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

Updated on by Georank team

The latest officially reported population of Botswana was 2,521,139 in 2024 vs 109,276,265 people in the DR Congo in 2024. In 2026, based on the adjusted UN estimation, the current Botswana's population is 2,615,162 people compared to 117,507,801 in the DR Congo.

Population statistics:

  • The DR Congo's population is 44.9 times bigger than Botswana's.
  • Botswana is ranked the 142nd most populous country in the world, while the DR Congo is the 15th.
  • The countries together account for 1.45% of the world: 0.03% for Botswana vs 1.42% for the DR Congo.
  • For the last 10 years, Botswana has had an average growth rate of +1.5% per year vs +3.38% in the DR Congo.
  • Since 2006, the population of Botswana has increased from 1.87M people to 2.62M (39.5% growth), while the DR Congo has grown from 60.6M to 118M (93.9% growth).

Botswana vs DR Congo: population by year and forecast

Botswana
Factual

Projection
DR Congo
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Population
Botswana DR Congo
2100 3,871,504 436,320,913
2099 3,876,625 433,372,904
2098 3,882,670 430,335,169
2097 3,887,985 427,231,271
2096 3,892,886 424,043,303
2095 3,897,211 420,759,430
2094 3,901,478 417,384,609
2093 3,905,541 413,946,692
2092 3,909,490 410,440,733
2091 3,913,899 406,841,757
2090 3,916,706 403,166,901
2089 3,917,351 399,411,004
2088 3,917,510 395,583,655
2087 3,916,826 391,688,383
2086 3,916,303 387,713,874
2085 3,915,785 383,678,330
2084 3,914,364 379,568,054
2083 3,912,929 375,402,379
2082 3,910,994 371,195,818
2081 3,910,013 366,948,626
2080 3,908,255 362,644,227
2079 3,905,358 358,295,825
2078 3,900,828 353,888,897
2077 3,896,126 349,435,210
2076 3,890,528 344,932,895
2075 3,884,696 340,403,800
2074 3,879,057 335,826,108
2073 3,873,259 331,220,816
2072 3,865,665 326,568,298
2071 3,858,720 321,892,514
2070 3,851,234 317,165,418
2069 3,841,316 312,409,702
2068 3,830,826 307,625,941
2067 3,818,341 302,820,577
2066 3,805,705 297,989,401
2065 3,791,211 293,137,514
2064 3,775,938 288,267,282
2063 3,760,179 283,369,365
2062 3,742,710 278,452,605
2061 3,723,346 273,517,380
2060 3,703,231 268,572,331
2059 3,682,816 263,620,905
2058 3,659,567 258,672,397
2057 3,635,514 253,733,756
2056 3,611,843 248,796,045
2055 3,587,056 243,861,631
2054 3,562,182 238,931,249
2053 3,535,732 234,016,357
2052 3,507,938 229,117,369
2051 3,479,939 224,240,788
2050 3,451,521 219,397,034
2049 3,422,143 214,588,560
2048 3,391,720 209,814,694
2047 3,360,414 205,079,870
2046 3,328,208 200,379,842
2045 3,296,489 195,731,078
2044 3,265,120 191,124,003
2043 3,233,076 186,569,843
2042 3,201,405 182,068,630
2041 3,168,873 177,617,360
2040 3,135,889 173,224,822
2039 3,101,794 168,878,834
2038 3,067,648 164,583,465
2037 3,032,620 160,347,349
2036 2,996,884 156,129,049
2035 2,960,590 151,953,443
2034 2,923,411 147,811,138
2033 2,885,991 143,712,496
2032 2,847,292 139,669,159
2031 2,808,872 135,660,570
2030 2,768,505 131,710,378
2029 2,728,467 127,818,130
2028 2,686,968 123,980,695
2027 2,645,863 120,212,011
2026 2,603,779 116,505,117
2025 2,562,651 112,854,120
2024 2,521,139 109,276,265
2023 2,480,244 105,789,731
2022 2,439,892 102,396,968
2021 2,401,441 99,148,932
2020 2,365,894 95,989,998
2019 2,332,083 92,947,442
2018 2,299,141 90,047,644
2017 2,266,747 87,083,398
2016 2,234,776 83,956,415
2015 2,203,273 81,035,531
2014 2,172,044 78,403,242
2013 2,140,682 75,789,395
2012 2,108,617 73,254,618
2011 2,073,535 70,849,311
2010 2,033,111 68,563,038
2009 1,990,673 66,412,044
2008 1,949,970 64,390,664
2007 1,911,201 62,477,752
2006 1,874,516 60,615,908
2005 1,839,877 58,775,724
2004 1,807,146 56,997,741
2003 1,775,736 55,343,867
2002 1,744,763 53,750,524
2001 1,712,254 52,132,646
2000 1,677,382 50,507,442
1999 1,641,997 48,912,971
1998 1,606,899 47,297,600
1997 1,571,691 46,029,902
1996 1,535,914 45,296,124
1995 1,498,836 44,433,704
1994 1,460,023 42,626,876
1993 1,420,115 40,656,336
1992 1,380,033 39,228,910
1991 1,341,756 37,925,817
1990 1,305,696 36,684,063
1989 1,270,274 35,486,866
1988 1,235,476 34,382,752
1987 1,199,167 33,298,904
1986 1,160,650 32,265,196
1985 1,121,945 31,264,816
1984 1,083,660 30,245,081
1983 1,046,137 29,250,963
1982 1,009,269 28,338,190
1981 969,996 27,500,515
1980 937,485 26,711,099
1979 901,742 25,886,782
1978 849,239 24,992,689
1977 799,574 24,229,061
1976 758,508 23,624,031
1975 720,380 23,021,101
1974 685,448 22,418,878
1973 652,408 21,827,665
1972 622,407 21,251,160
1971 600,481 20,695,569
1970 590,334 20,137,436
1969 587,066 19,570,445
1968 583,966 19,012,189
1967 580,933 18,462,782
1966 577,866 17,931,929
1965 574,664 17,427,802
1964 566,266 16,955,327
1963 552,966 16,507,599
1962 540,186 16,075,724
1961 527,942 15,662,374
1960 516,165 15,264,846

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/dr-congo | CC BY

From 2006 to 2016, the population of Botswana increased by 360,260 people (a 19.2% growth), while the DR Congo gained 23,340,507 people (a 38.5% growth).

For the next 10 years, from 2016 to 2026, Botswana gained 380,386 people (a 17% growth), while the DR Congo's population increased by 33,551,386 people (a 40% growth).

Botswana was ranked 145th most populous country in 2006 and is 142nd in 2026. The DR Congo was ranked 22nd in 2006 and ranked 15th 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 DR Congo will increase by 86.7% to 219,397,034 people and rank change from 15th to 8th.

Botswana is projected to reach its peak in 2088 at 3.92M people compared to the peak of 436M people in 2100 for the DR Congo.

Population growth rate by year

Botswana
Factual

Projection
DR Congo
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Growth rate
Botswana DR Congo
2100 -0.13% 0.68%
2099 -0.16% 0.71%
2098 -0.14% 0.73%
2097 -0.13% 0.75%
2096 -0.11% 0.78%
2095 -0.11% 0.81%
2094 -0.1% 0.83%
2093 -0.1% 0.85%
2092 -0.11% 0.88%
2091 -0.07% 0.91%
2090 -0.02% 0.94%
2089 -0.004% 0.97%
2088 0.02% 0.99%
2087 0.01% 1.03%
2086 0.01% 1.05%
2085 0.04% 1.08%
2084 0.04% 1.11%
2083 0.05% 1.13%
2082 0.03% 1.16%
2081 0.04% 1.19%
2080 0.07% 1.21%
2079 0.12% 1.25%
2078 0.12% 1.27%
2077 0.14% 1.31%
2076 0.15% 1.33%
2075 0.15% 1.36%
2074 0.15% 1.39%
2073 0.2% 1.42%
2072 0.18% 1.45%
2071 0.19% 1.49%
2070 0.26% 1.52%
2069 0.27% 1.56%
2068 0.33% 1.59%
2067 0.33% 1.62%
2066 0.38% 1.66%
2065 0.4% 1.69%
2064 0.42% 1.73%
2063 0.47% 1.77%
2062 0.52% 1.8%
2061 0.54% 1.84%
2060 0.55% 1.88%
2059 0.64% 1.91%
2058 0.66% 1.95%
2057 0.66% 1.98%
2056 0.69% 2.02%
2055 0.7% 2.06%
2054 0.75% 2.1%
2053 0.79% 2.14%
2052 0.8% 2.17%
2051 0.82% 2.21%
2050 0.86% 2.24%
2049 0.9% 2.28%
2048 0.93% 2.31%
2047 0.97% 2.35%
2046 0.96% 2.38%
2045 0.96% 2.41%
2044 0.99% 2.44%
2043 0.99% 2.47%
2042 1.03% 2.51%
2041 1.05% 2.54%
2040 1.1% 2.57%
2039 1.11% 2.61%
2038 1.16% 2.64%
2037 1.19% 2.7%
2036 1.23% 2.75%
2035 1.27% 2.8%
2034 1.3% 2.85%
2033 1.36% 2.89%
2032 1.37% 2.95%
2031 1.46% 3%
2030 1.47% 3.05%
2029 1.54% 3.1%
2028 1.55% 3.14%
2027 1.62% 3.18%
2026 1.6% 3.24%
2025 1.65% 3.27%
2024 1.65% 3.3%
2023 1.65% 3.31%
2022 1.6% 3.28%
2021 1.5% 3.29%
2020 1.45% 3.27%
2019 1.43% 3.22%
2018 1.43% 3.4%
2017 1.43% 3.72%
2016 1.43% 3.6%
2015 1.44% 3.36%
2014 1.47% 3.45%
2013 1.52% 3.46%
2012 1.69% 3.39%
2011 1.99% 3.33%
2010 2.13% 3.24%
2009 2.09% 3.14%
2008 2.03% 3.06%
2007 1.96% 3.07%
2006 1.88% 3.13%
2005 1.81% 3.12%
2004 1.77% 2.99%
2003 1.78% 2.96%
2002 1.9% 3.1%
2001 2.08% 3.22%
2000 2.15% 3.26%
1999 2.18% 3.42%
1998 2.24% 2.75%
1997 2.33% 1.62%
1996 2.47% 1.94%
1995 2.66% 4.24%
1994 2.81% 4.85%
1993 2.9% 3.64%
1992 2.85% 3.44%
1991 2.76% 3.38%
1990 2.79% 3.37%
1989 2.82% 3.21%
1988 3.03% 3.25%
1987 3.32% 3.2%
1986 3.45% 3.2%
1985 3.53% 3.37%
1984 3.59% 3.4%
1983 3.65% 3.22%
1982 4.05% 3.05%
1981 3.47% 2.96%
1980 3.96% 3.18%
1979 6.18% 3.58%
1978 6.21% 3.15%
1977 5.41% 2.56%
1976 5.29% 2.62%
1975 5.1% 2.69%
1974 5.06% 2.71%
1973 4.82% 2.71%
1972 3.65% 2.68%
1971 1.72% 2.77%
1970 0.56% 2.9%
1969 0.53% 2.94%
1968 0.52% 2.98%
1967 0.53% 2.96%
1966 0.56% 2.89%
1965 1.48% 2.79%
1964 2.41% 2.71%
1963 2.37% 2.69%
1962 2.32% 2.64%
1961 2.28% 2.6%

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/dr-congo | CC BY

In 2024, the population of Botswana grew by 1.65%, while the DR Congo's population grew by 3.3%.

Live population counters

Botswana DR Congo
Current population
2615162
117507801
Population rank 142/197 15/197
Percent of world population 0.03% 1.42%
One net population change
12.9 minutes
9.05 seconds
One birth every
8.58 minutes
7.22 seconds
One death every
37 minutes
35 seconds
Daily growth/decline +112 +9,552
Annual growth/decline +40,895 +3,486,534
Annual growth/decline rate +1.65% +3.3%
Population growth rate rank 66/197 11/197
One migration net change every
1.55 hours
19.3 minutes
Annual migration change -5,665 -27,309
Net migration rank 120/196 159/196
Foreign-born residents 116,402 1,085,090
Foreign-born residents rank 126/195 57/195
Foreign-born share of population 4.6% 1%
Foreign-born share rank 96/195 152/195

Natural population change vs migration

Botswana
Natural

Migration
DR Congo
Natural

Migration
1x
Year Population change
Botswana DR Congo
Natural Migration Natural Migration
2025 - -5,665 - -27,309
2024 - -5,778 - -26,968
2023 47,098 -6,487 3,467,787 -14,992
2022 47,400 -7,306 3,347,664 -14,991
2021 40,894 -4,083 3,227,992 -64,639
2020 45,610 -11,330 3,156,152 -1,633
2019 45,110 -11,770 3,075,538 -144,920
2018 44,171 -11,623 2,993,184 -124,246
2017 43,154 -10,916 2,883,245 176,290
2016 41,993 -10,286 2,753,687 440,748
2015 40,897 -9,599 2,665,016 -17,711
2014 40,046 -8,893 2,580,251 36,966
2013 39,404 -7,836 2,489,378 121,097
2012 39,202 -6,636 2,405,462 53,668
2011 38,613 -1,019 2,310,679 40,891
2010 38,101 5,151 2,212,255 8,823
2009 36,671 4,960 2,126,912 -46,009
2008 35,433 4,343 2,044,210 -82,339
2007 33,832 3,926 1,963,738 -99,742
2006 31,340 4,270 1,889,398 -29,715
2005 29,385 4,283 1,800,300 20,384
2004 27,481 4,314 1,731,022 4,260
2003 26,545 4,488 1,679,188 -106,731
2002 26,163 4,747 1,631,597 -17,358
2001 26,112 7,991 1,594,999 26,523
2000 25,850 9,798 1,549,518 79,340
1999 25,358 9,762 1,450,318 109,761
1998 25,397 9,685 1,375,130 295,560
1997 25,738 9,597 1,392,037 -527,356
1996 26,847 9,368 1,380,490 -777,833
1995 28,478 9,464 1,395,440 -273,434
1994 30,664 9,023 1,259,539 1,232,105
1993 31,691 8,441 1,209,242 240,176
1992 31,995 8,026 1,152,781 252,666
1991 32,219 4,311 1,114,033 86,721
1990 33,015 2,580 1,063,508 219,270
1989 33,756 1,495 1,027,238 84,415
1988 34,564 -215 995,278 101,314
1987 35,647 2,624 959,875 111,220
1986 36,203 2,558 925,334 70,988
1985 35,966 2,683 885,670 118,791
1984 35,530 2,393 844,956 190,045
1983 35,142 1,980 807,122 146,095
1982 34,859 1,751 774,823 97,495
1981 34,327 7,610 748,371 54,656
1980 33,934 -10,849 724,111 51,685
1979 32,486 15,918 691,773 181,028
1978 30,596 26,015 646,411 268,974
1977 29,009 13,708 638,242 -26,355
1976 27,497 11,914 624,147 -25,965
1975 25,762 11,086 608,655 -972
1974 24,160 8,854 593,539 3,216
1973 22,449 10,615 578,280 7,414
1972 21,004 5,937 564,495 2,840
1971 19,926 -3,016 549,343 -5,497
1970 19,438 -16,054 533,300 39,116
1969 19,024 -15,870 514,800 46,778
1968 18,725 -15,681 497,682 57,274
1967 18,463 -15,438 479,552 64,307
1966 18,250 -15,140 463,397 54,443
1965 18,045 -14,753 429,002 61,397
1964 17,634 -4,126 406,334 48,207
1963 17,084 -4,000 398,972 41,960
1962 16,507 -4,028 383,406 39,431
1961 16,185 -4,168 368,207 35,654
1960 15,861 -4,331 363,517 27,673

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

GeoRank.org/population/botswana/dr-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 DR Congo 99.1% is from natural causes (a gain of 30,150,516 people) and 0.89% is from migration (a gain of 270,872 people).

As of 2024, 116,402 residents or 4.6% of the population were not native-born in Botswana, compared to 1,085,090 people or 1% in the DR 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
DR Congo
City Population
Kinshasa 14.6M
Mbuji-Mayi 2.89M
Kananga 1.97M
Lubumbashi 1.79M
Kisangani 1.37M
Tshikapa 1.01M
Uvira 726K
Bukavu 707K
Kolwezi 480K
Mbandaka 470K

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/dr-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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