Botswana at its true size
Botswana covers 581,737 km², number 49 of 235 by area. Home to 2,562,122 people (2025). Sitting near the equator, it is one of the few places Mercator gets almost right.
Equal-area projection · Natural Earth 50m
| Area | 581,737 km² Wikidata |
|---|---|
| Population | 2,562,122 World Bank, 2025 |
| Density | 4.4 per km² |
| Capital | Gaborone |
| Region | Southern Africa, Africa |
| Status | Independent state |
| Coast | Landlocked |
| Codes | BW · BWA · 072 |
Countries of a similar size
- Kenya1.0×Botswana and Kenya are almost exactly the same size.
- Madagascar0.99×Botswana and Madagascar are almost exactly the same size.
- Ukraine0.96×Botswana is 4% smaller than Ukraine.
- Central African Republic0.93×Botswana is 7% smaller than Central African Republic.
- Somalia0.91×Botswana is 9% smaller than Somalia.
- France0.9×Botswana is 10% smaller than France.
How many times does Botswana fit into…
- Russia: about 29 times
- Canada: about 17 times
- United States: about 17 times
Neighbours
Questions about Botswana
- How big is Botswana?
- Botswana covers 581,737 km², which makes it number 49 of 235 countries and territories by area. About 2,562,122 people live there (2025), 4.4 per km².
- Is Botswana bigger than Kenya?
- Botswana and Kenya are almost exactly the same size. Botswana: 581,737 km²; Kenya: 581,309 km².
- How much does the Mercator map distort Botswana?
- Botswana lies close to the equator, so Mercator draws it at nearly its true size. It is the countries far from the equator that Mercator inflates.
- Which countries border Botswana?
- Botswana shares a land border with South Africa, Namibia, Zimbabwe.