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

Updated on by Georank team

The latest officially reported population of Botswana was 2,521,139 in 2024 vs 2,538,952 people in Gabon in 2024. In 2026, based on the adjusted UN estimation, the current Botswana's population is 2,615,162 people compared to 2,663,339 in Gabon.

Population statistics:

  • Gabon's population is 1.02 times bigger than Botswana's.
  • Botswana is ranked the 142nd most populous country in the world, while Gabon is the 141st.
  • The countries together account for 0.06% of the world: 0.03% for Botswana vs 0.03% for Gabon.
  • For the last 10 years, Botswana has had an average growth rate of +1.5% per year vs +2.61% in Gabon.
  • Since 2006, the population of Botswana has increased from 1.87M people to 2.62M (39.5% growth), while Gabon has grown from 1.51M to 2.66M (76.6% growth).

Botswana vs Gabon: population by year and forecast

Botswana
Factual

Projection
Gabon
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Population
Botswana Gabon
2100 3,871,504 6,955,864
2099 3,876,625 6,912,052
2098 3,882,670 6,867,857
2097 3,887,985 6,822,087
2096 3,892,886 6,775,495
2095 3,897,211 6,727,815
2094 3,901,478 6,680,075
2093 3,905,541 6,631,425
2092 3,909,490 6,582,261
2091 3,913,899 6,532,342
2090 3,916,706 6,481,491
2089 3,917,351 6,429,956
2088 3,917,510 6,376,859
2087 3,916,826 6,323,194
2086 3,916,303 6,269,178
2085 3,915,785 6,215,121
2084 3,914,364 6,160,019
2083 3,912,929 6,103,820
2082 3,910,994 6,046,995
2081 3,910,013 5,989,415
2080 3,908,255 5,931,520
2079 3,905,358 5,873,052
2078 3,900,828 5,814,259
2077 3,896,126 5,754,857
2076 3,890,528 5,695,764
2075 3,884,696 5,636,043
2074 3,879,057 5,576,620
2073 3,873,259 5,516,502
2072 3,865,665 5,456,238
2071 3,858,720 5,395,666
2070 3,851,234 5,335,269
2069 3,841,316 5,274,817
2068 3,830,826 5,214,405
2067 3,818,341 5,153,427
2066 3,805,705 5,092,586
2065 3,791,211 5,031,764
2064 3,775,938 4,970,757
2063 3,760,179 4,909,630
2062 3,742,710 4,848,693
2061 3,723,346 4,787,706
2060 3,703,231 4,726,341
2059 3,682,816 4,664,287
2058 3,659,567 4,602,087
2057 3,635,514 4,540,068
2056 3,611,843 4,477,242
2055 3,587,056 4,414,477
2054 3,562,182 4,350,938
2053 3,535,732 4,287,630
2052 3,507,938 4,224,256
2051 3,479,939 4,160,459
2050 3,451,521 4,096,708
2049 3,422,143 4,032,976
2048 3,391,720 3,968,977
2047 3,360,414 3,904,724
2046 3,328,208 3,840,333
2045 3,296,489 3,775,786
2044 3,265,120 3,711,691
2043 3,233,076 3,647,956
2042 3,201,405 3,584,695
2041 3,168,873 3,521,560
2040 3,135,889 3,458,896
2039 3,101,794 3,397,011
2038 3,067,648 3,335,835
2037 3,032,620 3,275,298
2036 2,996,884 3,215,119
2035 2,960,590 3,155,791
2034 2,923,411 3,097,371
2033 2,885,991 3,039,514
2032 2,847,292 2,982,347
2031 2,808,872 2,925,690
2030 2,768,505 2,869,476
2029 2,728,467 2,813,855
2028 2,686,968 2,758,554
2027 2,645,863 2,703,425
2026 2,603,779 2,648,476
2025 2,562,651 2,593,715
2024 2,521,139 2,538,952
2023 2,480,244 2,484,789
2022 2,439,892 2,430,747
2021 2,401,441 2,376,722
2020 2,365,894 2,322,539
2019 2,332,083 2,267,706
2018 2,299,141 2,212,318
2017 2,266,747 2,156,900
2016 2,234,776 2,100,306
2015 2,203,273 2,040,989
2014 2,172,044 1,978,399
2013 2,140,682 1,913,059
2012 2,108,617 1,846,889
2011 2,073,535 1,781,985
2010 2,033,111 1,719,879
2009 1,990,673 1,661,556
2008 1,949,970 1,607,175
2007 1,911,201 1,556,237
2006 1,874,516 1,508,337
2005 1,839,877 1,463,495
2004 1,807,146 1,421,609
2003 1,775,736 1,382,350
2002 1,744,763 1,345,135
2001 1,712,254 1,309,589
2000 1,677,382 1,275,572
1999 1,641,997 1,243,016
1998 1,606,899 1,211,736
1997 1,571,691 1,181,439
1996 1,535,914 1,152,015
1995 1,498,836 1,123,213
1994 1,460,023 1,094,720
1993 1,420,115 1,066,405
1992 1,380,033 1,038,380
1991 1,341,756 1,010,818
1990 1,305,696 983,734
1989 1,270,274 957,138
1988 1,235,476 931,020
1987 1,199,167 905,479
1986 1,160,650 880,705
1985 1,121,945 856,726
1984 1,083,660 833,501
1983 1,046,137 811,005
1982 1,009,269 789,286
1981 969,996 768,385
1980 937,485 748,389
1979 901,742 729,375
1978 849,239 711,245
1977 799,574 693,984
1976 758,508 677,628
1975 720,380 662,197
1974 685,448 647,691
1973 652,408 633,995
1972 622,407 620,960
1971 600,481 608,348
1970 590,334 595,846
1969 587,066 583,276
1968 583,966 572,257
1967 580,933 563,108
1966 577,866 554,463
1965 574,664 546,308
1964 566,266 538,657
1963 552,966 531,452
1962 540,186 524,649
1961 527,942 518,266
1960 516,165 512,316

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/gabon | CC BY

From 2006 to 2016, the population of Botswana increased by 360,260 people (a 19.2% growth), while Gabon gained 591,969 people (a 39.2% growth).

For the next 10 years, from 2016 to 2026, Botswana gained 380,386 people (a 17% growth), while Gabon's population increased by 563,033 people (a 26.8% growth).

Botswana was ranked 145th most populous country in 2006 and is 142nd in 2026. Gabon was ranked 147th in 2006 and ranked 141st 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 Gabon will increase by 53.8% to 4,096,708 people and rank change from 141st to 133rd.

Botswana is projected to reach its peak in 2088 at 3.92M people compared to the peak of 6.96M people in 2100 for Gabon.

Population growth rate by year

Botswana
Factual

Projection
Gabon
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Growth rate
Botswana Gabon
2100 -0.13% 0.63%
2099 -0.16% 0.64%
2098 -0.14% 0.67%
2097 -0.13% 0.69%
2096 -0.11% 0.71%
2095 -0.11% 0.71%
2094 -0.1% 0.73%
2093 -0.1% 0.75%
2092 -0.11% 0.76%
2091 -0.07% 0.78%
2090 -0.02% 0.8%
2089 -0.004% 0.83%
2088 0.02% 0.85%
2087 0.01% 0.86%
2086 0.01% 0.87%
2085 0.04% 0.89%
2084 0.04% 0.92%
2083 0.05% 0.94%
2082 0.03% 0.96%
2081 0.04% 0.98%
2080 0.07% 1%
2079 0.12% 1.01%
2078 0.12% 1.03%
2077 0.14% 1.04%
2076 0.15% 1.06%
2075 0.15% 1.07%
2074 0.15% 1.09%
2073 0.2% 1.1%
2072 0.18% 1.12%
2071 0.19% 1.13%
2070 0.26% 1.15%
2069 0.27% 1.16%
2068 0.33% 1.18%
2067 0.33% 1.19%
2066 0.38% 1.21%
2065 0.4% 1.23%
2064 0.42% 1.25%
2063 0.47% 1.26%
2062 0.52% 1.27%
2061 0.54% 1.3%
2060 0.55% 1.33%
2059 0.64% 1.35%
2058 0.66% 1.37%
2057 0.66% 1.4%
2056 0.69% 1.42%
2055 0.7% 1.46%
2054 0.75% 1.48%
2053 0.79% 1.5%
2052 0.8% 1.53%
2051 0.82% 1.56%
2050 0.86% 1.58%
2049 0.9% 1.61%
2048 0.93% 1.65%
2047 0.97% 1.68%
2046 0.96% 1.71%
2045 0.96% 1.73%
2044 0.99% 1.75%
2043 0.99% 1.76%
2042 1.03% 1.79%
2041 1.05% 1.81%
2040 1.1% 1.82%
2039 1.11% 1.83%
2038 1.16% 1.85%
2037 1.19% 1.87%
2036 1.23% 1.88%
2035 1.27% 1.89%
2034 1.3% 1.9%
2033 1.36% 1.92%
2032 1.37% 1.94%
2031 1.46% 1.96%
2030 1.47% 1.98%
2029 1.54% 2%
2028 1.55% 2.04%
2027 1.62% 2.07%
2026 1.6% 2.11%
2025 1.65% 2.16%
2024 1.65% 2.18%
2023 1.65% 2.22%
2022 1.6% 2.27%
2021 1.5% 2.33%
2020 1.45% 2.42%
2019 1.43% 2.5%
2018 1.43% 2.57%
2017 1.43% 2.69%
2016 1.43% 2.91%
2015 1.44% 3.16%
2014 1.47% 3.42%
2013 1.52% 3.58%
2012 1.69% 3.64%
2011 1.99% 3.61%
2010 2.13% 3.51%
2009 2.09% 3.38%
2008 2.03% 3.27%
2007 1.96% 3.18%
2006 1.88% 3.06%
2005 1.81% 2.95%
2004 1.77% 2.84%
2003 1.78% 2.77%
2002 1.9% 2.71%
2001 2.08% 2.67%
2000 2.15% 2.62%
1999 2.18% 2.58%
1998 2.24% 2.56%
1997 2.33% 2.55%
1996 2.47% 2.56%
1995 2.66% 2.6%
1994 2.81% 2.66%
1993 2.9% 2.7%
1992 2.85% 2.73%
1991 2.76% 2.75%
1990 2.79% 2.78%
1989 2.82% 2.81%
1988 3.03% 2.82%
1987 3.32% 2.81%
1986 3.45% 2.8%
1985 3.53% 2.79%
1984 3.59% 2.77%
1983 3.65% 2.75%
1982 4.05% 2.72%
1981 3.47% 2.67%
1980 3.96% 2.61%
1979 6.18% 2.55%
1978 6.21% 2.49%
1977 5.41% 2.41%
1976 5.29% 2.33%
1975 5.1% 2.24%
1974 5.06% 2.16%
1973 4.82% 2.1%
1972 3.65% 2.07%
1971 1.72% 2.1%
1970 0.56% 2.16%
1969 0.53% 1.93%
1968 0.52% 1.62%
1967 0.53% 1.56%
1966 0.56% 1.49%
1965 1.48% 1.42%
1964 2.41% 1.36%
1963 2.37% 1.3%
1962 2.32% 1.23%
1961 2.28% 1.16%

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/gabon | CC BY

In 2024, the population of Botswana grew by 1.65%, while Gabon's population grew by 2.18%.

Live population counters

Botswana Gabon
Current population
2615162
2663339
Population rank 142/197 141/197
Percent of world population 0.03% 0.03%
One net population change
12.9 minutes
9.7 minutes
One birth every
8.58 minutes
7.65 minutes
One death every
37 minutes
33.7 minutes
Daily growth/decline +112 +148
Annual growth/decline +40,895 +54,163
Annual growth/decline rate +1.65% +2.18%
Population growth rate rank 66/197 44/197
One migration net change every
1.55 hours
7.87 hours
Annual migration change -5,665 +1,116
Net migration rank 120/196 62/196
Foreign-born residents 116,402 449,746
Foreign-born residents rank 126/195 84/195
Foreign-born share of population 4.6% 17.7%
Foreign-born share rank 96/195 34/195

Natural population change vs migration

Botswana
Natural

Migration
Gabon
Natural

Migration
1x
Year Population change
Botswana Gabon
Natural Migration Natural Migration
2025 - -5,665 - 1,116
2024 - -5,778 - 1,105
2023 47,098 -6,487 53,167 987
2022 47,400 -7,306 52,944 987
2021 40,894 -4,083 52,611 1,503
2020 45,610 -11,330 52,745 1,506
2019 45,110 -11,770 53,185 2,233
2018 44,171 -11,623 52,476 2,886
2017 43,154 -10,916 51,455 4,013
2016 41,993 -10,286 50,321 7,398
2015 40,897 -9,599 48,876 12,041
2014 40,046 -8,893 47,704 16,565
2013 39,404 -7,836 46,829 19,587
2012 39,202 -6,636 45,941 19,973
2011 38,613 -1,019 44,922 18,967
2010 38,101 5,151 43,061 17,274
2009 36,671 4,960 41,037 15,277
2008 35,433 4,343 39,002 13,441
2007 33,832 3,926 37,394 12,045
2006 31,340 4,270 35,984 10,382
2005 29,385 4,283 34,766 8,555
2004 27,481 4,314 33,615 6,830
2003 26,545 4,488 32,633 5,434
2002 26,163 4,747 31,777 4,582
2001 26,112 7,991 30,941 3,801
2000 25,850 9,798 30,210 3,086
1999 25,358 9,762 29,330 2,480
1998 25,397 9,685 28,697 2,055
1997 25,738 9,597 28,053 1,786
1996 26,847 9,368 27,450 1,555
1995 28,478 9,464 27,290 1,314
1994 30,664 9,023 27,271 1,110
1993 31,691 8,441 27,235 1,009
1992 31,995 8,026 26,810 990
1991 32,219 4,311 26,334 990
1990 33,015 2,580 25,858 990
1989 33,756 1,495 25,359 990
1988 34,564 -215 24,888 990
1987 35,647 2,624 24,212 990
1986 36,203 2,558 23,362 990
1985 35,966 2,683 22,617 990
1984 35,530 2,393 21,851 990
1983 35,142 1,980 21,162 990
1982 34,859 1,751 20,292 990
1981 34,327 7,610 19,528 990
1980 33,934 -10,849 18,503 990
1979 32,486 15,918 17,553 990
1978 30,596 26,015 16,714 990
1977 29,009 13,708 15,842 972
1976 27,497 11,914 14,998 899
1975 25,762 11,086 14,162 792
1974 24,160 8,854 13,381 680
1973 22,449 10,615 12,731 608
1972 21,004 5,937 12,095 639
1971 19,926 -3,016 11,357 1,130
1970 19,438 -16,054 10,635 1,882
1969 19,024 -15,870 9,969 2,650
1968 18,725 -15,681 9,417 0
1967 18,463 -15,438 8,883 0
1966 18,250 -15,140 8,410 0
1965 18,045 -14,753 7,902 0
1964 17,634 -4,126 7,402 0
1963 17,084 -4,000 7,001 0
1962 16,507 -4,028 6,609 0
1961 16,185 -4,168 6,161 0
1960 15,861 -4,331 5,732 0

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

GeoRank.org/population/botswana/gabon | 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 Gabon 91.1% is from natural causes (a gain of 515,484 people) and 8.86% is from migration (a gain of 50,119 people).

As of 2024, 116,402 residents or 4.6% of the population were not native-born in Botswana, compared to 449,746 people or 17.7% in Gabon.

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
Gabon
City Population
Libreville 899K
Port-Gentil 155K

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/gabon | 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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