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

Updated on by Georank

The latest officially reported population of Botswana was 2,562,122 in 2025 vs 1,406,585,000 people in China in 2025. In 2026, based on the adjusted UN estimation, the current Botswana's population is 2,624,853 people compared to 1,403,335,670 in China.

Population statistics:

  • China's population is 535 times bigger than Botswana's.
  • Botswana is ranked the 142nd most populous country in the world, while China is the 2nd.
  • The countries together account for 16.9% of the world: 0.03% for Botswana vs 16.9% for China.
  • For the last 10 years, Botswana has had an average growth rate of +1.51% per year vs +0.23% in China.
  • Since 2006, the population of Botswana has increased from 1.87M people to 2.62M (40% growth), while China has grown from 1.31B to 1.4B (7.04% growth).

Botswana vs China: population by year and forecast

Botswana
Factual

Projection
China
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Population
Botswana China
2100 3,870,704 633,662,382
2099 3,875,823 644,307,192
2098 3,881,867 655,044,881
2097 3,887,181 665,876,462
2096 3,892,081 676,803,171
2095 3,896,405 687,828,883
2094 3,900,671 698,966,872
2093 3,904,733 710,235,681
2092 3,908,682 721,640,723
2091 3,913,090 733,187,178
2090 3,915,896 744,903,105
2089 3,916,540 756,812,472
2088 3,916,700 768,893,004
2087 3,916,016 781,128,909
2086 3,915,493 793,508,970
2085 3,914,975 806,043,039
2084 3,913,555 818,709,832
2083 3,912,119 831,420,518
2082 3,910,185 844,177,036
2081 3,909,204 856,996,835
2080 3,907,447 869,821,040
2079 3,904,550 882,622,985
2078 3,900,021 895,372,147
2077 3,895,321 908,082,676
2076 3,889,723 920,776,984
2075 3,883,893 933,459,600
2074 3,878,255 946,141,456
2073 3,872,458 958,870,128
2072 3,864,865 971,639,931
2071 3,857,922 984,469,009
2070 3,850,437 997,391,342
2069 3,840,521 1,010,450,818
2068 3,830,034 1,023,633,867
2067 3,817,551 1,036,979,285
2066 3,804,918 1,050,453,924
2065 3,790,427 1,064,051,499
2064 3,775,157 1,077,787,979
2063 3,759,402 1,091,571,021
2062 3,741,936 1,105,429,748
2061 3,722,576 1,119,286,514
2060 3,702,465 1,133,115,260
2059 3,682,055 1,146,818,251
2058 3,658,810 1,160,340,554
2057 3,634,762 1,173,596,480
2056 3,611,096 1,186,578,041
2055 3,586,314 1,199,197,172
2054 3,561,446 1,211,403,028
2053 3,535,001 1,223,160,257
2052 3,507,213 1,234,474,716
2051 3,479,219 1,245,255,938
2050 3,450,807 1,255,501,171
2049 3,421,435 1,265,281,319
2048 3,391,019 1,274,572,888
2047 3,359,719 1,283,393,445
2046 3,327,520 1,291,830,414
2045 3,295,807 1,299,855,379
2044 3,264,444 1,307,510,531
2043 3,232,407 1,314,885,869
2042 3,200,743 1,322,032,311
2041 3,168,217 1,328,936,491
2040 3,135,241 1,335,577,799
2039 3,101,153 1,341,989,157
2038 3,067,014 1,348,134,255
2037 3,031,993 1,354,107,817
2036 2,996,265 1,359,866,705
2035 2,959,978 1,365,387,904
2034 2,922,807 1,370,679,807
2033 2,885,394 1,375,744,986
2032 2,846,703 1,380,528,766
2031 2,808,291 1,385,048,521
2030 2,767,933 1,389,269,809
2029 2,727,903 1,393,241,425
2028 2,686,412 1,396,917,178
2027 2,645,316 1,400,271,033
2026 2,603,241 1,403,335,670
2025 2,562,122 1,406,585,000
2024 2,521,139 1,408,975,000
2023 2,480,244 1,410,710,000
2022 2,439,892 1,412,175,000
2021 2,401,441 1,412,360,000
2020 2,365,894 1,411,100,000
2019 2,332,083 1,407,745,000
2018 2,299,141 1,402,760,000
2017 2,266,747 1,396,215,000
2016 2,234,776 1,387,790,000
2015 2,203,273 1,379,860,000
2014 2,172,044 1,371,860,000
2013 2,140,682 1,363,240,000
2012 2,108,617 1,354,190,000
2011 2,073,535 1,345,035,000
2010 2,033,111 1,337,705,000
2009 1,990,673 1,331,260,000
2008 1,949,970 1,324,655,000
2007 1,911,201 1,317,885,000
2006 1,874,516 1,311,020,000
2005 1,839,877 1,303,720,000
2004 1,807,146 1,296,075,000
2003 1,775,736 1,288,400,000
2002 1,744,763 1,280,400,000
2001 1,712,254 1,271,850,000
2000 1,677,382 1,262,645,000
1999 1,641,997 1,252,735,000
1998 1,606,899 1,241,935,000
1997 1,571,691 1,230,075,000
1996 1,535,914 1,217,550,000
1995 1,498,836 1,204,855,000
1994 1,460,023 1,191,835,000
1993 1,420,115 1,178,440,000
1992 1,380,033 1,164,970,000
1991 1,341,756 1,150,780,000
1990 1,305,696 1,135,185,000
1989 1,270,274 1,118,650,000
1988 1,235,476 1,101,630,000
1987 1,199,167 1,084,035,000
1986 1,160,650 1,066,790,000
1985 1,121,945 1,051,040,000
1984 1,083,660 1,036,825,000
1983 1,046,137 1,023,310,000
1982 1,009,269 1,008,630,000
1981 969,996 993,885,000
1980 937,485 981,235,000
1979 901,742 969,005,000
1978 849,239 956,165,000
1977 799,574 943,455,000
1976 758,508 930,685,000
1975 720,380 916,395,000
1974 685,448 900,350,000
1973 652,408 881,940,000
1972 622,407 862,030,000
1971 600,481 841,105,000
1970 590,334 818,315,000
1969 587,066 796,025,000
1968 583,966 774,510,000
1967 580,933 754,550,000
1966 577,866 735,400,000
1965 574,664 715,185,000
1964 566,266 698,355,000
1963 552,966 682,335,000
1962 540,186 665,770,000
1961 527,942 660,330,000
1960 516,165 667,070,000

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/china | CC BY

From 2006 to 2016, the population of Botswana increased by 360,260 people (a 19.2% growth), while China gained 76,770,000 people (a 5.86% growth).

For the next 10 years, from 2016 to 2026, Botswana gained 390,077 people (a 17.5% growth), while China's population increased by 15,545,670 people (a 1.12% growth).

Botswana was ranked 145th most populous country in 2006 and is 142nd in 2026. China was ranked 1st in 2006 and ranked 2nd 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 China will decrease by 10.5% to 1,255,501,171 people and will still be ranked 2nd.

Botswana is projected to reach its peak in 2088 at 3.92M people, while China's population already peaked in 2021 at 1.41B people and is projected to decrease to 634M people by 2100.

Population growth rate by year

Botswana
Factual

Projection
China
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Growth rate
Botswana China
2100 -0.13% -1.65%
2099 -0.16% -1.64%
2098 -0.14% -1.63%
2097 -0.13% -1.61%
2096 -0.11% -1.6%
2095 -0.11% -1.59%
2094 -0.1% -1.59%
2093 -0.1% -1.58%
2092 -0.11% -1.57%
2091 -0.07% -1.57%
2090 -0.02% -1.57%
2089 -0.004% -1.57%
2088 0.02% -1.57%
2087 0.01% -1.56%
2086 0.01% -1.56%
2085 0.04% -1.55%
2084 0.04% -1.53%
2083 0.05% -1.51%
2082 0.03% -1.5%
2081 0.04% -1.47%
2080 0.07% -1.45%
2079 0.12% -1.42%
2078 0.12% -1.4%
2077 0.14% -1.38%
2076 0.15% -1.36%
2075 0.15% -1.34%
2074 0.15% -1.33%
2073 0.2% -1.31%
2072 0.18% -1.3%
2071 0.19% -1.3%
2070 0.26% -1.29%
2069 0.27% -1.29%
2068 0.33% -1.29%
2067 0.33% -1.28%
2066 0.38% -1.28%
2065 0.4% -1.27%
2064 0.42% -1.26%
2063 0.47% -1.25%
2062 0.52% -1.24%
2061 0.54% -1.22%
2060 0.55% -1.19%
2059 0.64% -1.17%
2058 0.66% -1.13%
2057 0.66% -1.09%
2056 0.69% -1.05%
2055 0.7% -1.01%
2054 0.75% -0.96%
2053 0.79% -0.92%
2052 0.8% -0.87%
2051 0.82% -0.82%
2050 0.86% -0.77%
2049 0.9% -0.73%
2048 0.93% -0.69%
2047 0.97% -0.65%
2046 0.96% -0.62%
2045 0.96% -0.59%
2044 0.99% -0.56%
2043 0.99% -0.54%
2042 1.03% -0.52%
2041 1.05% -0.5%
2040 1.1% -0.48%
2039 1.11% -0.46%
2038 1.16% -0.44%
2037 1.19% -0.42%
2036 1.23% -0.4%
2035 1.27% -0.39%
2034 1.3% -0.37%
2033 1.36% -0.35%
2032 1.37% -0.33%
2031 1.46% -0.3%
2030 1.47% -0.29%
2029 1.54% -0.26%
2028 1.55% -0.24%
2027 1.62% -0.22%
2026 1.6% -0.23%
2025 1.63% -0.17%
2024 1.65% -0.12%
2023 1.65% -0.1%
2022 1.6% -0.01%
2021 1.5% 0.09%
2020 1.45% 0.24%
2019 1.43% 0.36%
2018 1.43% 0.47%
2017 1.43% 0.61%
2016 1.43% 0.57%
2015 1.44% 0.58%
2014 1.47% 0.63%
2013 1.52% 0.67%
2012 1.69% 0.68%
2011 1.99% 0.55%
2010 2.13% 0.48%
2009 2.09% 0.5%
2008 2.03% 0.51%
2007 1.96% 0.52%
2006 1.88% 0.56%
2005 1.81% 0.59%
2004 1.77% 0.6%
2003 1.78% 0.62%
2002 1.9% 0.67%
2001 2.08% 0.73%
2000 2.15% 0.79%
1999 2.18% 0.87%
1998 2.24% 0.96%
1997 2.33% 1.03%
1996 2.47% 1.05%
1995 2.66% 1.09%
1994 2.81% 1.14%
1993 2.9% 1.16%
1992 2.85% 1.23%
1991 2.76% 1.37%
1990 2.79% 1.48%
1989 2.82% 1.54%
1988 3.03% 1.62%
1987 3.32% 1.62%
1986 3.45% 1.5%
1985 3.53% 1.37%
1984 3.59% 1.32%
1983 3.65% 1.46%
1982 4.05% 1.48%
1981 3.47% 1.29%
1980 3.96% 1.26%
1979 6.18% 1.34%
1978 6.21% 1.35%
1977 5.41% 1.37%
1976 5.29% 1.56%
1975 5.1% 1.78%
1974 5.06% 2.09%
1973 4.82% 2.31%
1972 3.65% 2.49%
1971 1.72% 2.78%
1970 0.56% 2.8%
1969 0.53% 2.78%
1968 0.52% 2.65%
1967 0.53% 2.6%
1966 0.56% 2.83%
1965 1.48% 2.41%
1964 2.41% 2.35%
1963 2.37% 2.49%
1962 2.32% 0.82%
1961 2.28% -1.01%

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/china | CC BY

In 2025, the population of Botswana grew by 1.63%, while China's population declined by 0.17%.

Live population counters

Botswana China
Current population
2624853
1403335670
Population rank 142/197 2/197
Percent of world population 0.03% 16.9%
One net population change
12.9 minutes
13.2 seconds
One birth every
8.56 minutes
3.31 seconds
One death every
36.3 minutes
2.88 seconds
Daily growth/decline +112 -6,548
Annual growth/decline +40,983 -2,390,000
Annual growth/decline rate +1.63% -0.17%
Population growth rate rank 65/197 174/197
One migration net change every
1.55 hours
1.97 minutes
Annual migration change -5,665 -268,126
Net migration rank 120/196 189/196
Foreign-born residents 116,402 1,638,718
Foreign-born residents rank 126/195 43/195
Foreign-born share of population 4.6% 0.1%
Foreign-born share rank 96/195 192/195

Natural population change vs migration

Botswana
Natural

Migration
China
Natural

Migration
1x
Year Population change
Botswana China
Natural Migration Natural Migration
2025 - -5,665 - -268,126
2024 46,951 -5,778 -1,394,886 -318,992
2023 47,098 -6,487 -2,087,851 -567,724
2022 47,400 -7,306 -847,305 -293,846
2021 40,894 -4,083 480,203 -379,749
2020 45,610 -11,330 2,046,095 -91,577
2019 45,110 -11,770 4,673,713 -656,091
2018 44,171 -11,623 5,302,433 -198,206
2017 43,154 -10,916 7,790,880 -94,625
2016 41,993 -10,286 9,062,269 -153,056
2015 40,897 -9,599 6,788,911 -646,941
2014 40,046 -8,893 9,205,180 -371,108
2013 39,404 -7,836 8,043,116 -188,951
2012 39,202 -6,636 10,075,174 -58,864
2011 38,613 -1,019 8,245,065 -416,189
2010 38,101 5,151 6,407,607 -184,144
2009 36,671 4,960 6,483,236 -177,135
2008 35,433 4,343 6,729,247 -764,370
2007 33,832 3,926 6,813,465 -1,042,019
2006 31,340 4,270 6,922,185 -759,559
2005 29,385 4,283 7,678,911 -103,701
2004 27,481 4,314 7,607,960 -770,977
2003 26,545 4,488 7,743,284 -613,223
2002 26,163 4,747 8,258,580 -761,291
2001 26,112 7,991 8,839,358 -176,419
2000 25,850 9,798 9,570,849 -62,622
1999 25,358 9,762 10,247,372 -96,102
1998 25,397 9,685 11,351,286 -40,472
1997 25,738 9,597 12,374,554 -279,251
1996 26,847 9,368 12,686,872 -250,750
1995 28,478 9,464 12,711,220 -365,986
1994 30,664 9,023 13,360,470 -723,641
1993 31,691 8,441 13,493,138 -373,316
1992 31,995 8,026 13,548,601 -142,985
1991 32,219 4,311 14,937,124 -544,650
1990 33,015 2,580 16,335,313 -11,187
1989 33,756 1,495 16,824,495 -313,476
1988 34,564 -215 17,328,640 -282,194
1987 35,647 2,624 18,005,821 -169,170
1986 36,203 2,558 16,609,920 -79,190
1985 35,966 2,683 14,987,830 -60,929
1984 35,530 2,393 13,561,671 -51,961
1983 35,142 1,980 13,599,789 -43,756
1982 34,859 1,751 15,815,318 -36,181
1981 34,327 7,610 14,461,027 -28,016
1980 33,934 -10,849 11,647,260 -20,129
1979 32,486 15,918 11,250,148 -13,704
1978 30,596 26,015 11,473,980 -9,916
1977 29,009 13,708 11,378,068 -15,323
1976 27,497 11,914 11,782,472 -55,109
1975 25,762 11,086 14,378,237 -115,173
1974 24,160 8,854 15,738,118 -175,239
1973 22,449 10,615 18,423,727 -214,997
1972 21,004 5,937 19,102,585 -215,650
1971 19,926 -3,016 19,622,980 -180,153
1970 19,438 -16,054 21,137,076 -126,510
1969 19,024 -15,870 20,760,332 -72,836
1968 18,725 -15,681 21,206,083 -37,290
1967 18,463 -15,438 19,263,662 1,246,654
1966 18,250 -15,140 19,282,187 4,165
1965 18,045 -14,753 20,296,950 -130,900
1964 17,634 -4,126 19,302,532 -1,250,441
1963 17,084 -4,000 22,742,225 -31,383
1962 16,507 -4,028 17,969,132 -31,305
1961 16,185 -4,168 2,496,047 -25,578
1960 15,861 -4,331 -3,048,510 -16,927

Data sources: World Bank | Health (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-07-08).

GeoRank.org/population/botswana/china | 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 China 90.3% is from natural causes (a gain of 31,814,462 people) and 9.66% is from migration (a loss of 3,400,807 people).

As of 2024, 116,402 residents or 4.6% of the population were not native-born in Botswana, compared to 1,638,718 people or 0.1% in China.

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
China
City Population
Chongqing 32.1M
Shanghai 24.9M
Beijing 21.9M
Chengdu 20.9M
Guangzhou 18.7M
Shenzhen 17.5M
Tianjin 13.9M
Xi'an 13M
Suzhou 12.7M
Zhengzhou 12.6M

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/china | CC BY

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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)

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