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

Updated on by Georank team

The latest officially reported population of Botswana was 2,521,139 in 2024 vs 1,242,822 people in Eswatini in 2024. In 2026, based on the adjusted UN estimation, the current Botswana's population is 2,615,162 people compared to 1,273,390 in Eswatini.

Population statistics:

  • Botswana's population is 2.05 times bigger than Eswatini's.
  • Botswana is ranked the 142nd most populous country in the world, while Eswatini is the 156th.
  • The countries together account for 0.05% of the world: 0.03% for Botswana vs 0.02% for Eswatini.
  • For the last 10 years, Botswana has had an average growth rate of +1.5% per year vs +0.87% in Eswatini.
  • Since 2006, the population of Botswana has increased from 1.87M people to 2.62M (39.5% growth), while Eswatini has grown from 1.08M to 1.27M (17.4% growth).

Botswana vs Eswatini: population by year and forecast

Botswana
Factual

Projection
Eswatini
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Population
Botswana Eswatini
2100 3,871,504 1,352,404
2099 3,876,625 1,361,498
2098 3,882,670 1,369,861
2097 3,887,985 1,378,017
2096 3,892,886 1,386,191
2095 3,897,211 1,394,405
2094 3,901,478 1,402,538
2093 3,905,541 1,410,423
2092 3,909,490 1,418,137
2091 3,913,899 1,426,097
2090 3,916,706 1,433,623
2089 3,917,351 1,441,192
2088 3,917,510 1,448,332
2087 3,916,826 1,455,333
2086 3,916,303 1,462,398
2085 3,915,785 1,469,660
2084 3,914,364 1,476,745
2083 3,912,929 1,483,271
2082 3,910,994 1,489,551
2081 3,910,013 1,494,969
2080 3,908,255 1,500,315
2079 3,905,358 1,505,309
2078 3,900,828 1,509,779
2077 3,896,126 1,514,574
2076 3,890,528 1,519,452
2075 3,884,696 1,523,845
2074 3,879,057 1,528,267
2073 3,873,259 1,531,967
2072 3,865,665 1,535,206
2071 3,858,720 1,538,333
2070 3,851,234 1,540,715
2069 3,841,316 1,543,234
2068 3,830,826 1,545,288
2067 3,818,341 1,547,029
2066 3,805,705 1,547,862
2065 3,791,211 1,548,678
2064 3,775,938 1,549,121
2063 3,760,179 1,549,274
2062 3,742,710 1,548,873
2061 3,723,346 1,548,072
2060 3,703,231 1,547,285
2059 3,682,816 1,545,426
2058 3,659,567 1,542,799
2057 3,635,514 1,540,085
2056 3,611,843 1,537,270
2055 3,587,056 1,534,161
2054 3,562,182 1,530,631
2053 3,535,732 1,526,357
2052 3,507,938 1,521,506
2051 3,479,939 1,515,982
2050 3,451,521 1,510,547
2049 3,422,143 1,504,126
2048 3,391,720 1,497,656
2047 3,360,414 1,491,001
2046 3,328,208 1,483,817
2045 3,296,489 1,475,974
2044 3,265,120 1,468,200
2043 3,233,076 1,460,050
2042 3,201,405 1,451,433
2041 3,168,873 1,441,822
2040 3,135,889 1,432,811
2039 3,101,794 1,423,063
2038 3,067,648 1,412,806
2037 3,032,620 1,402,845
2036 2,996,884 1,392,117
2035 2,960,590 1,381,258
2034 2,923,411 1,369,883
2033 2,885,991 1,357,906
2032 2,847,292 1,346,063
2031 2,808,872 1,334,330
2030 2,768,505 1,321,430
2029 2,728,467 1,309,060
2028 2,686,968 1,296,535
2027 2,645,863 1,283,434
2026 2,603,779 1,269,667
2025 2,562,651 1,255,921
2024 2,521,139 1,242,822
2023 2,480,244 1,230,506
2022 2,439,892 1,218,917
2021 2,401,441 1,206,593
2020 2,365,894 1,192,729
2019 2,332,083 1,179,874
2018 2,299,141 1,168,929
2017 2,266,747 1,158,195
2016 2,234,776 1,149,507
2015 2,203,273 1,142,813
2014 2,172,044 1,136,299
2013 2,140,682 1,129,990
2012 2,108,617 1,123,863
2011 2,073,535 1,117,833
2010 2,033,111 1,111,650
2009 1,990,673 1,105,153
2008 1,949,970 1,098,091
2007 1,911,201 1,090,705
2006 1,874,516 1,084,436
2005 1,839,877 1,079,022
2004 1,807,146 1,073,159
2003 1,775,736 1,066,700
2002 1,744,763 1,059,441
2001 1,712,254 1,051,064
2000 1,677,382 1,041,414
1999 1,641,997 1,030,782
1998 1,606,899 1,019,653
1997 1,571,691 1,006,635
1996 1,535,914 989,841
1995 1,498,836 970,433
1994 1,460,023 971,212
1993 1,420,115 971,318
1992 1,380,033 943,416
1991 1,341,756 908,189
1990 1,305,696 872,428
1989 1,270,274 837,800
1988 1,235,476 799,798
1987 1,199,167 763,811
1986 1,160,650 734,732
1985 1,121,945 706,196
1984 1,083,660 680,783
1983 1,046,137 658,957
1982 1,009,269 637,652
1981 969,996 616,808
1980 937,485 596,644
1979 901,742 577,199
1978 849,239 558,446
1977 799,574 540,348
1976 758,508 523,330
1975 720,380 507,673
1974 685,448 492,988
1973 652,408 479,038
1972 622,407 465,788
1971 600,481 453,183
1970 590,334 441,216
1969 587,066 429,875
1968 583,966 419,147
1967 580,933 409,031
1966 577,866 398,766
1965 574,664 388,336
1964 566,266 378,656
1963 552,966 369,759
1962 540,186 361,365
1961 527,942 353,264
1960 516,165 345,337

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/eswatini | CC BY

From 2006 to 2016, the population of Botswana increased by 360,260 people (a 19.2% growth), while Eswatini gained 65,071 people (a 6% growth).

For the next 10 years, from 2016 to 2026, Botswana gained 380,386 people (a 17% growth), while Eswatini's population increased by 123,883 people (a 10.8% growth).

Botswana was ranked 145th most populous country in 2006 and is 142nd in 2026. Eswatini was ranked 152nd in 2006 and ranked 156th 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 Eswatini will increase by 18.6% to 1,510,547 people and rank change from 156th to 154th.

Botswana is projected to reach its peak in 2088 at 3.92M people compared to the peak of 1.55M people in 2063 for Eswatini.

Population growth rate by year

Botswana
Factual

Projection
Eswatini
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Growth rate
Botswana Eswatini
2100 -0.13% -0.67%
2099 -0.16% -0.61%
2098 -0.14% -0.59%
2097 -0.13% -0.59%
2096 -0.11% -0.59%
2095 -0.11% -0.58%
2094 -0.1% -0.56%
2093 -0.1% -0.54%
2092 -0.11% -0.56%
2091 -0.07% -0.52%
2090 -0.02% -0.53%
2089 -0.004% -0.49%
2088 0.02% -0.48%
2087 0.01% -0.48%
2086 0.01% -0.49%
2085 0.04% -0.48%
2084 0.04% -0.44%
2083 0.05% -0.42%
2082 0.03% -0.36%
2081 0.04% -0.36%
2080 0.07% -0.33%
2079 0.12% -0.3%
2078 0.12% -0.32%
2077 0.14% -0.32%
2076 0.15% -0.29%
2075 0.15% -0.29%
2074 0.15% -0.24%
2073 0.2% -0.21%
2072 0.18% -0.2%
2071 0.19% -0.15%
2070 0.26% -0.16%
2069 0.27% -0.13%
2068 0.33% -0.11%
2067 0.33% -0.05%
2066 0.38% -0.05%
2065 0.4% -0.03%
2064 0.42% -0.01%
2063 0.47% 0.03%
2062 0.52% 0.05%
2061 0.54% 0.05%
2060 0.55% 0.12%
2059 0.64% 0.17%
2058 0.66% 0.18%
2057 0.66% 0.18%
2056 0.69% 0.2%
2055 0.7% 0.23%
2054 0.75% 0.28%
2053 0.79% 0.32%
2052 0.8% 0.36%
2051 0.82% 0.36%
2050 0.86% 0.43%
2049 0.9% 0.43%
2048 0.93% 0.45%
2047 0.97% 0.48%
2046 0.96% 0.53%
2045 0.96% 0.53%
2044 0.99% 0.56%
2043 0.99% 0.59%
2042 1.03% 0.67%
2041 1.05% 0.63%
2040 1.1% 0.68%
2039 1.11% 0.73%
2038 1.16% 0.71%
2037 1.19% 0.77%
2036 1.23% 0.79%
2035 1.27% 0.83%
2034 1.3% 0.88%
2033 1.36% 0.88%
2032 1.37% 0.88%
2031 1.46% 0.98%
2030 1.47% 0.94%
2029 1.54% 0.97%
2028 1.55% 1.02%
2027 1.62% 1.08%
2026 1.6% 1.09%
2025 1.65% 1.05%
2024 1.65% 1%
2023 1.65% 0.95%
2022 1.6% 1.02%
2021 1.5% 1.16%
2020 1.45% 1.09%
2019 1.43% 0.94%
2018 1.43% 0.93%
2017 1.43% 0.76%
2016 1.43% 0.59%
2015 1.44% 0.57%
2014 1.47% 0.56%
2013 1.52% 0.55%
2012 1.69% 0.54%
2011 1.99% 0.56%
2010 2.13% 0.59%
2009 2.09% 0.64%
2008 2.03% 0.68%
2007 1.96% 0.58%
2006 1.88% 0.5%
2005 1.81% 0.55%
2004 1.77% 0.61%
2003 1.78% 0.69%
2002 1.9% 0.8%
2001 2.08% 0.93%
2000 2.15% 1.03%
1999 2.18% 1.09%
1998 2.24% 1.29%
1997 2.33% 1.7%
1996 2.47% 2%
1995 2.66% -0.08%
1994 2.81% -0.01%
1993 2.9% 2.96%
1992 2.85% 3.88%
1991 2.76% 4.1%
1990 2.79% 4.13%
1989 2.82% 4.75%
1988 3.03% 4.71%
1987 3.32% 3.96%
1986 3.45% 4.04%
1985 3.53% 3.73%
1984 3.59% 3.31%
1983 3.65% 3.34%
1982 4.05% 3.38%
1981 3.47% 3.38%
1980 3.96% 3.37%
1979 6.18% 3.36%
1978 6.21% 3.35%
1977 5.41% 3.25%
1976 5.29% 3.08%
1975 5.1% 2.98%
1974 5.06% 2.91%
1973 4.82% 2.84%
1972 3.65% 2.78%
1971 1.72% 2.71%
1970 0.56% 2.64%
1969 0.53% 2.56%
1968 0.52% 2.47%
1967 0.53% 2.57%
1966 0.56% 2.69%
1965 1.48% 2.56%
1964 2.41% 2.41%
1963 2.37% 2.32%
1962 2.32% 2.29%
1961 2.28% 2.3%

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/eswatini | CC BY

In 2024, the population of Botswana grew by 1.65%, while Eswatini's population grew by 1%.

Live population counters

Botswana Eswatini
Current population
2615162
1273390
Population rank 142/197 156/197
Percent of world population 0.03% 0.02%
One net population change
12.9 minutes
42.7 minutes
One birth every
8.58 minutes
17.7 minutes
One death every
37 minutes
55.5 minutes
Daily growth/decline +112 +34
Annual growth/decline +40,895 +12,316
Annual growth/decline rate +1.65% +1%
Population growth rate rank 66/197 101/197
One migration net change every
1.55 hours
1.52 hours
Annual migration change -5,665 -5,775
Net migration rank 120/196 121/196
Foreign-born residents 116,402 33,268
Foreign-born residents rank 126/195 161/195
Foreign-born share of population 4.6% 2.7%
Foreign-born share rank 96/195 121/195

Natural population change vs migration

Botswana
Natural

Migration
Eswatini
Natural

Migration
1x
Year Population change
Botswana Eswatini
Natural Migration Natural Migration
2025 - -5,665 - -5,775
2024 - -5,778 - -6,754
2023 47,098 -6,487 20,147 -8,549
2022 47,400 -7,306 20,125 -8,549
2021 40,894 -4,083 17,314 -4,242
2020 45,610 -11,330 18,899 -4,242
2019 45,110 -11,770 19,488 -8,439
2018 44,171 -11,623 19,392 -8,546
2017 43,154 -10,916 19,278 -8,658
2016 41,993 -10,286 19,233 -12,481
2015 40,897 -9,599 19,223 -12,582
2014 40,046 -8,893 19,107 -12,724
2013 39,404 -7,836 18,903 -12,664
2012 39,202 -6,636 18,308 -12,294
2011 38,613 -1,019 17,645 -11,596
2010 38,101 5,151 17,652 -11,334
2009 36,671 4,960 17,656 -10,989
2008 35,433 4,343 17,275 -9,822
2007 33,832 3,926 16,595 -9,271
2006 31,340 4,270 16,133 -10,923
2005 29,385 4,283 15,945 -10,330
2004 27,481 4,314 15,979 -9,863
2003 26,545 4,488 16,396 -9,595
2002 26,163 4,747 16,924 -9,209
2001 26,112 7,991 17,824 -8,788
2000 25,850 9,798 18,830 -8,563
1999 25,358 9,762 19,420 -8,421
1998 25,397 9,685 19,762 -8,505
1997 25,738 9,597 20,686 -5,911
1996 26,847 9,368 21,858 -3,049
1995 28,478 9,464 23,029 -3,023
1994 30,664 9,023 26,703 -48,259
1993 31,691 8,441 28,046 -6,692
1992 31,995 8,026 28,446 6,011
1991 32,219 4,311 28,497 7,496
1990 33,015 2,580 28,349 7,169
1989 33,756 1,495 28,257 5,477
1988 34,564 -215 27,396 14,879
1987 35,647 2,624 27,285 2,417
1986 36,203 2,558 27,096 1,353
1985 35,966 2,683 26,835 1,792
1984 35,530 2,393 26,149 -3,949
1983 35,142 1,980 24,883 -3,429
1982 34,859 1,751 24,742 -3,574
1981 34,327 7,610 23,973 -3,464
1980 33,934 -10,849 23,153 -3,350
1979 32,486 15,918 22,299 -3,210
1978 30,596 26,015 21,466 -3,040
1977 29,009 13,708 20,609 -2,838
1976 27,497 11,914 19,734 -3,469
1975 25,762 11,086 18,849 -3,794
1974 24,160 8,854 17,971 -3,665
1973 22,449 10,615 17,145 -3,555
1972 21,004 5,937 16,353 -3,435
1971 19,926 -3,016 15,615 -3,325
1970 19,438 -16,054 14,873 -3,230
1969 19,024 -15,870 14,164 -3,127
1968 18,725 -15,681 13,449 -3,029
1967 18,463 -15,438 12,773 -2,964
1966 18,250 -15,140 12,282 -1,557
1965 18,045 -14,753 11,719 -1,578
1964 17,634 -4,126 11,266 -2,049
1963 17,084 -4,000 10,929 -2,358
1962 16,507 -4,028 10,601 -2,390
1961 16,185 -4,168 10,262 -2,270
1960 15,861 -4,331 9,947 -2,082

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

GeoRank.org/population/botswana/eswatini | 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 Eswatini 68.3% is from natural causes (a gain of 192,206 people) and 31.7% is from migration (a loss of 89,012 people).

As of 2024, 116,402 residents or 4.6% of the population were not native-born in Botswana, compared to 33,268 people or 2.7% in Eswatini.

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
Eswatini
City Population
Manzini 111K
Mbabane 76.2K

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/eswatini | 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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