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

Updated on by Georank team

The latest officially reported population of Botswana was 2,521,139 in 2024 vs 3,535,603 people in Eritrea in 2024. In 2026, based on the adjusted UN estimation, the current Botswana's population is 2,615,162 people compared to 3,700,586 in Eritrea.

Population statistics:

  • Eritrea's population is 1.42 times bigger than Botswana's.
  • Botswana is ranked the 142nd most populous country in the world, while Eritrea is the 130th.
  • The countries together account for 0.08% of the world: 0.03% for Botswana vs 0.04% for Eritrea.
  • For the last 10 years, Botswana has had an average growth rate of +1.5% per year vs +1.28% in Eritrea.
  • Since 2006, the population of Botswana has increased from 1.87M people to 2.62M (39.5% growth), while Eritrea has grown from 2.7M to 3.7M (36.9% growth).

Botswana vs Eritrea: population by year and forecast

Botswana
Factual

Projection
Eritrea
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Population
Botswana Eritrea
2100 3,871,504 8,514,681
2099 3,876,625 8,489,924
2098 3,882,670 8,466,983
2097 3,887,985 8,444,468
2096 3,892,886 8,422,323
2095 3,897,211 8,396,086
2094 3,901,478 8,370,114
2093 3,905,541 8,344,405
2092 3,909,490 8,309,034
2091 3,913,899 8,278,860
2090 3,916,706 8,243,905
2089 3,917,351 8,209,883
2088 3,917,510 8,172,664
2087 3,916,826 8,136,016
2086 3,916,303 8,093,065
2085 3,915,785 8,046,814
2084 3,914,364 7,999,706
2083 3,912,929 7,956,385
2082 3,910,994 7,911,764
2081 3,910,013 7,871,753
2080 3,908,255 7,815,766
2079 3,905,358 7,765,677
2078 3,900,828 7,711,886
2077 3,896,126 7,656,307
2076 3,890,528 7,600,951
2075 3,884,696 7,538,912
2074 3,879,057 7,484,322
2073 3,873,259 7,420,571
2072 3,865,665 7,358,500
2071 3,858,720 7,296,109
2070 3,851,234 7,231,198
2069 3,841,316 7,164,883
2068 3,830,826 7,094,530
2067 3,818,341 7,026,000
2066 3,805,705 6,952,514
2065 3,791,211 6,884,323
2064 3,775,938 6,814,893
2063 3,760,179 6,733,263
2062 3,742,710 6,659,531
2061 3,723,346 6,580,923
2060 3,703,231 6,500,944
2059 3,682,816 6,422,305
2058 3,659,567 6,343,070
2057 3,635,514 6,265,450
2056 3,611,843 6,194,123
2055 3,587,056 6,114,099
2054 3,562,182 6,039,801
2053 3,535,732 5,957,339
2052 3,507,938 5,871,954
2051 3,479,939 5,791,096
2050 3,451,521 5,711,061
2049 3,422,143 5,632,165
2048 3,391,720 5,549,890
2047 3,360,414 5,468,518
2046 3,328,208 5,387,267
2045 3,296,489 5,300,511
2044 3,265,120 5,215,831
2043 3,233,076 5,131,686
2042 3,201,405 5,044,262
2041 3,168,873 4,960,422
2040 3,135,889 4,870,981
2039 3,101,794 4,782,316
2038 3,067,648 4,693,015
2037 3,032,620 4,599,752
2036 2,996,884 4,506,879
2035 2,960,590 4,420,367
2034 2,923,411 4,332,828
2033 2,885,991 4,248,272
2032 2,847,292 4,165,241
2031 2,808,872 4,083,762
2030 2,768,505 3,998,903
2029 2,728,467 3,917,775
2028 2,686,968 3,836,693
2027 2,645,863 3,756,696
2026 2,603,779 3,679,782
2025 2,562,651 3,603,902
2024 2,521,139 3,535,603
2023 2,480,244 3,470,390
2022 2,439,892 3,409,447
2021 2,401,441 3,350,183
2020 2,365,894 3,291,271
2019 2,332,083 3,240,194
2018 2,299,141 3,192,760
2017 2,266,747 3,150,347
2016 2,234,776 3,124,698
2015 2,203,273 3,105,546
2014 2,172,044 3,095,173
2013 2,140,682 3,074,360
2012 2,108,617 3,036,988
2011 2,073,535 2,998,485
2010 2,033,111 2,945,186
2009 1,990,673 2,887,885
2008 1,949,970 2,816,327
2007 1,911,201 2,743,222
2006 1,874,516 2,703,502
2005 1,839,877 2,661,215
2004 1,807,146 2,598,284
2003 1,775,736 2,493,903
2002 1,744,763 2,392,978
2001 1,712,254 2,312,079
2000 1,677,382 2,247,031
1999 1,641,997 2,212,780
1998 1,606,899 2,180,419
1997 1,571,691 2,152,135
1996 1,535,914 2,128,464
1995 1,498,836 2,025,267
1994 1,460,023 1,913,915
1993 1,420,115 1,856,006
1992 1,380,033 1,798,748
1991 1,341,756 1,919,571
1990 1,305,696 2,032,737
1989 1,270,274 1,987,017
1988 1,235,476 1,938,255
1987 1,199,167 1,888,669
1986 1,160,650 1,845,164
1985 1,121,945 1,807,816
1984 1,083,660 1,771,730
1983 1,046,137 1,736,160
1982 1,009,269 1,695,461
1981 969,996 1,649,939
1980 937,485 1,605,797
1979 901,742 1,563,332
1978 849,239 1,522,378
1977 799,574 1,482,565
1976 758,508 1,443,807
1975 720,380 1,408,210
1974 685,448 1,375,688
1973 652,408 1,342,669
1972 622,407 1,309,235
1971 600,481 1,276,154
1970 590,334 1,243,453
1969 587,066 1,212,005
1968 583,966 1,181,737
1967 580,933 1,152,339
1966 577,866 1,124,957
1965 574,664 1,098,335
1964 566,266 1,071,287
1963 552,966 1,045,092
1962 540,186 1,019,788
1961 527,942 995,573
1960 516,165 972,547

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/eritrea | CC BY

From 2006 to 2016, the population of Botswana increased by 360,260 people (a 19.2% growth), while Eritrea gained 421,196 people (a 15.6% growth).

For the next 10 years, from 2016 to 2026, Botswana gained 380,386 people (a 17% growth), while Eritrea's population increased by 575,888 people (a 18.4% growth).

Botswana was ranked 145th most populous country in 2006 and is 142nd in 2026. Eritrea was ranked 135th 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 32% to 3,451,521 people with a rank change from 142nd to 137th. The population of Eritrea will increase by 54.3% to 5,711,061 people and rank change from 130th to 123rd.

Botswana is projected to reach its peak in 2088 at 3.92M people compared to the peak of 8.51M people in 2100 for Eritrea.

Population growth rate by year

Botswana
Factual

Projection
Eritrea
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Growth rate
Botswana Eritrea
2100 -0.13% 0.29%
2099 -0.16% 0.27%
2098 -0.14% 0.27%
2097 -0.13% 0.26%
2096 -0.11% 0.31%
2095 -0.11% 0.31%
2094 -0.1% 0.31%
2093 -0.1% 0.43%
2092 -0.11% 0.36%
2091 -0.07% 0.42%
2090 -0.02% 0.41%
2089 -0.004% 0.46%
2088 0.02% 0.45%
2087 0.01% 0.53%
2086 0.01% 0.57%
2085 0.04% 0.59%
2084 0.04% 0.54%
2083 0.05% 0.56%
2082 0.03% 0.51%
2081 0.04% 0.72%
2080 0.07% 0.65%
2079 0.12% 0.7%
2078 0.12% 0.73%
2077 0.14% 0.73%
2076 0.15% 0.82%
2075 0.15% 0.73%
2074 0.15% 0.86%
2073 0.2% 0.84%
2072 0.18% 0.86%
2071 0.19% 0.9%
2070 0.26% 0.93%
2069 0.27% 0.99%
2068 0.33% 0.98%
2067 0.33% 1.06%
2066 0.38% 0.99%
2065 0.4% 1.02%
2064 0.42% 1.21%
2063 0.47% 1.11%
2062 0.52% 1.19%
2061 0.54% 1.23%
2060 0.55% 1.22%
2059 0.64% 1.25%
2058 0.66% 1.24%
2057 0.66% 1.15%
2056 0.69% 1.31%
2055 0.7% 1.23%
2054 0.75% 1.38%
2053 0.79% 1.45%
2052 0.8% 1.4%
2051 0.82% 1.4%
2050 0.86% 1.4%
2049 0.9% 1.48%
2048 0.93% 1.49%
2047 0.97% 1.51%
2046 0.96% 1.64%
2045 0.96% 1.62%
2044 0.99% 1.64%
2043 0.99% 1.73%
2042 1.03% 1.69%
2041 1.05% 1.84%
2040 1.1% 1.85%
2039 1.11% 1.9%
2038 1.16% 2.03%
2037 1.19% 2.06%
2036 1.23% 1.96%
2035 1.27% 2.02%
2034 1.3% 1.99%
2033 1.36% 1.99%
2032 1.37% 2%
2031 1.46% 2.12%
2030 1.47% 2.07%
2029 1.54% 2.11%
2028 1.55% 2.13%
2027 1.62% 2.09%
2026 1.6% 2.11%
2025 1.65% 1.93%
2024 1.65% 1.88%
2023 1.65% 1.79%
2022 1.6% 1.77%
2021 1.5% 1.79%
2020 1.45% 1.58%
2019 1.43% 1.49%
2018 1.43% 1.35%
2017 1.43% 0.82%
2016 1.43% 0.62%
2015 1.44% 0.34%
2014 1.47% 0.68%
2013 1.52% 1.23%
2012 1.69% 1.28%
2011 1.99% 1.81%
2010 2.13% 1.98%
2009 2.09% 2.54%
2008 2.03% 2.66%
2007 1.96% 1.47%
2006 1.88% 1.59%
2005 1.81% 2.42%
2004 1.77% 4.19%
2003 1.78% 4.22%
2002 1.9% 3.5%
2001 2.08% 2.89%
2000 2.15% 1.55%
1999 2.18% 1.48%
1998 2.24% 1.31%
1997 2.33% 1.11%
1996 2.47% 5.1%
1995 2.66% 5.82%
1994 2.81% 3.12%
1993 2.9% 3.18%
1992 2.85% -6.29%
1991 2.76% -5.57%
1990 2.79% 2.3%
1989 2.82% 2.52%
1988 3.03% 2.63%
1987 3.32% 2.36%
1986 3.45% 2.07%
1985 3.53% 2.04%
1984 3.59% 2.05%
1983 3.65% 2.4%
1982 4.05% 2.76%
1981 3.47% 2.75%
1980 3.96% 2.72%
1979 6.18% 2.69%
1978 6.21% 2.69%
1977 5.41% 2.68%
1976 5.29% 2.53%
1975 5.1% 2.36%
1974 5.06% 2.46%
1973 4.82% 2.55%
1972 3.65% 2.59%
1971 1.72% 2.63%
1970 0.56% 2.59%
1969 0.53% 2.56%
1968 0.52% 2.55%
1967 0.53% 2.43%
1966 0.56% 2.42%
1965 1.48% 2.52%
1964 2.41% 2.51%
1963 2.37% 2.48%
1962 2.32% 2.43%
1961 2.28% 2.37%

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/eritrea | CC BY

In 2024, the population of Botswana grew by 1.65%, while Eritrea's population grew by 1.88%.

Live population counters

Botswana Eritrea
Current population
2615162
3700586
Population rank 142/197 130/197
Percent of world population 0.03% 0.04%
One net population change
12.9 minutes
8.06 minutes
One birth every
8.58 minutes
5.31 minutes
One death every
37 minutes
25 minutes
Daily growth/decline +112 +179
Annual growth/decline +40,895 +65,213
Annual growth/decline rate +1.65% +1.88%
Population growth rate rank 66/197 58/197
One migration net change every
1.55 hours
1.31 hours
Annual migration change -5,665 -6,698
Net migration rank 120/196 122/196
Foreign-born residents 116,402 12,512
Foreign-born residents rank 126/195 176/195
Foreign-born share of population 4.6% 0.4%
Foreign-born share rank 96/195 178/195

Natural population change vs migration

Botswana
Natural

Migration
Eritrea
Natural

Migration
1x
Year Population change
Botswana Eritrea
Natural Migration Natural Migration
2025 - -5,665 - -6,698
2024 - -5,778 - -12,696
2023 47,098 -6,487 78,073 -15,284
2022 47,400 -7,306 76,221 -17,134
2021 40,894 -4,083 74,394 -14,966
2020 45,610 -11,330 73,362 -14,967
2019 45,110 -11,770 73,572 -29,818
2018 44,171 -11,623 72,511 -21,403
2017 43,154 -10,916 72,291 -38,579
2016 41,993 -10,286 73,002 -55,431
2015 40,897 -9,599 73,682 -52,965
2014 40,046 -8,893 75,729 -75,696
2013 39,404 -7,836 75,562 -33,974
2012 39,202 -6,636 76,416 -43,269
2011 38,613 -1,019 76,806 -32,949
2010 38,101 5,151 76,098 -13,361
2009 36,671 4,960 76,206 -24,348
2008 35,433 4,343 73,391 17,855
2007 33,832 3,926 73,101 -18,131
2006 31,340 4,270 74,470 -49,998
2005 29,385 4,283 72,930 -12,835
2004 27,481 4,314 72,147 -6,374
2003 26,545 4,488 66,291 76,703
2002 26,163 4,747 65,436 -6,574
2001 26,112 7,991 61,180 41,760
2000 25,850 9,798 60,274 -33,133
1999 25,358 9,762 45,120 -3,769
1998 25,397 9,685 55,332 -31,951
1997 25,738 9,597 63,953 -30,768
1996 26,847 9,368 66,557 -52,421
1995 28,478 9,464 56,157 136,105
1994 30,664 9,023 56,288 -25,841
1993 31,691 8,441 51,679 33,688
1992 31,995 8,026 51,443 -22,293
1991 32,219 4,311 57,741 -328,546
1990 33,015 2,580 56,903 -12,425
1989 33,756 1,495 54,299 -7,330
1988 34,564 -215 54,163 -3,612
1987 35,647 2,624 52,229 -3,613
1986 36,203 2,558 39,470 -1,073
1985 35,966 2,683 37,362 -1,073
1984 35,530 2,393 35,101 772
1983 35,142 1,980 33,420 1,853
1982 34,859 1,751 44,146 1,985
1981 34,327 7,610 42,924 1,985
1980 33,934 -10,849 41,392 1,985
1979 32,486 15,918 39,577 1,985
1978 30,596 26,015 38,353 1,985
1977 29,009 13,708 37,295 1,985
1976 27,497 11,914 36,250 1,985
1975 25,762 11,086 30,971 1,985
1974 24,160 8,854 30,111 1,985
1973 22,449 10,615 31,969 1,985
1972 21,004 5,937 30,951 1,953
1971 19,926 -3,016 31,490 1,758
1970 19,438 -16,054 30,686 1,480
1969 19,024 -15,870 29,535 1,199
1968 18,725 -15,681 28,777 1,013
1967 18,463 -15,438 27,992 1,004
1966 18,250 -15,140 24,713 1,063
1965 18,045 -14,753 26,285 1,188
1964 17,634 -4,126 25,327 1,300
1963 17,084 -4,000 24,393 1,368
1962 16,507 -4,028 23,478 1,364
1961 16,185 -4,168 22,351 1,235
1960 15,861 -4,331 21,424 1,045

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

GeoRank.org/population/botswana/eritrea | 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 Eritrea 68.8% is from natural causes (a gain of 742,837 people) and 31.2% is from migration (a loss of 336,243 people).

As of 2024, 116,402 residents or 4.6% of the population were not native-born in Botswana, compared to 12,512 people or 0.4% in Eritrea.

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
Eritrea
City Population
Asmara 963K
Keren 120K
Massawa 39.8K
Mendefera 28.5K

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/eritrea | 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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