| Botswana Population Reaches 2 Million |
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29/9/11: 2011 POPULATION & HOUSING CENSUS - PRELIMINARY RESULTS BRIEF 1. Botswana Population at 2 Million Botswana's population has reached the 2 million mark. Preliminary results show that there were 2 038 228 persons enumerated in Botswana during the 2011 Population and Housing Census, compared with 1 680 863 enumerated in 2001. Suffice to note that this is the de-facto population – persons enumerated where they were found during enumeration. 2. General Comments on the Results 2.1 Population Growth The annual population growth rate1 between 2001 and 2011 is 1.9 percent. This gives further evidence to the effect that Botswana’s population continues to increase at diminishing growth rates. Suffice to note that inter-census annual population growth rates for decennial censuses held from 1971 to 2001 were 4.6, 3.5 and 2.4 percent respectively. A close analysis of the results shows that it has taken 28 years for Botswana’s population to increase by one million. At the current rate and furthermore, with the current conditions2 prevailing, it would take 23 years for the population to increase by another million - to reach 3 million. Marked differences are visible in district population annual growths, with estimated zero growth for Selebi-Phikwe and Lobatse and a rate of over 4 percent per annum for South East District. Most district growth rates hover around 2 percent per annum. High growth rates in Kweneng and South East Districts have been observed, due largely to very high growth rates of villages within the proximity of Gaborone. Notable among these villages is Mmopane (15.4 %), Metsimotlhaba (7.1 %), Kumakwane (5.7 %), Tlokweng (5.5 %), and Kopong (5.3 %). Suffice to note that the population of Mmopane increased more than four times between 2001 and 2011 whilst that of Metsimotlhaba almost doubled. A similar trend is evident in the growth of villages within close proximity to other cities and towns. Apart from growth linked to town-push factors, villages which are district headquarters have experienced very high rates (e.g. Masunga and Goodhope). 2.2 Population Distribution The percentage of population share for cities and towns dropped by one percentage point – from 23 to 22 percent over the 10 year period. Although Central District still commands the biggest percentage share of the population, at 28 percent, this is a drop of 2 percentage points over the 2001 figure. Kweneng (15 %), Ngamiland East (5 %) and South East (5 %) districts increased their share to the national population by 1 percentage point. It would seem the push factors from cities/towns to urban villages, which is linked to housing shortage, has a bearing on the emerging patterns. 2.3 Population Density With the land area fixed, a change in density is essentially a function of population growth. Consequently, the population density has risen between the two censuses – from 3 persons per square kilometre in 2001 to 3.5 persons per square kilometre in 2011. Notable is the increase in densities are districts with villages within close proximity to cities (South East, Kgatleng, Kweneng and North East), possibly due to push factors from the cities and towns. Accommodation needs in cities and towns may cause people to turn to nearby villages. 2.4 Population of large Villages Census preliminary results show that Molepolole still retains its position as the biggest village in Botswana, with an estimated population size of 63 128. On the other hand, Mogoditshane has jumped from a seventh position in 2001 to become the second biggest village in 2011 with a population of 56 139. Maun dropped from position 2 to 3 while Kanye still remained fourth placed. A total of 46 villages have population size of 5 000 or more, in comparison with 27 in 2001. New entrants shall be assessed for eligibility5 for classification as urban villages. Suffice to note that in terms of the census nomenclature a locality is classified as an urban area, if in addition to a population of 5 000, at least 75 percent of the labour force is engaged in non-agricultural activities. 2.5 Overall quality of results A census is an exercise of humongous proportions hence obstacles are likely to be encountered and these may have a bearing on the quality of results. Issues which come to mind include disputes connected to acceptable locality names, locality allegiances, omissions, public cooperation and quality of field personnel. Public cooperation was generally very good, leading to reporting of accidental omissions and few cases of absolute refusals. It is still too early to assess the effect of the change from using teachers (who tended to be more mature, experienced and with better work ethics) to the unemployed (relatively young, with no work experience and weak on work ethics) on the results, especially the content. With regard to the disputes alluded to above, these tended to slow enumeration rather than affect the coverage since these were generally resolved amicably. In terms of coverage, an estimated total of 25 000 persons were reported as having been unremunerated, which represents slightly over 1 percent. This is relatively very low percent since a complete 100 percent is seldom possible, even if a curfew was declared during the enumeration period. On the whole, indications point to the exercise having been a success. 3. Technical Note Results presented in this Census Brief are based on quick district summaries compiled immediately upon completion of enumeration. Although these results have been checked and verified to the extent possible, they are based on unedited and unprocessed data and therefore are subject to change. Notwithstanding that, any changes following data processing is not expected to result in significant differences. In comparison with the projected population, preliminary results are generally slightly higher than the projections. Whilst projections serve an important purpose in between censuses, the resulting figures are as good as the underlying assumptions on fertility, mortality and migration. This brief is the first of a series of census outputs planned to be released from the 2011 Population and Housing Census. Next in the series of these outputs shall be the Population of Cities, Towns, Villages and Associated localities, planed to be released in May 2012. That publication will present population of each locality – totals as well as counts for each sex based on cleaned data. Anna Majelantle Government Statistician Source: Republic of Botswana TAUTONA TIMES vol. 9 no. 22 - 30/9/2011 |
