# Southern District, Botswana – Population, Sub-districts & Map

> Source: https://wherepedia.org/botswana/southern/

District · Botswana 

# Southern District

Southern District is a district of Botswana. It had an estimated **221,505 people** in 2023 on 27,194 km² (about 8.1 per km²). Its main town is Kanye. It is divided into 3 sub-districts. 352 named villages and localities are recorded here, and 144 mapped services such as hospitals, banks and schools.

- 221,505people (2023)
- 27,194km²
- 3sub-districts
- 144mapped services

## How many people live in Southern District?

Southern District had an estimated **221,505 people** in 2023 — 9.2% of Botswana, 4th of 17 districts. There are 1,112 women for every 1,000 men (above the Botswana figure of 1,086). Spread over 27,194 km², that is about **8.1 people per km²**, 12th of 17 districts.

32.1% of people are children under 15 and 8.6% are 65 or older; the median age is about 26 years (it is 27 across Botswana). For every 100 people of working age (15–64) there are 69 children and older people.

0–4 ****23,681**

5–9 ****23,907**

10–14 ****23,453**

15–19 ****21,729**

20–24 ****14,243**

25–29 ****13,661**

30–34 ****13,491**

35–39 ****12,843**

40–44 ****13,507**

45–49 ****12,178**

50–54 ****11,079**

55–59 ****10,238**

60–64 ****8,456**

65–69 ****6,933**

70–74 ****5,004**

75–79 ****3,811**

80+ ****3,291**

Source: [UNFPA via OCHA HDX, population 2023 (COD-PS, CC BY-IGO)](https://data.humdata.org/dataset/cod-ps-bwa).

## Where is Southern District?

Southern District lies in [Botswana](https://wherepedia.org/botswana/). It borders 4 other districts: [Jwaneng District](https://wherepedia.org/botswana/jwaneng/), [Kgalagadi District](https://wherepedia.org/botswana/kgalagadi/), [Kweneng District](https://wherepedia.org/botswana/kweneng/) and [South East District](https://wherepedia.org/botswana/south-east/). By area it is the 6th largest of 17 districts in Botswana. It covers 4.7% of [Botswana](https://wherepedia.org/botswana/). The centre of Southern District is about 103 km in a straight line from Gaborone, the capital. The centre point is at 24.9017° S, 24.9210° E.

Source: [UNFPA via OCHA HDX, administrative boundaries (COD-AB, CC BY-IGO)](https://data.humdata.org/dataset/cod-ab-bwa).

## Things to see in and around Southern District

OpenStreetMap lists 6 named sights in Southern District: 2 attractions; 2 nature reserves; 1 waterfall; 1 museum.

- Kgosi Bathoen II Museum · museum
- Kanye Gorge · waterfall
- Jwana Game Park · nature reserve
- SO/2 · nature reserve
- Jwaneng Moto-X · attraction
- Polokwe View Point · attraction

Source: [© OpenStreetMap contributors (ODbL), Geofabrik extract — named settlements](https://www.openstreetmap.org/copyright).

Named attractions, museums, viewpoints, historic sites and natural features mapped in OpenStreetMap. Places of worship are not listed.

## Know before you go: Southern District

- Time zoneUTC+2, no daylight saving · Africa/Gaborone
- CurrencyPula (BWP)
- Country calling code+267
- LanguagesEnglish, Tswana
- Plug typesType D, G · 230 V
- Driving sideLeft

### Nearest airports

- Sir Seretse Khama International Airport (GBE) · Gaborone108 km
- George Dick Montshioa Airport (MBD) · Mafeking118 km

### Daylight

Days are longest in Dec (about 13.7 hours, sunrise around 05:25) and shortest in Jun (about 10.6 hours, sunrise around 07:02, sunset around 17:38).

Month Sunrise Sunset Daylight 

Jan 05:43 19:14 13.5 h 

Feb 06:06 19:02 12.9 h 

Mar 06:21 18:38 12.3 h 

Apr 06:34 18:06 11.5 h 

May 06:48 17:44 10.9 h 

Jun 07:02 17:38 10.6 h 

Jul 07:04 17:47 10.7 h 

Aug 06:48 18:01 11.2 h 

Sep 06:18 18:13 11.9 h 

Oct 05:46 18:25 12.6 h 

Nov 05:25 18:44 13.3 h 

Dec 05:25 19:05 13.7 h 

Source: [GeoNames country and time-zone files (CC BY 4.0)](https://www.geonames.org/); [Wikidata (CC0) — plug types, mains voltage, driving side; retrieved 2026-11-03](https://www.wikidata.org/); [OurAirports (public domain)](https://ourairports.com/data/).

Airports with scheduled passenger flights; straight-line distances. Daylight is calculated for the 15th of each month in local standard time. Check entry and visa rules with official government sources before travelling.

## Sub-districts of Southern District

Sub-district People per km² Area km² Census localities Services 

[Southern](https://wherepedia.org/botswana/southern/southern/) 139,252 11 12,292 32 123 

[Barolong](https://wherepedia.org/botswana/southern/barolong/) 64,546 10 6,349 49 19 

[Ngwaketse West](https://wherepedia.org/botswana/southern/ngwaketse-west/) 17,707 2.1 8,561 11 2 

Source: [UNFPA via OCHA HDX, administrative boundaries (COD-AB, CC BY-IGO)](https://data.humdata.org/dataset/cod-ab-bwa); [UNFPA via OCHA HDX, population 2023 (COD-PS, CC BY-IGO)](https://data.humdata.org/dataset/cod-ps-bwa).

## Largest towns in Southern District

- Kanye48,028
- Mosopa23,858
- Jwaneng18,784
- Sese6,798
- Lotlhakane6,045
- Good Hope5,672
- Mmathete5,421
- Manyana3,338
- Lorolwana2,225
- Khakhea2,133
- Kgomokasitwa1,669
- Mabuli1,665
- Pitseng1,526
- Tlhareselele804

Source: [GeoNames (CC BY 4.0) — settlements, natural and historic features](https://www.geonames.org/).

Populations as recorded in GeoNames, which may be older than the estimates above.

## Landscape and landmarks of Southern District

Named natural and historic features inside Southern District, from the GeoNames gazetteer.

### Water

5 rivers and streams; 1 dam.

- Makletsi Laagte
- Matlhotshana
- Mmakgodumo Dam
- Mosileme Laagte
- Mourinuana
- Tsitlane

### Hills and mountains

37 hills; 3 valleys.

- Manyelanong Hill · 1,490 m
- Pyetle Hill · 1,408 m
- Bopharamo Hill · 1,390 m
- Kgoro Hill · 1,371 m
- Sehowya · 1,363 m
- Ntswesolo Hill · 1,346 m
- Ditshukutswane Hill · 1,326 m
- Mogojwagojwe Hill · 1,320 m
- Ngolo Hill · 1,315 m
- Mamadungwa Hill · 1,313 m
- Korwe Hill · 1,309 m
- Leropo Hill · 1,306 m
- Male Hill · 1,306 m
- Seokangwane Hill · 1,300 m
- Serowe Hill · 1,297 m
- Kwahu Hill · 1,285 m
- Mokalaka Hill · 1,282 m
- Garamotlhose Valley · 1,277 m
- Tletletsi Hill · 1,276 m
- Kgokgole Hill · 1,270 m
- Sehikile Hill · 1,270 m
- Kamawe Hill · 1,262 m
- Morope Hill · 1,254 m
- Lekgabana la Losetlha Hill · 1,248 m

…and 16 more.

### Getting around

2 airports; 2 airfields; 1 railway station.

- Goodhope
- Jwaneng Airport
- Kanye Airport
- Pitsani
- Sekuma

Source: [GeoNames (CC BY 4.0) — settlements, natural and historic features](https://www.geonames.org/).

Places of worship are not listed. Elevations are from the GeoNames terrain model and are approximate.

## Weather in Southern District and the best time to visit

In Southern District, the warmest month is Jan (average 26 °C) and the coolest is Jul (12 °C). About 521 mm of rain falls in a year; the wettest month is Dec (93 mm) and the driest Jul (1 mm). The most comfortable months for a visit are **January to December**.

- Jan
- Feb
- Mar
- Apr
- May
- Jun
- Jul
- Aug
- Sep
- Oct
- Nov
- Dec

Month Average °C Rain mm 

Jan 26 92 

Feb 25 91 

Mar 23 73 

Apr 20 41 

May 16 11 

Jun 13 9 

Jul 12 1 

Aug 16 3 

Sep 20 10 

Oct 24 31 

Nov 25 66 

Dec 26 93 

Source: [NASA POWER climatology, retrieved 2026-10-29](https://power.larc.nasa.gov/).

## Hospitals, banks and other services in Southern District

Places mapped inside Southern District in open map data, by type — each number opens the full list with locations.

- Hospitals13
- Banks3
- ATMs3
- Petrol pumps25
- Hotels13
- Shopping malls4
- Schools62
- Colleges and universities2
- Pharmacies3
- Restaurants9
- Police stations7

Source: [Overture Maps places (CDLA-Permissive-2.0) and © OpenStreetMap contributors (ODbL)](https://overturemaps.org/).

Coverage depends on what has been mapped; contact details are not shown.

## Quick answers

- Where is Southern District?In Botswana
- What is the population of Southern District?221,505 (2023 estimate)
- What is the median age in Southern District?About 26 years (2023 estimate)
- What is the population density of Southern District?About 8.1 people per km²
- What borders Southern District?Jwaneng District, Kgalagadi District, Kweneng District and South East District
- What is there to see in Southern District?Jwana Game Park, Jwaneng Moto-X, Kanye Gorge, Kgosi Bathoen II Museum
- What time zone is Southern District in?UTC+2
- What currency is used in Southern District?Pula (BWP)
- What language is spoken in Southern District?English, Tswana (main languages nationally)
- What is the largest town in Southern District?Kanye
- What is the highest point in Southern District?Manyelanong Hill (1,490 m, GeoNames elevation model)
- What is the best time to visit Southern District?January to December
- How many hospitals are in Southern District?13 mapped
- How many banks are in Southern District?3 mapped
- How many ATMs are in Southern District?3 mapped
- How many petrol pumps are in Southern District?25 mapped
- What is the P-code of Southern District?BW08 (OCHA common operational dataset)