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

Updated on by Georank team

The latest officially reported population of Botswana was 2,521,139 in 2024 vs 7,769,819 people in Laos in 2024. In 2026, based on the adjusted UN estimation, the current Botswana's population is 2,615,162 people compared to 8,004,838 in Laos.

Population statistics:

  • Laos' population is 3.06 times bigger than Botswana's.
  • Botswana is ranked the 142nd most populous country in the world, while Laos is the 103rd.
  • The countries together account for 0.13% of the world: 0.03% for Botswana vs 0.1% for Laos.
  • For the last 10 years, Botswana has had an average growth rate of +1.5% per year vs +1.48% in Laos.
  • Since 2006, the population of Botswana has increased from 1.87M people to 2.62M (39.5% growth), while Laos has grown from 5.96M to 8M (34.2% growth).

Botswana vs Laos: population by year and forecast

Botswana
Factual

Projection
Laos
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Population
Botswana Laos
2100 3,871,504 9,342,607
2099 3,876,625 9,389,481
2098 3,882,670 9,435,427
2097 3,887,985 9,480,219
2096 3,892,886 9,524,052
2095 3,897,211 9,567,045
2094 3,901,478 9,609,471
2093 3,905,541 9,651,065
2092 3,909,490 9,691,590
2091 3,913,899 9,731,446
2090 3,916,706 9,770,116
2089 3,917,351 9,807,690
2088 3,917,510 9,844,143
2087 3,916,826 9,879,110
2086 3,916,303 9,912,903
2085 3,915,785 9,945,223
2084 3,914,364 9,975,614
2083 3,912,929 10,005,023
2082 3,910,994 10,032,558
2081 3,910,013 10,058,731
2080 3,908,255 10,083,222
2079 3,905,358 10,106,703
2078 3,900,828 10,128,372
2077 3,896,126 10,148,533
2076 3,890,528 10,165,829
2075 3,884,696 10,182,062
2074 3,879,057 10,196,505
2073 3,873,259 10,208,837
2072 3,865,665 10,218,581
2071 3,858,720 10,225,726
2070 3,851,234 10,231,909
2069 3,841,316 10,235,317
2068 3,830,826 10,235,668
2067 3,818,341 10,233,930
2066 3,805,705 10,228,744
2065 3,791,211 10,222,027
2064 3,775,938 10,212,674
2063 3,760,179 10,200,753
2062 3,742,710 10,186,526
2061 3,723,346 10,169,161
2060 3,703,231 10,149,107
2059 3,682,816 10,126,671
2058 3,659,567 10,100,989
2057 3,635,514 10,072,578
2056 3,611,843 10,041,736
2055 3,587,056 10,008,916
2054 3,562,182 9,972,602
2053 3,535,732 9,933,363
2052 3,507,938 9,891,383
2051 3,479,939 9,846,656
2050 3,451,521 9,799,766
2049 3,422,143 9,750,669
2048 3,391,720 9,697,931
2047 3,360,414 9,643,484
2046 3,328,208 9,586,249
2045 3,296,489 9,527,029
2044 3,265,120 9,465,046
2043 3,233,076 9,401,665
2042 3,201,405 9,334,890
2041 3,168,873 9,266,149
2040 3,135,889 9,195,755
2039 3,101,794 9,122,969
2038 3,067,648 9,046,689
2037 3,032,620 8,968,700
2036 2,996,884 8,888,903
2035 2,960,590 8,807,373
2034 2,923,411 8,723,937
2033 2,885,991 8,638,238
2032 2,847,292 8,550,017
2031 2,808,872 8,459,669
2030 2,768,505 8,367,305
2029 2,728,467 8,273,173
2028 2,686,968 8,176,811
2027 2,645,863 8,078,122
2026 2,603,779 7,977,666
2025 2,562,651 7,874,813
2024 2,521,139 7,769,819
2023 2,480,244 7,664,993
2022 2,439,892 7,559,007
2021 2,401,441 7,453,194
2020 2,365,894 7,346,533
2019 2,332,083 7,237,636
2018 2,299,141 7,128,045
2017 2,266,747 7,018,147
2016 2,234,776 6,908,802
2015 2,203,273 6,801,645
2014 2,172,044 6,703,172
2013 2,140,682 6,611,385
2012 2,108,617 6,518,978
2011 2,073,535 6,426,590
2010 2,033,111 6,334,194
2009 1,990,673 6,241,642
2008 1,949,970 6,148,969
2007 1,911,201 6,056,236
2006 1,874,516 5,963,200
2005 1,839,877 5,869,523
2004 1,807,146 5,781,626
2003 1,775,736 5,697,945
2002 1,744,763 5,610,889
2001 1,712,254 5,521,482
2000 1,677,382 5,431,212
1999 1,641,997 5,340,784
1998 1,606,899 5,248,266
1997 1,571,691 5,152,011
1996 1,535,914 5,045,678
1995 1,498,836 4,929,409
1994 1,460,023 4,809,220
1993 1,420,115 4,685,060
1992 1,380,033 4,559,646
1991 1,341,756 4,435,118
1990 1,305,696 4,311,955
1989 1,270,274 4,190,974
1988 1,235,476 4,072,601
1987 1,199,167 3,957,612
1986 1,160,650 3,846,715
1985 1,121,945 3,739,985
1984 1,083,660 3,637,843
1983 1,046,137 3,541,001
1982 1,009,269 3,450,026
1981 969,996 3,366,631
1980 937,485 3,292,573
1979 901,742 3,228,202
1978 849,239 3,171,740
1977 799,574 3,118,923
1976 758,508 3,064,876
1975 720,380 3,005,521
1974 685,448 2,939,761
1973 652,408 2,870,573
1972 622,407 2,801,660
1971 600,481 2,734,628
1970 590,334 2,669,702
1969 587,066 2,606,959
1968 583,966 2,546,377
1967 580,933 2,487,715
1966 577,866 2,431,084
1965 574,664 2,376,200
1964 566,266 2,322,826
1963 552,966 2,271,061
1962 540,186 2,219,910
1961 527,942 2,169,796
1960 516,165 2,121,514

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/laos | CC BY

From 2006 to 2016, the population of Botswana increased by 360,260 people (a 19.2% growth), while Laos gained 945,602 people (a 15.9% growth).

For the next 10 years, from 2016 to 2026, Botswana gained 380,386 people (a 17% growth), while Laos' population increased by 1,096,036 people (a 15.9% growth).

Botswana was ranked 145th most populous country in 2006 and is 142nd in 2026. Laos was ranked 105th in 2006 and ranked 103rd 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 Laos will increase by 22.4% to 9,799,766 people and rank change from 103rd to 99th.

Botswana is projected to reach its peak in 2088 at 3.92M people compared to the peak of 10.2M people in 2068 for Laos.

Population growth rate by year

Botswana
Factual

Projection
Laos
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Growth rate
Botswana Laos
2100 -0.13% -0.5%
2099 -0.16% -0.49%
2098 -0.14% -0.47%
2097 -0.13% -0.46%
2096 -0.11% -0.45%
2095 -0.11% -0.44%
2094 -0.1% -0.43%
2093 -0.1% -0.42%
2092 -0.11% -0.41%
2091 -0.07% -0.4%
2090 -0.02% -0.38%
2089 -0.004% -0.37%
2088 0.02% -0.35%
2087 0.01% -0.34%
2086 0.01% -0.32%
2085 0.04% -0.3%
2084 0.04% -0.29%
2083 0.05% -0.27%
2082 0.03% -0.26%
2081 0.04% -0.24%
2080 0.07% -0.23%
2079 0.12% -0.21%
2078 0.12% -0.2%
2077 0.14% -0.17%
2076 0.15% -0.16%
2075 0.15% -0.14%
2074 0.15% -0.12%
2073 0.2% -0.1%
2072 0.18% -0.07%
2071 0.19% -0.06%
2070 0.26% -0.03%
2069 0.27% -0.003%
2068 0.33% 0.02%
2067 0.33% 0.05%
2066 0.38% 0.07%
2065 0.4% 0.09%
2064 0.42% 0.12%
2063 0.47% 0.14%
2062 0.52% 0.17%
2061 0.54% 0.2%
2060 0.55% 0.22%
2059 0.64% 0.25%
2058 0.66% 0.28%
2057 0.66% 0.31%
2056 0.69% 0.33%
2055 0.7% 0.36%
2054 0.75% 0.4%
2053 0.79% 0.42%
2052 0.8% 0.45%
2051 0.82% 0.48%
2050 0.86% 0.5%
2049 0.9% 0.54%
2048 0.93% 0.56%
2047 0.97% 0.6%
2046 0.96% 0.62%
2045 0.96% 0.65%
2044 0.99% 0.67%
2043 0.99% 0.72%
2042 1.03% 0.74%
2041 1.05% 0.77%
2040 1.1% 0.8%
2039 1.11% 0.84%
2038 1.16% 0.87%
2037 1.19% 0.9%
2036 1.23% 0.93%
2035 1.27% 0.96%
2034 1.3% 0.99%
2033 1.36% 1.03%
2032 1.37% 1.07%
2031 1.46% 1.1%
2030 1.47% 1.14%
2029 1.54% 1.18%
2028 1.55% 1.22%
2027 1.62% 1.26%
2026 1.6% 1.31%
2025 1.65% 1.35%
2024 1.65% 1.37%
2023 1.65% 1.4%
2022 1.6% 1.42%
2021 1.5% 1.45%
2020 1.45% 1.5%
2019 1.43% 1.54%
2018 1.43% 1.57%
2017 1.43% 1.58%
2016 1.43% 1.58%
2015 1.44% 1.47%
2014 1.47% 1.39%
2013 1.52% 1.42%
2012 1.69% 1.44%
2011 1.99% 1.46%
2010 2.13% 1.48%
2009 2.09% 1.51%
2008 2.03% 1.53%
2007 1.96% 1.56%
2006 1.88% 1.6%
2005 1.81% 1.52%
2004 1.77% 1.47%
2003 1.78% 1.55%
2002 1.9% 1.62%
2001 2.08% 1.66%
2000 2.15% 1.69%
1999 2.18% 1.76%
1998 2.24% 1.87%
1997 2.33% 2.11%
1996 2.47% 2.36%
1995 2.66% 2.5%
1994 2.81% 2.65%
1993 2.9% 2.75%
1992 2.85% 2.81%
1991 2.76% 2.86%
1990 2.79% 2.89%
1989 2.82% 2.91%
1988 3.03% 2.91%
1987 3.32% 2.88%
1986 3.45% 2.85%
1985 3.53% 2.81%
1984 3.59% 2.73%
1983 3.65% 2.64%
1982 4.05% 2.48%
1981 3.47% 2.25%
1980 3.96% 1.99%
1979 6.18% 1.78%
1978 6.21% 1.69%
1977 5.41% 1.76%
1976 5.29% 1.97%
1975 5.1% 2.24%
1974 5.06% 2.41%
1973 4.82% 2.46%
1972 3.65% 2.45%
1971 1.72% 2.43%
1970 0.56% 2.41%
1969 0.53% 2.38%
1968 0.52% 2.36%
1967 0.53% 2.33%
1966 0.56% 2.31%
1965 1.48% 2.3%
1964 2.41% 2.28%
1963 2.37% 2.3%
1962 2.32% 2.31%
1961 2.28% 2.28%

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/laos | CC BY

In 2024, the population of Botswana grew by 1.65%, while Laos' population grew by 1.37%.

Live population counters

Botswana Laos
Current population
2615162
8004838
Population rank 142/197 103/197
Percent of world population 0.03% 0.1%
One net population change
12.9 minutes
5.01 minutes
One birth every
8.58 minutes
3.22 minutes
One death every
37 minutes
11 minutes
Daily growth/decline +112 +287
Annual growth/decline +40,895 +104,826
Annual growth/decline rate +1.65% +1.37%
Population growth rate rank 66/197 77/197
One migration net change every
1.55 hours
49.5 minutes
Annual migration change -5,665 -10,645
Net migration rank 120/196 134/196
Foreign-born residents 116,402 51,446
Foreign-born residents rank 126/195 149/195
Foreign-born share of population 4.6% 0.7%
Foreign-born share rank 96/195 166/195

Natural population change vs migration

Botswana
Natural

Migration
Laos
Natural

Migration
1x
Year Population change
Botswana Laos
Natural Migration Natural Migration
2025 - -5,665 - -10,645
2024 - -5,778 - -10,284
2023 47,098 -6,487 115,359 -10,003
2022 47,400 -7,306 116,620 -10,003
2021 40,894 -4,083 115,323 -10,305
2020 45,610 -11,330 118,609 -10,305
2019 45,110 -11,770 119,797 -10,305
2018 44,171 -11,623 119,986 -10,305
2017 43,154 -10,916 120,515 -10,400
2016 41,993 -10,286 119,978 -11,401
2015 40,897 -9,599 118,723 -12,991
2014 40,046 -8,893 118,103 -26,881
2013 39,404 -7,836 119,845 -27,492
2012 39,202 -6,636 121,324 -28,871
2011 38,613 -1,019 122,863 -30,538
2010 38,101 5,151 122,516 -30,046
2009 36,671 4,960 122,174 -29,545
2008 35,433 4,343 121,042 -28,318
2007 33,832 3,926 119,980 -27,233
2006 31,340 4,270 118,602 -25,286
2005 29,385 4,283 118,165 -24,138
2004 27,481 4,314 121,888 -40,120
2003 26,545 4,488 122,158 -36,572
2002 26,163 4,747 122,110 -33,595
2001 26,112 7,991 123,847 -33,552
2000 25,850 9,798 124,201 -33,965
1999 25,358 9,762 127,255 -36,632
1998 25,397 9,685 128,409 -33,997
1997 25,738 9,597 130,388 -32,288
1996 26,847 9,368 131,142 -16,574
1995 28,478 9,464 132,241 -14,279
1994 30,664 9,023 134,201 -11,782
1993 31,691 8,441 135,295 -9,390
1992 31,995 8,026 132,417 -7,502
1991 32,219 4,311 129,523 -5,390
1990 33,015 2,580 125,297 -3,100
1989 33,756 1,495 121,044 -1,272
1988 34,564 -215 117,050 -80
1987 35,647 2,624 113,005 0
1986 36,203 2,558 109,266 -475
1985 35,966 2,683 106,047 -1,376
1984 35,530 2,393 102,318 -2,698
1983 35,142 1,980 98,178 -4,108
1982 34,859 1,751 94,058 -6,184
1981 34,327 7,610 89,963 -11,061
1980 33,934 -10,849 86,548 -17,339
1979 32,486 15,918 82,852 -23,317
1978 30,596 26,015 80,604 -27,208
1977 29,009 13,708 79,149 -26,908
1976 27,497 11,914 77,575 -21,738
1975 25,762 11,086 76,725 -13,858
1974 24,160 8,854 74,652 -6,000
1973 22,449 10,615 70,513 -774
1972 21,004 5,937 68,095 0
1971 19,926 -3,016 65,959 0
1970 19,438 -16,054 63,896 0
1969 19,024 -15,870 61,595 0
1968 18,725 -15,681 59,567 0
1967 18,463 -15,438 57,763 0
1966 18,250 -15,140 55,494 0
1965 18,045 -14,753 54,268 0
1964 17,634 -4,126 52,482 0
1963 17,084 -4,000 51,056 0
1962 16,507 -4,028 51,244 0
1961 16,185 -4,168 48,992 0
1960 15,861 -4,331 47,575 0

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

GeoRank.org/population/botswana/laos | 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 Laos 90.6% is from natural causes (a gain of 1,183,013 people) and 9.41% is from migration (a loss of 122,899 people).

As of 2024, 116,402 residents or 4.6% of the population were not native-born in Botswana, compared to 51,446 people or 0.7% in Laos.

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
Laos
City Population
Vientiane 948K
Thakhek 90.8K
Luang Prabang 53.8K
Vang Vieng 25K

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/laos | 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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