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Population density: Botswana vs Maldives compared

Updated on by Georank team

Botswana has a population density of 11.9 people per square mile compared to 4,620 people in Maldives. Botswana has 2,483,705 sq ft of land per person vs 6,077 sq ft in Maldives. Botswana and Maldives rank 190th and 6th 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 0.006% of the population and 0.0002% of the land area for Maldives, making the population density in Botswana 99.7% lower than in Maldives.

Population density by year

Botswana
Maldives

people per square mile

1x
Year Population density
Botswana Maldives
2026 11.9 4,620
2025 11.7 4,604
2024 11.5 4,587
2023 11.3 4,572
2022 11.2 4,525
2021 11 4,456
2020 10.8 4,335
2019 10.7 4,211
2018 10.5 4,084
2017 10.4 3,957
2016 10.2 3,827
2015 10.1 3,696
2014 9.93 3,571
2013 9.78 3,454
2012 9.64 3,340
2011 9.48 3,226
2010 9.29 3,115
2009 9.1 3,007
2008 8.91 2,902
2007 8.73 2,801
2006 8.57 2,710
2005 8.41 2,645
2004 8.26 2,602
2003 8.12 2,560
2002 7.97 2,518
2001 7.83 2,476
2000 7.67 2,435
1999 7.5 2,395
1998 7.34 2,354
1997 7.18 2,311
1996 7.02 2,265
1995 6.85 2,216
1994 6.67 2,165
1993 6.49 2,114
1992 6.31 2,059
1991 6.13 2,001
1990 5.97 1,940
1989 5.81 1,880
1988 5.65 1,821
1987 5.48 1,761
1986 5.3 1,700
1985 5.13 1,642
1984 4.95 1,590
1983 4.78 1,546
1982 4.61 1,505
1981 4.43 1,464
1980 4.28 1,423
1979 4.12 1,384
1978 3.88 1,348
1977 3.65 1,312
1976 3.47 1,274
1975 3.29 1,236
1974 3.13 1,200
1973 2.98 1,165
1972 2.84 1,131
1971 2.74 1,097
1970 2.7 1,064
1969 2.68 1,032
1968 2.67 1,002
1967 2.65 971
1966 2.64 937
1965 2.63 899
1964 2.59 869
1963 2.53 848
1962 2.47 827
1961 2.41 807

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/maldives | CC BY

From 2006 to 2026, population density in Botswana increased by 38.9%, compared to a 70.5% growth in Maldives.

In 2006, Botswana ranked 188th by population density and is 190th now. Maldives was 7th in 2006 and ranks 6th out of 197 currently.

Share of urban population by year

Botswana
Maldives
1x
Year Urban population
Botswana Maldives
2024 67.5% 42%
2023 67% 41.5%
2022 66.6% 41.1%
2021 66.5% 40.7%
2020 66.4% 40.4%
2019 66.3% 40%
2018 66.2% 39.7%
2017 65.9% 39.3%
2016 65.7% 39%
2015 65.4% 38.6%
2014 65.1% 38.2%
2013 64.8% 37.8%
2012 64.4% 37.5%
2011 64% 37.1%
2010 63.5% 36.8%
2009 62.8% 36.4%
2008 61.8% 35.9%
2007 60.8% 35.4%
2006 59.6% 34.9%
2005 58.5% 34.1%
2004 57.3% 32.9%
2003 56.1% 31.4%
2002 55% 29.9%
2001 54% 28.6%
2000 53.2% 27.6%
1999 52.4% 27%
1998 51.7% 26.5%
1997 51.1% 26%
1996 50.4% 25.7%
1995 49.6% 25.5%
1994 48.8% 25.6%
1993 47.9% 25.6%
1992 46.8% 25.7%
1991 45.5% 25.8%
1990 43.6% 25.9%
1989 40.9% 25.8%
1988 37.6% 25.8%
1987 33.9% 25.7%
1986 30% 25.6%
1985 26.2% 25.5%
1984 22.6% 25.3%
1983 19.6% 24.9%
1982 17.2% 24.3%
1981 15.8% 23.6%
1980 14.9% 22.8%
1979 14.2% 22%
1978 13.6% 21.1%
1977 13.1% 20.2%
1976 12.6% 19%
1975 12.1% 17.6%
1974 11.7% 16.2%
1973 11.1% 14.7%
1972 10.6% 13.5%
1971 9.89% 12.5%
1970 9% 11.9%
1969 7.93% 11.6%
1968 6.78% 11.4%
1967 5.65% 11.3%
1966 4.63% 11.4%
1965 3.83% 11.5%
1964 3.37% 11.5%
1963 3.22% 11.4%
1962 3.14% 11.4%
1961 3.07% 11.4%
1960 3% 11.4%

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

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

From 2004 to 2024, the share of urban population changed from 57.3% to 67.5% in Botswana and from 32.9% to 42% in Maldives.

Densely populated cities

Botswana
City Population
Gaborone 236K
Francistown 103K
Molepolole 67.6K
Maldives
City Population
Male 133K
Hulhumale 50K

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/maldives | 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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