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

Updated on by Georank team

The latest officially reported population of Botswana was 2,521,139 in 2024 vs 46,042,015 people in Iraq in 2024. In 2026, based on the adjusted UN estimation, the current Botswana's population is 2,615,162 people compared to 48,289,334 in Iraq.

Population statistics:

  • Iraq's population is 18.5 times bigger than Botswana's.
  • Botswana is ranked the 142nd most populous country in the world, while Iraq is the 33rd.
  • The countries together account for 0.61% of the world: 0.03% for Botswana vs 0.58% for Iraq.
  • For the last 10 years, Botswana has had an average growth rate of +1.5% per year vs +2.45% in Iraq.
  • Since 2006, the population of Botswana has increased from 1.87M people to 2.62M (39.5% growth), while Iraq has grown from 28.6M to 48.3M (68.7% growth).

Botswana vs Iraq: population by year and forecast

Botswana
Factual

Projection
Iraq
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Population
Botswana Iraq
2100 3,871,504 101,632,594
2099 3,876,625 101,421,266
2098 3,882,670 101,212,536
2097 3,887,985 100,980,835
2096 3,892,886 100,724,441
2095 3,897,211 100,464,590
2094 3,901,478 100,194,041
2093 3,905,541 99,876,174
2092 3,909,490 99,532,041
2091 3,913,899 99,203,830
2090 3,916,706 98,886,956
2089 3,917,351 98,513,025
2088 3,917,510 98,144,039
2087 3,916,826 97,767,537
2086 3,916,303 97,325,026
2085 3,915,785 96,873,007
2084 3,914,364 96,448,602
2083 3,912,929 95,991,166
2082 3,910,994 95,509,663
2081 3,910,013 95,009,326
2080 3,908,255 94,507,216
2079 3,905,358 93,960,228
2078 3,900,828 93,417,384
2077 3,896,126 92,903,983
2076 3,890,528 92,359,592
2075 3,884,696 91,825,254
2074 3,879,057 91,229,266
2073 3,873,259 90,571,021
2072 3,865,665 89,918,374
2071 3,858,720 89,265,548
2070 3,851,234 88,596,492
2069 3,841,316 87,909,474
2068 3,830,826 87,220,494
2067 3,818,341 86,513,996
2066 3,805,705 85,734,530
2065 3,791,211 84,971,898
2064 3,775,938 84,191,350
2063 3,760,179 83,387,951
2062 3,742,710 82,604,577
2061 3,723,346 81,800,637
2060 3,703,231 80,951,008
2059 3,682,816 80,141,868
2058 3,659,567 79,319,543
2057 3,635,514 78,477,339
2056 3,611,843 77,609,202
2055 3,587,056 76,739,924
2054 3,562,182 75,857,125
2053 3,535,732 74,952,948
2052 3,507,938 74,072,580
2051 3,479,939 73,150,234
2050 3,451,521 72,235,938
2049 3,422,143 71,272,122
2048 3,391,720 70,316,860
2047 3,360,414 69,347,823
2046 3,328,208 68,400,664
2045 3,296,489 67,435,953
2044 3,265,120 66,447,309
2043 3,233,076 65,453,565
2042 3,201,405 64,433,831
2041 3,168,873 63,408,709
2040 3,135,889 62,360,117
2039 3,101,794 61,289,355
2038 3,067,648 60,253,073
2037 3,032,620 59,221,658
2036 2,996,884 58,155,990
2035 2,960,590 57,127,999
2034 2,923,411 56,087,695
2033 2,885,991 55,051,140
2032 2,847,292 54,002,289
2031 2,808,872 52,991,443
2030 2,768,505 51,986,773
2029 2,728,467 50,982,563
2028 2,686,968 50,001,133
2027 2,645,863 49,014,822
2026 2,603,779 48,020,334
2025 2,562,651 47,020,527
2024 2,521,139 46,042,015
2023 2,480,244 45,074,049
2022 2,439,892 44,070,551
2021 2,401,441 43,071,211
2020 2,365,894 42,116,605
2019 2,332,083 41,192,171
2018 2,299,141 40,265,624
2017 2,266,747 39,337,353
2016 2,234,776 38,469,627
2015 2,203,273 37,560,535
2014 2,172,044 36,550,059
2013 2,140,682 35,281,989
2012 2,108,617 33,654,842
2011 2,073,535 32,161,424
2010 2,033,111 31,045,366
2009 1,990,673 30,058,206
2008 1,949,970 28,971,036
2007 1,911,201 28,391,607
2006 1,874,516 28,616,515
2005 1,839,877 28,407,448
2004 1,807,146 27,577,878
2003 1,775,736 26,802,659
2002 1,744,763 26,006,559
2001 1,712,254 25,197,840
2000 1,677,382 24,424,056
1999 1,641,997 23,636,527
1998 1,606,899 22,884,399
1997 1,571,691 22,176,593
1996 1,535,914 21,501,321
1995 1,498,836 20,825,860
1994 1,460,023 20,139,807
1993 1,420,115 19,201,195
1992 1,380,033 18,300,845
1991 1,341,756 17,767,253
1990 1,305,696 17,581,206
1989 1,270,274 17,364,542
1988 1,235,476 16,908,819
1987 1,199,167 16,521,049
1986 1,160,650 16,074,145
1985 1,121,945 15,683,430
1984 1,083,660 15,310,733
1983 1,046,137 14,840,555
1982 1,009,269 14,406,083
1981 969,996 14,006,381
1980 937,485 13,591,992
1979 901,742 13,170,365
1978 849,239 12,753,355
1977 799,574 12,331,046
1976 758,508 11,927,651
1975 720,380 11,543,639
1974 685,448 11,167,761
1973 652,408 10,795,869
1972 622,407 10,430,164
1971 600,481 10,077,809
1970 590,334 9,735,611
1969 587,066 9,403,356
1968 583,966 9,085,016
1967 580,933 8,778,869
1966 577,866 8,485,104
1965 574,664 8,202,140
1964 566,266 7,929,566
1963 552,966 7,667,928
1962 540,186 7,413,875
1961 527,942 7,194,553
1960 516,165 7,022,052

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/iraq | CC BY

From 2006 to 2016, the population of Botswana increased by 360,260 people (a 19.2% growth), while Iraq gained 9,853,112 people (a 34.4% growth).

For the next 10 years, from 2016 to 2026, Botswana gained 380,386 people (a 17% growth), while Iraq's population increased by 9,819,707 people (a 25.5% growth).

Botswana was ranked 145th most populous country in 2006 and is 142nd in 2026. Iraq was ranked 39th in 2006 and ranked 33rd 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 Iraq will increase by 49.6% to 72,235,938 people and rank change from 33rd to 28th.

Botswana is projected to reach its peak in 2088 at 3.92M people compared to the peak of 102M people in 2100 for Iraq.

Population growth rate by year

Botswana
Factual

Projection
Iraq
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Growth rate
Botswana Iraq
2100 -0.13% 0.21%
2099 -0.16% 0.21%
2098 -0.14% 0.23%
2097 -0.13% 0.25%
2096 -0.11% 0.26%
2095 -0.11% 0.27%
2094 -0.1% 0.32%
2093 -0.1% 0.35%
2092 -0.11% 0.33%
2091 -0.07% 0.32%
2090 -0.02% 0.38%
2089 -0.004% 0.38%
2088 0.02% 0.39%
2087 0.01% 0.45%
2086 0.01% 0.47%
2085 0.04% 0.44%
2084 0.04% 0.48%
2083 0.05% 0.5%
2082 0.03% 0.53%
2081 0.04% 0.53%
2080 0.07% 0.58%
2079 0.12% 0.58%
2078 0.12% 0.55%
2077 0.14% 0.59%
2076 0.15% 0.58%
2075 0.15% 0.65%
2074 0.15% 0.73%
2073 0.2% 0.73%
2072 0.18% 0.73%
2071 0.19% 0.76%
2070 0.26% 0.78%
2069 0.27% 0.79%
2068 0.33% 0.82%
2067 0.33% 0.91%
2066 0.38% 0.9%
2065 0.4% 0.93%
2064 0.42% 0.96%
2063 0.47% 0.95%
2062 0.52% 0.98%
2061 0.54% 1.05%
2060 0.55% 1.01%
2059 0.64% 1.04%
2058 0.66% 1.07%
2057 0.66% 1.12%
2056 0.69% 1.13%
2055 0.7% 1.16%
2054 0.75% 1.21%
2053 0.79% 1.19%
2052 0.8% 1.26%
2051 0.82% 1.27%
2050 0.86% 1.35%
2049 0.9% 1.36%
2048 0.93% 1.4%
2047 0.97% 1.38%
2046 0.96% 1.43%
2045 0.96% 1.49%
2044 0.99% 1.52%
2043 0.99% 1.58%
2042 1.03% 1.62%
2041 1.05% 1.68%
2040 1.1% 1.75%
2039 1.11% 1.72%
2038 1.16% 1.74%
2037 1.19% 1.83%
2036 1.23% 1.8%
2035 1.27% 1.85%
2034 1.3% 1.88%
2033 1.36% 1.94%
2032 1.37% 1.91%
2031 1.46% 1.93%
2030 1.47% 1.97%
2029 1.54% 1.96%
2028 1.55% 2.01%
2027 1.62% 2.07%
2026 1.6% 2.13%
2025 1.65% 2.13%
2024 1.65% 2.15%
2023 1.65% 2.28%
2022 1.6% 2.32%
2021 1.5% 2.27%
2020 1.45% 2.24%
2019 1.43% 2.3%
2018 1.43% 2.36%
2017 1.43% 2.26%
2016 1.43% 2.42%
2015 1.44% 2.76%
2014 1.47% 3.59%
2013 1.52% 4.83%
2012 1.69% 4.64%
2011 1.99% 3.59%
2010 2.13% 3.28%
2009 2.09% 3.75%
2008 2.03% 2.04%
2007 1.96% -0.79%
2006 1.88% 0.74%
2005 1.81% 3.01%
2004 1.77% 2.89%
2003 1.78% 3.06%
2002 1.9% 3.21%
2001 2.08% 3.17%
2000 2.15% 3.33%
1999 2.18% 3.29%
1998 2.24% 3.19%
1997 2.33% 3.14%
1996 2.47% 3.24%
1995 2.66% 3.41%
1994 2.81% 4.89%
1993 2.9% 4.92%
1992 2.85% 3%
1991 2.76% 1.06%
1990 2.79% 1.25%
1989 2.82% 2.7%
1988 3.03% 2.35%
1987 3.32% 2.78%
1986 3.45% 2.49%
1985 3.53% 2.43%
1984 3.59% 3.17%
1983 3.65% 3.02%
1982 4.05% 2.85%
1981 3.47% 3.05%
1980 3.96% 3.2%
1979 6.18% 3.27%
1978 6.21% 3.42%
1977 5.41% 3.38%
1976 5.29% 3.33%
1975 5.1% 3.37%
1974 5.06% 3.44%
1973 4.82% 3.51%
1972 3.65% 3.5%
1971 1.72% 3.51%
1970 0.56% 3.53%
1969 0.53% 3.5%
1968 0.52% 3.49%
1967 0.53% 3.46%
1966 0.56% 3.45%
1965 1.48% 3.44%
1964 2.41% 3.41%
1963 2.37% 3.43%
1962 2.32% 3.05%
1961 2.28% 2.46%

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/iraq | CC BY

In 2024, the population of Botswana grew by 1.65%, while Iraq's population grew by 2.15%.

Live population counters

Botswana Iraq
Current population
2615162
48289334
Population rank 142/197 33/197
Percent of world population 0.03% 0.58%
One net population change
12.9 minutes
32.6 seconds
One birth every
8.58 minutes
27.2 seconds
One death every
37 minutes
2.82 minutes
Daily growth/decline +112 +2,652
Annual growth/decline +40,895 +967,966
Annual growth/decline rate +1.65% +2.15%
Population growth rate rank 66/197 46/197
One migration net change every
1.55 hours
8.26 hours
Annual migration change -5,665 -1,064
Net migration rank 120/196 93/196
Foreign-born residents 116,402 370,980
Foreign-born residents rank 126/195 92/195
Foreign-born share of population 4.6% 0.8%
Foreign-born share rank 96/195 160/195

Natural population change vs migration

Botswana
Natural

Migration
Iraq
Natural

Migration
1x
Year Population change
Botswana Iraq
Natural Migration Natural Migration
2025 - -5,665 - -1,064
2024 - -5,778 - -17,735
2023 47,098 -6,487 973,420 -5,710
2022 47,400 -7,306 962,501 76,821
2021 40,894 -4,083 941,924 17,474
2020 45,610 -11,330 919,953 29,858
2019 45,110 -11,770 942,972 -43,919
2018 44,171 -11,623 938,310 15,775
2017 43,154 -10,916 924,507 -21,998
2016 41,993 -10,286 946,968 -113,980
2015 40,897 -9,599 1,007,561 -22,338
2014 40,046 -8,893 1,040,726 -5,033
2013 39,404 -7,836 1,026,036 474,379
2012 39,202 -6,636 999,987 753,907
2011 38,613 -1,019 971,082 261,880
2010 38,101 5,151 906,369 92,779
2009 36,671 4,960 855,096 120,092
2008 35,433 4,343 802,382 396,792
2007 33,832 3,926 784,119 -824,428
2006 31,340 4,270 797,342 -1,206,850
2005 29,385 4,283 776,603 51,019
2004 27,481 4,314 761,563 69,948
2003 26,545 4,488 746,159 -27,236
2002 26,163 4,747 739,419 133,839
2001 26,112 7,991 729,704 14,451
2000 25,850 9,798 715,771 87,624
1999 25,358 9,762 702,170 69,491
1998 25,397 9,685 684,152 48,446
1997 25,738 9,597 667,582 15,429
1996 26,847 9,368 652,866 14,652
1995 28,478 9,464 642,977 40,424
1994 30,664 9,023 634,344 54,355
1993 31,691 8,441 606,700 581,818
1992 31,995 8,026 591,886 20,292
1991 32,219 4,311 550,146 -95,155
1990 33,015 2,580 518,575 -601,469
1989 33,756 1,495 496,852 19,392
1988 34,564 -215 476,778 -81,562
1987 35,647 2,624 488,742 -108,426
1986 36,203 2,558 474,348 39,136
1985 35,966 2,683 467,445 -199,505
1984 35,530 2,393 455,740 21,709
1983 35,142 1,980 439,800 23,115
1982 34,859 1,751 428,336 -22,302
1981 34,327 7,610 416,998 -23,640
1980 33,934 -10,849 419,653 15,757
1979 32,486 15,918 428,458 -20,617
1978 30,596 26,015 418,756 7,434
1977 29,009 13,708 410,229 8,204
1976 27,497 11,914 402,260 -13,915
1975 25,762 11,086 385,916 -6,237
1974 24,160 8,854 376,197 -4,090
1973 22,449 10,615 373,191 -1,507
1972 21,004 5,937 362,334 -2,600
1971 19,926 -3,016 351,464 -6,479
1970 19,438 -16,054 338,030 1,377
1969 19,024 -15,870 324,792 312
1968 18,725 -15,681 310,644 928
1967 18,463 -15,438 298,192 2,531
1966 18,250 -15,140 285,507 1,298
1965 18,045 -14,753 274,551 4,555
1964 17,634 -4,126 262,825 3,224
1963 17,084 -4,000 254,046 3,197
1962 16,507 -4,028 247,520 3,343
1961 16,185 -4,168 184,792 2,981
1960 15,861 -4,331 155,651 1,573

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

GeoRank.org/population/botswana/iraq | 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 Iraq 99.2% is from natural causes (a gain of 9,598,842 people) and 0.76% is from migration (a loss of 73,050 people).

As of 2024, 116,402 residents or 4.6% of the population were not native-born in Botswana, compared to 370,980 people or 0.8% in Iraq.

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
Iraq
City Population
Baghdad 8.13M
Mosul 1.79M
Basra 1.33M
Kirkuk 975K
Sulaymaniyah 878K
Ramadi 875K
Erbil 846K
Najaf 725K
Karbala 690K
Nasiriyah 542K

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/iraq | 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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