Distribution of population between different poverty lines in Botswana
Botswana: Distribution of population between different poverty lines was 682,822 people in 2015. ◆ Volatile
Distribution of population between different poverty lines in Botswana, 1985–2015
Source: World Bank Poverty and Inequality Platform (2026) – with major processing by Our World in Data. Measured in people.
Analysis
Botswana recorded 682,822 people for distribution of population between different poverty lines in 2015. That is the highest value across all 5 years on record.
The figure is up 55.1% over ten years.
Over the whole period, distribution of population between different poverty lines in Botswana peaked at 682,822 people in 2015 and was at its lowest, 127,946 people, in 1985.
That places Botswana 109th out of 120 countries with data for 2015, putting it in the bottom quarter.
Distribution of population between different poverty lines in Botswana, year by year
| Year | people | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1985 | 127,946 people | — |
| 1993 | 218,576 people | +70.8% |
| 2002 | 440,160 people | +101.4% |
| 2009 | 620,293 people | +40.9% |
| 2015 | 682,822 people | +10.1% |
Botswana compared with similar countries
- Botswana's 682,822 people is below the median for upper middle income countries, which is 8.77 million people, 8% of the median. (35 countries reporting)
- Botswana's 682,822 people is below the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 1.29 million people, 53% of the median. (26 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1980s | 127,946 people | 127,946 people | 127,946 people | 1 |
| 1990s | 218,576 people | 218,576 people | 218,576 people | 1 |
| 2000s | 530,226 people | 440,160 people | 620,293 people | 2 |
| 2010s | 682,822 people | 682,822 people | 682,822 people | 1 |
Countries ranked near Botswana
- 106 Mauritania 889,247 people compare
- 107 Zambia 804,041 people compare
- 108 Togo 789,699 people compare
- 110 Madagascar 664,827 people compare
- 111 Luxembourg 664,517 people compare
- 112 Bhutan 652,896 people compare
More poverty & inequality data for Botswana
- Number of income/consumption surveys in the past decade available via the World Bank 0 surveys (2025)
- Number of income/consumption surveys in the past decade available via 0 surveys per person (2025)
- Number of income/consumption surveys in the past decade available via 0 surveys per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Fertility rate vs. share living in extreme poverty 2.73 live births per woman (2023)
- Cereal yield vs. share in extreme poverty 900.4 kg per hectare (2024)
- Cereal yield vs extreme poverty, per unit of GDP 0 units per US$ of GDP (2024)
- Cereal yield vs extreme poverty, annual growth rate 3.47 % change on previous year (2024)
- Tax revenues vs income inequality, gaps filled 22.79 (2023)
- Tax revenue as share of GDP vs. income inequality 22.8% (2023)
- Tax revenues vs income inequality, per unit of GDP 0 units per US$ of GDP (2023)
Frequently asked questions
- What is distribution of population between different poverty lines in Botswana?
- Distribution of population between different poverty lines in Botswana was 682,822 people in 2015, according to World Bank Poverty and Inequality Platform (2026) – with major processing by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest distribution of population between different poverty lines recorded in Botswana?
- The highest recorded value was 682,822 people in 2015.
- What is the lowest distribution of population between different poverty lines recorded in Botswana?
- The lowest recorded value was 127,946 people in 1985.
- How does Botswana rank for distribution of population between different poverty lines?
- Botswana ranks 109th out of 120 countries with data for 2015.
- Is distribution of population between different poverty lines rising or falling in Botswana?
- Over the last ten years it is up 55.1%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Botswana data come from?
- The figures come from World Bank Poverty and Inequality Platform (2026) – with major processing by Our World in Data, published as part of Distribution of population between different poverty lines. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
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About this data
Number of people living in households with an income or consumption above $10 per day.