Skip to content

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

Updated on by Georank

The latest officially reported population of Botswana was 2,562,122 in 2025 vs 5,513,282 people in the Central African Republic in 2025. In 2026, based on the adjusted UN estimation, the current Botswana's population is 2,624,853 people compared to 5,798,457 in the Central African Republic.

Population statistics:

  • The Central African Republic's population is 2.21 times bigger than Botswana's.
  • Botswana is ranked the 142nd most populous country in the world, while the Central African Republic is the 117th.
  • 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 +1.51% per year vs +1.62% in the Central African Republic.
  • Since 2006, the population of Botswana has increased from 1.87M people to 2.62M (40% growth), while the Central African Republic has grown from 4.38M to 5.8M (32.5% 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 3,870,704 19,061,127
2099 3,875,823 18,981,009
2098 3,881,867 18,896,319
2097 3,887,181 18,810,793
2096 3,892,081 18,719,993
2095 3,896,405 18,621,666
2094 3,900,671 18,521,650
2093 3,904,733 18,420,299
2092 3,908,682 18,311,751
2091 3,913,090 18,200,580
2090 3,915,896 18,083,097
2089 3,916,540 17,968,298
2088 3,916,700 17,844,377
2087 3,916,016 17,717,148
2086 3,915,493 17,581,447
2085 3,914,975 17,447,157
2084 3,913,555 17,306,435
2083 3,912,119 17,159,818
2082 3,910,185 17,010,036
2081 3,909,204 16,860,592
2080 3,907,447 16,704,486
2079 3,904,550 16,552,105
2078 3,900,021 16,392,201
2077 3,895,321 16,224,015
2076 3,889,723 16,051,483
2075 3,883,893 15,877,563
2074 3,878,255 15,706,759
2073 3,872,458 15,526,382
2072 3,864,865 15,346,626
2071 3,857,922 15,158,906
2070 3,850,437 14,964,276
2069 3,840,521 14,768,967
2068 3,830,034 14,572,130
2067 3,817,551 14,369,861
2066 3,804,918 14,167,129
2065 3,790,427 13,963,573
2064 3,775,157 13,758,257
2063 3,759,402 13,545,150
2062 3,741,936 13,332,625
2061 3,722,576 13,120,271
2060 3,702,465 12,903,195
2059 3,682,055 12,684,791
2058 3,658,810 12,464,271
2057 3,634,762 12,242,308
2056 3,611,096 12,020,446
2055 3,586,314 11,797,986
2054 3,561,446 11,575,058
2053 3,535,001 11,351,527
2052 3,507,213 11,128,939
2051 3,479,219 10,908,122
2050 3,450,807 10,686,324
2049 3,421,435 10,468,520
2048 3,391,019 10,249,810
2047 3,359,719 10,034,764
2046 3,327,520 9,819,986
2045 3,295,807 9,606,504
2044 3,264,444 9,394,614
2043 3,232,407 9,185,941
2042 3,200,743 8,980,018
2041 3,168,217 8,774,893
2040 3,135,241 8,567,893
2039 3,101,153 8,358,128
2038 3,067,014 8,149,514
2037 3,031,993 7,942,721
2036 2,996,265 7,734,436
2035 2,959,978 7,525,805
2034 2,922,807 7,314,741
2033 2,885,394 7,105,166
2032 2,846,703 6,897,152
2031 2,808,291 6,690,066
2030 2,767,933 6,486,667
2029 2,727,903 6,286,290
2028 2,686,412 6,085,426
2027 2,645,316 5,890,999
2026 2,603,241 5,700,718
2025 2,562,122 5,513,282
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 (2026–2100, retrieved 2026-07-08); World Bank | Health (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-07-08).

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 390,077 people (a 17.5% growth), while the Central African Republic's population increased by 1,084,794 people (a 23% 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 ranked 117th now.

The UN's World Population Prospects forecasts that in 24 years (in 2050) Botswana's population will grow by 31.5% to 3,450,807 people with a rank change from 142nd to 137th. The population of the Central African Republic will increase by 84.3% to 10,686,324 people and rank change from 117th 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 1.63% 3.43%
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 (2026–2100, retrieved 2026-07-08); World Bank | Health (1961–2025, retrieved 2026-07-08).

GeoRank.org/population/botswana/central-african-republic | CC BY

In 2025, the population of Botswana grew by 1.63%, while the Central African Republic's population grew by 3.43%.

Live population counters

Botswana CAR
Current population
2624853
5798457
Population rank 142/197 117/197
Percent of world population 0.03% 0.07%
One net population change
12.9 minutes
2.89 minutes
One birth every
8.56 minutes
2.13 minutes
One death every
36.3 minutes
10.5 minutes
Daily growth/decline +112 +500
Annual growth/decline +40,983 +182,592
Annual growth/decline rate +1.63% +3.43%
Population growth rate rank 65/197 7/197
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 46,951 -5,778 196,244 -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 2026-07-08).

GeoRank.org/population/botswana/central-african-republic | CC BY

Over the last 10 years, 83.3% of the population change in Botswana is from natural causes (a gain of 443,278 people) and 16.7% is from migration (a loss of 89,178 people). In the Central African Republic 74.8% is from natural causes (a gain of 1,253,108 people) and 25.2% is from migration (a loss of 421,899 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 (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-07-08); United Nations | World Population Prospects (1960–2026, retrieved 2026-07-08); U.S. Census Bureau (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-07-08); Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) (2000–2019, retrieved 2026-07-08).

GeoRank.org/population/botswana/central-african-republic | CC BY

Help us show the world through your eyes

Share a photo of your city and help others discover what it looks like to live there. Your contribution makes our data come alive.

Data sources:

  1. World Bank | Health (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-07-08)
  2. United Nations | World Population Prospects (1960–2100, retrieved 2026-07-08)
  3. U.S. Census Bureau (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-07-08)
  4. Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) (2000–2019, retrieved 2026-07-08)
  5. Wikidata (2026, retrieved 2026-07-08)

Creative Commons Attribution (CC BY) — you’re free to copy, share, remix, adapt, and use even commercially as long as you give appropriate credit and clearly indicate if you made changes. Other sources may be subject to different license terms.