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

Updated on by Georank team

The latest officially reported population of Botswana was 2,521,139 in 2024 vs 386,506 people in Iceland in 2024. In 2026, based on the adjusted UN estimation, the current Botswana's population is 2,615,162 people compared to 397,129 in Iceland.

Population statistics:

  • Botswana's population is 6.59 times bigger than Iceland's.
  • Botswana is ranked the 142nd most populous country in the world, while Iceland is the 173rd.
  • The countries together account for 0.04% of the world: 0.03% for Botswana vs 0.005% for Iceland.
  • For the last 10 years, Botswana has had an average growth rate of +1.5% per year vs +1.63% in Iceland.
  • Since 2006, the population of Botswana has increased from 1.87M people to 2.62M (39.5% growth), while Iceland has grown from 304K to 397K (30.7% growth).

Botswana vs Iceland: population by year and forecast

Botswana
Factual

Projection
Iceland
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Population
Botswana Iceland
2100 3,871,504 359,553
2099 3,876,625 361,331
2098 3,882,670 363,133
2097 3,887,985 364,957
2096 3,892,886 366,850
2095 3,897,211 368,746
2094 3,901,478 370,650
2093 3,905,541 372,614
2092 3,909,490 374,717
2091 3,913,899 376,803
2090 3,916,706 378,807
2089 3,917,351 380,812
2088 3,917,510 382,997
2087 3,916,826 385,164
2086 3,916,303 387,257
2085 3,915,785 389,362
2084 3,914,364 391,416
2083 3,912,929 393,481
2082 3,910,994 395,438
2081 3,910,013 397,470
2080 3,908,255 399,499
2079 3,905,358 401,462
2078 3,900,828 403,324
2077 3,896,126 405,255
2076 3,890,528 406,954
2075 3,884,696 408,546
2074 3,879,057 410,015
2073 3,873,259 411,402
2072 3,865,665 412,903
2071 3,858,720 414,245
2070 3,851,234 415,521
2069 3,841,316 416,683
2068 3,830,826 417,749
2067 3,818,341 418,899
2066 3,805,705 419,918
2065 3,791,211 420,941
2064 3,775,938 421,814
2063 3,760,179 422,695
2062 3,742,710 423,614
2061 3,723,346 424,319
2060 3,703,231 425,096
2059 3,682,816 425,721
2058 3,659,567 426,288
2057 3,635,514 426,844
2056 3,611,843 427,304
2055 3,587,056 427,695
2054 3,562,182 427,915
2053 3,535,732 428,108
2052 3,507,938 428,300
2051 3,479,939 428,278
2050 3,451,521 428,323
2049 3,422,143 428,289
2048 3,391,720 428,213
2047 3,360,414 428,102
2046 3,328,208 427,911
2045 3,296,489 427,683
2044 3,265,120 427,236
2043 3,233,076 426,580
2042 3,201,405 425,915
2041 3,168,873 425,212
2040 3,135,889 424,385
2039 3,101,794 423,407
2038 3,067,648 422,302
2037 3,032,620 421,094
2036 2,996,884 419,738
2035 2,960,590 418,238
2034 2,923,411 416,721
2033 2,885,991 415,006
2032 2,847,292 413,150
2031 2,808,872 411,039
2030 2,768,505 408,677
2029 2,728,467 406,109
2028 2,686,968 403,085
2027 2,645,863 399,797
2026 2,603,779 396,141
2025 2,562,651 391,759
2024 2,521,139 386,506
2023 2,480,244 385,663
2022 2,439,892 382,003
2021 2,401,441 372,520
2020 2,365,894 366,463
2019 2,332,083 360,563
2018 2,299,141 352,721
2017 2,266,747 343,400
2016 2,234,776 335,439
2015 2,203,273 330,815
2014 2,172,044 327,386
2013 2,140,682 323,764
2012 2,108,617 320,716
2011 2,073,535 319,014
2010 2,033,111 318,041
2009 1,990,673 318,499
2008 1,949,970 317,414
2007 1,911,201 311,566
2006 1,874,516 303,782
2005 1,839,877 296,734
2004 1,807,146 292,074
2003 1,775,736 289,521
2002 1,744,763 287,523
2001 1,712,254 284,968
2000 1,677,382 281,205
1999 1,641,997 277,381
1998 1,606,899 274,047
1997 1,571,691 271,128
1996 1,535,914 268,916
1995 1,498,836 267,468
1994 1,460,023 266,021
1993 1,420,115 263,725
1992 1,380,033 261,057
1991 1,341,756 257,797
1990 1,305,696 254,826
1989 1,270,274 252,852
1988 1,235,476 249,740
1987 1,199,167 245,859
1986 1,160,650 243,180
1985 1,121,945 241,405
1984 1,083,660 239,511
1983 1,046,137 236,977
1982 1,009,269 233,860
1981 969,996 230,755
1980 937,485 228,138
1979 901,742 225,735
1978 849,239 223,537
1977 799,574 221,799
1976 758,508 220,154
1975 720,380 217,979
1974 685,448 215,209
1973 652,408 212,317
1972 622,407 209,137
1971 600,481 206,098
1970 590,334 204,438
1969 587,066 203,369
1968 583,966 201,488
1967 580,933 198,751
1966 577,866 195,570
1965 574,664 192,286
1964 566,266 188,983
1963 552,966 185,653
1962 540,186 182,378
1961 527,942 179,029
1960 516,165 175,574

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/iceland | CC BY

From 2006 to 2016, the population of Botswana increased by 360,260 people (a 19.2% growth), while Iceland gained 31,657 people (a 10.4% growth).

For the next 10 years, from 2016 to 2026, Botswana gained 380,386 people (a 17% growth), while Iceland's population increased by 61,690 people (a 18.4% growth).

Botswana was ranked 145th most populous country in 2006 and is 142nd in 2026. Iceland was ranked 172nd in 2006 and ranked 173rd 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 Iceland will increase by 7.85% to 428,323 people and will still be ranked 173rd.

Botswana is projected to reach its peak in 2088 at 3.92M people compared to the peak of 428K people in 2050 for Iceland.

Population growth rate by year

Botswana
Factual

Projection
Iceland
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Growth rate
Botswana Iceland
2100 -0.13% -0.49%
2099 -0.16% -0.5%
2098 -0.14% -0.5%
2097 -0.13% -0.52%
2096 -0.11% -0.51%
2095 -0.11% -0.51%
2094 -0.1% -0.53%
2093 -0.1% -0.56%
2092 -0.11% -0.55%
2091 -0.07% -0.53%
2090 -0.02% -0.53%
2089 -0.004% -0.57%
2088 0.02% -0.56%
2087 0.01% -0.54%
2086 0.01% -0.54%
2085 0.04% -0.52%
2084 0.04% -0.52%
2083 0.05% -0.49%
2082 0.03% -0.51%
2081 0.04% -0.51%
2080 0.07% -0.49%
2079 0.12% -0.46%
2078 0.12% -0.48%
2077 0.14% -0.42%
2076 0.15% -0.39%
2075 0.15% -0.36%
2074 0.15% -0.34%
2073 0.2% -0.36%
2072 0.18% -0.32%
2071 0.19% -0.31%
2070 0.26% -0.28%
2069 0.27% -0.26%
2068 0.33% -0.27%
2067 0.33% -0.24%
2066 0.38% -0.24%
2065 0.4% -0.21%
2064 0.42% -0.21%
2063 0.47% -0.22%
2062 0.52% -0.17%
2061 0.54% -0.18%
2060 0.55% -0.15%
2059 0.64% -0.13%
2058 0.66% -0.13%
2057 0.66% -0.11%
2056 0.69% -0.09%
2055 0.7% -0.05%
2054 0.75% -0.05%
2053 0.79% -0.04%
2052 0.8% 0.005%
2051 0.82% -0.01%
2050 0.86% 0.008%
2049 0.9% 0.02%
2048 0.93% 0.03%
2047 0.97% 0.04%
2046 0.96% 0.05%
2045 0.96% 0.1%
2044 0.99% 0.15%
2043 0.99% 0.16%
2042 1.03% 0.17%
2041 1.05% 0.2%
2040 1.1% 0.23%
2039 1.11% 0.26%
2038 1.16% 0.29%
2037 1.19% 0.32%
2036 1.23% 0.36%
2035 1.27% 0.36%
2034 1.3% 0.41%
2033 1.36% 0.45%
2032 1.37% 0.51%
2031 1.46% 0.58%
2030 1.47% 0.63%
2029 1.54% 0.75%
2028 1.55% 0.82%
2027 1.62% 0.92%
2026 1.6% 1.12%
2025 1.65% 1.36%
2024 1.65% 0.22%
2023 1.65% 0.96%
2022 1.6% 2.55%
2021 1.5% 1.65%
2020 1.45% 1.64%
2019 1.43% 2.22%
2018 1.43% 2.71%
2017 1.43% 2.37%
2016 1.43% 1.4%
2015 1.44% 1.05%
2014 1.47% 1.12%
2013 1.52% 0.95%
2012 1.69% 0.53%
2011 1.99% 0.31%
2010 2.13% -0.14%
2009 2.09% 0.34%
2008 2.03% 1.88%
2007 1.96% 2.56%
2006 1.88% 2.38%
2005 1.81% 1.6%
2004 1.77% 0.88%
2003 1.78% 0.69%
2002 1.9% 0.9%
2001 2.08% 1.34%
2000 2.15% 1.38%
1999 2.18% 1.22%
1998 2.24% 1.08%
1997 2.33% 0.82%
1996 2.47% 0.54%
1995 2.66% 0.54%
1994 2.81% 0.87%
1993 2.9% 1.02%
1992 2.85% 1.26%
1991 2.76% 1.17%
1990 2.79% 0.78%
1989 2.82% 1.25%
1988 3.03% 1.58%
1987 3.32% 1.1%
1986 3.45% 0.74%
1985 3.53% 0.79%
1984 3.59% 1.07%
1983 3.65% 1.33%
1982 4.05% 1.35%
1981 3.47% 1.15%
1980 3.96% 1.06%
1979 6.18% 0.98%
1978 6.21% 0.78%
1977 5.41% 0.75%
1976 5.29% 1%
1975 5.1% 1.29%
1974 5.06% 1.36%
1973 4.82% 1.52%
1972 3.65% 1.47%
1971 1.72% 0.81%
1970 0.56% 0.53%
1969 0.53% 0.93%
1968 0.52% 1.38%
1967 0.53% 1.63%
1966 0.56% 1.71%
1965 1.48% 1.75%
1964 2.41% 1.79%
1963 2.37% 1.8%
1962 2.32% 1.87%
1961 2.28% 1.97%

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/iceland | CC BY

In 2024, the population of Botswana grew by 1.65%, while Iceland's population grew by 0.22%.

Live population counters

Botswana Iceland
Current population
2615162
397129
Population rank 142/197 173/197
Percent of world population 0.03% 0.005%
One net population change
12.9 minutes
10.4 hours
One birth every
8.58 minutes
2.07 hours
One death every
37 minutes
3.44 hours
Daily growth/decline +112 +2
Annual growth/decline +40,895 +843
Annual growth/decline rate +1.65% +0.22%
Population growth rate rank 66/197 155/197
One migration net change every
1.55 hours
3.24 hours
Annual migration change -5,665 +2,709
Net migration rank 120/196 56/196
Foreign-born residents 116,402 98,818
Foreign-born residents rank 126/195 130/195
Foreign-born share of population 4.6% 25.1%
Foreign-born share rank 96/195 23/195

Natural population change vs migration

Botswana
Natural

Migration
Iceland
Natural

Migration
1x
Year Population change
Botswana Iceland
Natural Migration Natural Migration
2025 - -5,665 - 2,709
2024 - -5,778 - 3,543
2023 47,098 -6,487 1,697 4,630
2022 47,400 -7,306 1,719 6,535
2021 40,894 -4,083 2,534 4,911
2020 45,610 -11,330 2,199 2,498
2019 45,110 -11,770 2,163 5,030
2018 44,171 -11,623 1,975 6,638
2017 43,154 -10,916 1,854 8,348
2016 41,993 -10,286 1,711 4,128
2015 40,897 -9,599 1,952 1,499
2014 40,046 -8,893 2,324 1,139
2013 39,404 -7,836 2,169 1,666
2012 39,202 -6,636 2,566 -277
2011 38,613 -1,019 2,521 -1,393
2010 38,101 5,151 2,862 -2,055
2009 36,671 4,960 3,026 -4,785
2008 35,433 4,343 2,825 1,138
2007 33,832 3,926 2,617 5,254
2006 31,340 4,270 2,491 5,300
2005 29,385 4,283 2,433 3,925
2004 27,481 4,314 2,425 610
2003 26,545 4,488 2,317 -204
2002 26,163 4,747 2,243 -333
2001 26,112 7,991 2,365 867
2000 25,850 9,798 2,475 1,877
1999 25,358 9,762 2,192 1,165
1998 25,397 9,685 2,357 1,014
1997 25,738 9,597 2,305 225
1996 26,847 9,368 2,447 -511
1995 28,478 9,464 2,354 -1,354
1994 30,664 9,023 2,713 -804
1993 31,691 8,441 2,875 -194
1992 31,995 8,026 2,898 -225
1991 32,219 4,311 2,733 1,145
1990 33,015 2,580 3,058 -971
1989 33,756 1,495 2,832 -994
1988 34,564 -215 2,847 1,572
1987 35,647 2,624 2,360 944
1986 36,203 2,558 2,384 -335
1985 35,966 2,683 2,221 -628
1984 35,530 2,393 2,539 -328
1983 35,142 1,980 2,702 170
1982 34,859 1,751 2,736 616
1981 34,327 7,610 2,677 157
1980 33,934 -10,849 2,966 -629
1979 32,486 15,918 2,980 -572
1978 30,596 26,015 2,727 -781
1977 29,009 13,708 2,551 -1,079
1976 27,497 11,914 2,951 -1,181
1975 25,762 11,086 2,965 -388
1974 24,160 8,854 2,776 209
1973 22,449 10,615 3,121 -310
1972 21,004 5,937 3,241 362
1971 19,926 -3,016 2,782 -231
1970 19,438 -16,054 2,576 -1,754
1969 19,024 -15,870 2,766 -1,414
1968 18,725 -15,681 2,841 -448
1967 18,463 -15,438 3,021 47
1966 18,250 -15,140 3,305 39
1965 18,045 -14,753 3,442 -194
1964 17,634 -4,126 3,459 -67
1963 17,084 -4,000 3,490 -113
1962 16,507 -4,028 3,465 -228
1961 16,185 -4,168 3,312 164
1960 15,861 -4,331 3,758 -269

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

GeoRank.org/population/botswana/iceland | 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 Iceland 30.7% is from natural causes (a gain of 20,128 people) and 69.3% is from migration (a gain of 45,356 people).

As of 2024, 116,402 residents or 4.6% of the population were not native-born in Botswana, compared to 98,818 people or 25.1% in Iceland.

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
Iceland
City Population
Reykjavik 139K
Kopavogur 40K
Hafnarfjorur 31.5K
Keflavik 23.3K
Akureyri 20K

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/iceland | 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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