Botswana: immigration

How many refugees are there in Botswana?

Botswana hosted 847 refugees and 21 asylum seekers at the end of 2025, according to the UN Refugee Agency (UNHCR). The number of refugees has risen each year from 688 in 2021.

Refugees are people whose claims for protection have been accepted, and asylum seekers are those still awaiting a decision. The fall in asylum seekers from 97 in 2023 to 7 in 2024 reflects decisions on pending cases. UNHCR also counts 46 other people of concern in Botswana. These figures do not include labour migrants.

Official sources: UNHCR: Refugee Data Finder

How many people from Botswana seek asylum abroad?

At the end of 2025 there were 384 refugees and 789 asylum seekers from Botswana worldwide, according to the UN Refugee Agency (UNHCR). In 2021 there were 122 refugees and 213 asylum seekers.

Asylum claims by Batswana peaked at 1,389 pending at the end of 2023. The number of asylum seekers depends on how many new claims are lodged and how quickly host countries decide them, so it can fall even as the number of recognised refugees rises. UNHCR's data finder breaks the totals down by country of asylum.

Official sources: UNHCR: Refugee Data Finder

How many immigrants live in Botswana?

4.6%: that is the share of people born abroad in Botswana for 2024, according to the UN Population Division. It was 4.7% in 2015. Across Sub-Saharan Africa the middle value was 2.2%, and Botswana placed 10th highest of 48. Of 193 countries with 2024 data, 93rd highest.

How many people move to Botswana each year?

According to the UN Population Division, net migration in Botswana was -5,665 in 2025. The peak was 5,151 in 2010 and the low -11,770 in 2019. It is 25th highest of 48 in Sub-Saharan Africa, where the median is -5,646. Of 193 countries with 2025 data, 118th highest.

How many refugees live in Botswana?

In 2025, the number of refugees in the country in Botswana was 847, according to UNHCR. Since 2005 it has ranged from 617 (2020) to 3,312 (2011). Across Sub-Saharan Africa the middle value was 35,241, and Botswana placed 36th highest of 45. World rank, highest first: 128th of 169.

How many refugees come from Botswana?

According to UNHCR, the number of refugees from the country living abroad in Botswana was 384 in 2025. It is the top of the series, which starts in 2005. It is 40th highest of 48 in Sub-Saharan Africa, where the median is 12,726. Worldwide: 119th of 189.

How much money do migrants send home to Botswana?

The latest figure from the World Bank, for 2025, is 0.8% of GDP. Its high point since 2005 was 2005, at 1.2% of GDP; its low point was 2012, at 0.1% of GDP. It is 15th highest of 20 in Sub-Saharan Africa, where the median is 2.6% of GDP. Worldwide: 83rd of 127.