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

Updated on by Georank team

The latest officially reported population of Botswana was 2,521,139 in 2024 vs 29,123,744 people in Cameroon in 2024. In 2026, based on the adjusted UN estimation, the current Botswana's population is 2,615,162 people compared to 30,864,115 in Cameroon.

Population statistics:

  • Cameroon's population is 11.8 times bigger than Botswana's.
  • Botswana is ranked the 142nd most populous country in the world, while Cameroon is the 51st.
  • The countries together account for 0.4% of the world: 0.03% for Botswana vs 0.37% for Cameroon.
  • For the last 10 years, Botswana has had an average growth rate of +1.5% per year vs +2.84% in Cameroon.
  • Since 2006, the population of Botswana has increased from 1.87M people to 2.62M (39.5% growth), while Cameroon has grown from 17.6M to 30.9M (75.9% growth).

Botswana vs Cameroon: population by year and forecast

Botswana
Factual

Projection
Cameroon
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Population
Botswana Cameroon
2100 3,871,504 89,781,496
2099 3,876,625 89,255,966
2098 3,882,670 88,720,337
2097 3,887,985 88,168,066
2096 3,892,886 87,604,050
2095 3,897,211 87,032,145
2094 3,901,478 86,441,720
2093 3,905,541 85,842,389
2092 3,909,490 85,235,505
2091 3,913,899 84,610,360
2090 3,916,706 83,973,967
2089 3,917,351 83,322,813
2088 3,917,510 82,662,944
2087 3,916,826 81,989,354
2086 3,916,303 81,310,407
2085 3,915,785 80,614,775
2084 3,914,364 79,910,947
2083 3,912,929 79,192,092
2082 3,910,994 78,464,535
2081 3,910,013 77,723,079
2080 3,908,255 76,963,821
2079 3,905,358 76,202,603
2078 3,900,828 75,431,803
2077 3,896,126 74,649,057
2076 3,890,528 73,862,841
2075 3,884,696 73,062,202
2074 3,879,057 72,248,179
2073 3,873,259 71,432,221
2072 3,865,665 70,603,305
2071 3,858,720 69,771,981
2070 3,851,234 68,936,208
2069 3,841,316 68,095,292
2068 3,830,826 67,251,348
2067 3,818,341 66,399,507
2066 3,805,705 65,539,313
2065 3,791,211 64,675,474
2064 3,775,938 63,807,579
2063 3,760,179 62,939,156
2062 3,742,710 62,065,714
2061 3,723,346 61,188,220
2060 3,703,231 60,302,920
2059 3,682,816 59,413,352
2058 3,659,567 58,519,385
2057 3,635,514 57,622,572
2056 3,611,843 56,730,793
2055 3,587,056 55,837,458
2054 3,562,182 54,935,159
2053 3,535,732 54,032,780
2052 3,507,938 53,122,812
2051 3,479,939 52,215,921
2050 3,451,521 51,314,050
2049 3,422,143 50,406,453
2048 3,391,720 49,501,629
2047 3,360,414 48,593,064
2046 3,328,208 47,688,721
2045 3,296,489 46,789,773
2044 3,265,120 45,890,362
2043 3,233,076 44,999,297
2042 3,201,405 44,103,714
2041 3,168,873 43,204,033
2040 3,135,889 42,316,677
2039 3,101,794 41,430,803
2038 3,067,648 40,554,253
2037 3,032,620 39,682,947
2036 2,996,884 38,815,989
2035 2,960,590 37,963,436
2034 2,923,411 37,116,013
2033 2,885,991 36,279,025
2032 2,847,292 35,446,827
2031 2,808,872 34,626,572
2030 2,768,505 33,811,853
2029 2,728,467 33,009,874
2028 2,686,968 32,213,983
2027 2,645,863 31,428,884
2026 2,603,779 30,654,707
2025 2,562,651 29,885,995
2024 2,521,139 29,123,744
2023 2,480,244 28,372,687
2022 2,439,892 27,632,771
2021 2,401,441 26,915,758
2020 2,365,894 26,210,558
2019 2,332,083 25,506,095
2018 2,299,141 24,806,383
2017 2,266,747 24,128,601
2016 2,234,776 23,454,161
2015 2,203,273 22,763,414
2014 2,172,044 22,059,893
2013 2,140,682 21,402,376
2012 2,108,617 20,809,529
2011 2,073,535 20,232,304
2010 2,033,111 19,668,066
2009 1,990,673 19,113,974
2008 1,949,970 18,574,056
2007 1,911,201 18,049,896
2006 1,874,516 17,550,407
2005 1,839,877 17,074,594
2004 1,807,146 16,610,487
2003 1,775,736 16,160,340
2002 1,744,763 15,725,528
2001 1,712,254 15,309,490
2000 1,677,382 14,912,631
1999 1,641,997 14,525,140
1998 1,606,899 14,144,860
1997 1,571,691 13,775,214
1996 1,535,914 13,414,757
1995 1,498,836 13,058,516
1994 1,460,023 12,704,903
1993 1,420,115 12,353,131
1992 1,380,033 12,006,353
1991 1,341,756 11,667,180
1990 1,305,696 11,331,821
1989 1,270,274 11,002,745
1988 1,235,476 10,684,968
1987 1,199,167 10,370,749
1986 1,160,650 10,060,342
1985 1,121,945 9,761,730
1984 1,083,660 9,475,078
1983 1,046,137 9,215,397
1982 1,009,269 9,028,678
1981 969,996 8,816,377
1980 937,485 8,512,219
1979 901,742 8,239,641
1978 849,239 8,011,921
1977 799,574 7,796,501
1976 758,508 7,597,962
1975 720,380 7,397,120
1974 685,448 7,193,583
1973 652,408 6,996,660
1972 622,407 6,806,872
1971 600,481 6,624,408
1970 590,334 6,449,793
1969 587,066 6,283,462
1968 583,966 6,125,863
1967 580,933 5,977,318
1966 577,866 5,837,295
1965 574,664 5,704,686
1964 566,266 5,578,257
1963 552,966 5,456,623
1962 540,186 5,338,620
1961 527,942 5,239,273
1960 516,165 5,159,057

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/botswana/cameroon | CC BY

From 2006 to 2016, the population of Botswana increased by 360,260 people (a 19.2% growth), while Cameroon gained 5,903,754 people (a 33.6% growth).

For the next 10 years, from 2016 to 2026, Botswana gained 380,386 people (a 17% growth), while Cameroon's population increased by 7,409,954 people (a 31.6% growth).

Botswana was ranked 145th most populous country in 2006 and is 142nd in 2026. Cameroon was ranked 59th in 2006 and ranked 51st now.

The UN's World Population Prospects forecasts that in 24 years (in 2050) Botswana's population will grow by 32% to 3,451,521 people with a rank change from 142nd to 137th. The population of Cameroon will increase by 66.3% to 51,314,050 people and rank change from 51st to 41st.

Botswana is projected to reach its peak in 2088 at 3.92M people compared to the peak of 89.8M people in 2100 for Cameroon.

Population growth rate by year

Botswana
Factual

Projection
Cameroon
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Growth rate
Botswana Cameroon
2100 -0.13% 0.59%
2099 -0.16% 0.6%
2098 -0.14% 0.63%
2097 -0.13% 0.64%
2096 -0.11% 0.66%
2095 -0.11% 0.68%
2094 -0.1% 0.7%
2093 -0.1% 0.71%
2092 -0.11% 0.74%
2091 -0.07% 0.76%
2090 -0.02% 0.78%
2089 -0.004% 0.8%
2088 0.02% 0.82%
2087 0.01% 0.84%
2086 0.01% 0.86%
2085 0.04% 0.88%
2084 0.04% 0.91%
2083 0.05% 0.93%
2082 0.03% 0.95%
2081 0.04% 0.99%
2080 0.07% 1%
2079 0.12% 1.02%
2078 0.12% 1.05%
2077 0.14% 1.06%
2076 0.15% 1.1%
2075 0.15% 1.13%
2074 0.15% 1.14%
2073 0.2% 1.17%
2072 0.18% 1.19%
2071 0.19% 1.21%
2070 0.26% 1.23%
2069 0.27% 1.25%
2068 0.33% 1.28%
2067 0.33% 1.31%
2066 0.38% 1.34%
2065 0.4% 1.36%
2064 0.42% 1.38%
2063 0.47% 1.41%
2062 0.52% 1.43%
2061 0.54% 1.47%
2060 0.55% 1.5%
2059 0.64% 1.53%
2058 0.66% 1.56%
2057 0.66% 1.57%
2056 0.69% 1.6%
2055 0.7% 1.64%
2054 0.75% 1.67%
2053 0.79% 1.71%
2052 0.8% 1.74%
2051 0.82% 1.76%
2050 0.86% 1.8%
2049 0.9% 1.83%
2048 0.93% 1.87%
2047 0.97% 1.9%
2046 0.96% 1.92%
2045 0.96% 1.96%
2044 0.99% 1.98%
2043 0.99% 2.03%
2042 1.03% 2.08%
2041 1.05% 2.1%
2040 1.1% 2.14%
2039 1.11% 2.16%
2038 1.16% 2.2%
2037 1.19% 2.23%
2036 1.23% 2.25%
2035 1.27% 2.28%
2034 1.3% 2.31%
2033 1.36% 2.35%
2032 1.37% 2.37%
2031 1.46% 2.41%
2030 1.47% 2.43%
2029 1.54% 2.47%
2028 1.55% 2.5%
2027 1.62% 2.53%
2026 1.6% 2.57%
2025 1.65% 2.62%
2024 1.65% 2.65%
2023 1.65% 2.68%
2022 1.6% 2.66%
2021 1.5% 2.69%
2020 1.45% 2.76%
2019 1.43% 2.82%
2018 1.43% 2.81%
2017 1.43% 2.88%
2016 1.43% 3.03%
2015 1.44% 3.19%
2014 1.47% 3.07%
2013 1.52% 2.85%
2012 1.69% 2.85%
2011 1.99% 2.87%
2010 2.13% 2.9%
2009 2.09% 2.91%
2008 2.03% 2.9%
2007 1.96% 2.85%
2006 1.88% 2.79%
2005 1.81% 2.79%
2004 1.77% 2.79%
2003 1.78% 2.77%
2002 1.9% 2.72%
2001 2.08% 2.66%
2000 2.15% 2.67%
1999 2.18% 2.69%
1998 2.24% 2.68%
1997 2.33% 2.69%
1996 2.47% 2.73%
1995 2.66% 2.78%
1994 2.81% 2.85%
1993 2.9% 2.89%
1992 2.85% 2.91%
1991 2.76% 2.96%
1990 2.79% 2.99%
1989 2.82% 2.97%
1988 3.03% 3.03%
1987 3.32% 3.09%
1986 3.45% 3.06%
1985 3.53% 3.03%
1984 3.59% 2.82%
1983 3.65% 2.07%
1982 4.05% 2.41%
1981 3.47% 3.57%
1980 3.96% 3.31%
1979 6.18% 2.84%
1978 6.21% 2.76%
1977 5.41% 2.61%
1976 5.29% 2.72%
1975 5.1% 2.83%
1974 5.06% 2.81%
1973 4.82% 2.79%
1972 3.65% 2.75%
1971 1.72% 2.71%
1970 0.56% 2.65%
1969 0.53% 2.57%
1968 0.52% 2.49%
1967 0.53% 2.4%
1966 0.56% 2.32%
1965 1.48% 2.27%
1964 2.41% 2.23%
1963 2.37% 2.21%
1962 2.32% 1.9%
1961 2.28% 1.55%

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/botswana/cameroon | CC BY

In 2024, the population of Botswana grew by 1.65%, while Cameroon's population grew by 2.65%.

Live population counters

Botswana Cameroon
Current population
2615162
30864115
Population rank 142/197 51/197
Percent of world population 0.03% 0.37%
One net population change
12.9 minutes
42 seconds
One birth every
8.58 minutes
32.9 seconds
One death every
37 minutes
2.59 minutes
Daily growth/decline +112 +2,058
Annual growth/decline +40,895 +751,057
Annual growth/decline rate +1.65% +2.65%
Population growth rate rank 66/197 23/197
One migration net change every
1.55 hours
34.3 minutes
Annual migration change -5,665 -15,379
Net migration rank 120/196 146/196
Foreign-born residents 116,402 642,948
Foreign-born residents rank 126/195 74/195
Foreign-born share of population 4.6% 2.2%
Foreign-born share rank 96/195 130/195

Natural population change vs migration

Botswana
Natural

Migration
Cameroon
Natural

Migration
1x
Year Population change
Botswana Cameroon
Natural Migration Natural Migration
2025 - -5,665 - -15,379
2024 - -5,778 - -13,892
2023 47,098 -6,487 754,486 -4,798
2022 47,400 -7,306 734,893 -4,798
2021 40,894 -4,083 713,806 -9,888
2020 45,610 -11,330 716,361 -9,888
2019 45,110 -11,770 714,681 -12,255
2018 44,171 -11,623 706,188 -9,184
2017 43,154 -10,916 696,496 -37,912
2016 41,993 -10,286 677,051 13,255
2015 40,897 -9,599 649,190 42,008
2014 40,046 -8,893 619,243 96,599
2013 39,404 -7,836 606,072 -6,900
2012 39,202 -6,636 594,029 -7,523
2011 38,613 -1,019 580,607 -12,669
2010 38,101 5,151 569,921 -9,366
2009 36,671 4,960 557,841 -10,203
2008 35,433 4,343 542,919 -10,720
2007 33,832 3,926 526,949 -10,807
2006 31,340 4,270 511,366 -28,528
2005 29,385 4,283 496,547 -27,775
2004 27,481 4,314 478,880 -19,444
2003 26,545 4,488 459,422 -18,568
2002 26,163 4,747 439,544 -10,766
2001 26,112 7,991 422,511 -19,203
2000 25,850 9,798 411,633 -21,221
1999 25,358 9,762 401,969 -17,398
1998 25,397 9,685 388,432 -12,446
1997 25,738 9,597 377,138 -13,842
1996 26,847 9,368 370,355 -12,738
1995 28,478 9,464 367,532 -12,661
1994 30,664 9,023 364,390 -12,028
1993 31,691 8,441 360,785 -9,601
1992 31,995 8,026 356,072 -13,702
1991 32,219 4,311 350,493 -14,520
1990 33,015 2,580 342,901 -8,163
1989 33,756 1,495 334,649 -11,244
1988 34,564 -215 328,168 -16,016
1987 35,647 2,624 320,134 -3,829
1986 36,203 2,558 308,188 -3,671
1985 35,966 2,683 296,317 -3,604
1984 35,530 2,393 284,110 -3,512
1983 35,142 1,980 276,112 -37,346
1982 34,859 1,751 274,652 -139,974
1981 34,327 7,610 262,076 27,845
1980 33,934 -10,849 247,808 70,589
1979 32,486 15,918 238,875 -12,108
1978 30,596 26,015 229,958 -1,282
1977 29,009 13,708 222,785 -20,622
1976 27,497 11,914 214,916 -19,994
1975 25,762 11,086 206,986 -237
1974 24,160 8,854 200,693 -377
1973 22,449 10,615 193,997 -466
1972 21,004 5,937 186,521 -473
1971 19,926 -3,016 179,317 -439
1970 19,438 -16,054 170,713 -367
1969 19,024 -15,870 162,603 -286
1968 18,725 -15,681 153,080 -204
1967 18,463 -15,438 144,370 -148
1966 18,250 -15,140 135,927 -96
1965 18,045 -14,753 129,428 -39
1964 17,634 -4,126 123,469 0
1963 17,084 -4,000 119,784 0
1962 16,507 -4,028 116,232 0
1961 16,185 -4,168 82,471 0
1960 15,861 -4,331 77,948 0

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

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

Over the last 10 years, 82.5% of the population change in Botswana is from natural causes (a gain of 436,373 people) and 17.5% is from migration (a loss of 92,293 people). In Cameroon 99.1% is from natural causes (a gain of 6,982,395 people) and 0.9% is from migration (a gain of 63,139 people).

As of 2024, 116,402 residents or 4.6% of the population were not native-born in Botswana, compared to 642,948 people or 2.2% in Cameroon.

Biggest cities by population

Botswana
City Population
Gaborone 236K
Francistown 103K
Molepolole 67.6K
Kanye 48K
Serowe 47.4K
Mahalapye 41.3K
Palapye 36.2K
Lobatse 26.9K
Cameroon
City Population
Douala 2.77M
Yaounde 2.44M
Garoua 1.75M
Bafoussam 480K
Bamenda 349K
Maroua 201K
Ngaoundere 190K
Kumba 144K
Buea 131K
Limbe 84.2K

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/botswana/cameroon | 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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