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Population density: Botswana vs Sri Lanka compared

Updated on by Georank team

Botswana has a population density of 11.9 people per square mile compared to 928 people in Sri Lanka. Botswana has 2,483,705 sq ft of land per person vs 32,224 sq ft in Sri Lanka. Botswana and Sri Lanka rank 190th and 25th 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 0.27% of the population and 0.04% of the land area for Sri Lanka, making the population density in Botswana 98.7% lower than in Sri Lanka.

Population density by year

Botswana
Sri Lanka

people per square mile

1x
Year Population density
Botswana Sri Lanka
2026 11.9 928
2025 11.7 923
2024 11.5 918
2023 11.3 923
2022 11.2 929
2021 11 928
2020 10.8 918
2019 10.7 913
2018 10.5 907
2017 10.4 898
2016 10.2 888
2015 10.1 878
2014 9.93 858
2013 9.78 850
2012 9.64 874
2011 9.48 868
2010 9.29 862
2009 9.1 857
2008 8.91 852
2007 8.73 846
2006 8.57 841
2005 8.41 835
2004 8.26 830
2003 8.12 824
2002 7.97 818
2001 7.83 810
2000 7.67 797
1999 7.5 782
1998 7.34 768
1997 7.18 754
1996 7.02 739
1995 6.85 725
1994 6.67 714
1993 6.49 703
1992 6.31 691
1991 6.13 680
1990 5.97 675
1989 5.81 671
1988 5.65 664
1987 5.48 657
1986 5.3 650
1985 5.13 642
1984 4.95 638
1983 4.78 636
1982 4.61 631
1981 4.43 624
1980 4.28 613
1979 4.12 602
1978 3.88 591
1977 3.65 580
1976 3.47 570
1975 3.29 560
1974 3.13 550
1973 2.98 539
1972 2.84 529
1971 2.74 518
1970 2.7 507
1969 2.68 496
1968 2.67 485
1967 2.65 473
1966 2.64 462
1965 2.63 451
1964 2.59 440
1963 2.53 429
1962 2.47 419
1961 2.41 409

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/sri-lanka | CC BY

From 2006 to 2026, population density in Botswana increased by 38.9%, compared to a 10.4% growth in Sri Lanka.

In 2006, Botswana ranked 188th by population density and is 190th now. Sri Lanka was 25th in 2006 and still ranks 25th out of 197 currently.

Share of urban population by year

Botswana
Sri Lanka
1x
Year Urban population
Botswana Sri Lanka
2024 67.5% 20.3%
2023 67% 20.1%
2022 66.6% 20%
2021 66.5% 19.8%
2020 66.4% 19.7%
2019 66.3% 19.5%
2018 66.2% 19.3%
2017 65.9% 19.2%
2016 65.7% 19%
2015 65.4% 18.8%
2014 65.1% 18.6%
2013 64.8% 18.4%
2012 64.4% 18.3%
2011 64% 17.8%
2010 63.5% 17.2%
2009 62.8% 16.7%
2008 61.8% 16.3%
2007 60.8% 15.9%
2006 59.6% 15.5%
2005 58.5% 15.2%
2004 57.3% 14.9%
2003 56.1% 14.7%
2002 55% 14.6%
2001 54% 14.6%
2000 53.2% 14.6%
1999 52.4% 14.7%
1998 51.7% 14.9%
1997 51.1% 15.2%
1996 50.4% 15.5%
1995 49.6% 15.9%
1994 48.8% 16.3%
1993 47.9% 16.7%
1992 46.8% 17.1%
1991 45.5% 17.6%
1990 43.6% 18.1%
1989 40.9% 18.6%
1988 37.6% 19%
1987 33.9% 19.5%
1986 30% 19.9%
1985 26.2% 20.3%
1984 22.6% 20.7%
1983 19.6% 21%
1982 17.2% 21.3%
1981 15.8% 21.5%
1980 14.9% 21.6%
1979 14.2% 21.8%
1978 13.6% 21.9%
1977 13.1% 22%
1976 12.6% 22.1%
1975 12.1% 22.2%
1974 11.7% 22.3%
1973 11.1% 22.4%
1972 10.6% 22.4%
1971 9.89% 22.4%
1970 9% 22.3%
1969 7.93% 22%
1968 6.78% 21.5%
1967 5.65% 21%
1966 4.63% 20.4%
1965 3.83% 19.8%
1964 3.37% 19.3%
1963 3.22% 18.9%
1962 3.14% 18.5%
1961 3.07% 18%
1960 3% 17.6%

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

GeoRank.org/population-density/botswana/sri-lanka | CC BY

From 2004 to 2024, the share of urban population changed from 57.3% to 67.5% in Botswana and from 14.9% to 20.3% in Sri Lanka.

Densely populated cities

Botswana
City Population
Gaborone 236K
Francistown 103K
Molepolole 67.6K
Sri Lanka
City Population
Colombo 648K
Gampaha 191K
Beruwala 165K
Negombo 142K
Kandy 120K
Sri Jayawardenepura Kotte 116K
Trincomalee 99.1K
Galle 93.1K
Matara 68.2K
Anuradhapura 63.2K

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/sri-lanka | 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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