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

Updated on by Georank team

The latest officially reported population of Botswana was 2,521,139 in 2024 vs 123,975,371 people in Japan in 2024. In 2026, based on the adjusted UN estimation, the current Botswana's population is 2,615,162 people compared to 122,677,250 in Japan.

Population statistics:

  • Japan's population is 46.9 times bigger than Botswana's.
  • Botswana is ranked the 142nd most populous country in the world, while Japan is the 12th.
  • The countries together account for 1.51% of the world: 0.03% for Botswana vs 1.48% for Japan.
  • For the last 10 years, Botswana has had an average growth rate of +1.5% per year vs -0.25% in Japan.
  • Since 2006, the population of Botswana has increased from 1.87M people to 2.62M (39.5% growth), while Japan has declined from 128M to 123M (4.05% decline).

Botswana vs Japan: population by year and forecast

Botswana
Factual

Projection
Japan
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Population
Botswana Japan
2100 3,871,504 76,978,998
2099 3,876,625 77,363,458
2098 3,882,670 77,742,445
2097 3,887,985 78,118,375
2096 3,892,886 78,498,614
2095 3,897,211 78,875,245
2094 3,901,478 79,250,325
2093 3,905,541 79,628,057
2092 3,909,490 80,007,967
2091 3,913,899 80,383,529
2090 3,916,706 80,760,724
2089 3,917,351 81,140,553
2088 3,917,510 81,521,696
2087 3,916,826 81,908,373
2086 3,916,303 82,304,497
2085 3,915,785 82,709,534
2084 3,914,364 83,123,058
2083 3,912,929 83,544,006
2082 3,910,994 83,980,325
2081 3,910,013 84,429,305
2080 3,908,255 84,899,768
2079 3,905,358 85,387,247
2078 3,900,828 85,897,934
2077 3,896,126 86,434,291
2076 3,890,528 86,993,007
2075 3,884,696 87,577,777
2074 3,879,057 88,190,392
2073 3,873,259 88,834,763
2072 3,865,665 89,499,356
2071 3,858,720 90,184,464
2070 3,851,234 90,899,136
2069 3,841,316 91,625,421
2068 3,830,826 92,367,969
2067 3,818,341 93,113,499
2066 3,805,705 93,869,240
2065 3,791,211 94,633,430
2064 3,775,938 95,391,433
2063 3,760,179 96,148,081
2062 3,742,710 96,902,907
2061 3,723,346 97,654,031
2060 3,703,231 98,400,894
2059 3,682,816 99,144,216
2058 3,659,567 99,868,968
2057 3,635,514 100,585,601
2056 3,611,843 101,295,868
2055 3,587,056 101,989,736
2054 3,562,182 102,683,462
2053 3,535,732 103,359,083
2052 3,507,938 104,036,901
2051 3,479,939 104,706,698
2050 3,451,521 105,377,283
2049 3,422,143 106,053,011
2048 3,391,720 106,731,207
2047 3,360,414 107,419,237
2046 3,328,208 108,115,358
2045 3,296,489 108,820,982
2044 3,265,120 109,529,333
2043 3,233,076 110,245,586
2042 3,201,405 110,968,174
2041 3,168,873 111,704,629
2040 3,135,889 112,438,759
2039 3,101,794 113,175,948
2038 3,067,648 113,915,783
2037 3,032,620 114,662,374
2036 2,996,884 115,410,956
2035 2,960,590 116,162,381
2034 2,923,411 116,911,001
2033 2,885,991 117,652,676
2032 2,847,292 118,393,188
2031 2,808,872 119,127,425
2030 2,768,505 119,856,131
2029 2,728,467 120,574,242
2028 2,686,968 121,287,543
2027 2,645,863 121,989,133
2026 2,603,779 122,677,250
2025 2,562,651 123,339,586
2024 2,521,139 123,975,371
2023 2,480,244 124,516,650
2022 2,439,892 125,124,989
2021 2,401,441 125,681,593
2020 2,365,894 126,261,000
2019 2,332,083 126,633,000
2018 2,299,141 126,811,000
2017 2,266,747 126,972,000
2016 2,234,776 127,076,000
2015 2,203,273 127,141,000
2014 2,172,044 127,276,000
2013 2,140,682 127,445,000
2012 2,108,617 127,629,000
2011 2,073,535 127,833,000
2010 2,033,111 128,070,000
2009 1,990,673 128,047,000
2008 1,949,970 128,063,000
2007 1,911,201 128,001,000
2006 1,874,516 127,854,000
2005 1,839,877 127,773,000
2004 1,807,146 127,761,000
2003 1,775,736 127,718,000
2002 1,744,763 127,445,000
2001 1,712,254 127,149,000
2000 1,677,382 126,843,000
1999 1,641,997 126,631,000
1998 1,606,899 126,400,000
1997 1,571,691 126,057,000
1996 1,535,914 125,757,000
1995 1,498,836 125,472,000
1994 1,460,023 125,178,000
1993 1,420,115 124,829,000
1992 1,380,033 124,425,000
1991 1,341,756 123,964,000
1990 1,305,696 123,478,000
1989 1,270,274 123,069,000
1988 1,235,476 122,578,000
1987 1,199,167 122,069,000
1986 1,160,650 121,482,000
1985 1,121,945 120,837,000
1984 1,083,660 120,083,000
1983 1,046,137 119,307,000
1982 1,009,269 118,480,000
1981 969,996 117,661,000
1980 937,485 116,807,000
1979 901,742 115,890,000
1978 849,239 114,913,000
1977 799,574 113,872,000
1976 758,508 112,775,000
1975 720,380 111,573,000
1974 685,448 110,162,000
1973 652,408 108,707,000
1972 622,407 107,188,000
1971 600,481 105,697,000
1970 590,334 103,403,000
1969 587,066 102,219,000
1968 583,966 101,011,000
1967 580,933 99,879,000
1966 577,866 98,851,000
1965 574,664 97,952,000
1964 566,266 96,903,000
1963 552,966 95,900,000
1962 540,186 94,933,000
1961 527,942 94,055,000
1960 516,165 93,216,000

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/japan | CC BY

From 2006 to 2016, the population of Botswana increased by 360,260 people (a 19.2% growth), while Japan lost 778,000 people (a 0.61% decline).

For the next 10 years, from 2016 to 2026, Botswana gained 380,386 people (a 17% growth), while Japan's population decreased by 4,398,750 people (a 3.46% decline).

Botswana was ranked 145th most populous country in 2006 and is 142nd in 2026. Japan was ranked 10th in 2006 and ranked 12th 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 Japan will decrease by 14.1% to 105,377,283 people and rank change from 12th to 17th.

Botswana is projected to reach its peak in 2088 at 3.92M people, while Japan's population already peaked in 2010 at 128M people and is projected to decrease to 77M people by 2100.

Population growth rate by year

Botswana
Factual

Projection
Japan
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Growth rate
Botswana Japan
2100 -0.13% -0.5%
2099 -0.16% -0.49%
2098 -0.14% -0.48%
2097 -0.13% -0.48%
2096 -0.11% -0.48%
2095 -0.11% -0.47%
2094 -0.1% -0.47%
2093 -0.1% -0.47%
2092 -0.11% -0.47%
2091 -0.07% -0.47%
2090 -0.02% -0.47%
2089 -0.004% -0.47%
2088 0.02% -0.47%
2087 0.01% -0.48%
2086 0.01% -0.49%
2085 0.04% -0.5%
2084 0.04% -0.5%
2083 0.05% -0.52%
2082 0.03% -0.53%
2081 0.04% -0.55%
2080 0.07% -0.57%
2079 0.12% -0.59%
2078 0.12% -0.62%
2077 0.14% -0.64%
2076 0.15% -0.67%
2075 0.15% -0.69%
2074 0.15% -0.73%
2073 0.2% -0.74%
2072 0.18% -0.76%
2071 0.19% -0.79%
2070 0.26% -0.79%
2069 0.27% -0.8%
2068 0.33% -0.8%
2067 0.33% -0.81%
2066 0.38% -0.81%
2065 0.4% -0.79%
2064 0.42% -0.79%
2063 0.47% -0.78%
2062 0.52% -0.77%
2061 0.54% -0.76%
2060 0.55% -0.75%
2059 0.64% -0.73%
2058 0.66% -0.71%
2057 0.66% -0.7%
2056 0.69% -0.68%
2055 0.7% -0.68%
2054 0.75% -0.65%
2053 0.79% -0.65%
2052 0.8% -0.64%
2051 0.82% -0.64%
2050 0.86% -0.64%
2049 0.9% -0.64%
2048 0.93% -0.64%
2047 0.97% -0.64%
2046 0.96% -0.65%
2045 0.96% -0.65%
2044 0.99% -0.65%
2043 0.99% -0.65%
2042 1.03% -0.66%
2041 1.05% -0.65%
2040 1.1% -0.65%
2039 1.11% -0.65%
2038 1.16% -0.65%
2037 1.19% -0.65%
2036 1.23% -0.65%
2035 1.27% -0.64%
2034 1.3% -0.63%
2033 1.36% -0.63%
2032 1.37% -0.62%
2031 1.46% -0.61%
2030 1.47% -0.6%
2029 1.54% -0.59%
2028 1.55% -0.58%
2027 1.62% -0.56%
2026 1.6% -0.54%
2025 1.65% -0.51%
2024 1.65% -0.43%
2023 1.65% -0.49%
2022 1.6% -0.44%
2021 1.5% -0.46%
2020 1.45% -0.29%
2019 1.43% -0.14%
2018 1.43% -0.13%
2017 1.43% -0.08%
2016 1.43% -0.05%
2015 1.44% -0.11%
2014 1.47% -0.13%
2013 1.52% -0.14%
2012 1.69% -0.16%
2011 1.99% -0.19%
2010 2.13% 0.02%
2009 2.09% -0.01%
2008 2.03% 0.05%
2007 1.96% 0.11%
2006 1.88% 0.06%
2005 1.81% 0.009%
2004 1.77% 0.03%
2003 1.78% 0.21%
2002 1.9% 0.23%
2001 2.08% 0.24%
2000 2.15% 0.17%
1999 2.18% 0.18%
1998 2.24% 0.27%
1997 2.33% 0.24%
1996 2.47% 0.23%
1995 2.66% 0.23%
1994 2.81% 0.28%
1993 2.9% 0.32%
1992 2.85% 0.37%
1991 2.76% 0.39%
1990 2.79% 0.33%
1989 2.82% 0.4%
1988 3.03% 0.42%
1987 3.32% 0.48%
1986 3.45% 0.53%
1985 3.53% 0.63%
1984 3.59% 0.65%
1983 3.65% 0.7%
1982 4.05% 0.7%
1981 3.47% 0.73%
1980 3.96% 0.79%
1979 6.18% 0.85%
1978 6.21% 0.91%
1977 5.41% 0.97%
1976 5.29% 1.08%
1975 5.1% 1.28%
1974 5.06% 1.34%
1973 4.82% 1.42%
1972 3.65% 1.41%
1971 1.72% 2.22%
1970 0.56% 1.16%
1969 0.53% 1.2%
1968 0.52% 1.13%
1967 0.53% 1.04%
1966 0.56% 0.92%
1965 1.48% 1.08%
1964 2.41% 1.05%
1963 2.37% 1.02%
1962 2.32% 0.93%
1961 2.28% 0.9%

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/japan | CC BY

In 2024, the population of Botswana grew by 1.65%, while Japan's population declined by 0.43%.

Live population counters

Botswana Japan
Current population
2615162
122677250
Population rank 142/197 12/197
Percent of world population 0.03% 1.48%
One net population change
12.9 minutes
58.3 seconds
One birth every
8.58 minutes
42.2 seconds
One death every
37 minutes
19.5 seconds
Daily growth/decline +112 -1,483
Annual growth/decline +40,895 -541,279
Annual growth/decline rate +1.65% -0.43%
Population growth rate rank 66/197 185/197
One migration net change every
1.55 hours
3.75 minutes
Annual migration change -5,665 +140,579
Net migration rank 120/196 10/196
Foreign-born residents 116,402 3,409,529
Foreign-born residents rank 126/195 19/195
Foreign-born share of population 4.6% 2.8%
Foreign-born share rank 96/195 120/195

Natural population change vs migration

Botswana
Natural

Migration
Japan
Natural

Migration
1x
Year Population change
Botswana Japan
Natural Migration Natural Migration
2025 - -5,665 - 140,579
2024 - -5,778 - 153,357
2023 47,098 -6,487 -871,617 175,003
2022 47,400 -7,306 -825,825 175,003
2021 40,894 -4,083 -640,976 -34,996
2020 45,610 -11,330 -542,923 42,001
2019 45,110 -11,770 -531,858 318,190
2018 44,171 -11,623 -456,520 320,601
2017 43,154 -10,916 -406,310 322,564
2016 41,993 -10,286 -343,106 314,732
2015 40,897 -9,599 -292,424 168,896
2014 40,046 -8,893 -267,279 58,109
2013 39,404 -7,836 -242,146 66,449
2012 39,202 -6,636 -229,733 67,904
2011 38,613 -1,019 -204,533 97,720
2010 38,101 5,151 -128,070 131,860
2009 36,671 4,960 -76,828 125,450
2008 35,433 4,343 -51,225 142,605
2007 33,832 3,926 -25,600 138,024
2006 31,340 4,270 12,785 130,065
2005 29,385 4,283 -25,554 113,017
2004 27,481 4,314 76,656 69,014
2003 26,545 4,488 114,946 74,875
2002 26,163 4,747 178,423 60,864
2001 26,112 7,991 203,438 59,563
2000 25,850 9,798 228,317 23,468
1999 25,358 9,762 202,610 56,901
1998 25,397 9,685 265,440 45,912
1997 25,738 9,597 277,325 43,366
1996 26,847 9,368 314,392 25,030
1995 28,478 9,464 276,039 87,714
1994 30,664 9,023 363,017 154,214
1993 31,691 8,441 312,073 168,836
1992 31,995 8,026 360,833 170,878
1991 32,219 4,311 396,685 161,331
1990 33,015 2,580 407,478 124,582
1989 33,756 1,495 467,662 31,202
1988 34,564 -215 527,085 51,154
1987 35,647 2,624 598,138 28,001
1986 36,203 2,558 631,706 27,987
1985 35,966 2,683 676,687 -141,323
1984 35,530 2,393 756,523 -273,686
1983 35,142 1,980 775,495 -269,755
1982 34,859 1,751 805,664 -288,550
1981 34,327 7,610 811,861 -278,525
1980 33,934 -10,849 864,372 -92,314
1979 32,486 15,918 950,298 -57,692
1978 30,596 26,015 1,011,234 -47,996
1977 29,009 13,708 1,070,397 -49,082
1976 27,497 11,914 1,127,750 -34,976
1975 25,762 11,086 1,204,989 107
1974 24,160 8,854 1,332,960 -10,145
1973 22,449 10,615 1,391,449 -34,674
1972 21,004 5,937 1,372,006 -73,980
1971 19,926 -3,016 1,331,782 -107,778
1970 19,438 -16,054 1,230,496 33,731
1969 19,024 -15,870 1,195,962 49,447
1968 18,725 -15,681 1,191,930 43,593
1967 18,463 -15,438 1,258,475 29,632
1966 18,250 -15,140 682,072 68,934
1965 18,045 -14,753 1,126,448 -50,667
1964 17,634 -4,126 1,046,553 -100,696
1963 17,084 -4,000 987,770 -100,742
1962 16,507 -4,028 901,864 -57,075
1961 16,185 -4,168 893,522 -58,882
1960 15,861 -4,331 894,874 -150,371

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

GeoRank.org/population/botswana/japan | 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 Japan 73.6% is from natural causes (a loss of 5,178,838 people) and 26.4% is from migration (a gain of 1,860,103 people).

As of 2024, 116,402 residents or 4.6% of the population were not native-born in Botswana, compared to 3,409,529 people or 2.8% in Japan.

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
Japan
City Population
Tokyo 14.3M
Yokohama 3.76M
Osaka 2.75M
Nagoya 2.33M
Sapporo 1.96M
Fukuoka 1.6M
Kawasaki 1.54M
Kobe 1.52M
Kyoto 1.46M
Saitama 1.33M

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/japan | 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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