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Population in Botswana compared to the Central African Republic: Trends, Charts, Rankings

Updated on by Georank team

The latest officially reported population of Botswana was 2,521,139 in 2024 vs 5,330,690 people in the Central African Republic in 2024. In 2026, based on the adjusted UN estimation, the current Botswana's population is 2,615,162 people compared to 5,753,659 in the Central African Republic.

Population statistics:

  • The Central African Republic's population is 2.2 times bigger than Botswana's.
  • Botswana is ranked the 142nd most populous country in the world, while the Central African Republic is the 118th.
  • The countries together account for 0.1% of the world: 0.03% for Botswana vs 0.07% for the Central African Republic.
  • For the last 10 years, Botswana has had an average growth rate of +1.5% per year vs +1.27% in the Central African Republic.
  • Since 2006, the population of Botswana has increased from 1.87M people to 2.62M (39.5% growth), while the Central African Republic has grown from 4.38M to 5.75M (31.4% growth).

Botswana vs Central African Republic: population by year and forecast

Botswana
Factual

Projection
Central African Republic
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Population
Botswana CAR
2100 3,871,504 19,066,004
2099 3,876,625 18,985,867
2098 3,882,670 18,901,154
2097 3,887,985 18,815,607
2096 3,892,886 18,724,783
2095 3,897,211 18,626,431
2094 3,901,478 18,526,390
2093 3,905,541 18,425,013
2092 3,909,490 18,316,437
2091 3,913,899 18,205,237
2090 3,916,706 18,087,725
2089 3,917,351 17,972,896
2088 3,917,510 17,848,943
2087 3,916,826 17,721,681
2086 3,916,303 17,585,946
2085 3,915,785 17,451,621
2084 3,914,364 17,310,863
2083 3,912,929 17,164,209
2082 3,910,994 17,014,388
2081 3,910,013 16,864,906
2080 3,908,255 16,708,761
2079 3,905,358 16,556,341
2078 3,900,828 16,396,395
2077 3,896,126 16,228,166
2076 3,890,528 16,055,590
2075 3,884,696 15,881,626
2074 3,879,057 15,710,778
2073 3,873,259 15,530,355
2072 3,865,665 15,350,553
2071 3,858,720 15,162,785
2070 3,851,234 14,968,105
2069 3,841,316 14,772,746
2068 3,830,826 14,575,859
2067 3,818,341 14,373,538
2066 3,805,705 14,170,754
2065 3,791,211 13,967,146
2064 3,775,938 13,761,777
2063 3,760,179 13,548,616
2062 3,742,710 13,336,037
2061 3,723,346 13,123,628
2060 3,703,231 12,906,496
2059 3,682,816 12,688,037
2058 3,659,567 12,467,461
2057 3,635,514 12,245,441
2056 3,611,843 12,023,522
2055 3,587,056 11,801,006
2054 3,562,182 11,578,020
2053 3,535,732 11,354,432
2052 3,507,938 11,131,786
2051 3,479,939 10,910,913
2050 3,451,521 10,689,058
2049 3,422,143 10,471,199
2048 3,391,720 10,252,433
2047 3,360,414 10,037,332
2046 3,328,208 9,822,499
2045 3,296,489 9,608,962
2044 3,265,120 9,397,018
2043 3,233,076 9,188,292
2042 3,201,405 8,982,316
2041 3,168,873 8,777,138
2040 3,135,889 8,570,085
2039 3,101,794 8,360,267
2038 3,067,648 8,151,599
2037 3,032,620 7,944,754
2036 2,996,884 7,736,415
2035 2,960,590 7,527,731
2034 2,923,411 7,316,613
2033 2,885,991 7,106,984
2032 2,847,292 6,898,917
2031 2,808,872 6,691,778
2030 2,768,505 6,488,327
2029 2,728,467 6,287,899
2028 2,686,968 6,086,983
2027 2,645,863 5,892,506
2026 2,603,779 5,702,177
2025 2,562,651 5,514,692
2024 2,521,139 5,330,690
2023 2,480,244 5,152,421
2022 2,439,892 5,098,039
2021 2,401,441 5,112,100
2020 2,365,894 5,026,628
2019 2,332,083 4,944,703
2018 2,299,141 4,878,657
2017 2,266,747 4,793,511
2016 2,234,776 4,713,663
2015 2,203,273 4,629,320
2014 2,172,044 4,623,182
2013 2,140,682 4,642,419
2012 2,108,617 4,610,848
2011 2,073,535 4,565,021
2010 2,033,111 4,492,995
2009 1,990,673 4,529,047
2008 1,949,970 4,558,984
2007 1,911,201 4,462,770
2006 1,874,516 4,377,579
2005 1,839,877 4,288,810
2004 1,807,146 4,192,826
2003 1,775,736 4,103,086
2002 1,744,763 4,006,077
2001 1,712,254 3,919,487
2000 1,677,382 3,833,416
1999 1,641,997 3,729,450
1998 1,606,899 3,628,827
1997 1,571,691 3,531,700
1996 1,535,914 3,435,965
1995 1,498,836 3,348,052
1994 1,460,023 3,257,954
1993 1,420,115 3,157,839
1992 1,380,033 3,058,831
1991 1,341,756 2,963,191
1990 1,305,696 2,871,910
1989 1,270,274 2,783,970
1988 1,235,476 2,713,965
1987 1,199,167 2,669,155
1986 1,160,650 2,634,258
1985 1,121,945 2,600,932
1984 1,083,660 2,568,610
1983 1,046,137 2,537,399
1982 1,009,269 2,507,375
1981 969,996 2,478,402
1980 937,485 2,450,535
1979 901,742 2,423,794
1978 849,239 2,397,961
1977 799,574 2,372,930
1976 758,508 2,348,566
1975 720,380 2,313,916
1974 685,448 2,269,338
1973 652,408 2,226,008
1972 622,407 2,183,769
1971 600,481 2,141,450
1970 590,334 2,097,505
1969 587,066 2,051,515
1968 583,966 2,005,100
1967 580,933 1,960,444
1966 577,866 1,918,082
1965 574,664 1,877,854
1964 566,266 1,839,583
1963 552,966 1,803,063
1962 540,186 1,768,115
1961 527,942 1,734,580
1960 516,165 1,702,346

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/central-african-republic | CC BY

From 2006 to 2016, the population of Botswana increased by 360,260 people (a 19.2% growth), while the Central African Republic gained 336,084 people (a 7.68% growth).

For the next 10 years, from 2016 to 2026, Botswana gained 380,386 people (a 17% growth), while the Central African Republic's population increased by 1,039,996 people (a 22.1% growth).

Botswana was ranked 145th most populous country in 2006 and is 142nd in 2026. The Central African Republic was ranked 118th in 2006 and still ranked 118th 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 the Central African Republic will increase by 85.8% to 10,689,058 people and rank change from 118th to 96th.

Botswana is projected to reach its peak in 2088 at 3.92M people compared to the peak of 19.1M people in 2100 for the Central African Republic.

Population growth rate by year

Botswana
Factual

Projection
Central African Republic
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Growth rate
Botswana CAR
2100 -0.13% 0.42%
2099 -0.16% 0.45%
2098 -0.14% 0.45%
2097 -0.13% 0.49%
2096 -0.11% 0.53%
2095 -0.11% 0.54%
2094 -0.1% 0.55%
2093 -0.1% 0.59%
2092 -0.11% 0.61%
2091 -0.07% 0.65%
2090 -0.02% 0.64%
2089 -0.004% 0.69%
2088 0.02% 0.72%
2087 0.01% 0.77%
2086 0.01% 0.77%
2085 0.04% 0.81%
2084 0.04% 0.85%
2083 0.05% 0.88%
2082 0.03% 0.89%
2081 0.04% 0.93%
2080 0.07% 0.92%
2079 0.12% 0.98%
2078 0.12% 1.04%
2077 0.14% 1.07%
2076 0.15% 1.1%
2075 0.15% 1.09%
2074 0.15% 1.16%
2073 0.2% 1.17%
2072 0.18% 1.24%
2071 0.19% 1.3%
2070 0.26% 1.32%
2069 0.27% 1.35%
2068 0.33% 1.41%
2067 0.33% 1.43%
2066 0.38% 1.46%
2065 0.4% 1.49%
2064 0.42% 1.57%
2063 0.47% 1.59%
2062 0.52% 1.62%
2061 0.54% 1.68%
2060 0.55% 1.72%
2059 0.64% 1.77%
2058 0.66% 1.81%
2057 0.66% 1.85%
2056 0.69% 1.89%
2055 0.7% 1.93%
2054 0.75% 1.97%
2053 0.79% 2%
2052 0.8% 2.02%
2051 0.82% 2.08%
2050 0.86% 2.08%
2049 0.9% 2.13%
2048 0.93% 2.14%
2047 0.97% 2.19%
2046 0.96% 2.22%
2045 0.96% 2.26%
2044 0.99% 2.27%
2043 0.99% 2.29%
2042 1.03% 2.34%
2041 1.05% 2.42%
2040 1.1% 2.51%
2039 1.11% 2.56%
2038 1.16% 2.6%
2037 1.19% 2.69%
2036 1.23% 2.77%
2035 1.27% 2.89%
2034 1.3% 2.95%
2033 1.36% 3.02%
2032 1.37% 3.1%
2031 1.46% 3.14%
2030 1.47% 3.19%
2029 1.54% 3.3%
2028 1.55% 3.3%
2027 1.62% 3.34%
2026 1.6% 3.4%
2025 1.65% 3.45%
2024 1.65% 3.46%
2023 1.65% 1.07%
2022 1.6% -0.28%
2021 1.5% 1.7%
2020 1.45% 1.66%
2019 1.43% 1.35%
2018 1.43% 1.78%
2017 1.43% 1.69%
2016 1.43% 1.82%
2015 1.44% 0.13%
2014 1.47% -0.41%
2013 1.52% 0.68%
2012 1.69% 1%
2011 1.99% 1.6%
2010 2.13% -0.8%
2009 2.09% -0.66%
2008 2.03% 2.16%
2007 1.96% 1.95%
2006 1.88% 2.07%
2005 1.81% 2.29%
2004 1.77% 2.19%
2003 1.78% 2.42%
2002 1.9% 2.21%
2001 2.08% 2.25%
2000 2.15% 2.79%
1999 2.18% 2.77%
1998 2.24% 2.75%
1997 2.33% 2.79%
1996 2.47% 2.63%
1995 2.66% 2.77%
1994 2.81% 3.17%
1993 2.9% 3.24%
1992 2.85% 3.23%
1991 2.76% 3.18%
1990 2.79% 3.16%
1989 2.82% 2.58%
1988 3.03% 1.68%
1987 3.32% 1.32%
1986 3.45% 1.28%
1985 3.53% 1.26%
1984 3.59% 1.23%
1983 3.65% 1.2%
1982 4.05% 1.17%
1981 3.47% 1.14%
1980 3.96% 1.1%
1979 6.18% 1.08%
1978 6.21% 1.05%
1977 5.41% 1.04%
1976 5.29% 1.5%
1975 5.1% 1.96%
1974 5.06% 1.95%
1973 4.82% 1.93%
1972 3.65% 1.98%
1971 1.72% 2.1%
1970 0.56% 2.24%
1969 0.53% 2.31%
1968 0.52% 2.28%
1967 0.53% 2.21%
1966 0.56% 2.14%
1965 1.48% 2.08%
1964 2.41% 2.03%
1963 2.37% 1.98%
1962 2.32% 1.93%
1961 2.28% 1.89%

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/central-african-republic | CC BY

In 2024, the population of Botswana grew by 1.65%, while the Central African Republic's population grew by 3.46%.

Live population counters

Botswana CAR
Current population
2615162
5753659
Population rank 142/197 118/197
Percent of world population 0.03% 0.07%
One net population change
12.9 minutes
2.95 minutes
One birth every
8.58 minutes
2.2 minutes
One death every
37 minutes
10.8 minutes
Daily growth/decline +112 +488
Annual growth/decline +40,895 +178,269
Annual growth/decline rate +1.65% +3.46%
Population growth rate rank 66/197 9/197
One migration net change every
1.55 hours
35.9 minutes
Annual migration change -5,665 -14,693
Net migration rank 120/196 143/196
Foreign-born residents 116,402 94,556
Foreign-born residents rank 126/195 132/195
Foreign-born share of population 4.6% 1.8%
Foreign-born share rank 96/195 135/195

Natural population change vs migration

Botswana
Natural

Migration
Central African Republic
Natural

Migration
1x
Year Population change
Botswana CAR
Natural Migration Natural Migration
2025 - -5,665 - -14,693
2024 - -5,778 - -15,357
2023 47,098 -6,487 190,325 -14,682
2022 47,400 -7,306 -49,456 -17,430
2021 40,894 -4,083 124,408 -85,646
2020 45,610 -11,330 156,911 -24,745
2019 45,110 -11,770 68,523 -36,849
2018 44,171 -11,623 153,361 -52,954
2017 43,154 -10,916 128,461 -58,584
2016 41,993 -10,286 142,419 -52,607
2015 40,897 -9,599 141,912 -63,045
2014 40,046 -8,893 107,448 -174,051
2013 39,404 -7,836 140,489 -112,382
2012 39,202 -6,636 146,791 -111,764
2011 38,613 -1,019 142,913 -86,281
2010 38,101 5,151 130,539 -43,126
2009 36,671 4,960 -130,613 -28,899
2008 35,433 4,343 128,627 -28,983
2007 33,832 3,926 123,137 -30,352
2006 31,340 4,270 118,882 -41,282
2005 29,385 4,283 113,534 -13,604
2004 27,481 4,314 108,548 -16,510
2003 26,545 4,488 105,540 -18,097
2002 26,163 4,747 100,588 5,992
2001 26,112 7,991 99,598 -33,006
2000 25,850 9,798 97,468 8,079
1999 25,358 9,762 96,108 6,284
1998 25,397 9,685 94,361 4,479
1997 25,738 9,597 93,378 2,034
1996 26,847 9,368 93,369 2,697
1995 28,478 9,464 92,748 -12,986
1994 30,664 9,023 90,943 9,496
1993 31,691 8,441 89,873 9,930
1992 31,995 8,026 88,939 9,269
1991 32,219 4,311 88,688 4,381
1990 33,015 2,580 87,507 1,995
1989 33,756 1,495 85,969 409
1988 34,564 -215 84,654 -31,016
1987 35,647 2,624 83,408 -47,428
1986 36,203 2,558 81,149 -47,332
1985 35,966 2,683 79,266 -46,427
1984 35,530 2,393 77,395 -45,591
1983 35,142 1,980 75,399 -44,780
1982 34,859 1,751 73,330 -43,908
1981 34,327 7,610 71,391 -42,872
1980 33,934 -10,849 68,759 -41,539
1979 32,486 15,918 66,104 -39,850
1978 30,596 26,015 63,285 -37,874
1977 29,009 13,708 60,436 -35,782
1976 27,497 11,914 57,725 -33,645
1975 25,762 11,086 55,106 -9,895
1974 24,160 8,854 53,777 -9,838
1973 22,449 10,615 52,525 -9,800
1972 21,004 5,937 51,390 -9,634
1971 19,926 -3,016 50,142 -7,259
1970 19,438 -16,054 48,690 -3,693
1969 19,024 -15,870 47,066 -80
1968 18,725 -15,681 45,377 474
1967 18,463 -15,438 42,979 474
1966 18,250 -15,140 40,804 474
1965 18,045 -14,753 38,710 474
1964 17,634 -4,126 36,878 474
1963 17,084 -4,000 35,218 474
1962 16,507 -4,028 33,731 474
1961 16,185 -4,168 32,383 474
1960 15,861 -4,331 31,131 474

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

GeoRank.org/population/botswana/central-african-republic | 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 the Central African Republic 66.7% is from natural causes (a gain of 1,164,312 people) and 33.3% is from migration (a loss of 580,593 people).

As of 2024, 116,402 residents or 4.6% of the population were not native-born in Botswana, compared to 94,556 people or 1.8% in the Central African Republic.

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
CAR
City Population
Bangui 889K
Berberati 76.9K
Bria 35.2K

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/central-african-republic | 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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