MigrantoBotswanan Diaspora
16.7K Batswana live abroad — 1% of the population of Botswana
Botswanan diaspora by country
The top 3 countries are home to 82% of the diaspora
| Country | Emigrants |
|---|---|
| South Africa | 8004 |
| Zimbabwe | 3985 |
| Australia | 1736 |
| Zambia | 1498 |
| Namibia | 731 |
| Lesotho | 247 |
| Tanzania | 136 |
| Norway | 131 |
| Denmark | 79 |
| Guinea | 44 |
| Eswatini | 39 |
| Bulgaria | 36 |
| Finland | 22 |
| Hungary | 14 |
| Bahamas | 14 |
| Cyprus | 6 |
| Greece | 5 |
| Slovakia | 2 |
| Slovenia | 1 |
| Luxembourg | 1 |
| Latvia | 0 |
By region
88% of the diaspora lives in Africa
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Key facts
The Botswanan diaspora in numbers
Most Batswana abroad live in South Africa
48% of the diaspora lives in South Africa, while the next country accounts for just 24%.
The diaspora is spread more widely than in 1990
The largest country's share fell from 79% to 48%.
The share of the diaspora living in Africa has declined since 1990
99.2% of the diaspora lived in Africa in 1990, compared with 87.8% today.
Botswanan diaspora population over time
People living abroad, by year
| Year | Emigrants |
|---|---|
| 1990 | 23982 |
| 1995 | 17487 |
| 2000 | 22155 |
| 2005 | 22158 |
| 2010 | 19869 |
| 2015 | 18161 |
| 2020 | 17397 |
| 2024 | 16731 |
Largest communities over time
Batswana living in the 5 largest countries, by year
| Year | South Africa | Zimbabwe | Australia | Zambia | Namibia |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990 | 19046 | 2945 | 115 | 469 | 975 |
| 1995 | 12829 | 2924 | 185 | 228 | 932 |
| 2000 | 16026 | 4012 | 670 | 111 | 865 |
| 2005 | 15535 | 4134 | 973 | 319 | 683 |
| 2010 | 12922 | 3705 | 1120 | 918 | 658 |
| 2015 | 11016 | 3725 | 1327 | 808 | 644 |
| 2020 | 9435 | 3865 | 1599 | 1130 | 689 |
| 2024 | 8004 | 3985 | 1736 | 1498 | 731 |
Fastest-changing communities
How the number of Batswana in each country has changed since the selected year
Batswana among immigrants in other countries
Where Batswana make up the largest share of a country's immigrants
Data source: International Migrant Stock 2024 (UN DESA, Population Division)
Frequently asked questions
How many Batswana live outside Botswana?
Around 16.7K Batswana live abroad, the world's #184 largest diaspora.
Where do most Batswana abroad live?
Most Batswana live in South Africa, Zimbabwe and Australia — these three countries account for about 82% of all Batswana living abroad.
Which country has the largest Botswanan population outside Botswana?
South Africa is home to the largest Botswanan community abroad — 8K people, about 48% of all Batswana living abroad.
What share of the population of Botswana lives abroad?
About 1% of the population of Botswana lives abroad — that's 16.7K out of a total population of 2.5M.
Is the Botswanan diaspora growing?
No — over the past decade, the number of Batswana living abroad has fallen from 18.2K to 16.7K, about 8%.
Where does the data on the Botswanan diaspora come from?
The source is International Migrant Stock 2024 (UN DESA, Population Division). It counts people born in Botswana who now live in other countries. Descendants of emigrants born abroad are not included.
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Living in Botswana
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