Despite a slight increase in population to 2,359,609 from a projected 2,024,904 in 2011, Botswana’s overall fertility rate is declining, according to recent official statistics. “Against the backdrop of a population growth rate that continues to decline, the fertility is also declining,” according to Statistics Botswana. There are concerns that the country’s total fertility rate (FTR), which is declining and getting close to the threshold, may have major long-term effects on the demographics of the country.
A country needs a total fertility rate (TFR) of 2.1 in order to keep its population stable. At this rate, a country may renew its population, which is considered the optimal level for stability. However, if the TFR is greater than 2.1, the population will increase, but if it is less than 2.1, the population will fall, albeit this may take some time due to factors such as age structure and immigration.
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