Botswana vs Namibia — Country Comparison
Botswana and Namibia side by side: Namibia is the larger country (825,615 km² vs 582,000 km²), while Namibia has the bigger population (3 million vs 2.4 million). The full comparison table below covers capitals, currencies, languages, dialling codes, timezones and more.
Facts last checked 9 October 2026.
| Fact | Botswana | Namibia |
|---|---|---|
| Capital | Gaborone | Windhoek |
| Population | 2,359,609 | 3,022,401 |
| Area | 582,000 km² | 825,615 km² |
| Currency | Botswana pula | Namibian dollar |
| Languages | Tswana, English | Afrikaans, English, German, Herero, Khoekhoe, Kwangali, Lozi, Ndonga, Tswana |
| Dialling code | +267 | +264 |
| Main timezone | UTC+02:00 | UTC+02:00 |
| Drives on the | Left | Left |
| Region | Southern Africa | Southern Africa |
| Emergency number | 112 (works on most mobile networks worldwide) | 112 (works on most mobile networks worldwide) |
Key differences: Botswana vs Namibia
- Namibia has a slightly larger population than Botswana.
- Namibia is slightly larger by area.
- Botswana is the more densely populated of the two.
- They use different currencies: BWP and NAD.
- They share English, Tswana as an official language.
- They share a land border.
- Their geographic centres are about 720 km apart.
- Botswana and Namibia are in the same time zone (UTC+02:00).
Want the full picture for each country? See Botswana and Namibia, or compare their population pages: Botswana · Namibia.
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Botswana vs Namibia — FAQ
Which is bigger, Botswana or Namibia?
Namibia is bigger by area: 825,615 km² vs 582,000 km².
Is Botswana bigger than Namibia?
No — Namibia is larger at 825,615 km² vs 582,000 km² for Botswana.
Which has more people, Botswana or Namibia?
Namibia has the larger population: 3,022,401 (3 million) vs 2,359,609 (2.4 million).
How does the size of Botswana compare to Namibia?
Namibia (825,615 km²) is larger than Botswana (582,000 km²).
Do Botswana and Namibia use the same currency?
No — Botswana uses the Botswana pula and Namibia uses the Namibian dollar.
Are Botswana and Namibia on the same continent?
Yes — both are in Africa.
What is the time difference between Botswana and Namibia?
Botswana and Namibia are in the same time zone (UTC+02:00).
Do Botswana and Namibia share an official language?
Yes — both share English, Tswana as an official language.
Do Botswana and Namibia share a border?
Yes — Botswana and Namibia share a land border.
Which is more densely populated, Botswana or Namibia?
Botswana is more densely populated at roughly 4 people per km², compared to 4 for Namibia.
How far is Botswana from Namibia?
The distance between the geographic centres of Botswana and Namibia is roughly 720 km (450 miles) in a straight line. Actual travel distances between cities will differ.
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Botswana
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