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

Updated on by Georank

The latest officially reported population of Botswana was 2,562,122 in 2025 vs 6,484,437 people in the Congo in 2025. In 2026, based on the adjusted UN estimation, the current Botswana's population is 2,624,853 people compared to 6,718,789 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 +1.51% per year vs +2.44% in the Congo.
  • Since 2006, the population of Botswana has increased from 1.87M people to 2.62M (40% growth), while the Congo has grown from 3.84M to 6.72M (75.1% growth).

Botswana vs Congo: population by year and forecast

Botswana
Factual

Projection
Congo
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Population
Botswana Congo
2100 3,870,704 20,194,267
2099 3,875,823 20,053,234
2098 3,881,867 19,906,909
2097 3,887,181 19,760,110
2096 3,892,081 19,610,521
2095 3,896,405 19,459,493
2094 3,900,671 19,306,835
2093 3,904,733 19,151,289
2092 3,908,682 18,990,577
2091 3,913,090 18,828,222
2090 3,915,896 18,663,146
2089 3,916,540 18,497,842
2088 3,916,700 18,325,571
2087 3,916,016 18,153,731
2086 3,915,493 17,979,773
2085 3,914,975 17,807,843
2084 3,913,555 17,631,386
2083 3,912,119 17,453,221
2082 3,910,185 17,270,773
2081 3,909,204 17,093,270
2080 3,907,447 16,910,570
2079 3,904,550 16,728,955
2078 3,900,021 16,542,829
2077 3,895,321 16,357,926
2076 3,889,723 16,173,005
2075 3,883,893 15,981,904
2074 3,878,255 15,791,626
2073 3,872,458 15,597,321
2072 3,864,865 15,402,110
2071 3,857,922 15,205,567
2070 3,850,437 15,009,147
2069 3,840,521 14,808,250
2068 3,830,034 14,609,790
2067 3,817,551 14,412,802
2066 3,804,918 14,211,022
2065 3,790,427 14,010,661
2064 3,775,157 13,810,933
2063 3,759,402 13,609,626
2062 3,741,936 13,405,080
2061 3,722,576 13,204,362
2060 3,702,465 13,004,957
2059 3,682,055 12,806,162
2058 3,658,810 12,609,233
2057 3,634,762 12,413,395
2056 3,611,096 12,217,406
2055 3,586,314 12,022,740
2054 3,561,446 11,824,813
2053 3,535,001 11,627,983
2052 3,507,213 11,431,875
2051 3,479,219 11,235,188
2050 3,450,807 11,039,311
2049 3,421,435 10,844,973
2048 3,391,019 10,650,230
2047 3,359,719 10,453,401
2046 3,327,520 10,258,550
2045 3,295,807 10,063,886
2044 3,264,444 9,871,213
2043 3,232,407 9,676,000
2042 3,200,743 9,482,485
2041 3,168,217 9,287,235
2040 3,135,241 9,096,577
2039 3,101,153 8,907,177
2038 3,067,014 8,719,250
2037 3,031,993 8,532,935
2036 2,996,265 8,348,719
2035 2,959,978 8,166,676
2034 2,922,807 7,985,679
2033 2,885,394 7,805,748
2032 2,846,703 7,628,440
2031 2,808,291 7,453,476
2030 2,767,933 7,284,111
2029 2,727,903 7,117,929
2028 2,686,412 6,955,268
2027 2,645,316 6,794,778
2026 2,603,241 6,638,532
2025 2,562,122 6,484,437
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 (2026–2100, retrieved 2026-07-08); World Bank | Health (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-07-08).

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 390,077 people (a 17.5% growth), while the Congo's population increased by 1,496,253 people (a 28.6% 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 31.5% to 3,450,807 people with a rank change from 142nd to 137th. The population of the Congo will increase by 64.3% to 11,039,311 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 1.63% 2.39%
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 (2026–2100, retrieved 2026-07-08); World Bank | Health (1961–2025, retrieved 2026-07-08).

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

In 2025, the population of Botswana grew by 1.63%, while the Congo's population grew by 2.39%.

Live population counters

Botswana Congo
Current population
2624853
6718789
Population rank 142/197 109/197
Percent of world population 0.03% 0.08%
One net population change
12.9 minutes
3.48 minutes
One birth every
8.56 minutes
2.73 minutes
One death every
36.3 minutes
13.3 minutes
Daily growth/decline +112 +415
Annual growth/decline +40,983 +151,476
Annual growth/decline rate +1.63% +2.39%
Population growth rate rank 65/197 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 46,951 -5,778 153,150 -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 2026-07-08).

GeoRank.org/population/botswana/congo | 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 Congo 95.2% is from natural causes (a gain of 1,445,532 people) and 4.82% is from migration (a loss of 73,144 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 127K
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 (1960–2025, 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/congo | 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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