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Population in Botswana compared to the Congo: Trends, Charts, Rankings

Updated on by Georank team

The latest officially reported population of Botswana was 2,521,139 in 2024 vs 6,332,961 people in the Congo in 2024. In 2026, based on the adjusted UN estimation, the current Botswana's population is 2,615,162 people compared to 6,681,829 in the Congo.

Population statistics:

  • The Congo's population is 2.56 times bigger than Botswana's.
  • Botswana is ranked the 142nd most populous country in the world, while the Congo is the 109th.
  • The countries together account for 0.11% of the world: 0.03% for Botswana vs 0.08% for the Congo.
  • For the last 10 years, Botswana has had an average growth rate of +1.5% per year vs +2.44% in the Congo.
  • Since 2006, the population of Botswana has increased from 1.87M people to 2.62M (39.5% growth), while the Congo has grown from 3.84M to 6.68M (74.1% growth).

Botswana vs Congo: population by year and forecast

Botswana
Factual

Projection
Congo
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Population
Botswana Congo
2100 3,871,504 20,197,393
2099 3,876,625 20,056,338
2098 3,882,670 19,909,990
2097 3,887,985 19,763,169
2096 3,892,886 19,613,556
2095 3,897,211 19,462,505
2094 3,901,478 19,309,823
2093 3,905,541 19,154,254
2092 3,909,490 18,993,517
2091 3,913,899 18,831,137
2090 3,916,706 18,666,035
2089 3,917,351 18,500,705
2088 3,917,510 18,328,408
2087 3,916,826 18,156,542
2086 3,916,303 17,982,556
2085 3,915,785 17,810,599
2084 3,914,364 17,634,115
2083 3,912,929 17,455,922
2082 3,910,994 17,273,447
2081 3,910,013 17,095,916
2080 3,908,255 16,913,187
2079 3,905,358 16,731,545
2078 3,900,828 16,545,390
2077 3,896,126 16,360,458
2076 3,890,528 16,175,508
2075 3,884,696 15,984,378
2074 3,879,057 15,794,071
2073 3,873,259 15,599,735
2072 3,865,665 15,404,494
2071 3,858,720 15,207,921
2070 3,851,234 15,011,471
2069 3,841,316 14,810,543
2068 3,830,826 14,612,051
2067 3,818,341 14,415,033
2066 3,805,705 14,213,222
2065 3,791,211 14,012,829
2064 3,775,938 13,813,071
2063 3,760,179 13,611,733
2062 3,742,710 13,407,155
2061 3,723,346 13,206,406
2060 3,703,231 13,006,970
2059 3,682,816 12,808,144
2058 3,659,567 12,611,185
2057 3,635,514 12,415,316
2056 3,611,843 12,219,298
2055 3,587,056 12,024,601
2054 3,562,182 11,826,644
2053 3,535,732 11,629,783
2052 3,507,938 11,433,645
2051 3,479,939 11,236,927
2050 3,451,521 11,041,020
2049 3,422,143 10,846,652
2048 3,391,720 10,651,879
2047 3,360,414 10,455,019
2046 3,328,208 10,260,138
2045 3,296,489 10,065,444
2044 3,265,120 9,872,742
2043 3,233,076 9,677,498
2042 3,201,405 9,483,953
2041 3,168,873 9,288,673
2040 3,135,889 9,097,986
2039 3,101,794 8,908,556
2038 3,067,648 8,720,599
2037 3,032,620 8,534,256
2036 2,996,884 8,350,011
2035 2,960,590 8,167,940
2034 2,923,411 7,986,915
2033 2,885,991 7,806,956
2032 2,847,292 7,629,621
2031 2,808,872 7,454,630
2030 2,768,505 7,285,238
2029 2,728,467 7,119,031
2028 2,686,968 6,956,345
2027 2,645,863 6,795,830
2026 2,603,779 6,639,560
2025 2,562,651 6,485,440
2024 2,521,139 6,332,961
2023 2,480,244 6,182,885
2022 2,439,892 6,035,104
2021 2,401,441 5,892,183
2020 2,365,894 5,752,791
2019 2,332,083 5,616,661
2018 2,299,141 5,483,118
2017 2,266,747 5,351,011
2016 2,234,776 5,222,536
2015 2,203,273 5,097,581
2014 2,172,044 4,975,880
2013 2,140,682 4,857,099
2012 2,108,617 4,740,450
2011 2,073,535 4,609,724
2010 2,033,111 4,462,290
2009 1,990,673 4,281,219
2008 1,949,970 4,113,517
2007 1,911,201 3,980,430
2006 1,874,516 3,837,409
2005 1,839,877 3,696,393
2004 1,807,146 3,565,554
2003 1,775,736 3,445,753
2002 1,744,763 3,350,771
2001 1,712,254 3,272,537
2000 1,677,382 3,151,345
1999 1,641,997 3,032,874
1998 1,606,899 2,952,061
1997 1,571,691 2,887,862
1996 1,535,914 2,826,785
1995 1,498,836 2,749,461
1994 1,460,023 2,673,144
1993 1,420,115 2,595,124
1992 1,380,033 2,519,465
1991 1,341,756 2,449,229
1990 1,305,696 2,380,560
1989 1,270,274 2,313,558
1988 1,235,476 2,247,653
1987 1,199,167 2,183,473
1986 1,160,650 2,120,602
1985 1,121,945 2,059,311
1984 1,083,660 1,999,528
1983 1,046,137 1,950,321
1982 1,009,269 1,910,430
1981 969,996 1,869,759
1980 937,485 1,828,985
1979 901,742 1,788,524
1978 849,239 1,748,089
1977 799,574 1,707,568
1976 758,508 1,667,225
1975 720,380 1,627,032
1974 685,448 1,582,301
1973 652,408 1,533,680
1972 622,407 1,486,468
1971 600,481 1,441,039
1970 590,334 1,397,638
1969 587,066 1,356,182
1968 583,966 1,316,519
1967 580,933 1,278,691
1966 577,866 1,242,534
1965 574,664 1,207,880
1964 566,266 1,174,816
1963 552,966 1,143,263
1962 540,186 1,113,175
1961 527,942 1,084,389
1960 516,165 1,056,732

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/congo | CC BY

From 2006 to 2016, the population of Botswana increased by 360,260 people (a 19.2% growth), while the Congo gained 1,385,127 people (a 36.1% growth).

For the next 10 years, from 2016 to 2026, Botswana gained 380,386 people (a 17% growth), while the Congo's population increased by 1,459,293 people (a 27.9% growth).

Botswana was ranked 145th most populous country in 2006 and is 142nd in 2026. The Congo was ranked 125th in 2006 and ranked 109th 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 Congo will increase by 65.2% to 11,041,020 people and rank change from 109th to 95th.

Botswana is projected to reach its peak in 2088 at 3.92M people compared to the peak of 20.2M people in 2100 for the Congo.

Population growth rate by year

Botswana
Factual

Projection
Congo
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Growth rate
Botswana Congo
2100 -0.13% 0.7%
2099 -0.16% 0.74%
2098 -0.14% 0.74%
2097 -0.13% 0.76%
2096 -0.11% 0.78%
2095 -0.11% 0.79%
2094 -0.1% 0.81%
2093 -0.1% 0.85%
2092 -0.11% 0.86%
2091 -0.07% 0.88%
2090 -0.02% 0.89%
2089 -0.004% 0.94%
2088 0.02% 0.95%
2087 0.01% 0.97%
2086 0.01% 0.97%
2085 0.04% 1%
2084 0.04% 1.02%
2083 0.05% 1.06%
2082 0.03% 1.04%
2081 0.04% 1.08%
2080 0.07% 1.09%
2079 0.12% 1.13%
2078 0.12% 1.13%
2077 0.14% 1.14%
2076 0.15% 1.2%
2075 0.15% 1.2%
2074 0.15% 1.25%
2073 0.2% 1.27%
2072 0.18% 1.29%
2071 0.19% 1.31%
2070 0.26% 1.36%
2069 0.27% 1.36%
2068 0.33% 1.37%
2067 0.33% 1.42%
2066 0.38% 1.43%
2065 0.4% 1.45%
2064 0.42% 1.48%
2063 0.47% 1.53%
2062 0.52% 1.52%
2061 0.54% 1.53%
2060 0.55% 1.55%
2059 0.64% 1.56%
2058 0.66% 1.58%
2057 0.66% 1.6%
2056 0.69% 1.62%
2055 0.7% 1.67%
2054 0.75% 1.69%
2053 0.79% 1.72%
2052 0.8% 1.75%
2051 0.82% 1.77%
2050 0.86% 1.79%
2049 0.9% 1.83%
2048 0.93% 1.88%
2047 0.97% 1.9%
2046 0.96% 1.93%
2045 0.96% 1.95%
2044 0.99% 2.02%
2043 0.99% 2.04%
2042 1.03% 2.1%
2041 1.05% 2.1%
2040 1.1% 2.13%
2039 1.11% 2.16%
2038 1.16% 2.18%
2037 1.19% 2.21%
2036 1.23% 2.23%
2035 1.27% 2.27%
2034 1.3% 2.31%
2033 1.36% 2.32%
2032 1.37% 2.35%
2031 1.46% 2.33%
2030 1.47% 2.33%
2029 1.54% 2.34%
2028 1.55% 2.36%
2027 1.62% 2.35%
2026 1.6% 2.38%
2025 1.65% 2.41%
2024 1.65% 2.43%
2023 1.65% 2.45%
2022 1.6% 2.43%
2021 1.5% 2.42%
2020 1.45% 2.42%
2019 1.43% 2.44%
2018 1.43% 2.47%
2017 1.43% 2.46%
2016 1.43% 2.45%
2015 1.44% 2.45%
2014 1.47% 2.45%
2013 1.52% 2.46%
2012 1.69% 2.84%
2011 1.99% 3.3%
2010 2.13% 4.23%
2009 2.09% 4.08%
2008 2.03% 3.34%
2007 1.96% 3.73%
2006 1.88% 3.81%
2005 1.81% 3.67%
2004 1.77% 3.48%
2003 1.78% 2.83%
2002 1.9% 2.39%
2001 2.08% 3.85%
2000 2.15% 3.91%
1999 2.18% 2.74%
1998 2.24% 2.22%
1997 2.33% 2.16%
1996 2.47% 2.81%
1995 2.66% 2.85%
1994 2.81% 3.01%
1993 2.9% 3%
1992 2.85% 2.87%
1991 2.76% 2.88%
1990 2.79% 2.9%
1989 2.82% 2.93%
1988 3.03% 2.94%
1987 3.32% 2.96%
1986 3.45% 2.98%
1985 3.53% 2.99%
1984 3.59% 2.52%
1983 3.65% 2.09%
1982 4.05% 2.18%
1981 3.47% 2.23%
1980 3.96% 2.26%
1979 6.18% 2.31%
1978 6.21% 2.37%
1977 5.41% 2.42%
1976 5.29% 2.47%
1975 5.1% 2.83%
1974 5.06% 3.17%
1973 4.82% 3.18%
1972 3.65% 3.15%
1971 1.72% 3.11%
1970 0.56% 3.06%
1969 0.53% 3.01%
1968 0.52% 2.96%
1967 0.53% 2.91%
1966 0.56% 2.87%
1965 1.48% 2.81%
1964 2.41% 2.76%
1963 2.37% 2.7%
1962 2.32% 2.65%
1961 2.28% 2.62%

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/congo | CC BY

In 2024, the population of Botswana grew by 1.65%, while the Congo's population grew by 2.43%.

Live population counters

Botswana Congo
Current population
2615162
6681829
Population rank 142/197 109/197
Percent of world population 0.03% 0.08%
One net population change
12.9 minutes
3.5 minutes
One birth every
8.58 minutes
2.78 minutes
One death every
37 minutes
13.5 minutes
Daily growth/decline +112 +411
Annual growth/decline +40,895 +150,076
Annual growth/decline rate +1.65% +2.43%
Population growth rate rank 66/197 31/197
One migration net change every
1.55 hours
2.93 hours
Annual migration change -5,665 -2,999
Net migration rank 120/196 108/196
Foreign-born residents 116,402 385,589
Foreign-born residents rank 126/195 91/195
Foreign-born share of population 4.6% 6.1%
Foreign-born share rank 96/195 86/195

Natural population change vs migration

Botswana
Natural

Migration
Congo
Natural

Migration
1x
Year Population change
Botswana Congo
Natural Migration Natural Migration
2025 - -5,665 - -2,999
2024 - -5,778 - -2,491
2023 47,098 -6,487 150,486 -995
2022 47,400 -7,306 147,076 -995
2021 40,894 -4,083 144,241 -4,476
2020 45,610 -11,330 143,492 -4,472
2019 45,110 -11,770 139,513 -6,268
2018 44,171 -11,623 142,704 -8,856
2017 43,154 -10,916 141,973 -11,601
2016 41,993 -10,286 141,358 -14,783
2015 40,897 -9,599 141,539 -18,207
2014 40,046 -8,893 141,674 -21,598
2013 39,404 -7,836 142,080 -24,605
2012 39,202 -6,636 142,464 -26,643
2011 38,613 -1,019 140,371 5,262
2010 38,101 5,151 136,908 12,318
2009 36,671 4,960 126,904 86,014
2008 35,433 4,343 120,711 1,774
2007 33,832 3,926 112,459 31,239
2006 31,340 4,270 106,876 35,475
2005 29,385 4,283 101,344 38,337
2004 27,481 4,314 96,577 25,412
2003 26,545 4,488 91,326 26,280
2002 26,163 4,747 88,497 -16,140
2001 26,112 7,991 84,876 -764
2000 25,850 9,798 78,491 79,780
1999 25,358 9,762 76,204 2,470
1998 25,397 9,685 72,450 10,500
1997 25,738 9,597 66,149 -20,704
1996 26,847 9,368 75,628 1,085
1995 28,478 9,464 74,189 3,747
1994 30,664 9,023 72,857 1,850
1993 31,691 8,441 71,119 10,218
1992 31,995 8,026 69,973 0
1991 32,219 4,311 68,534 1,966
1990 33,015 2,580 67,241 -395
1989 33,756 1,495 65,944 1,214
1988 34,564 -215 64,629 22
1987 35,647 2,624 63,183 525
1986 36,203 2,558 61,669 367
1985 35,966 2,683 60,359 182
1984 35,530 2,393 59,028 0
1983 35,142 1,980 58,120 -18,720
1982 34,859 1,751 57,036 -16,664
1981 34,327 7,610 56,603 -15,630
1980 33,934 -10,849 55,550 -14,972
1979 32,486 15,918 54,723 -14,378
1978 30,596 26,015 53,885 -13,356
1977 29,009 13,708 53,179 -12,673
1976 27,497 11,914 52,148 -11,971
1975 25,762 11,086 51,155 -10,944
1974 24,160 8,854 49,563 -312
1973 22,449 10,615 48,017 -22
1972 21,004 5,937 46,427 0
1971 19,926 -3,016 44,431 0
1970 19,438 -16,054 42,374 0
1969 19,024 -15,870 40,532 0
1968 18,725 -15,681 38,786 0
1967 18,463 -15,438 36,866 0
1966 18,250 -15,140 35,452 0
1965 18,045 -14,753 33,865 0
1964 17,634 -4,126 32,270 0
1963 17,084 -4,000 30,832 0
1962 16,507 -4,028 29,342 0
1961 16,185 -4,168 28,220 0
1960 15,861 -4,331 27,094 0

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

GeoRank.org/population/botswana/congo | 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 Congo 94% is from natural causes (a gain of 1,434,056 people) and 6.04% is from migration (a loss of 92,251 people).

As of 2024, 116,402 residents or 4.6% of the population were not native-born in Botswana, compared to 385,589 people or 6.1% in the Congo.

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
Congo
City Population
Brazzaville 2.15M
Pointe-Noire 1.42M
Kayes 71.6K
Madingou 36.2K
Gamboma 26.1K
Kinkala 12.1K

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/congo | 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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