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

Updated on by Georank

The latest officially reported population of Botswana was 2,562,122 in 2025 vs 3,876,200 people in Croatia in 2025. In 2026, based on the adjusted UN estimation, the current Botswana's population is 2,624,853 people compared to 3,849,788 in Croatia.

Population statistics:

  • Croatia's population is 1.47 times bigger than Botswana's.
  • Botswana is ranked the 142nd most populous country in the world, while Croatia is the 130th.
  • The countries together account for 0.08% of the world: 0.03% for Botswana vs 0.05% for Croatia.
  • For the last 10 years, Botswana has had an average growth rate of +1.51% per year vs -0.73% in Croatia.
  • Since 2006, the population of Botswana has increased from 1.87M people to 2.62M (40% growth), while Croatia has declined from 4.31M to 3.85M (10.7% decline).

Botswana vs Croatia: population by year and forecast

Botswana
Factual

Projection
Croatia
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Population
Botswana Croatia
2100 3,870,704 2,158,545
2099 3,875,823 2,176,440
2098 3,881,867 2,194,539
2097 3,887,181 2,212,602
2096 3,892,081 2,231,114
2095 3,896,405 2,249,667
2094 3,900,671 2,268,376
2093 3,904,733 2,286,882
2092 3,908,682 2,305,583
2091 3,913,090 2,324,254
2090 3,915,896 2,342,729
2089 3,916,540 2,361,668
2088 3,916,700 2,380,831
2087 3,916,016 2,399,709
2086 3,915,493 2,418,760
2085 3,914,975 2,438,113
2084 3,913,555 2,457,815
2083 3,912,119 2,477,556
2082 3,910,185 2,497,595
2081 3,909,204 2,517,715
2080 3,907,447 2,538,164
2079 3,904,550 2,559,092
2078 3,900,021 2,580,179
2077 3,895,321 2,601,778
2076 3,889,723 2,623,507
2075 3,883,893 2,645,523
2074 3,878,255 2,667,391
2073 3,872,458 2,689,518
2072 3,864,865 2,712,201
2071 3,857,922 2,734,759
2070 3,850,437 2,757,112
2069 3,840,521 2,780,455
2068 3,830,034 2,804,383
2067 3,817,551 2,828,363
2066 3,804,918 2,852,669
2065 3,790,427 2,877,009
2064 3,775,157 2,901,213
2063 3,759,402 2,926,228
2062 3,741,936 2,951,475
2061 3,722,576 2,976,903
2060 3,702,465 3,002,483
2059 3,682,055 3,027,959
2058 3,658,810 3,053,643
2057 3,634,762 3,079,155
2056 3,611,096 3,105,119
2055 3,586,314 3,130,769
2054 3,561,446 3,156,282
2053 3,535,001 3,182,091
2052 3,507,213 3,207,640
2051 3,479,219 3,233,551
2050 3,450,807 3,259,702
2049 3,421,435 3,285,684
2048 3,391,019 3,311,657
2047 3,359,719 3,337,645
2046 3,327,520 3,363,102
2045 3,295,807 3,388,731
2044 3,264,444 3,414,541
2043 3,232,407 3,439,695
2042 3,200,743 3,464,688
2041 3,168,217 3,489,565
2040 3,135,241 3,513,946
2039 3,101,153 3,538,129
2038 3,067,014 3,562,371
2037 3,031,993 3,586,606
2036 2,996,265 3,609,771
2035 2,959,978 3,632,470
2034 2,922,807 3,656,066
2033 2,885,394 3,679,626
2032 2,846,703 3,703,646
2031 2,808,291 3,728,250
2030 2,767,933 3,752,014
2029 2,727,903 3,776,079
2028 2,686,412 3,799,610
2027 2,645,316 3,824,370
2026 2,603,241 3,849,788
2025 2,562,122 3,876,200
2024 2,521,139 3,866,200
2023 2,480,244 3,859,686
2022 2,439,892 3,855,641
2021 2,401,441 3,878,981
2020 2,365,894 3,914,206
2019 2,332,083 3,949,390
2018 2,299,141 3,988,775
2017 2,266,747 4,041,407
2016 2,234,776 4,106,867
2015 2,203,273 4,151,725
2014 2,172,044 4,201,598
2013 2,140,682 4,233,922
2012 2,108,617 4,260,368
2011 2,073,535 4,280,622
2010 2,033,111 4,295,427
2009 1,990,673 4,305,181
2008 1,949,970 4,309,705
2007 1,911,201 4,310,217
2006 1,874,516 4,311,159
2005 1,839,877 4,310,145
2004 1,807,146 4,304,600
2003 1,775,736 4,303,399
2002 1,744,763 4,302,174
2001 1,712,254 4,299,642
2000 1,677,382 4,468,302
1999 1,641,997 4,512,597
1998 1,606,899 4,532,135
1997 1,571,691 4,534,920
1996 1,535,914 4,557,097
1995 1,498,836 4,620,030
1994 1,460,023 4,652,024
1993 1,420,115 4,600,463
1992 1,380,033 4,575,818
1991 1,341,756 4,689,022
1990 1,305,696 4,777,368
1989 1,270,274 4,767,260
1988 1,235,476 4,755,207
1987 1,199,167 4,739,745
1986 1,160,650 4,721,446
1985 1,121,945 4,701,417
1984 1,083,660 4,680,285
1983 1,046,137 4,658,254
1982 1,009,269 4,634,234
1981 969,996 4,611,509
1980 937,485 4,599,782
1979 901,742 4,594,778
1978 849,239 4,581,085
1977 799,574 4,559,571
1976 758,508 4,535,934
1975 720,380 4,512,082
1974 685,448 4,490,660
1973 652,408 4,470,161
1972 622,407 4,450,564
1971 600,481 4,431,275
1970 590,334 4,412,252
1969 587,066 4,391,490
1968 583,966 4,365,628
1967 580,933 4,338,683
1966 577,866 4,310,701
1965 574,664 4,280,923
1964 566,266 4,252,876
1963 552,966 4,225,675
1962 540,186 4,196,712
1961 527,942 4,167,292
1960 516,165 4,140,181

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/croatia | CC BY

From 2006 to 2016, the population of Botswana increased by 360,260 people (a 19.2% growth), while Croatia lost 204,292 people (a 4.74% decline).

For the next 10 years, from 2016 to 2026, Botswana gained 390,077 people (a 17.5% growth), while Croatia's population decreased by 257,079 people (a 6.26% decline).

Botswana was ranked 145th most populous country in 2006 and is 142nd in 2026. Croatia was ranked 120th in 2006 and ranked 130th 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 Croatia will decrease by 15.3% to 3,259,702 people and rank change from 130th to 138th.

Botswana is projected to reach its peak in 2088 at 3.92M people, while Croatia's population already peaked in 1990 at 4.78M people and is projected to decrease to 2.16M people by 2100.

Population growth rate by year

Botswana
Factual

Projection
Croatia
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Growth rate
Botswana Croatia
2100 -0.13% -0.82%
2099 -0.16% -0.82%
2098 -0.14% -0.82%
2097 -0.13% -0.83%
2096 -0.11% -0.82%
2095 -0.11% -0.82%
2094 -0.1% -0.81%
2093 -0.1% -0.81%
2092 -0.11% -0.8%
2091 -0.07% -0.79%
2090 -0.02% -0.8%
2089 -0.004% -0.8%
2088 0.02% -0.79%
2087 0.01% -0.79%
2086 0.01% -0.79%
2085 0.04% -0.8%
2084 0.04% -0.8%
2083 0.05% -0.8%
2082 0.03% -0.8%
2081 0.04% -0.81%
2080 0.07% -0.82%
2079 0.12% -0.82%
2078 0.12% -0.83%
2077 0.14% -0.83%
2076 0.15% -0.83%
2075 0.15% -0.82%
2074 0.15% -0.82%
2073 0.2% -0.84%
2072 0.18% -0.82%
2071 0.19% -0.81%
2070 0.26% -0.84%
2069 0.27% -0.85%
2068 0.33% -0.85%
2067 0.33% -0.85%
2066 0.38% -0.85%
2065 0.4% -0.83%
2064 0.42% -0.85%
2063 0.47% -0.86%
2062 0.52% -0.85%
2061 0.54% -0.85%
2060 0.55% -0.84%
2059 0.64% -0.84%
2058 0.66% -0.83%
2057 0.66% -0.84%
2056 0.69% -0.82%
2055 0.7% -0.81%
2054 0.75% -0.81%
2053 0.79% -0.8%
2052 0.8% -0.8%
2051 0.82% -0.8%
2050 0.86% -0.79%
2049 0.9% -0.78%
2048 0.93% -0.78%
2047 0.97% -0.76%
2046 0.96% -0.76%
2045 0.96% -0.76%
2044 0.99% -0.73%
2043 0.99% -0.72%
2042 1.03% -0.71%
2041 1.05% -0.69%
2040 1.1% -0.68%
2039 1.11% -0.68%
2038 1.16% -0.68%
2037 1.19% -0.64%
2036 1.23% -0.62%
2035 1.27% -0.65%
2034 1.3% -0.64%
2033 1.36% -0.65%
2032 1.37% -0.66%
2031 1.46% -0.63%
2030 1.47% -0.64%
2029 1.54% -0.62%
2028 1.55% -0.65%
2027 1.62% -0.66%
2026 1.6% -0.68%
2025 1.63% 0.26%
2024 1.65% 0.17%
2023 1.65% 0.1%
2022 1.6% -0.6%
2021 1.5% -0.9%
2020 1.45% -0.89%
2019 1.43% -0.99%
2018 1.43% -1.3%
2017 1.43% -1.59%
2016 1.43% -1.08%
2015 1.44% -1.19%
2014 1.47% -0.76%
2013 1.52% -0.62%
2012 1.69% -0.47%
2011 1.99% -0.34%
2010 2.13% -0.23%
2009 2.09% -0.1%
2008 2.03% -0.01%
2007 1.96% -0.02%
2006 1.88% 0.02%
2005 1.81% 0.13%
2004 1.77% 0.03%
2003 1.78% 0.03%
2002 1.9% 0.06%
2001 2.08% -3.77%
2000 2.15% -0.98%
1999 2.18% -0.43%
1998 2.24% -0.06%
1997 2.33% -0.49%
1996 2.47% -1.36%
1995 2.66% -0.69%
1994 2.81% 1.12%
1993 2.9% 0.54%
1992 2.85% -2.41%
1991 2.76% -1.85%
1990 2.79% 0.21%
1989 2.82% 0.25%
1988 3.03% 0.33%
1987 3.32% 0.39%
1986 3.45% 0.43%
1985 3.53% 0.45%
1984 3.59% 0.47%
1983 3.65% 0.52%
1982 4.05% 0.49%
1981 3.47% 0.25%
1980 3.96% 0.11%
1979 6.18% 0.3%
1978 6.21% 0.47%
1977 5.41% 0.52%
1976 5.29% 0.53%
1975 5.1% 0.48%
1974 5.06% 0.46%
1973 4.82% 0.44%
1972 3.65% 0.44%
1971 1.72% 0.43%
1970 0.56% 0.47%
1969 0.53% 0.59%
1968 0.52% 0.62%
1967 0.53% 0.65%
1966 0.56% 0.7%
1965 1.48% 0.66%
1964 2.41% 0.64%
1963 2.37% 0.69%
1962 2.32% 0.71%
1961 2.28% 0.65%

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/croatia | CC BY

In 2025, the population of Botswana grew by 1.63%, while Croatia's population grew by 0.26%.

Live population counters

Botswana Croatia
Current population
2624853
3849788
Population rank 142/197 130/197
Percent of world population 0.03% 0.05%
One net population change
12.9 minutes
52.7 minutes
One birth every
8.56 minutes
16.4 minutes
One death every
36.3 minutes
10.3 minutes
Daily growth/decline +112 +27
Annual growth/decline +40,983 +10,000
Annual growth/decline rate +1.63% +0.26%
Population growth rate rank 65/197 147/197
One migration net change every
1.55 hours
2.52 hours
Annual migration change -5,665 -3,481
Net migration rank 120/196 112/196
Foreign-born residents 116,402 527,831
Foreign-born residents rank 126/195 78/195
Foreign-born share of population 4.6% 13.6%
Foreign-born share rank 96/195 50/195

Natural population change vs migration

Botswana
Natural

Migration
Croatia
Natural

Migration
1x
Year Population change
Botswana Croatia
Natural Migration Natural Migration
2025 - -5,665 - -3,481
2024 46,951 -5,778 -18,944 -5,186
2023 47,098 -6,487 -19,298 10,202
2022 47,400 -7,306 -23,134 11,681
2021 40,894 -4,083 -26,377 -4,517
2020 45,610 -11,330 -21,137 -8,552
2019 45,110 -11,770 -15,798 -13,239
2018 44,171 -11,623 -15,556 -25,016
2017 43,154 -10,916 -16,974 -44,557
2016 41,993 -10,286 -14,374 -32,144
2015 40,897 -9,599 -17,022 -27,501
2014 40,046 -8,893 -11,344 -13,127
2013 39,404 -7,836 -10,585 -6,245
2012 39,202 -6,636 -9,799 -4,794
2011 38,613 -1,019 -9,846 -17,463
2010 38,101 5,151 -8,591 -3,995
2009 36,671 4,960 -7,319 1,358
2008 35,433 4,343 -8,188 6,495
2007 33,832 3,926 -10,335 8,893
2006 31,340 4,270 -8,669 10,852
2005 29,385 4,283 -9,022 10,629
2004 27,481 4,314 -9,040 15,445
2003 26,545 4,488 -12,480 12,556
2002 26,163 4,747 -10,325 10,306
2001 26,112 7,991 -8,599 19,298
2000 25,850 9,798 -6,255 -47,629
1999 25,358 9,762 -6,769 -47,418
1998 25,397 9,685 -4,985 -47,931
1997 25,738 9,597 3,175 -52,897
1996 26,847 9,368 3,190 -53,688
1995 28,478 9,464 0 -51,882
1994 30,664 9,023 -930 -50,444
1993 31,691 8,441 -2,301 -49,615
1992 31,995 8,026 -4,576 -47,865
1991 32,219 4,311 -2,813 -31,968
1990 33,015 2,580 3,344 9,538
1989 33,756 1,495 3,337 8,471
1988 34,564 -215 5,707 7,242
1987 35,647 2,624 6,161 6,956
1986 36,203 2,558 8,499 6,261
1985 35,966 2,683 10,343 5,550
1984 35,530 2,393 10,764 5,757
1983 35,142 1,980 10,714 6,323
1982 34,859 1,751 15,756 7,475
1981 34,327 7,610 15,680 4,872
1980 33,934 -10,849 17,939 -5,486
1979 32,486 15,918 21,136 -5,740
1978 30,596 26,015 20,157 -7,329
1977 29,009 13,708 22,798 -7,339
1976 27,497 11,914 22,226 -7,400
1975 25,762 11,086 21,658 -7,366
1974 24,160 8,854 22,453 -8,076
1973 22,449 10,615 21,904 -8,335
1972 21,004 5,937 17,802 -7,277
1971 19,926 -3,016 19,941 -5,608
1970 19,438 -16,054 16,767 -2,359
1969 19,024 -15,870 16,688 -2,796
1968 18,725 -15,681 21,828 -2,799
1967 18,463 -15,438 26,032 -3,518
1966 18,250 -15,140 33,192 -6,341
1965 18,045 -14,753 31,251 -5,253
1964 17,634 -4,126 25,942 -2,090
1963 17,084 -4,000 31,270 -1,289
1962 16,507 -4,028 30,216 -2,176
1961 16,185 -4,168 36,255 -6,567
1960 15,861 -4,331 34,778 -21,768

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

GeoRank.org/population/botswana/croatia | 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 Croatia 57.6% is from natural causes (a loss of 188,614 people) and 42.4% is from migration (a loss of 138,829 people).

As of 2024, 116,402 residents or 4.6% of the population were not native-born in Botswana, compared to 527,831 people or 13.6% in Croatia.

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
Croatia
City Population
Zagreb 767K
Split 161K
Rijeka 108K
Osijek 96.3K
Zadar 70.8K
Velika Gorica 61.1K
Pula 52.2K
Slavonski Brod 49.9K
Karlovac 49.4K
Sibenik 42.6K

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/croatia | 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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