Botswana is widely known for its political stability, strong governance, and balanced development between urban and rural areas. While cities like Gaborone and Francistown attract national attention, villages remain the heart of the country’s social, cultural, and economic life. This List of Botswana villages and their population provides a clear and data-driven look at villages with populations exceeding 5,000 residents, highlighting how people are distributed across districts and regions.

Villages with larger populations often function as semi-urban centers. They host district administration offices, hospitals, senior secondary schools, transport hubs, and commercial activities. Understanding their population size is critical for national planning, service delivery, infrastructure investment, and private sector growth.

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Villages in Botswana with a population of over 5,000

Based on the population data provided, Botswana has 60 villages with a population exceeding 5,000 people. Together, these villages account for a total population of 1,125,283, made up of 535,146 males and 590,137 females. This shows a clear female majority, a trend that is consistent across most districts.

Below is a consolidated table showing the villages with populations above 5,000:

SN	Village	Total Population	Males	Females
1	Mogoditshane	88,006	44,225	43,781
2	Maun	84,993	41,083	43,910
3	Molepolole	74,674	34,436	40,238
4	Serowe	55,676	25,846	29,830
5	Tlokweng	55,508	25,734	29,774
6	Palapye	52,636	25,891	26,745
7	Mochudi	50,317	23,716	26,601
8	Mahalapye	48,431	22,984	25,447
9	Kanye	48,028	22,273	25,755
10	Letlhakane	36,338	18,048	18,290
11	Ramotswa	33,271	15,626	17,645
12	Mmopane	25,345	12,316	13,029
13	Thamaga	25,297	11,626	13,671
14	Moshupa	23,858	11,097	12,761
15	Tonota	23,296	10,752	12,544
16	Bobonong	21,216	9,567	11,649
17	Gabane	20,010	9,480	10,530
18	Ghanzi	19,012	9,315	9,697
19	Tutume	18,582	8,592	9,990
20	Kopong	13,816	6,517	7,299
21	Mmadinare	13,198	5,981	7,217
22	Tati Siding	12,393	5,809	6,584
23	Tsabong	11,651	5,641	6,010
24	Metsimotlhabe	11,589	5,521	6,068
25	Gumare	11,572	5,452	6,120
26	Shakawe	10,589	5,159	5,430
27	Oodi	10,257	4,958	5,299
28	Bokaa	9,150	4,395	4,755
29	Kasane	9,095	4,553	4,542
30	Borolong	8,917	4,205	4,712
31	Shoshong	8,887	4,125	4,762
32	Molapowabojang	8,722	4,024	4,698
33	Kazungula	8,704	4,442	4,262
34	Letlhakeng	8,343	3,964	4,379
35	Modipane	7,945	3,775	4,170
36	Nata	7,779	3,748	4,031
37	Tsienyane/Rakops	7,439	3,457	3,982
38	Mmankgodi	7,396	3,414	3,982
39	Lerala	7,204	3,381	3,823
40	Otse	6,958	3,374	3,584
41	Kumakwane	6,821	3,234	3,587
42	Sese	6,798	3,469	3,329
43	Kang	6,764	3,440	3,324
44	Lentsweletau	6,652	3,124	3,528
45	Ramotswa Station/Taung	6,286	3,131	3,155
46	Masunga	6,216	2,885	3,331
47	Lotlhakane	6,045	2,751	3,294
48	Sefophe	6,001	2,792	3,209
49	Rasesa	5,966	2,820	3,146
50	Maitengwe	5,929	2,633	3,296
51	Mathangwane	5,918	2,761	3,157
52	Shashe-Mooke	5,897	2,841	3,056
53	Good Hope	5,672	2,693	2,979
54	Gweta	5,548	2,602	2,946
55	Mmathethe	5,421	2,445	2,976
56	Sefhare	5,381	2,519	2,862
57	Chadibe	5,371	2,491	2,880
58	Tsetsebjwe	5,248	2,532	2,716
59	Hukuntsi	5,224	2,501	2,723
60	Charles Hill	5,147	2,531	2,616

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Key population patterns across Botswana villages

One of the most noticeable trends in this List of Botswana villages and their population is the dominance of large villages in districts close to urban centers. Villages such as Mogoditshane, Tlokweng, Mmopane, and Thamaga benefit from proximity to Gaborone, making them attractive for housing and business development.

Another important pattern is the consistent female majority. In almost every village with over 5,000 residents, females outnumber males. This reflects labor migration patterns, where men move to mines, cities, or commercial farms, while women maintain households and community structures.

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Regional concentration of large villages

The Kweneng District has the highest concentration of large villages, with Molepolole and Mogoditshane leading in population. The Central District follows closely, hosting major settlements such as Serowe, Palapye, Mahalapye, and Tonota. In the north, Ngamiland East is dominated by Maun, while Ngamiland West is anchored by Gumare and Shakawe.

Smaller but strategically important large villages are found in Chobe, Ghanzi, and the Kgalagadi regions, where settlements like Kasane, Ghanzi, Tsabong, Kang, and Hukuntsi play vital administrative and economic roles.

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Why this data matters

Village population data is essential for:

• Planning schools, clinics, and housing
• Allocating development funding
• Designing transport and water infrastructure
• Guiding private sector investment
• Supporting decentralization policies

Institutions such as Statistics Botswana use this data to inform national development frameworks and district-level planning.

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1. What is the largest village in Botswana by population?
Mogoditshane is the largest village, with a population of 88,006.

2. How many villages in Botswana have more than 5,000 people?
There are 60 villages with populations above 5,000.

3. Which village has the highest population outside the south?
Maun is the most populated village in northern Botswana.

4. Why do females outnumber males in most villages?
This is mainly due to labor migration, where men move for employment opportunities.

5. Are large villages considered urban areas?
No, they are administratively rural, but many function like small towns.

6. Which district has the most large villages?
Kweneng District has the highest concentration of villages with populations over 5,000.

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This List of Botswana villages and their population clearly shows that villages are not small or insignificant settlements. Many are large, dynamic communities that support a substantial share of the national population. As Botswana continues to grow, these villages will remain central to development, investment, and social stability.

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