Population figures
Total country population
2,719,694
Forcibly displaced population
Refugees (under UNHCR's mandate):
809
Asylum-seekers:
158
IDPs (of concern to UNHCR):
0
Other people in need of international protection:
0
Other
Statelessness persons
0
Host community
0
Others of concern to UNHCR
70
Country context
Botswana is a landlocked country in Southern Africa, bordered by Namibia, Zimbabwe, Zambia, and South Africa. Its central geographic position places it along key migratory routes in the region, influencing patterns of forced displacement within its territory.
The country hosts a refugee and asylum-seeking population primarily residing in Dukwi Refugee Camp, located approximately 580 kilometers from the capital, Gaborone. The camp accommodates individuals from various countries, including the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Rwanda, Burundi, Somalia, and Zimbabwe. A smaller number of refugees live in urban areas such as Gaborone and Francistown.
...Botswana is a party to the 1951 Convention relating to the Status of Refugees and its 1967 Protocol, as well as the 1969 OAU Convention. It also succeeded to the 1954 Convention on the Status of Stateless Persons, albeit with reservations, but has not acceded to the 1961 Convention on the Reduction of Statelessness.
Significant legislative advancements were made in 2024. The Parliament of Botswana passed a bill to repeal and reenact the Refugees (Recognition and Control) Act, aligning it more closely with international standards. The updated Act introduces a four-tier refugee status determination process and establishes both the Commissioner for Refugees and the Botswana Refugees Committee, improving institutional oversight and procedural safeguards.
In the same year, Botswana passed the Citizenship (Amendment) Act, a major reform aimed at reducing statelessness. The amendment allows dual citizenship and naturalization in certain circumstances. In parallel, the Births and Deaths Registration Act was amended to ensure abandoned children receive nationality protections. These legal reforms mark significant steps toward aligning national laws with Botswana’s international obligations.
Despite these advancements, challenges remain. While a comprehensive refugee and statelessness framework is being established, implementation and coordination mechanisms will be key to ensuring access to documentation, durable solutions, and integration opportunities for forcibly displaced populations. Botswana is finalizing a qualitative study on statelessness, intended to guide potential accession to the 1961 Statelessness Convention and further shape policy development.
Botswana’s recent legal reforms reflect a strong political will to strengthen protection frameworks and ensure alignment with international standards.
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