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Population density: Botswana vs Jamaica compared

Updated on by Georank team

Botswana has a population density of 11.9 people per square mile compared to 678 people in Jamaica. Botswana has 2,483,705 sq ft of land per person vs 41,673 sq ft in Jamaica. Botswana and Jamaica rank 190th and 43rd 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 0.03% of the population and 0.007% of the land area for Jamaica, making the population density in Botswana 98.2% lower than in Jamaica.

Population density by year

Botswana
Jamaica

people per square mile

1x
Year Population density
Botswana Jamaica
2026 11.9 678
2025 11.7 679
2024 11.5 679
2023 11.3 679
2022 11.2 679
2021 11 679
2020 10.8 677
2019 10.7 675
2018 10.5 674
2017 10.4 673
2016 10.2 672
2015 10.1 670
2014 9.93 668
2013 9.78 666
2012 9.64 663
2011 9.48 660
2010 9.29 657
2009 9.1 655
2008 8.91 652
2007 8.73 649
2006 8.57 646
2005 8.41 643
2004 8.26 639
2003 8.12 635
2002 7.97 631
2001 7.83 628
2000 7.67 624
1999 7.5 619
1998 7.34 615
1997 7.18 609
1996 7.02 604
1995 6.85 598
1994 6.67 592
1993 6.49 586
1992 6.31 580
1991 6.13 574
1990 5.97 569
1989 5.81 565
1988 5.65 561
1987 5.48 557
1986 5.3 553
1985 5.13 548
1984 4.95 542
1983 4.78 534
1982 4.61 527
1981 4.43 520
1980 4.28 513
1979 4.12 507
1978 3.88 501
1977 3.65 495
1976 3.47 489
1975 3.29 483
1974 3.13 476
1973 2.98 469
1972 2.84 462
1971 2.74 455
1970 2.7 449
1969 2.68 444
1968 2.67 439
1967 2.65 434
1966 2.64 428
1965 2.63 423
1964 2.59 417
1963 2.53 412
1962 2.47 406
1961 2.41 400

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/jamaica | CC BY

From 2006 to 2026, population density in Botswana increased by 38.9%, compared to a 4.96% growth in Jamaica.

In 2006, Botswana ranked 188th by population density and is 190th now. Jamaica was 36th in 2006 and ranks 43rd out of 197 currently.

Share of urban population by year

Botswana
Jamaica
1x
Year Urban population
Botswana Jamaica
2024 67.5% 58.9%
2023 67% 58.5%
2022 66.6% 58%
2021 66.5% 57.5%
2020 66.4% 57.1%
2019 66.3% 56.7%
2018 66.2% 56.3%
2017 65.9% 55.9%
2016 65.7% 55.5%
2015 65.4% 55.2%
2014 65.1% 54.9%
2013 64.8% 54.5%
2012 64.4% 54.2%
2011 64% 54%
2010 63.5% 53.8%
2009 62.8% 53.6%
2008 61.8% 53.4%
2007 60.8% 53.2%
2006 59.6% 53%
2005 58.5% 52.8%
2004 57.3% 52.6%
2003 56.1% 52.4%
2002 55% 52.1%
2001 54% 51.9%
2000 53.2% 51.7%
1999 52.4% 51.5%
1998 51.7% 51.3%
1997 51.1% 51%
1996 50.4% 50.8%
1995 49.6% 50.6%
1994 48.8% 50.3%
1993 47.9% 50.1%
1992 46.8% 49.9%
1991 45.5% 49.7%
1990 43.6% 49.4%
1989 40.9% 49.3%
1988 37.6% 49.1%
1987 33.9% 48.9%
1986 30% 48.7%
1985 26.2% 48.5%
1984 22.6% 48.3%
1983 19.6% 48.1%
1982 17.2% 47.8%
1981 15.8% 47.5%
1980 14.9% 47.2%
1979 14.2% 46.8%
1978 13.6% 46.3%
1977 13.1% 45.8%
1976 12.6% 45.3%
1975 12.1% 44.8%
1974 11.7% 44.2%
1973 11.1% 43.5%
1972 10.6% 42.9%
1971 9.89% 42.2%
1970 9% 41.4%
1969 7.93% 40.6%
1968 6.78% 39.6%
1967 5.65% 38.4%
1966 4.63% 37.2%
1965 3.83% 35.8%
1964 3.37% 34.5%
1963 3.22% 33.2%
1962 3.14% 31.9%
1961 3.07% 30.7%
1960 3% 29.7%

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

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

From 2004 to 2024, the share of urban population changed from 57.3% to 67.5% in Botswana and from 52.6% to 58.9% in Jamaica.

Densely populated cities

Botswana
City Population
Gaborone 236K
Francistown 103K
Molepolole 67.6K
Jamaica
City Population
Kingston 938K
Spanish Town 131K
Montego Bay 124K
Half Way Tree 96.5K
May Pen 61.5K

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/jamaica | 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 (2001–2025, retrieved 2026-02-08)

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