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Population density: Botswana vs Vietnam compared

Updated on by Georank team

Botswana has a population density of 11.9 people per square mile compared to 845 people in Vietnam. Botswana has 2,483,705 sq ft of land per person vs 35,354 sq ft in Vietnam. Botswana and Vietnam rank 190th and 30th 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 1.24% of the population and 0.21% of the land area for Vietnam, making the population density in Botswana 98.6% lower than in Vietnam.

Population density by year

Botswana
Vietnam

people per square mile

1x
Year Population density
Botswana Vietnam
2026 11.9 845
2025 11.7 840
2024 11.5 835
2023 11.3 829
2022 11.2 824
2021 11 818
2020 10.8 810
2019 10.7 803
2018 10.5 795
2017 10.4 787
2016 10.2 777
2015 10.1 767
2014 9.93 758
2013 9.78 749
2012 9.64 740
2011 9.48 731
2010 9.29 723
2009 9.1 716
2008 8.91 705
2007 8.73 693
2006 8.57 680
2005 8.41 671
2004 8.26 671
2003 8.12 665
2002 7.97 657
2001 7.83 649
2000 7.67 642
1999 7.5 607
1998 7.34 599
1997 7.18 591
1996 7.02 582
1995 6.85 573
1994 6.67 564
1993 6.49 554
1992 6.31 543
1991 6.13 532
1990 5.97 521
1989 5.81 510
1988 5.65 500
1987 5.48 490
1986 5.3 480
1985 5.13 470
1984 4.95 459
1983 4.78 448
1982 4.61 438
1981 4.43 428
1980 4.28 418
1979 4.12 409
1978 3.88 400
1977 3.65 390
1976 3.47 379
1975 3.29 370
1974 3.13 361
1973 2.98 353
1972 2.84 346
1971 2.74 338
1970 2.7 330
1969 2.68 323
1968 2.67 316
1967 2.65 309
1966 2.64 303
1965 2.63 295.4
1964 2.59 288.1
1963 2.53 280.5
1962 2.47 272.8
1961 2.41 265.8

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/vietnam | CC BY

From 2006 to 2026, population density in Botswana increased by 38.9%, compared to a 24.1% growth in Vietnam.

In 2006, Botswana ranked 188th by population density and is 190th now. Vietnam was 33rd in 2006 and ranks 30th out of 197 currently.

Share of urban population by year

Botswana
Vietnam
1x
Year Urban population
Botswana Vietnam
2024 67.5% 38.5%
2023 67% 38.1%
2022 66.6% 37.5%
2021 66.5% 36.7%
2020 66.4% 35.6%
2019 66.3% 34.6%
2018 66.2% 33.9%
2017 65.9% 33.4%
2016 65.7% 32.8%
2015 65.4% 32.4%
2014 65.1% 31.9%
2013 64.8% 31.5%
2012 64.4% 31.1%
2011 64% 30.7%
2010 63.5% 30.3%
2009 62.8% 29.8%
2008 61.8% 29.2%
2007 60.8% 28.6%
2006 59.6% 28%
2005 58.5% 27.4%
2004 57.3% 26.8%
2003 56.1% 26.2%
2002 55% 25.6%
2001 54% 24.9%
2000 53.2% 24.4%
1999 52.4% 23.8%
1998 51.7% 23.3%
1997 51.1% 22.7%
1996 50.4% 22.1%
1995 49.6% 21.5%
1994 48.8% 20.9%
1993 47.9% 20.3%
1992 46.8% 19.8%
1991 45.5% 19.4%
1990 43.6% 19.2%
1989 40.9% 19.1%
1988 37.6% 19%
1987 33.9% 19.1%
1986 30% 19.1%
1985 26.2% 19.1%
1984 22.6% 19.1%
1983 19.6% 19.1%
1982 17.2% 19.1%
1981 15.8% 19.1%
1980 14.9% 19.2%
1979 14.2% 19.2%
1978 13.6% 19.2%
1977 13.1% 19.6%
1976 12.6% 20.4%
1975 12.1% 20.6%
1974 11.7% 20.5%
1973 11.1% 20.5%
1972 10.6% 20.6%
1971 9.89% 20.7%
1970 9% 20.7%
1969 7.93% 20.6%
1968 6.78% 20.1%
1967 5.65% 19.3%
1966 4.63% 18.4%
1965 3.83% 17.5%
1964 3.37% 16.9%
1963 3.22% 16.5%
1962 3.14% 16.1%
1961 3.07% 15.7%
1960 3% 15.3%

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

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

From 2004 to 2024, the share of urban population changed from 57.3% to 67.5% in Botswana and from 26.8% to 38.5% in Vietnam.

Densely populated cities

Botswana
City Population
Gaborone 236K
Francistown 103K
Molepolole 67.6K
Vietnam
City Population
Ho Chi Minh 14M
Hanoi 8.72M
Can Tho 3.21M
Da Nang 2.82M
Haiphong 2.12M
Bien Hoa 1.1M
Hue 653K
Bac Ninh 520K
Hai Duong 507K
Vinh 490K

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/vietnam | 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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