Maun just keeps on growing

Staff Reporter

Maun is not only the second biggest village but also the fourth most densely populated area in Botswana.

Its population has increased by almost 17 000 in the past 10 years.

The final results of the 2011 Population and Housing Census released this week move Maun back to No 2 position in the urban villagers category with 60 263 inhabitants. In the category, Molepolole leads the list with a population of 66 466. The preliminary results of September 2011 had erroneously put Mogoditshane ahead of Maun but the former has since been moved to 3rd position with 58 079. Botswana's total population now stands at 2 024904. Since the last census of 2001, Maun has witnessed a phenomenal growth from 43 776 to the current figure of 60 263. The population of the whole of Ngamiland increased from 124 712 to 152 284 in the same period.

Chobe District also grew from 18 258 to 23 237 while Central Boteti leaped from 48 057 to 75 376 in the same period. The Ghanzi District, which had a population of 33 117 in 2001, now has 43 095. In a composite list of both cities/towns and villages, Gaborone is the first followed by Francistown. The latest rankings are as follows:

City/Town/Village Population

1. Gaborone 231 592

2. Francistown 98 961

3. Molepolole 66 466

4. Maun 60 263

5. Mogoditshane 58 078

6. Serowe 50 820

7. Selebi Phikwe 49 411

8. Mochudi 44 815

9. Mahalapye 43 289

10. Palapye 37 256

11. Tlokweng 36 323

12. Ramotswa 28 952

13. Letlhakane ` 22 911

14. Tonota 21 031

15. Tutume 17 528

Botswana's census history dates back to the pre-colonial era.

The first census was held on April 17, 1904 and it yielded the result of 120 776 people. This was followed in 1911 by an Anglophone Africa-wide census. Subsequent censuses followed in 1921, 1936, 1951, 1956, 1964, and 1971 – which were characterised by challenges of “inaccessibility to remote areas, fear and prejudice from people as well as poor communications link with some areas.” In 1981 Botswana held her first census that included the housing component, which resulted in 941 027 people being counted. From the 2001 population and housing census Botswana became part of the Southern African Development Community (SADC) 2000 Census Project which sought to “harmonise all census-taking activities and collect information on similar topics in the region.”

Source: Ngami Times