%
1977	8.77%	12.6%
1976	9.32%	13%
1975	9.88%	13.4%
1974	10.4%	13.8%
1973	10.9%	14.1%
1972	11.4%	14.5%
1971	11.9%	15.1%
1970	12.4%	15.2%
1969	12.8%	15.4%
1968	13.2%	15.6%
1967	13.6%	15.9%
1966	14%	16.1%
1965	14.5%	16.4%
1964	14.9%	16.6%
1963	15.3%	16.5%
1962	15.8%	16.7%
1961	16.3%	17%
1960	16.8%	17.2%

Data sources: World Bank | Health (1960–2023, retrieved 2026-04-06).

GeoRank.org/birth-rate/botswana | CC BY

The under-5 mortality rate in Botswana was 39.6 deaths per 1,000 live births in 2023 — a 3.96% chance that a newborn baby will die before reaching age five. This is down from 81.1 deaths per 1,000 live births in 2000.