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

Updated on by Georank

The latest officially reported population of Botswana was 2,562,122 in 2025 vs 47,020,774 people in Iraq in 2025. In 2026, based on the adjusted UN estimation, the current Botswana's population is 2,624,853 people compared to 48,531,417 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 0.62% 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 +1.51% per year vs +2.32% in Iraq.
  • Since 2006, the population of Botswana has increased from 1.87M people to 2.62M (40% growth), while Iraq has grown from 28.6M to 48.5M (69.6% growth).

Botswana vs Iraq: population by year and forecast

Botswana
Factual

Projection
Iraq
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Population
Botswana Iraq
2100 3,870,704 101,633,126
2099 3,875,823 101,421,797
2098 3,881,867 101,213,066
2097 3,887,181 100,981,364
2096 3,892,081 100,724,968
2095 3,896,405 100,465,117
2094 3,900,671 100,194,566
2093 3,904,733 99,876,697
2092 3,908,682 99,532,563
2091 3,913,090 99,204,350
2090 3,915,896 98,887,474
2089 3,916,540 98,513,541
2088 3,916,700 98,144,553
2087 3,916,016 97,768,049
2086 3,915,493 97,325,536
2085 3,914,975 96,873,514
2084 3,913,555 96,449,107
2083 3,912,119 95,991,669
2082 3,910,185 95,510,163
2081 3,909,204 95,009,824
2080 3,907,447 94,507,711
2079 3,904,550 93,960,720
2078 3,900,021 93,417,874
2077 3,895,321 92,904,470
2076 3,889,723 92,360,076
2075 3,883,893 91,825,735
2074 3,878,255 91,229,744
2073 3,872,458 90,571,495
2072 3,864,865 89,918,845
2071 3,857,922 89,266,016
2070 3,850,437 88,596,956
2069 3,840,521 87,909,934
2068 3,830,034 87,220,950
2067 3,817,551 86,514,449
2066 3,804,918 85,734,979
2065 3,790,427 84,972,344
2064 3,775,157 84,191,791
2063 3,759,402 83,388,388
2062 3,741,936 82,605,010
2061 3,722,576 81,801,066
2060 3,702,465 80,951,432
2059 3,682,055 80,142,288
2058 3,658,810 79,319,959
2057 3,634,762 78,477,750
2056 3,611,096 77,609,609
2055 3,586,314 76,740,326
2054 3,561,446 75,857,522
2053 3,535,001 74,953,340
2052 3,507,213 74,072,968
2051 3,479,219 73,150,617
2050 3,450,807 72,236,317
2049 3,421,435 71,272,496
2048 3,391,019 70,317,228
2047 3,359,719 69,348,186
2046 3,327,520 68,401,022
2045 3,295,807 67,436,306
2044 3,264,444 66,447,658
2043 3,232,407 65,453,908
2042 3,200,743 64,434,168
2041 3,168,217 63,409,041
2040 3,135,241 62,360,444
2039 3,101,153 61,289,676
2038 3,067,014 60,253,388
2037 3,031,993 59,221,968
2036 2,996,265 58,156,294
2035 2,959,978 57,128,298
2034 2,922,807 56,087,988
2033 2,885,394 55,051,428
2032 2,846,703 54,002,572
2031 2,808,291 52,991,720
2030 2,767,933 51,987,045
2029 2,727,903 50,982,830
2028 2,686,412 50,001,395
2027 2,645,316 49,015,079
2026 2,603,241 48,020,585
2025 2,562,122 47,020,774
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 (2026–2100, retrieved 2026-07-08); World Bank | Health (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-07-08).

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 390,077 people (a 17.5% growth), while Iraq's population increased by 10,061,790 people (a 26.2% 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 31.5% to 3,450,807 people with a rank change from 142nd to 137th. The population of Iraq will increase by 48.8% to 72,236,317 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 1.63% 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 (2026–2100, retrieved 2026-07-08); World Bank | Health (1961–2025, retrieved 2026-07-08).

GeoRank.org/population/botswana/iraq | CC BY

In 2025, the population of Botswana grew by 1.63%, while Iraq's population grew by 2.13%.

Live population counters

Botswana Iraq
Current population
2624853
48531417
Population rank 142/197 33/197
Percent of world population 0.03% 0.58%
One net population change
12.9 minutes
32.3 seconds
One birth every
8.56 minutes
26.8 seconds
One death every
36.3 minutes
2.74 minutes
Daily growth/decline +112 +2,682
Annual growth/decline +40,983 +978,759
Annual growth/decline rate +1.63% +2.13%
Population growth rate rank 65/197 43/197
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 46,951 -5,778 985,943 -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 2026-07-08).

GeoRank.org/population/botswana/iraq | CC BY

Over the last 10 years, 83.3% of the population change in Botswana is from natural causes (a gain of 443,278 people) and 16.7% is from migration (a loss of 89,178 people). In Iraq 99.1% is from natural causes (a gain of 9,544,059 people) and 0.89% is from migration (a loss of 85,752 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 (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-07-08); United Nations | World Population Prospects (1960–2026, retrieved 2026-07-08); U.S. Census Bureau (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-07-08); Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) (2000–2019, retrieved 2026-07-08).

GeoRank.org/population/botswana/iraq | CC BY

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Data sources:

  1. World Bank | Health (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-07-08)
  2. United Nations | World Population Prospects (1960–2100, retrieved 2026-07-08)
  3. U.S. Census Bureau (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-07-08)
  4. Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) (2000–2019, retrieved 2026-07-08)
  5. Wikidata (2026, retrieved 2026-07-08)

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