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Population in Bhutan compared to Botswana: Trends, Charts, Rankings

Updated on by Georank team

The latest officially reported population of Bhutan was 791,524 in 2024 vs 2,521,139 people in Botswana in 2024. In 2026, based on the adjusted UN estimation, the current Bhutan's population is 803,385 people compared to 2,615,162 in Botswana.

Population statistics:

  • Botswana's population is 3.26 times bigger than Bhutan's.
  • Bhutan is ranked the 163rd most populous country in the world, while Botswana is the 142nd.
  • The countries together account for 0.04% of the world: 0.01% for Bhutan vs 0.03% for Botswana.
  • For the last 10 years, Bhutan has had an average growth rate of +0.8% per year vs +1.5% in Botswana.
  • Since 2006, the population of Bhutan has increased from 671K people to 803K (19.8% growth), while Botswana has grown from 1.87M to 2.62M (39.5% growth).

Bhutan vs Botswana: population by year and forecast

Bhutan
Factual

Projection
Botswana
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Population
Bhutan Botswana
2100 695,106 3,871,504
2099 699,983 3,876,625
2098 704,455 3,882,670
2097 709,230 3,887,985
2096 713,930 3,892,886
2095 719,152 3,897,211
2094 724,401 3,901,478
2093 729,500 3,905,541
2092 735,075 3,909,490
2091 741,074 3,913,899
2090 746,937 3,916,706
2089 753,010 3,917,351
2088 758,937 3,917,510
2087 765,235 3,916,826
2086 770,883 3,916,303
2085 776,435 3,915,785
2084 781,892 3,914,364
2083 787,929 3,912,929
2082 793,543 3,910,994
2081 799,530 3,910,013
2080 805,275 3,908,255
2079 811,060 3,905,358
2078 816,530 3,900,828
2077 821,247 3,896,126
2076 825,978 3,890,528
2075 830,808 3,884,696
2074 836,017 3,879,057
2073 841,208 3,873,259
2072 845,861 3,865,665
2071 850,262 3,858,720
2070 853,930 3,851,234
2069 857,808 3,841,316
2068 861,327 3,830,826
2067 864,753 3,818,341
2066 868,260 3,805,705
2065 871,517 3,791,211
2064 873,735 3,775,938
2063 875,674 3,760,179
2062 877,938 3,742,710
2061 880,023 3,723,346
2060 881,913 3,703,231
2059 883,191 3,682,816
2058 884,515 3,659,567
2057 884,612 3,635,514
2056 885,822 3,611,843
2055 886,403 3,587,056
2054 885,903 3,562,182
2053 886,520 3,535,732
2052 886,640 3,507,938
2051 885,551 3,479,939
2050 884,535 3,451,521
2049 883,736 3,422,143
2048 882,640 3,391,720
2047 881,660 3,360,414
2046 880,037 3,328,208
2045 877,677 3,296,489
2044 875,155 3,265,120
2043 872,383 3,233,076
2042 869,248 3,201,405
2041 866,366 3,168,873
2040 863,173 3,135,889
2039 859,926 3,101,794
2038 856,429 3,067,648
2037 852,475 3,032,620
2036 848,122 2,996,884
2035 843,447 2,960,590
2034 839,780 2,923,411
2033 835,308 2,885,991
2032 830,472 2,847,292
2031 825,528 2,808,872
2030 820,888 2,768,505
2029 816,655 2,728,467
2028 812,002 2,686,968
2027 807,474 2,645,863
2026 801,869 2,603,779
2025 796,375 2,562,651
2024 791,524 2,521,139
2023 786,385 2,480,244
2022 780,914 2,439,892
2021 775,442 2,401,441
2020 770,006 2,365,894
2019 764,824 2,332,083
2018 759,759 2,299,141
2017 754,335 2,266,747
2016 747,866 2,234,776
2015 740,618 2,203,273
2014 733,139 2,172,044
2013 725,273 2,140,682
2012 717,279 2,108,617
2011 709,377 2,073,535
2010 701,632 2,033,111
2009 693,988 1,990,673
2008 686,351 1,949,970
2007 678,641 1,911,201
2006 670,799 1,874,516
2005 661,865 1,839,877
2004 650,544 1,807,146
2003 637,663 1,775,736
2002 624,409 1,744,763
2001 610,794 1,712,254
2000 596,863 1,677,382
1999 582,579 1,641,997
1998 569,435 1,606,899
1997 558,697 1,571,691
1996 548,784 1,535,914
1995 547,989 1,498,836
1994 554,497 1,460,023
1993 554,673 1,420,115
1992 577,774 1,380,033
1991 599,784 1,341,756
1990 589,287 1,305,696
1989 573,586 1,270,274
1988 556,986 1,235,476
1987 540,557 1,199,167
1986 524,324 1,160,650
1985 508,392 1,121,945
1984 492,784 1,083,660
1983 477,460 1,046,137
1982 462,485 1,009,269
1981 447,836 969,996
1980 433,404 937,485
1979 419,200 901,742
1978 405,243 849,239
1977 391,639 799,574
1976 378,490 758,508
1975 365,791 720,380
1974 353,538 685,448
1973 341,705 652,408
1972 330,264 622,407
1971 319,211 600,481
1970 308,528 590,334
1969 298,214 587,066
1968 288,311 583,966
1967 278,852 580,933
1966 269,820 577,866
1965 261,200 574,664
1964 252,987 566,266
1963 245,156 552,966
1962 237,636 540,186
1961 230,602 527,942
1960 224,084 516,165

Data sources: United Nations | World Population Prospects (2025–2100, retrieved 2026-03-10); World Bank | Health (1960–2024, retrieved 2026-04-06).

GeoRank.org/population/bhutan/botswana | CC BY

From 2006 to 2016, the population of Bhutan increased by 77,067 people (a 11.5% growth), while Botswana gained 360,260 people (a 19.2% growth).

For the next 10 years, from 2016 to 2026, Bhutan gained 55,519 people (a 7.42% growth), while Botswana's population increased by 380,386 people (a 17% growth).

Bhutan was ranked 161st most populous country in 2006 and is 163rd in 2026. Botswana was ranked 145th in 2006 and ranked 142nd now.

The UN's World Population Prospects forecasts that in 24 years (in 2050) Bhutan's population will grow by 10.1% to 884,535 people and will still be ranked 163rd. The population of Botswana will increase by 32% to 3,451,521 people and rank change from 142nd to 137th.

Bhutan is projected to reach its peak in 2052 at 887K people compared to the peak of 3.92M people in 2088 for Botswana.

Population growth rate by year

Bhutan
Factual

Projection
Botswana
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Growth rate
Bhutan Botswana
2100 -0.7% -0.13%
2099 -0.63% -0.16%
2098 -0.67% -0.14%
2097 -0.66% -0.13%
2096 -0.73% -0.11%
2095 -0.72% -0.11%
2094 -0.7% -0.1%
2093 -0.76% -0.1%
2092 -0.81% -0.11%
2091 -0.78% -0.07%
2090 -0.81% -0.02%
2089 -0.78% -0.004%
2088 -0.82% 0.02%
2087 -0.73% 0.01%
2086 -0.72% 0.01%
2085 -0.7% 0.04%
2084 -0.77% 0.04%
2083 -0.71% 0.05%
2082 -0.75% 0.03%
2081 -0.71% 0.04%
2080 -0.71% 0.07%
2079 -0.67% 0.12%
2078 -0.57% 0.12%
2077 -0.57% 0.14%
2076 -0.58% 0.15%
2075 -0.62% 0.15%
2074 -0.62% 0.15%
2073 -0.55% 0.2%
2072 -0.52% 0.18%
2071 -0.43% 0.19%
2070 -0.45% 0.26%
2069 -0.41% 0.27%
2068 -0.4% 0.33%
2067 -0.4% 0.33%
2066 -0.37% 0.38%
2065 -0.25% 0.4%
2064 -0.22% 0.42%
2063 -0.26% 0.47%
2062 -0.24% 0.52%
2061 -0.21% 0.54%
2060 -0.14% 0.55%
2059 -0.15% 0.64%
2058 -0.01% 0.66%
2057 -0.14% 0.66%
2056 -0.07% 0.69%
2055 0.06% 0.7%
2054 -0.07% 0.75%
2053 -0.01% 0.79%
2052 0.12% 0.8%
2051 0.11% 0.82%
2050 0.09% 0.86%
2049 0.12% 0.9%
2048 0.11% 0.93%
2047 0.18% 0.97%
2046 0.27% 0.96%
2045 0.29% 0.96%
2044 0.32% 0.99%
2043 0.36% 0.99%
2042 0.33% 1.03%
2041 0.37% 1.05%
2040 0.38% 1.1%
2039 0.41% 1.11%
2038 0.46% 1.16%
2037 0.51% 1.19%
2036 0.55% 1.23%
2035 0.44% 1.27%
2034 0.54% 1.3%
2033 0.58% 1.36%
2032 0.6% 1.37%
2031 0.57% 1.46%
2030 0.52% 1.47%
2029 0.57% 1.54%
2028 0.56% 1.55%
2027 0.7% 1.62%
2026 0.69% 1.6%
2025 0.61% 1.65%
2024 0.65% 1.65%
2023 0.7% 1.65%
2022 0.71% 1.6%
2021 0.71% 1.5%
2020 0.68% 1.45%
2019 0.67% 1.43%
2018 0.72% 1.43%
2017 0.86% 1.43%
2016 0.98% 1.43%
2015 1.02% 1.44%
2014 1.08% 1.47%
2013 1.11% 1.52%
2012 1.11% 1.69%
2011 1.1% 1.99%
2010 1.1% 2.13%
2009 1.11% 2.09%
2008 1.14% 2.03%
2007 1.17% 1.96%
2006 1.35% 1.88%
2005 1.74% 1.81%
2004 2.02% 1.77%
2003 2.12% 1.78%
2002 2.23% 1.9%
2001 2.33% 2.08%
2000 2.45% 2.15%
1999 2.31% 2.18%
1998 1.92% 2.24%
1997 1.81% 2.33%
1996 0.15% 2.47%
1995 -1.17% 2.66%
1994 -0.03% 2.81%
1993 -4% 2.9%
1992 -3.67% 2.85%
1991 1.78% 2.76%
1990 2.74% 2.79%
1989 2.98% 2.82%
1988 3.04% 3.03%
1987 3.1% 3.32%
1986 3.13% 3.45%
1985 3.17% 3.53%
1984 3.21% 3.59%
1983 3.24% 3.65%
1982 3.27% 4.05%
1981 3.33% 3.47%
1980 3.39% 3.96%
1979 3.44% 6.18%
1978 3.47% 6.21%
1977 3.47% 5.41%
1976 3.47% 5.29%
1975 3.47% 5.1%
1974 3.46% 5.06%
1973 3.46% 4.82%
1972 3.46% 3.65%
1971 3.46% 1.72%
1970 3.46% 0.56%
1969 3.43% 0.53%
1968 3.39% 0.52%
1967 3.35% 0.53%
1966 3.3% 0.56%
1965 3.25% 1.48%
1964 3.19% 2.41%
1963 3.16% 2.37%
1962 3.05% 2.32%
1961 2.91% 2.28%

Data sources: United Nations | World Population Prospects (2025–2100, retrieved 2026-03-10); World Bank | Health (1961–2024, retrieved 2026-04-06).

GeoRank.org/population/bhutan/botswana | CC BY

In 2024, the population of Bhutan grew by 0.65%, while Botswana's population grew by 1.65%.

Live population counters

Bhutan Botswana
Current population
803385
2615162
Population rank 163/197 142/197
Percent of world population 0.01% 0.03%
One net population change
1.7 hours
12.9 minutes
One birth every
52.8 minutes
8.58 minutes
One death every
1.82 hours
37 minutes
Daily growth/decline +14 +112
Annual growth/decline +5,139 +40,895
Annual growth/decline rate +0.65% +1.65%
Population growth rate rank 120/197 66/197
One migration net change every
19.3 hours
1.55 hours
Annual migration change +455 -5,665
Net migration rank 69/196 120/196
Foreign-born residents 55,705 116,402
Foreign-born residents rank 146/195 126/195
Foreign-born share of population 7% 4.6%
Foreign-born share rank 80/195 96/195

Natural population change vs migration

Bhutan
Natural

Migration
Botswana
Natural

Migration
1x
Year Population change
Bhutan Botswana
Natural Migration Natural Migration
2025 - 455 - -5,665
2024 - -277 - -5,778
2023 5,153 291 47,098 -6,487
2022 5,204 291 47,400 -7,306
2021 5,162 287 40,894 -4,083
2020 5,142 287 45,610 -11,330
2019 4,643 287 45,110 -11,770
2018 4,909 287 44,171 -11,623
2017 5,367 287 43,154 -10,916
2016 6,164 1,116 41,993 -10,286
2015 6,762 450 40,897 -9,599
2014 7,290 452 40,046 -8,893
2013 7,689 309 39,404 -7,836
2012 7,967 20 39,202 -6,636
2011 8,282 -464 38,613 -1,019
2010 8,598 -922 38,101 5,151
2009 8,913 -1,305 36,671 4,960
2008 9,200 -1,538 35,433 4,343
2007 9,322 -1,553 33,832 3,926
2006 9,197 -1,283 31,340 4,270
2005 9,102 848 29,385 4,283
2004 9,056 3,642 27,481 4,314
2003 9,132 3,921 26,545 4,488
2002 9,464 3,996 26,163 4,747
2001 9,904 3,874 26,112 7,991
2000 10,142 3,940 25,850 9,798
1999 10,940 3,542 25,358 9,762
1998 11,320 486 25,397 9,685
1997 11,668 -1,994 25,738 9,597
1996 12,153 -1,998 26,847 9,368
1995 12,938 -21,501 28,478 9,464
1994 13,536 -17,997 30,664 9,023
1993 13,915 -9,800 31,691 8,441
1992 15,594 -65,900 31,995 8,026
1991 15,801 -9,522 32,219 4,311
1990 15,704 -1,000 33,015 2,580
1989 15,516 1,180 33,756 1,495
1988 15,212 1,286 34,564 -215
1987 14,887 1,481 35,647 2,624
1986 14,516 1,586 36,203 2,558
1985 14,061 1,694 35,966 2,683
1984 13,688 1,779 35,530 2,393
1983 13,284 1,897 35,142 1,980
1982 12,872 1,897 34,859 1,751
1981 12,444 2,096 34,327 7,610
1980 12,016 2,307 33,934 -10,849
1979 11,583 2,493 32,486 15,918
1978 11,133 2,700 30,596 26,015
1977 10,679 2,700 29,009 13,708
1976 10,228 2,700 27,497 11,914
1975 9,775 2,700 25,762 11,086
1974 9,324 2,700 24,160 8,854
1973 8,939 2,700 22,449 10,615
1972 8,549 2,700 21,004 5,937
1971 8,161 2,700 19,926 -3,016
1970 7,791 2,700 19,438 -16,054
1969 7,435 2,700 19,024 -15,870
1968 7,085 2,593 18,725 -15,681
1967 6,744 2,493 18,463 -15,438
1966 6,418 2,407 18,250 -15,140
1965 6,109 2,307 18,045 -14,753
1964 5,818 2,196 17,634 -4,126
1963 5,551 2,096 17,084 -4,000
1962 5,297 2,096 16,507 -4,028
1961 5,081 1,586 16,185 -4,168
1960 4,888 1,481 15,861 -4,331

Data sources: World Bank | Health (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-04-06).

GeoRank.org/population/bhutan/botswana | CC BY

Over the last 10 years, 93.3% of the population change in Bhutan is from natural causes (a gain of 55,796 people) and 6.74% is from migration (a gain of 4,035 people). In Botswana 82.5% is from natural causes (a gain of 436,373 people) and 17.5% is from migration (a loss of 92,293 people).

As of 2024, 55,705 residents or 7% of the population were not native-born in Bhutan, compared to 116,402 people or 4.6% in Botswana.

Biggest cities by population

Bhutan
City Population
Thimphu 115K
Paro 2.36K
Botswana
City Population
Gaborone 236K
Francistown 103K
Molepolole 67.6K
Kanye 48K
Serowe 47.4K
Mahalapye 41.3K
Palapye 36.2K
Lobatse 26.9K

Compare countries by 7 more topics

Population map with other countries

1x

Data sources: World Bank | Health (1960–2024, retrieved 2026-04-06); United Nations | World Population Prospects (1960–2026, retrieved 2026-03-10); U.S. Census Bureau (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-02-08); Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) (2000–2019, retrieved 2026-02-20).

GeoRank.org/population/bhutan/botswana | CC BY

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Data sources:

  1. World Bank | Health (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-04-06)
  2. United Nations | World Population Prospects (1960–2100, retrieved 2026-03-10)
  3. U.S. Census Bureau (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-02-08)
  4. Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) (2000–2019, retrieved 2026-02-20)
  5. Wikidata (2026, retrieved 2026-02-08)

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