BOTSWANA
Population

Population

Bushmen Botswana_{Photo: Mopane Game Safaris CC 4.0 International no changes made}

2,214,858 million people live in Botswana (2017). The population density is very low and amounts to 4 inhabitants per square kilometer.

• Natural population growth is 1.55% (2017)
• Birth rate per 1000 inhabitants is 22.1 (2017)
• Mortality rate per 1000 inhabitants is 9.6 (2017)
• Life expectancy is 63.3 years. (men 61.2 and women 65.5 years (2017)

All of the above figures can change quickly and significantly in connection with the AIDS epidemic.

Population composition:

• Tswana 79%,
• Kalanga 11%,
• Basarwa 3%,
• Other including Kgalagadi and Caucasians 7%

Language

English Language Map_{Photo: Kobolen CC 3.0 Unported no changes made}

English is the official language of Botswana. But more than 90% of the population speaks a Bantu language as their first language. The most widely spoken Bantu languages are Setswana (over 70% of the population), Kalanga, Kgalagadi, Shona, Mbukushu and Ndebele. In addition, almost 2% of the population speaks Tschwa, which is a Khoe language.

Religion

The majority of the people of Botswana adhere to the Christian faith. Often in combination with indigenous religions. Some indigenous religious and medical practices, notably respect for patriarchal ancestors, have been assimilated into the Christian faith in Botswana. There is also a small minority of Muslims and Hindus. The constitution provides for freedom of religion and the government generally respects this right in practice.

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Sources

Elmar Landeninformatie

CIA - World Factbook

BBC - Country Profiles

Last updated March 2024
Copyright: Team The World of Info