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Population density: Botswana vs Libya compared

Updated on by Georank team

Botswana has a population density of 11.9 people per square mile compared to 11.1 people in Libya. Botswana has 2,483,705 sq ft of land per person vs 2,565,978 sq ft in Libya. Botswana and Libya rank 190th and 191st 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 0.09% of the population and 1.18% of the land area for Libya, making the population density in Botswana 7.26% higher than in Libya.

Population density by year

Botswana
Libya

people per square mile

1x
Year Population density
Botswana Libya
2026 11.9 11.1
2025 11.7 11
2024 11.5 10.9
2023 11.3 10.8
2022 11.2 10.6
2021 11 10.5
2020 10.8 10.4
2019 10.7 10.2
2018 10.5 10.1
2017 10.4 9.92
2016 10.2 9.76
2015 10.1 9.61
2014 9.93 9.46
2013 9.78 9.28
2012 9.64 9.1
2011 9.48 9.34
2010 9.29 9.56
2009 9.1 9.37
2008 8.91 9.18
2007 8.73 8.99
2006 8.57 8.8
2005 8.41 8.62
2004 8.26 8.44
2003 8.12 8.27
2002 7.97 8.11
2001 7.83 7.95
2000 7.67 7.81
1999 7.5 7.68
1998 7.34 7.57
1997 7.18 7.45
1996 7.02 7.34
1995 6.85 7.22
1994 6.67 7.1
1993 6.49 6.97
1992 6.31 6.83
1991 6.13 6.69
1990 5.97 6.54
1989 5.81 6.39
1988 5.65 6.24
1987 5.48 6.08
1986 5.3 5.91
1985 5.13 5.74
1984 4.95 5.55
1983 4.78 5.47
1982 4.61 5.48
1981 4.43 5.33
1980 4.28 5.04
1979 4.12 4.76
1978 3.88 4.49
1977 3.65 4.24
1976 3.47 4.01
1975 3.29 3.79
1974 3.13 3.58
1973 2.98 3.41
1972 2.84 3.28
1971 2.74 3.17
1970 2.7 3.07
1969 2.68 2.96
1968 2.67 2.87
1967 2.65 2.79
1966 2.64 2.72
1965 2.63 2.66
1964 2.59 2.58
1963 2.53 2.49
1962 2.47 2.39
1961 2.41 2.29

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/libya | CC BY

From 2006 to 2026, population density in Botswana increased by 38.9%, compared to a 26% growth in Libya.

In 2006, Botswana ranked 188th by population density and is 190th now. Libya was 187th in 2006 and ranks 191st out of 197 currently.

Share of urban population by year

Botswana
Libya
1x
Year Urban population
Botswana Libya
2024 67.5% 87.9%
2023 67% 87.9%
2022 66.6% 87.8%
2021 66.5% 87.8%
2020 66.4% 87.8%
2019 66.3% 87.8%
2018 66.2% 87.8%
2017 65.9% 87.8%
2016 65.7% 87.8%
2015 65.4% 87.8%
2014 65.1% 88%
2013 64.8% 88%
2012 64.4% 88.1%
2011 64% 88.1%
2010 63.5% 88.1%
2009 62.8% 88.1%
2008 61.8% 88.1%
2007 60.8% 88.2%
2006 59.6% 88.2%
2005 58.5% 88.1%
2004 57.3% 88%
2003 56.1% 87.9%
2002 55% 87.6%
2001 54% 87.3%
2000 53.2% 87%
1999 52.4% 86.5%
1998 51.7% 86%
1997 51.1% 85.5%
1996 50.4% 84.9%
1995 49.6% 84.3%
1994 48.8% 83.6%
1993 47.9% 82.9%
1992 46.8% 82.2%
1991 45.5% 81.4%
1990 43.6% 80.6%
1989 40.9% 79.7%
1988 37.6% 78.9%
1987 33.9% 78%
1986 30% 77.1%
1985 26.2% 76.2%
1984 22.6% 75.3%
1983 19.6% 74.3%
1982 17.2% 73.2%
1981 15.8% 71.9%
1980 14.9% 70.5%
1979 14.2% 69%
1978 13.6% 67.4%
1977 13.1% 65.6%
1976 12.6% 63.7%
1975 12.1% 61.7%
1974 11.7% 59.6%
1973 11.1% 57.3%
1972 10.6% 54.3%
1971 9.89% 50.4%
1970 9% 45.8%
1969 7.93% 41%
1968 6.78% 36.2%
1967 5.65% 31.8%
1966 4.63% 28.2%
1965 3.83% 25.7%
1964 3.37% 24.6%
1963 3.22% 24.2%
1962 3.14% 23.9%
1961 3.07% 23.5%
1960 3% 23.3%

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

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

From 2004 to 2024, the share of urban population changed from 57.3% to 67.5% in Botswana and from 88% to 87.9% in Libya.

Densely populated cities

Botswana
City Population
Gaborone 236K
Francistown 103K
Molepolole 67.6K
Libya
City Population
Tripoli 1.29M
Misrata 881K
Benghazi 632K
Ajdabiya 416K
Al-Khums 202K
Zawiya 199K
Tobruk 136K
Gharyan 123K
Sabratha 102K
Sabha 99K

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/libya | 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 (2004–2024, retrieved 2026-02-08)

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