Botshabelo Population 2026

Botshabelo has a population of 309,714, making it the #23 biggest city in 🇿🇦 South Africa, located in Free State. Roughly 0.5% of South Africa's population lives here. It is about 30× smaller than Johannesburg, the country's biggest city.

PretoriaBotshabelo
Location of Botshabelo (capital Pretoria shown for reference). Boundaries: Natural Earth.
Population (city proper)
309,714
Rank in South Africa
#23
Coordinates
29.27°S, 26.73°E
~1,448 m elevation · Africa/Johannesburg
Distance to capital (Pretoria)
417 km
259 miles, straight line

Other big cities in Free State

CityPopulationRank in South Africa
Bloemfontein556,637#11
Welkom431,944#16
Sasolburg135,828#51
Virginia122,502#55
Kroonstad117,152#59
Kutloanong95,008#72
Bethlehem91,075#77
Phuthaditjhaba84,258#85

Cities near Botshabelo

FAQ

What is the population of Botshabelo?
Botshabelo has a population of 309,714 (city proper, latest official figure via GeoNames), making it the #23 biggest city in South Africa.
What region is Botshabelo in?
Botshabelo is located in Free State, South Africa.
Is Botshabelo the capital of South Africa?
No, the capital of South Africa is Pretoria, about 417 km away.

Sources & notes

Population refers to the city proper (municipal boundaries), not the metropolitan area. Source: GeoNames (CC BY 4.0), retrieved 2026-07-07. Country data: UN World Population Prospects 2024.

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