Skip to content

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

Updated on by Georank team

The latest officially reported population of Botswana was 2,521,139 in 2024 vs 56,432,944 people in Kenya in 2024. In 2026, based on the adjusted UN estimation, the current Botswana's population is 2,615,162 people compared to 58,955,623 in Kenya.

Population statistics:

  • Kenya's population is 22.5 times bigger than Botswana's.
  • Botswana is ranked the 142nd most populous country in the world, while Kenya is the 25th.
  • The countries together account for 0.74% of the world: 0.03% for Botswana vs 0.71% for Kenya.
  • For the last 10 years, Botswana has had an average growth rate of +1.5% per year vs +2.08% in Kenya.
  • Since 2006, the population of Botswana has increased from 1.87M people to 2.62M (39.5% growth), while Kenya has grown from 36.9M to 59M (59.8% growth).

Botswana vs Kenya: population by year and forecast

Botswana
Factual

Projection
Kenya
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Population
Botswana Kenya
2100 3,871,504 105,238,162
2099 3,876,625 105,257,438
2098 3,882,670 105,257,489
2097 3,887,985 105,250,948
2096 3,892,886 105,220,085
2095 3,897,211 105,175,623
2094 3,901,478 105,118,372
2093 3,905,541 105,046,907
2092 3,909,490 104,955,024
2091 3,913,899 104,846,805
2090 3,916,706 104,718,130
2089 3,917,351 104,573,271
2088 3,917,510 104,414,197
2087 3,916,826 104,243,505
2086 3,916,303 104,056,143
2085 3,915,785 103,854,891
2084 3,914,364 103,640,244
2083 3,912,929 103,407,124
2082 3,910,994 103,158,580
2081 3,910,013 102,889,291
2080 3,908,255 102,594,978
2079 3,905,358 102,286,967
2078 3,900,828 101,961,280
2077 3,896,126 101,613,181
2076 3,890,528 101,239,843
2075 3,884,696 100,849,423
2074 3,879,057 100,436,632
2073 3,873,259 100,001,277
2072 3,865,665 99,533,234
2071 3,858,720 99,042,264
2070 3,851,234 98,529,166
2069 3,841,316 97,992,232
2068 3,830,826 97,428,138
2067 3,818,341 96,842,744
2066 3,805,705 96,230,345
2065 3,791,211 95,598,937
2064 3,775,938 94,942,874
2063 3,760,179 94,266,124
2062 3,742,710 93,561,519
2061 3,723,346 92,837,768
2060 3,703,231 92,098,717
2059 3,682,816 91,343,602
2058 3,659,567 90,569,828
2057 3,635,514 89,783,087
2056 3,611,843 88,994,126
2055 3,587,056 88,192,182
2054 3,562,182 87,379,992
2053 3,535,732 86,552,281
2052 3,507,938 85,710,403
2051 3,479,939 84,850,558
2050 3,451,521 83,976,685
2049 3,422,143 83,090,517
2048 3,391,720 82,191,119
2047 3,360,414 81,274,836
2046 3,328,208 80,340,592
2045 3,296,489 79,389,433
2044 3,265,120 78,414,158
2043 3,233,076 77,418,567
2042 3,201,405 76,399,781
2041 3,168,873 75,363,853
2040 3,135,889 74,308,480
2039 3,101,794 73,241,028
2038 3,067,648 72,153,876
2037 3,032,620 71,058,753
2036 2,996,884 69,949,421
2035 2,960,590 68,831,151
2034 2,923,411 67,705,051
2033 2,885,991 66,569,532
2032 2,847,292 65,431,402
2031 2,808,872 64,289,540
2030 2,768,505 63,153,520
2029 2,728,467 62,021,378
2028 2,686,968 60,894,078
2027 2,645,863 59,770,115
2026 2,603,779 58,653,621
2025 2,562,651 57,540,609
2024 2,521,139 56,432,944
2023 2,480,244 55,339,003
2022 2,439,892 54,252,461
2021 2,401,441 53,219,166
2020 2,365,894 52,217,334
2019 2,332,083 51,202,827
2018 2,299,141 50,207,107
2017 2,266,747 49,197,766
2016 2,234,776 48,139,687
2015 2,203,273 47,088,526
2014 2,172,044 46,051,440
2013 2,140,682 44,986,791
2012 2,108,617 43,888,303
2011 2,073,535 42,758,461
2010 2,033,111 41,598,567
2009 1,990,673 40,408,891
2008 1,949,970 39,206,351
2007 1,911,201 38,036,349
2006 1,874,516 36,904,008
2005 1,839,877 35,796,484
2004 1,807,146 34,713,455
2003 1,775,736 33,652,223
2002 1,744,763 32,629,808
2001 1,712,254 31,619,170
2000 1,677,382 30,642,890
1999 1,641,997 29,733,408
1998 1,606,899 28,888,057
1997 1,571,691 28,101,768
1996 1,535,914 27,344,211
1995 1,498,836 26,601,751
1994 1,460,023 25,857,130
1993 1,420,115 25,117,188
1992 1,380,033 24,382,460
1991 1,341,756 23,646,514
1990 1,305,696 22,892,651
1989 1,270,274 22,118,434
1988 1,235,476 21,356,219
1987 1,199,167 20,616,096
1986 1,160,650 19,901,646
1985 1,121,945 19,201,768
1984 1,083,660 18,514,906
1983 1,046,137 17,846,374
1982 1,009,269 17,206,175
1981 969,996 16,601,507
1980 937,485 16,018,459
1979 901,742 15,460,666
1978 849,239 14,934,126
1977 799,574 14,428,819
1976 758,508 13,957,623
1975 720,380 13,511,671
1974 685,448 13,070,078
1973 652,408 12,634,835
1972 622,407 12,206,060
1971 600,481 11,788,904
1970 590,334 11,368,791
1969 587,066 10,939,695
1968 583,966 10,518,823
1967 580,933 10,111,057
1966 577,866 9,717,816
1965 574,664 9,338,078
1964 566,266 8,973,535
1963 552,966 8,627,971
1962 540,186 8,299,308
1961 527,942 7,987,770
1960 516,165 7,695,307

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/kenya | CC BY

From 2006 to 2016, the population of Botswana increased by 360,260 people (a 19.2% growth), while Kenya gained 11,235,679 people (a 30.4% growth).

For the next 10 years, from 2016 to 2026, Botswana gained 380,386 people (a 17% growth), while Kenya's population increased by 10,815,936 people (a 22.5% growth).

Botswana was ranked 145th most populous country in 2006 and is 142nd in 2026. Kenya was ranked 33rd in 2006 and ranked 25th 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 Kenya will increase by 42.4% to 83,976,685 people and rank change from 25th to 22nd.

Botswana is projected to reach its peak in 2088 at 3.92M people compared to the peak of 105M people in 2098 for Kenya.

Population growth rate by year

Botswana
Factual

Projection
Kenya
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Growth rate
Botswana Kenya
2100 -0.13% -0.02%
2099 -0.16% -0%
2098 -0.14% 0.006%
2097 -0.13% 0.03%
2096 -0.11% 0.04%
2095 -0.11% 0.05%
2094 -0.1% 0.07%
2093 -0.1% 0.09%
2092 -0.11% 0.1%
2091 -0.07% 0.12%
2090 -0.02% 0.14%
2089 -0.004% 0.15%
2088 0.02% 0.16%
2087 0.01% 0.18%
2086 0.01% 0.19%
2085 0.04% 0.21%
2084 0.04% 0.23%
2083 0.05% 0.24%
2082 0.03% 0.26%
2081 0.04% 0.29%
2080 0.07% 0.3%
2079 0.12% 0.32%
2078 0.12% 0.34%
2077 0.14% 0.37%
2076 0.15% 0.39%
2075 0.15% 0.41%
2074 0.15% 0.44%
2073 0.2% 0.47%
2072 0.18% 0.5%
2071 0.19% 0.52%
2070 0.26% 0.55%
2069 0.27% 0.58%
2068 0.33% 0.6%
2067 0.33% 0.64%
2066 0.38% 0.66%
2065 0.4% 0.69%
2064 0.42% 0.72%
2063 0.47% 0.75%
2062 0.52% 0.78%
2061 0.54% 0.8%
2060 0.55% 0.83%
2059 0.64% 0.85%
2058 0.66% 0.88%
2057 0.66% 0.89%
2056 0.69% 0.91%
2055 0.7% 0.93%
2054 0.75% 0.96%
2053 0.79% 0.98%
2052 0.8% 1.01%
2051 0.82% 1.04%
2050 0.86% 1.07%
2049 0.9% 1.09%
2048 0.93% 1.13%
2047 0.97% 1.16%
2046 0.96% 1.2%
2045 0.96% 1.24%
2044 0.99% 1.29%
2043 0.99% 1.33%
2042 1.03% 1.37%
2041 1.05% 1.42%
2040 1.1% 1.46%
2039 1.11% 1.51%
2038 1.16% 1.54%
2037 1.19% 1.59%
2036 1.23% 1.62%
2035 1.27% 1.66%
2034 1.3% 1.71%
2033 1.36% 1.74%
2032 1.37% 1.78%
2031 1.46% 1.8%
2030 1.47% 1.83%
2029 1.54% 1.85%
2028 1.55% 1.88%
2027 1.62% 1.9%
2026 1.6% 1.93%
2025 1.65% 1.96%
2024 1.65% 1.98%
2023 1.65% 2%
2022 1.6% 1.94%
2021 1.5% 1.92%
2020 1.45% 1.98%
2019 1.43% 1.98%
2018 1.43% 2.05%
2017 1.43% 2.2%
2016 1.43% 2.23%
2015 1.44% 2.25%
2014 1.47% 2.37%
2013 1.52% 2.5%
2012 1.69% 2.64%
2011 1.99% 2.79%
2010 2.13% 2.94%
2009 2.09% 3.07%
2008 2.03% 3.08%
2007 1.96% 3.07%
2006 1.88% 3.09%
2005 1.81% 3.12%
2004 1.77% 3.15%
2003 1.78% 3.13%
2002 1.9% 3.2%
2001 2.08% 3.19%
2000 2.15% 3.06%
1999 2.18% 2.93%
1998 2.24% 2.8%
1997 2.33% 2.77%
1996 2.47% 2.79%
1995 2.66% 2.88%
1994 2.81% 2.95%
1993 2.9% 3.01%
1992 2.85% 3.11%
1991 2.76% 3.29%
1990 2.79% 3.5%
1989 2.82% 3.57%
1988 3.03% 3.59%
1987 3.32% 3.59%
1986 3.45% 3.64%
1985 3.53% 3.71%
1984 3.59% 3.75%
1983 3.65% 3.72%
1982 4.05% 3.64%
1981 3.47% 3.64%
1980 3.96% 3.61%
1979 6.18% 3.53%
1978 6.21% 3.5%
1977 5.41% 3.38%
1976 5.29% 3.3%
1975 5.1% 3.38%
1974 5.06% 3.44%
1973 4.82% 3.51%
1972 3.65% 3.54%
1971 1.72% 3.7%
1970 0.56% 3.92%
1969 0.53% 4%
1968 0.52% 4.03%
1967 0.53% 4.05%
1966 0.56% 4.07%
1965 1.48% 4.06%
1964 2.41% 4.01%
1963 2.37% 3.96%
1962 2.32% 3.9%
1961 2.28% 3.8%

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/kenya | CC BY

In 2024, the population of Botswana grew by 1.65%, while Kenya's population grew by 1.98%.

Live population counters

Botswana Kenya
Current population
2615162
58955623
Population rank 142/197 25/197
Percent of world population 0.03% 0.71%
One net population change
12.9 minutes
28.8 seconds
One birth every
8.58 minutes
21 seconds
One death every
37 minutes
1.32 minutes
Daily growth/decline +112 +2,997
Annual growth/decline +40,895 +1,093,941
Annual growth/decline rate +1.65% +1.98%
Population growth rate rank 66/197 53/197
One migration net change every
1.55 hours
19.3 minutes
Annual migration change -5,665 -27,330
Net migration rank 120/196 160/196
Foreign-born residents 116,402 992,536
Foreign-born residents rank 126/195 61/195
Foreign-born share of population 4.6% 1.8%
Foreign-born share rank 96/195 136/195

Natural population change vs migration

Botswana
Natural

Migration
Kenya
Natural

Migration
1x
Year Population change
Botswana Kenya
Natural Migration Natural Migration
2025 - -5,665 - -27,330
2024 - -5,778 - -19,781
2023 47,098 -6,487 1,100,970 -10,003
2022 47,400 -7,306 1,092,102 -10,003
2021 40,894 -4,083 1,037,082 -52,552
2020 45,610 -11,330 1,036,253 -17,111
2019 45,110 -11,770 1,071,777 -61,949
2018 44,171 -11,623 1,097,075 -115,436
2017 43,154 -10,916 1,105,769 -68,702
2016 41,993 -10,286 1,108,801 -29,728
2015 40,897 -9,599 1,119,200 -95,977
2014 40,046 -8,893 1,123,333 -72,415
2013 39,404 -7,836 1,136,006 -57,634
2012 39,202 -6,636 1,161,548 -42,928
2011 38,613 -1,019 1,185,863 -44,795
2010 38,101 5,151 1,199,786 -21,069
2009 36,671 4,960 1,193,598 7,096
2008 35,433 4,343 1,174,818 29,612
2007 33,832 3,926 1,147,063 -11,495
2006 31,340 4,270 1,113,357 15,767
2005 29,385 4,283 1,080,446 5,501
2004 27,481 4,314 1,048,590 31,525
2003 26,545 4,488 1,018,182 24,175
2002 26,163 4,747 992,044 10,431
2001 26,112 7,991 963,721 55,052
2000 25,850 9,798 928,357 5,407
1999 25,358 9,762 898,484 -13,257
1998 25,397 9,685 875,511 -70,023
1997 25,738 9,597 847,493 -80,443
1996 26,847 9,368 827,326 -79,276
1995 28,478 9,464 812,391 -75,506
1994 30,664 9,023 792,702 -40,367
1993 31,691 8,441 788,579 -61,054
1992 31,995 8,026 785,018 -43,085
1991 32,219 4,311 790,030 -60,087
1990 33,015 2,580 789,087 -11,338
1989 33,756 1,495 795,622 -24,949
1988 34,564 -215 785,652 -31,894
1987 35,647 2,624 775,124 -48,633
1986 36,203 2,558 755,606 -53,183
1985 35,966 2,683 732,739 -35,400
1984 35,530 2,393 709,639 -33,253
1983 35,142 1,980 684,587 -23,905
1982 34,859 1,751 663,109 -43,382
1981 34,327 7,610 642,379 -52,761
1980 33,934 -10,849 616,390 -39,920
1979 32,486 15,918 595,390 -56,280
1978 30,596 26,015 574,695 -60,718
1977 29,009 13,708 554,124 -57,493
1976 27,497 11,914 536,740 -90,990
1975 25,762 11,086 517,579 -71,421
1974 24,160 8,854 500,008 -62,973
1973 22,449 10,615 485,556 -52,102
1972 21,004 5,937 472,557 -48,466
1971 19,926 -3,016 459,897 -49,671
1970 19,438 -16,054 443,065 -13,064
1969 19,024 -15,870 427,819 369
1968 18,725 -15,681 411,948 1,611
1967 18,463 -15,438 396,920 5,060
1966 18,250 -15,140 382,891 1,616
1965 18,045 -14,753 366,444 8,524
1964 17,634 -4,126 349,322 4,788
1963 17,084 -4,000 332,763 4,246
1962 16,507 -4,028 315,797 4,521
1961 16,185 -4,168 298,463 4,296
1960 15,861 -4,331 280,032 2,134

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

GeoRank.org/population/botswana/kenya | 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 Kenya 95.3% is from natural causes (a gain of 10,892,362 people) and 4.67% is from migration (a loss of 533,876 people).

As of 2024, 116,402 residents or 4.6% of the population were not native-born in Botswana, compared to 992,536 people or 1.8% in Kenya.

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
Kenya
City Population
Nairobi 5.54M
Mombasa 1.21M
Kisumu 398K
Nakuru 308K
Eldoret 289K
Thika 279K
Malindi 120K
Machakos 114K
Mumias 100K
Meru 42.7K

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/kenya | CC BY

Help us show the world through your eyes

Share a photo of your city and help others discover what it looks like to live there. Your contribution makes our data come alive.

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)

Creative Commons Attribution (CC BY) — you’re free to copy, share, remix, adapt, and use even commercially as long as you give appropriate credit and clearly indicate if you made changes. Other sources may be subject to different license terms.