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Population density: Botswana vs Qatar compared

Updated on by Georank

Botswana has a population density of 11.9 people per square mile compared to 684 people in Qatar. Botswana has 2,443,976 sq ft of land per person vs 41,419 sq ft in Qatar. Botswana and Qatar rank 190th and 42nd 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 0.04% of the population and 0.008% of the land area for Qatar, making the population density in Botswana 98.3% lower than in Qatar.

Population density by year

Botswana
Qatar

people per square mile

1x
Year Population density
Botswana Qatar
2026 11.9 684
2025 11.7 670
2024 11.5 644
2023 11.3 599
2022 11.2 599
2021 11 565
2020 10.8 630
2019 10.7 595
2018 10.5 582
2017 10.4 574
2016 10.2 558
2015 10.1 528
2014 9.93 485
2013 9.78 428
2012 9.64 384
2011 9.48 362
2010 9.29 361
2009 9.1 359
2008 8.91 318
2007 8.73 269.6
2006 8.57 217
2005 8.41 184.1
2004 8.26 172.5
2003 8.12 166.1
2002 7.97 158.7
2001 7.83 151.2
2000 7.67 143.9
1999 7.5 136.6
1998 7.34 129.5
1997 7.18 122.8
1996 7.02 118
1995 6.85 114.7
1994 6.67 111.4
1993 6.49 108.1
1992 6.31 104.8
1991 6.13 101.5
1990 5.97 98.2
1989 5.81 95
1988 5.65 91.7
1987 5.48 88.6
1986 5.3 85.3
1985 5.13 81.6
1984 4.95 77.6
1983 4.78 73.6
1982 4.61 69.5
1981 4.43 65.5
1980 4.28 61.6
1979 4.12 57.7
1978 3.88 53.9
1977 3.65 50.3
1976 3.47 46.6
1975 3.29 43.1
1974 3.13 39.6
1973 2.98 36.1
1972 2.84 32.7
1971 2.74 29.3
1970 2.7 26
1969 2.68 23
1968 2.67 20.5
1967 2.65 18.2
1966 2.64 16.1
1965 2.63 14.3
1964 2.59 12.7
1963 2.53 11.2
1962 2.47 9.96
1961 2.41 8.85

Data sources: World Bank | Agriculture & Rural Development (1961–2026, retrieved 2026-07-08); United Nations | World Population Prospects (2026, retrieved 2026-07-08).

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

From 2006 to 2026, population density in Botswana increased by 38.9%, compared to a 215% growth in Qatar.

In 2006, Botswana ranked 188th by population density and is 190th now. Qatar was 89th in 2006 and ranks 42nd out of 197 currently.

Population density comparison

Botswana Qatar
Population density 11.9 ppl/mi² 684 ppl/mi²
Population density rank 190/197 42/197
Population
2624853
3058826
Land area 218,816 sq mi 4,436 sq mi
Land area per capita 2,380,929 sq ft 41,611 sq ft
Rural population 32% 0.64%
Urban population 68% 99.4%
Living in agglomerations of 1M+ people 0% 38.8%

Share of urban population by year

Botswana
Qatar
1x
Year Urban population
Botswana Qatar
2025 68% 99.4%
2024 67.5% 99.3%
2023 67% 99.3%
2022 66.6% 99.2%
2021 66.5% 99.2%
2020 66.4% 99.2%
2019 66.3% 99.1%
2018 66.2% 99.1%
2017 65.9% 99%
2016 65.7% 99%
2015 65.4% 98.9%
2014 65.1% 98.9%
2013 64.8% 98.8%
2012 64.4% 98.7%
2011 64% 98.6%
2010 63.5% 98.5%
2009 62.8% 98.3%
2008 61.8% 98.1%
2007 60.8% 97.9%
2006 59.6% 97.6%
2005 58.5% 97.3%
2004 57.3% 97%
2003 56.1% 96.8%
2002 55% 96.6%
2001 54% 96.5%
2000 53.2% 96.3%
1999 52.4% 96.1%
1998 51.7% 95.9%
1997 51.1% 95.7%
1996 50.4% 95.4%
1995 49.6% 95.1%
1994 48.8% 94.7%
1993 47.9% 94.3%
1992 46.8% 93.9%
1991 45.5% 93.4%
1990 43.6% 92.9%
1989 40.9% 92.4%
1988 37.6% 91.8%
1987 33.9% 91.1%
1986 30% 90.4%
1985 26.2% 89.6%
1984 22.6% 88.3%
1983 19.6% 86.9%
1982 17.2% 85.4%
1981 15.8% 84%
1980 14.9% 83%
1979 14.2% 82.2%
1978 13.6% 81.6%
1977 13.1% 81%
1976 12.6% 80.4%
1975 12.1% 79.9%
1974 11.7% 79.5%
1973 11.1% 78.9%
1972 10.6% 78.4%
1971 9.89% 77.7%
1970 9% 77%
1969 7.93% 76.2%
1968 6.78% 75.3%
1967 5.65% 74.4%
1966 4.63% 73.3%
1965 3.83% 72.2%
1964 3.37% 71%
1963 3.22% 69.7%
1962 3.14% 68.3%
1961 3.07% 66.7%
1960 3% 65%

Data sources: World Bank | Health (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-07-08).

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

From 2005 to 2025, the share of urban population changed from 58.5% to 68% in Botswana and from 97.3% to 99.4% in Qatar.

Densely populated cities

Botswana
City Population
Gaborone 236K
Francistown 103K
Molepolole 67.6K

Compare countries by 7 more topics

Population density in other countries

1x

Data sources: World Bank | Agriculture & Rural Development (1961–2026, retrieved 2026-07-08); United Nations | World Population Prospects (1961–2026, retrieved 2026-07-08); U.S. Census Bureau (1961–2025, retrieved 2026-07-08); Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) (2000–2019, retrieved 2026-07-08).

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

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Data sources:

  1. World Bank | Agriculture & Rural Development (1961–2026, retrieved 2026-07-08)
  2. United Nations | World Population Prospects (1961–2026, retrieved 2026-07-08)
  3. U.S. Census Bureau (1961–2025, retrieved 2026-07-08)
  4. Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) (2000–2019, retrieved 2026-07-08)
  5. Wikidata (2011–2025, retrieved 2026-07-08)

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