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Population density: Botswana vs El Salvador compared

Updated on by Georank team

Botswana has a population density of 11.9 people per square mile compared to 799 people in El Salvador. Botswana has 2,483,705 sq ft of land per person vs 35,733 sq ft in El Salvador. Botswana and El Salvador rank 190th and 33rd 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 0.08% of the population and 0.01% of the land area for El Salvador, making the population density in Botswana 98.5% lower than in El Salvador.

Population density by year

Botswana
El Salvador

people per square mile

1x
Year Population density
Botswana El Salvador
2026 11.9 799
2025 11.7 796
2024 11.5 792
2023 11.3 789
2022 11.2 785
2021 11 782
2020 10.8 779
2019 10.7 778
2018 10.5 777
2017 10.4 777
2016 10.2 775
2015 10.1 773
2014 9.93 770
2013 9.78 767
2012 9.64 764
2011 9.48 761
2010 9.29 759
2009 9.1 756
2008 8.91 754
2007 8.73 751
2006 8.57 750
2005 8.41 751
2004 8.26 751
2003 8.12 750
2002 7.97 748
2001 7.83 746
2000 7.67 743
1999 7.5 739
1998 7.34 735
1997 7.18 731
1996 7.02 726
1995 6.85 720
1994 6.67 714
1993 6.49 707
1992 6.31 698
1991 6.13 687
1990 5.97 675
1989 5.81 662
1988 5.65 649
1987 5.48 637
1986 5.3 624
1985 5.13 612
1984 4.95 600
1983 4.78 588
1982 4.61 578
1981 4.43 571
1980 4.28 568
1979 4.12 560
1978 3.88 549
1977 3.65 538
1976 3.47 526
1975 3.29 512
1974 3.13 501
1973 2.98 489
1972 2.84 478
1971 2.74 467
1970 2.7 456
1969 2.68 444
1968 2.67 432
1967 2.65 421
1966 2.64 409
1965 2.63 397
1964 2.59 387
1963 2.53 376
1962 2.47 366
1961 2.41 357

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/el-salvador | CC BY

From 2006 to 2026, population density in Botswana increased by 38.9%, compared to a 6.51% growth in El Salvador.

In 2006, Botswana ranked 188th by population density and is 190th now. El Salvador was 29th in 2006 and ranks 33rd out of 197 currently.

Share of urban population by year

Botswana
El Salvador
1x
Year Urban population
Botswana El Salvador
2024 67.5% 75.1%
2023 67% 74.6%
2022 66.6% 74.1%
2021 66.5% 73.7%
2020 66.4% 73.1%
2019 66.3% 72.4%
2018 66.2% 71.8%
2017 65.9% 71.1%
2016 65.7% 70.4%
2015 65.4% 69.7%
2014 65.1% 68.9%
2013 64.8% 68.1%
2012 64.4% 67.2%
2011 64% 66.3%
2010 63.5% 65.4%
2009 62.8% 64.5%
2008 61.8% 63.6%
2007 60.8% 62.8%
2006 59.6% 61.9%
2005 58.5% 61%
2004 57.3% 60.1%
2003 56.1% 59.2%
2002 55% 58.3%
2001 54% 57.5%
2000 53.2% 56.6%
1999 52.4% 55.7%
1998 51.7% 54.8%
1997 51.1% 54%
1996 50.4% 53.2%
1995 49.6% 52.4%
1994 48.8% 51.7%
1993 47.9% 50.9%
1992 46.8% 50.3%
1991 45.5% 49.6%
1990 43.6% 49%
1989 40.9% 48.3%
1988 37.6% 47.7%
1987 33.9% 47%
1986 30% 46.4%
1985 26.2% 45.7%
1984 22.6% 45.1%
1983 19.6% 44.5%
1982 17.2% 43.9%
1981 15.8% 43.4%
1980 14.9% 42.8%
1979 14.2% 42.3%
1978 13.6% 41.8%
1977 13.1% 41.4%
1976 12.6% 41%
1975 12.1% 40.6%
1974 11.7% 40.2%
1973 11.1% 40%
1972 10.6% 39.7%
1971 9.89% 39.5%
1970 9% 39.4%
1969 7.93% 39.3%
1968 6.78% 39.2%
1967 5.65% 39.1%
1966 4.63% 39%
1965 3.83% 38.9%
1964 3.37% 38.8%
1963 3.22% 38.7%
1962 3.14% 38.6%
1961 3.07% 38.5%
1960 3% 38.4%

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

GeoRank.org/population-density/botswana/el-salvador | CC BY

From 2004 to 2024, the share of urban population changed from 57.3% to 67.5% in Botswana and from 60.1% to 75.1% in El Salvador.

Densely populated cities

Botswana
City Population
Gaborone 236K
Francistown 103K
Molepolole 67.6K
El Salvador
City Population
San Salvador 331K
Santa Ana 251K
San Miguel 233K
Soyapango 230K
Mejicanos 137K
Apopa 129K
Ahuachapan 127K
Santa Tecla 126K
Sonsonate 72.2K
Usulutan 66.1K

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/el-salvador | 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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