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Population density: Botswana vs Burundi compared

Updated on by Georank team

Botswana has a population density of 11.9 people per square mile compared to 1,487 people in Burundi. Botswana has 2,483,705 sq ft of land per person vs 21,327 sq ft in Burundi. Botswana and Burundi rank 190th and 15th by population density, respectively.

Population density is calculated as the ratio of population to land area. Botswana has 0.03% of the world's population and 0.38% of all countries' land area, compared to 0.17% of the population and 0.02% of the land area for Burundi, making the population density in Botswana 99.2% lower than in Burundi.

Population density by year

Botswana
Burundi

people per square mile

1x
Year Population density
Botswana Burundi
2026 11.9 1,487
2025 11.7 1,452
2024 11.5 1,417
2023 11.3 1,381
2022 11.2 1,344
2021 11 1,308
2020 10.8 1,273
2019 10.7 1,236
2018 10.5 1,196
2017 10.4 1,161
2016 10.2 1,134
2015 10.1 1,114
2014 9.93 1,089
2013 9.78 1,053
2012 9.64 1,016
2011 9.48 980
2010 9.29 946
2009 9.1 902
2008 8.91 858
2007 8.73 823
2006 8.57 793
2005 8.41 765
2004 8.26 737
2003 8.12 710
2002 7.97 688
2001 7.83 669
2000 7.67 653
1999 7.5 639
1998 7.34 624
1997 7.18 612
1996 7.02 612
1995 6.85 612
1994 6.67 576
1993 6.49 573
1992 6.31 591
1991 6.13 575
1990 5.97 563
1989 5.81 552
1988 5.65 541
1987 5.48 529
1986 5.3 517
1985 5.13 508
1984 4.95 497
1983 4.78 485
1982 4.61 472
1981 4.43 461
1980 4.28 442
1979 4.12 424
1978 3.88 414
1977 3.65 402
1976 3.47 392
1975 3.29 383
1974 3.13 374
1973 2.98 364
1972 2.84 365
1971 2.74 365
1970 2.7 356
1969 2.68 348
1968 2.67 341
1967 2.65 333
1966 2.64 325
1965 2.63 317
1964 2.59 308
1963 2.53 299.5
1962 2.47 293.3
1961 2.41 285.9

Data sources: World Bank | Agriculture & Rural Development (1961–2026, retrieved 2026-04-06); United Nations | World Population Prospects (2025–2026, retrieved 2026-03-10).

GeoRank.org/population-density/botswana/burundi | CC BY

From 2006 to 2026, population density in Botswana increased by 38.9%, compared to a 87.4% growth in Burundi.

In 2006, Botswana ranked 188th by population density and is 190th now. Burundi was 27th in 2006 and ranks 15th out of 197 currently.

Share of urban population by year

Botswana
Burundi
1x
Year Urban population
Botswana Burundi
2024 67.5% 24.8%
2023 67% 23.6%
2022 66.6% 22.3%
2021 66.5% 21.1%
2020 66.4% 19.9%
2019 66.3% 18.8%
2018 66.2% 17.7%
2017 65.9% 16.6%
2016 65.7% 15.6%
2015 65.4% 14.7%
2014 65.1% 13.8%
2013 64.8% 13%
2012 64.4% 12.2%
2011 64% 11.6%
2010 63.5% 11%
2009 62.8% 10.5%
2008 61.8% 10.1%
2007 60.8% 9.77%
2006 59.6% 9.46%
2005 58.5% 9.18%
2004 57.3% 8.92%
2003 56.1% 8.68%
2002 55% 8.45%
2001 54% 8.24%
2000 53.2% 8.04%
1999 52.4% 7.86%
1998 51.7% 7.68%
1997 51.1% 7.51%
1996 50.4% 7.34%
1995 49.6% 7.17%
1994 48.8% 7%
1993 47.9% 6.83%
1992 46.8% 6.65%
1991 45.5% 6.46%
1990 43.6% 6.27%
1989 40.9% 6.07%
1988 37.6% 5.86%
1987 33.9% 5.66%
1986 30% 5.46%
1985 26.2% 5.26%
1984 22.6% 5.07%
1983 19.6% 4.88%
1982 17.2% 4.69%
1981 15.8% 4.51%
1980 14.9% 4.34%
1979 14.2% 4.18%
1978 13.6% 4.02%
1977 13.1% 3.87%
1976 12.6% 3.72%
1975 12.1% 3.57%
1974 11.7% 3.42%
1973 11.1% 3.28%
1972 10.6% 3.14%
1971 9.89% 3.01%
1970 9% 2.88%
1969 7.93% 2.75%
1968 6.78% 2.63%
1967 5.65% 2.51%
1966 4.63% 2.4%
1965 3.83% 2.3%
1964 3.37% 2.2%
1963 3.22% 2.11%
1962 3.14% 2.01%
1961 3.07% 1.92%
1960 3% 1.84%

Data sources: World Bank | Health (1960–2024, retrieved 2026-04-06).

GeoRank.org/population-density/botswana/burundi | CC BY

From 2004 to 2024, the share of urban population changed from 57.3% to 67.5% in Botswana and from 8.92% to 24.8% in Burundi.

Densely populated cities

Botswana
City Population
Gaborone 236K
Francistown 103K
Molepolole 67.6K
Burundi
City Population
Bujumbura 659K
Gitega 136K

Compare countries by 7 more topics

Population density in other countries

1x

Data sources: World Bank | Agriculture & Rural Development (1961–2026, retrieved 2026-04-06); United Nations | World Population Prospects (1961–2026, retrieved 2026-03-10); U.S. Census Bureau (1961–2025, retrieved 2026-02-08); Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) (2000–2019, retrieved 2026-02-20).

GeoRank.org/population-density/botswana/burundi | CC BY

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Data sources:

  1. World Bank | Agriculture & Rural Development (1961–2026, retrieved 2026-04-06)
  2. United Nations | World Population Prospects (1961–2026, retrieved 2026-03-10)
  3. U.S. Census Bureau (1961–2025, retrieved 2026-02-08)
  4. Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) (2000–2019, retrieved 2026-02-20)
  5. Wikidata (2011–2024, retrieved 2026-02-08)

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