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

Updated on by Georank

The latest officially reported population of Botswana was 2,562,122 in 2025 vs 123,366,734 people in Japan in 2025. In 2026, based on the adjusted UN estimation, the current Botswana's population is 2,624,853 people compared to 122,704,252 in Japan.

Population statistics:

  • Japan's population is 46.7 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 +1.51% per year vs -0.28% in Japan.
  • Since 2006, the population of Botswana has increased from 1.87M people to 2.62M (40% growth), while Japan has declined from 128M to 123M (4.03% decline).

Botswana vs Japan: population by year and forecast

Botswana
Factual

Projection
Japan
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Population
Botswana Japan
2100 3,870,704 76,995,942
2099 3,875,823 77,380,486
2098 3,881,867 77,759,557
2097 3,887,181 78,135,569
2096 3,892,081 78,515,892
2095 3,896,405 78,892,606
2094 3,900,671 79,267,768
2093 3,904,733 79,645,584
2092 3,908,682 80,025,578
2091 3,913,090 80,401,222
2090 3,915,896 80,778,500
2089 3,916,540 81,158,413
2088 3,916,700 81,539,639
2087 3,916,016 81,926,401
2086 3,915,493 82,322,612
2085 3,914,975 82,727,738
2084 3,913,555 83,141,354
2083 3,912,119 83,562,394
2082 3,910,185 83,998,809
2081 3,909,204 84,447,888
2080 3,907,447 84,918,455
2079 3,904,550 85,406,042
2078 3,900,021 85,916,840
2077 3,895,321 86,453,316
2076 3,889,723 87,012,155
2075 3,883,893 87,597,053
2074 3,878,255 88,209,803
2073 3,872,458 88,854,316
2072 3,864,865 89,519,055
2071 3,857,922 90,204,314
2070 3,850,437 90,919,143
2069 3,840,521 91,645,589
2068 3,830,034 92,388,299
2067 3,817,551 93,133,993
2066 3,804,918 93,889,902
2065 3,790,427 94,654,259
2064 3,775,157 95,412,429
2063 3,759,402 96,169,244
2062 3,741,936 96,924,236
2061 3,722,576 97,675,525
2060 3,702,465 98,422,553
2059 3,682,055 99,166,038
2058 3,658,810 99,890,950
2057 3,634,762 100,607,740
2056 3,611,096 101,318,164
2055 3,586,314 102,012,184
2054 3,561,446 102,706,063
2053 3,535,001 103,381,833
2052 3,507,213 104,059,800
2051 3,479,219 104,729,745
2050 3,450,807 105,400,477
2049 3,421,435 106,076,354
2048 3,391,019 106,754,699
2047 3,359,719 107,442,881
2046 3,327,520 108,139,155
2045 3,295,807 108,844,934
2044 3,264,444 109,553,441
2043 3,232,407 110,269,851
2042 3,200,743 110,992,599
2041 3,168,217 111,729,216
2040 3,135,241 112,463,507
2039 3,101,153 113,200,859
2038 3,067,014 113,940,856
2037 3,031,993 114,687,611
2036 2,996,265 115,436,359
2035 2,959,978 116,187,949
2034 2,922,807 116,936,734
2033 2,885,394 117,678,572
2032 2,846,703 118,419,247
2031 2,808,291 119,153,646
2030 2,767,933 119,882,512
2029 2,727,903 120,600,781
2028 2,686,412 121,314,239
2027 2,645,316 122,015,984
2026 2,603,241 122,704,252
2025 2,562,122 123,366,734
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 (2026–2100, retrieved 2026-07-08); World Bank | Health (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-07-08).

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 390,077 people (a 17.5% growth), while Japan's population decreased by 4,371,748 people (a 3.44% 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 31.5% to 3,450,807 people with a rank change from 142nd to 137th. The population of Japan will decrease by 14.1% to 105,400,477 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 1.63% -0.49%
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 (2026–2100, retrieved 2026-07-08); World Bank | Health (1961–2025, retrieved 2026-07-08).

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

In 2025, the population of Botswana grew by 1.63%, while Japan's population declined by 0.49%.

Live population counters

Botswana Japan
Current population
2624853
122704252
Population rank 142/197 12/197
Percent of world population 0.03% 1.48%
One net population change
12.9 minutes
52 seconds
One birth every
8.56 minutes
44.6 seconds
One death every
36.3 minutes
19.1 seconds
Daily growth/decline +112 -1,667
Annual growth/decline +40,983 -608,637
Annual growth/decline rate +1.63% -0.49%
Population growth rate rank 65/197 183/197
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 46,951 -5,778 -942,213 153,357
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 2026-07-08).

GeoRank.org/population/botswana/japan | 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 Japan 75% is from natural causes (a loss of 5,853,772 people) and 25% is from migration (a gain of 1,955,351 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 (1960–2025, 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/japan | 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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