Skip to content

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

Updated on by Georank team

The latest officially reported population of Botswana was 2,521,139 in 2024 vs 132,059,767 people in Ethiopia in 2024. In 2026, based on the adjusted UN estimation, the current Botswana's population is 2,615,162 people compared to 139,917,664 in Ethiopia.

Population statistics:

  • Ethiopia's population is 53.5 times bigger than Botswana's.
  • Botswana is ranked the 142nd most populous country in the world, while Ethiopia is the 10th.
  • The countries together account for 1.72% of the world: 0.03% for Botswana vs 1.69% for Ethiopia.
  • For the last 10 years, Botswana has had an average growth rate of +1.5% per year vs +2.71% in Ethiopia.
  • Since 2006, the population of Botswana has increased from 1.87M people to 2.62M (39.5% growth), while Ethiopia has grown from 80.7M to 140M (73.4% growth).

Botswana vs Ethiopia: population by year and forecast

Botswana
Factual

Projection
Ethiopia
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Population
Botswana Ethiopia
2100 3,871,504 371,192,732
2099 3,876,625 369,452,188
2098 3,882,670 367,626,914
2097 3,887,985 365,680,268
2096 3,892,886 363,648,440
2095 3,897,211 361,707,589
2094 3,901,478 359,642,227
2093 3,905,541 357,570,752
2092 3,909,490 355,499,462
2091 3,913,899 353,327,595
2090 3,916,706 351,068,287
2089 3,917,351 348,859,203
2088 3,917,510 346,624,222
2087 3,916,826 344,268,493
2086 3,916,303 341,777,395
2085 3,915,785 339,272,558
2084 3,914,364 336,753,372
2083 3,912,929 334,186,307
2082 3,910,994 331,503,693
2081 3,910,013 328,816,892
2080 3,908,255 326,114,551
2079 3,905,358 323,382,593
2078 3,900,828 320,521,381
2077 3,896,126 317,590,857
2076 3,890,528 314,615,353
2075 3,884,696 311,583,813
2074 3,879,057 308,511,275
2073 3,873,259 305,477,711
2072 3,865,665 302,351,806
2071 3,858,720 299,211,554
2070 3,851,234 296,054,535
2069 3,841,316 292,847,034
2068 3,830,826 289,612,061
2067 3,818,341 286,279,975
2066 3,805,705 282,992,981
2065 3,791,211 279,662,528
2064 3,775,938 276,283,161
2063 3,760,179 272,866,834
2062 3,742,710 269,424,014
2061 3,723,346 265,885,347
2060 3,703,231 262,350,260
2059 3,682,816 258,772,570
2058 3,659,567 255,284,371
2057 3,635,514 251,733,988
2056 3,611,843 248,079,002
2055 3,587,056 244,501,471
2054 3,562,182 240,868,686
2053 3,535,732 237,228,269
2052 3,507,938 233,551,340
2051 3,479,939 229,804,463
2050 3,451,521 226,124,819
2049 3,422,143 222,420,063
2048 3,391,720 218,694,640
2047 3,360,414 214,950,242
2046 3,328,208 211,226,920
2045 3,296,489 207,525,986
2044 3,265,120 203,812,674
2043 3,233,076 200,097,321
2042 3,201,405 196,411,774
2041 3,168,873 192,749,114
2040 3,135,889 189,081,695
2039 3,101,794 185,422,958
2038 3,067,648 181,789,129
2037 3,032,620 178,179,942
2036 2,996,884 174,569,201
2035 2,960,590 170,957,061
2034 2,923,411 167,367,920
2033 2,885,991 163,813,895
2032 2,847,292 160,216,774
2031 2,808,872 156,638,324
2030 2,768,505 153,070,380
2029 2,728,467 149,507,684
2028 2,686,968 145,989,372
2027 2,645,863 142,463,827
2026 2,603,779 138,973,582
2025 2,562,651 135,513,842
2024 2,521,139 132,059,767
2023 2,480,244 128,691,692
2022 2,439,892 125,384,287
2021 2,401,441 122,138,588
2020 2,365,894 118,917,671
2019 2,332,083 115,737,383
2018 2,299,141 112,664,152
2017 2,266,747 109,666,481
2016 2,234,776 106,718,162
2015 2,203,273 103,867,135
2014 2,172,044 101,115,610
2013 2,140,682 98,438,751
2012 2,108,617 95,798,767
2011 2,073,535 93,149,970
2010 2,033,111 90,538,514
2009 1,990,673 88,007,636
2008 1,949,970 85,543,668
2007 1,911,201 83,103,217
2006 1,874,516 80,703,490
2005 1,839,877 78,367,470
2004 1,807,146 76,077,206
2003 1,775,736 73,832,663
2002 1,744,763 71,635,517
2001 1,712,254 69,487,762
2000 1,677,382 67,411,494
1999 1,641,997 65,374,561
1998 1,606,899 63,363,524
1997 1,571,691 61,404,539
1996 1,535,914 59,467,635
1995 1,498,836 57,537,335
1994 1,460,023 55,611,508
1993 1,420,115 53,708,891
1992 1,380,033 51,853,747
1991 1,341,756 49,717,198
1990 1,305,696 47,609,755
1989 1,270,274 45,879,690
1988 1,235,476 44,150,825
1987 1,199,167 42,460,039
1986 1,160,650 41,037,656
1985 1,121,945 39,842,136
1984 1,083,660 38,735,722
1983 1,046,137 37,740,817
1982 1,009,269 36,701,290
1981 969,996 35,304,012
1980 937,485 34,428,514
1979 901,742 34,238,652
1978 849,239 33,734,592
1977 799,574 33,167,272
1976 758,508 32,534,418
1975 720,380 31,723,252
1974 685,448 30,957,273
1973 652,408 30,166,785
1972 622,407 29,374,608
1971 600,481 28,600,106
1970 590,334 27,829,128
1969 587,066 27,072,571
1968 583,966 26,337,930
1967 580,933 25,620,276
1966 577,866 24,952,689
1965 574,664 24,310,612
1964 566,266 23,666,548
1963 552,966 23,051,637
1962 540,186 22,465,126
1961 527,942 21,906,102
1960 516,165 21,376,693

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/ethiopia | CC BY

From 2006 to 2016, the population of Botswana increased by 360,260 people (a 19.2% growth), while Ethiopia gained 26,014,672 people (a 32.2% growth).

For the next 10 years, from 2016 to 2026, Botswana gained 380,386 people (a 17% growth), while Ethiopia's population increased by 33,199,502 people (a 31.1% growth).

Botswana was ranked 145th most populous country in 2006 and is 142nd in 2026. Ethiopia was ranked 16th in 2006 and ranked 10th 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 Ethiopia will increase by 61.6% to 226,124,819 people and rank change from 10th to 7th.

Botswana is projected to reach its peak in 2088 at 3.92M people compared to the peak of 371M people in 2100 for Ethiopia.

Population growth rate by year

Botswana
Factual

Projection
Ethiopia
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Growth rate
Botswana Ethiopia
2100 -0.13% 0.47%
2099 -0.16% 0.5%
2098 -0.14% 0.53%
2097 -0.13% 0.56%
2096 -0.11% 0.54%
2095 -0.11% 0.57%
2094 -0.1% 0.58%
2093 -0.1% 0.58%
2092 -0.11% 0.61%
2091 -0.07% 0.64%
2090 -0.02% 0.63%
2089 -0.004% 0.64%
2088 0.02% 0.68%
2087 0.01% 0.73%
2086 0.01% 0.74%
2085 0.04% 0.75%
2084 0.04% 0.77%
2083 0.05% 0.81%
2082 0.03% 0.82%
2081 0.04% 0.83%
2080 0.07% 0.84%
2079 0.12% 0.89%
2078 0.12% 0.92%
2077 0.14% 0.95%
2076 0.15% 0.97%
2075 0.15% 1%
2074 0.15% 0.99%
2073 0.2% 1.03%
2072 0.18% 1.05%
2071 0.19% 1.07%
2070 0.26% 1.1%
2069 0.27% 1.12%
2068 0.33% 1.16%
2067 0.33% 1.16%
2066 0.38% 1.19%
2065 0.4% 1.22%
2064 0.42% 1.25%
2063 0.47% 1.28%
2062 0.52% 1.33%
2061 0.54% 1.35%
2060 0.55% 1.38%
2059 0.64% 1.37%
2058 0.66% 1.41%
2057 0.66% 1.47%
2056 0.69% 1.46%
2055 0.7% 1.51%
2054 0.75% 1.53%
2053 0.79% 1.57%
2052 0.8% 1.63%
2051 0.82% 1.63%
2050 0.86% 1.67%
2049 0.9% 1.7%
2048 0.93% 1.74%
2047 0.97% 1.76%
2046 0.96% 1.78%
2045 0.96% 1.82%
2044 0.99% 1.86%
2043 0.99% 1.88%
2042 1.03% 1.9%
2041 1.05% 1.94%
2040 1.1% 1.97%
2039 1.11% 2%
2038 1.16% 2.03%
2037 1.19% 2.07%
2036 1.23% 2.11%
2035 1.27% 2.14%
2034 1.3% 2.17%
2033 1.36% 2.25%
2032 1.37% 2.28%
2031 1.46% 2.33%
2030 1.47% 2.38%
2029 1.54% 2.41%
2028 1.55% 2.47%
2027 1.62% 2.51%
2026 1.6% 2.55%
2025 1.65% 2.62%
2024 1.65% 2.62%
2023 1.65% 2.64%
2022 1.6% 2.66%
2021 1.5% 2.71%
2020 1.45% 2.75%
2019 1.43% 2.73%
2018 1.43% 2.73%
2017 1.43% 2.76%
2016 1.43% 2.74%
2015 1.44% 2.72%
2014 1.47% 2.72%
2013 1.52% 2.76%
2012 1.69% 2.84%
2011 1.99% 2.88%
2010 2.13% 2.88%
2009 2.09% 2.88%
2008 2.03% 2.94%
2007 1.96% 2.97%
2006 1.88% 2.98%
2005 1.81% 3.01%
2004 1.77% 3.04%
2003 1.78% 3.07%
2002 1.9% 3.09%
2001 2.08% 3.08%
2000 2.15% 3.12%
1999 2.18% 3.17%
1998 2.24% 3.19%
1997 2.33% 3.26%
1996 2.47% 3.35%
1995 2.66% 3.46%
1994 2.81% 3.54%
1993 2.9% 3.58%
1992 2.85% 4.3%
1991 2.76% 4.43%
1990 2.79% 3.77%
1989 2.82% 3.92%
1988 3.03% 3.98%
1987 3.32% 3.47%
1986 3.45% 3%
1985 3.53% 2.86%
1984 3.59% 2.64%
1983 3.65% 2.83%
1982 4.05% 3.96%
1981 3.47% 2.54%
1980 3.96% 0.55%
1979 6.18% 1.49%
1978 6.21% 1.71%
1977 5.41% 1.95%
1976 5.29% 2.56%
1975 5.1% 2.47%
1974 5.06% 2.62%
1973 4.82% 2.7%
1972 3.65% 2.71%
1971 1.72% 2.77%
1970 0.56% 2.79%
1969 0.53% 2.79%
1968 0.52% 2.8%
1967 0.53% 2.68%
1966 0.56% 2.64%
1965 1.48% 2.72%
1964 2.41% 2.67%
1963 2.37% 2.61%
1962 2.32% 2.55%
1961 2.28% 2.48%

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/ethiopia | CC BY

In 2024, the population of Botswana grew by 1.65%, while Ethiopia's population grew by 2.62%.

Live population counters

Botswana Ethiopia
Current population
2615162
139917664
Population rank 142/197 10/197
Percent of world population 0.03% 1.69%
One net population change
12.9 minutes
9.36 seconds
One birth every
8.58 minutes
7.68 seconds
One death every
37 minutes
41.1 seconds
Daily growth/decline +112 +9,228
Annual growth/decline +40,895 +3,368,075
Annual growth/decline rate +1.65% +2.62%
Population growth rate rank 66/197 25/197
One migration net change every
1.55 hours
21.9 minutes
Annual migration change -5,665 +24,054
Net migration rank 120/196 31/196
Foreign-born residents 116,402 1,168,455
Foreign-born residents rank 126/195 53/195
Foreign-born share of population 4.6% 0.9%
Foreign-born share rank 96/195 157/195

Natural population change vs migration

Botswana
Natural

Migration
Ethiopia
Natural

Migration
1x
Year Population change
Botswana Ethiopia
Natural Migration Natural Migration
2025 - -5,665 - 24,054
2024 - -5,778 - 30,069
2023 47,098 -6,487 3,338,649 -11,996
2022 47,400 -7,306 3,300,114 -11,996
2021 40,894 -4,083 3,204,673 -1,377
2020 45,610 -11,330 3,199,718 38,866
2019 45,110 -11,770 3,132,780 -10,807
2018 44,171 -11,623 3,015,231 9,302
2017 43,154 -10,916 2,899,143 71,766
2016 41,993 -10,286 2,809,889 115,823
2015 40,897 -9,599 2,713,529 62,785
2014 40,046 -8,893 2,623,647 103,122
2013 39,404 -7,836 2,546,020 80,955
2012 39,202 -6,636 2,533,398 119,517
2011 38,613 -1,019 2,527,811 116,793
2010 38,101 5,151 2,498,048 80,213
2009 36,671 4,960 2,467,118 16,315
2008 35,433 4,343 2,465,283 -20,780
2007 33,832 3,926 2,436,753 -381
2006 31,340 4,270 2,393,585 -30,512
2005 29,385 4,283 2,353,375 -44,421
2004 27,481 4,314 2,296,999 -25,430
2003 26,545 4,488 2,231,223 -13,744
2002 26,163 4,747 2,189,683 -12,925
2001 26,112 7,991 2,137,791 -19,063
2000 25,850 9,798 2,083,622 -49,891
1999 25,358 9,762 2,010,987 29,142
1998 25,397 9,685 1,984,989 -3,011
1997 25,738 9,597 1,945,112 -9,119
1996 26,847 9,368 1,896,364 41,456
1995 28,478 9,464 1,831,068 91,727
1994 30,664 9,023 1,788,133 140,715
1993 31,691 8,441 1,734,851 141,545
1992 31,995 8,026 1,673,839 160,106
1991 32,219 4,311 1,579,416 859,737
1990 33,015 2,580 1,479,663 296,014
1989 33,756 1,495 1,441,769 242,614
1988 34,564 -215 1,393,356 379,966
1987 35,647 2,624 1,356,853 251,387
1986 36,203 2,558 1,050,277 186,227
1985 35,966 2,683 997,050 157,476
1984 35,530 2,393 920,670 137,632
1983 35,142 1,980 863,472 68,022
1982 34,859 1,751 1,080,853 66,702
1981 34,327 7,610 1,018,838 628,135
1980 33,934 -10,849 1,007,516 -903,529
1979 32,486 15,918 987,203 -711,455
1978 30,596 26,015 943,388 -210,991
1977 29,009 13,708 929,381 -527,133
1976 27,497 11,914 899,577 -36,125
1975 25,762 11,086 801,425 -42,540
1974 24,160 8,854 777,306 -4,232
1973 22,449 10,615 807,535 347
1972 21,004 5,937 779,808 -3,375
1971 19,926 -3,016 787,047 -14,510
1970 19,438 -16,054 760,821 8,589
1969 19,024 -15,870 736,428 7,258
1968 18,725 -15,681 715,602 9,992
1967 18,463 -15,438 695,283 14,437
1966 18,250 -15,140 616,281 9,160
1965 18,045 -14,753 642,359 16,348
1964 17,634 -4,126 618,667 10,749
1963 17,084 -4,000 590,998 9,418
1962 16,507 -4,028 563,650 8,960
1961 16,185 -4,168 538,518 6,938
1960 15,861 -4,331 511,694 1,696

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

GeoRank.org/population/botswana/ethiopia | 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 Ethiopia 98.8% is from natural causes (a gain of 30,237,373 people) and 1.19% is from migration (a gain of 365,488 people).

As of 2024, 116,402 residents or 4.6% of the population were not native-born in Botswana, compared to 1,168,455 people or 0.9% in Ethiopia.

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
Ethiopia
City Population
Addis Ababa 5.7M
Gondar 324K
Mekelle 324K
Awasa 300K
Dire Dawa 277K
Bahir Dar 243K
Dessie 188K
Jimma 178K
Harar 157K
Jijiga 126K

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/ethiopia | CC BY

Help us show the world through your eyes

Share a photo of your city and help others discover what it looks like to live there. Your contribution makes our data come alive.

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)

Creative Commons Attribution (CC BY) — you’re free to copy, share, remix, adapt, and use even commercially as long as you give appropriate credit and clearly indicate if you made changes. Other sources may be subject to different license terms.