The latest officially reported population of Botswana was 2,521,139 in 2024 vs 2,337,423 people in Lesotho in 2024. In 2026, based on the adjusted UN estimation, the current Botswana's population is 2,615,162 people compared to 2,396,633 in Lesotho.
Population statistics:
- Botswana's population is 1.09 times bigger than Lesotho's.
- Botswana is ranked the 142nd most populous country in the world, while Lesotho is the 143rd.
- The countries together account for 0.06% of the world: 0.03% for Botswana vs 0.03% for Lesotho.
- For the last 10 years, Botswana has had an average growth rate of +1.5% per year vs +1.17% in Lesotho.
- Since 2006, the population of Botswana has increased from 1.87M people to 2.62M (39.5% growth), while Lesotho has grown from 1.95M to 2.4M (23.2% growth).
Botswana vs Lesotho: population by year and forecast
| Year | Population | |
|---|---|---|
Botswana
|
Lesotho
|
|
| 2100 | 3,871,504 | 3,280,784 |
| 2099 | 3,876,625 | 3,286,697 |
| 2098 | 3,882,670 | 3,292,498 |
| 2097 | 3,887,985 | 3,298,102 |
| 2096 | 3,892,886 | 3,303,027 |
| 2095 | 3,897,211 | 3,307,947 |
| 2094 | 3,901,478 | 3,312,002 |
| 2093 | 3,905,541 | 3,315,757 |
| 2092 | 3,909,490 | 3,319,661 |
| 2091 | 3,913,899 | 3,322,573 |
| 2090 | 3,916,706 | 3,324,769 |
| 2089 | 3,917,351 | 3,326,847 |
| 2088 | 3,917,510 | 3,328,480 |
| 2087 | 3,916,826 | 3,329,964 |
| 2086 | 3,916,303 | 3,330,456 |
| 2085 | 3,915,785 | 3,331,259 |
| 2084 | 3,914,364 | 3,331,485 |
| 2083 | 3,912,929 | 3,331,492 |
| 2082 | 3,910,994 | 3,331,234 |
| 2081 | 3,910,013 | 3,330,412 |
| 2080 | 3,908,255 | 3,329,267 |
| 2079 | 3,905,358 | 3,327,166 |
| 2078 | 3,900,828 | 3,324,646 |
| 2077 | 3,896,126 | 3,321,422 |
| 2076 | 3,890,528 | 3,317,850 |
| 2075 | 3,884,696 | 3,314,237 |
| 2074 | 3,879,057 | 3,309,174 |
| 2073 | 3,873,259 | 3,303,860 |
| 2072 | 3,865,665 | 3,298,181 |
| 2071 | 3,858,720 | 3,291,492 |
| 2070 | 3,851,234 | 3,283,654 |
| 2069 | 3,841,316 | 3,275,244 |
| 2068 | 3,830,826 | 3,266,152 |
| 2067 | 3,818,341 | 3,256,626 |
| 2066 | 3,805,705 | 3,246,903 |
| 2065 | 3,791,211 | 3,237,153 |
| 2064 | 3,775,938 | 3,226,489 |
| 2063 | 3,760,179 | 3,215,103 |
| 2062 | 3,742,710 | 3,202,287 |
| 2061 | 3,723,346 | 3,188,933 |
| 2060 | 3,703,231 | 3,174,998 |
| 2059 | 3,682,816 | 3,160,204 |
| 2058 | 3,659,567 | 3,145,053 |
| 2057 | 3,635,514 | 3,129,261 |
| 2056 | 3,611,843 | 3,113,129 |
| 2055 | 3,587,056 | 3,095,904 |
| 2054 | 3,562,182 | 3,078,567 |
| 2053 | 3,535,732 | 3,060,152 |
| 2052 | 3,507,938 | 3,040,649 |
| 2051 | 3,479,939 | 3,020,109 |
| 2050 | 3,451,521 | 2,999,457 |
| 2049 | 3,422,143 | 2,978,037 |
| 2048 | 3,391,720 | 2,955,727 |
| 2047 | 3,360,414 | 2,932,688 |
| 2046 | 3,328,208 | 2,909,307 |
| 2045 | 3,296,489 | 2,885,537 |
| 2044 | 3,265,120 | 2,861,372 |
| 2043 | 3,233,076 | 2,836,777 |
| 2042 | 3,201,405 | 2,811,663 |
| 2041 | 3,168,873 | 2,786,147 |
| 2040 | 3,135,889 | 2,760,391 |
| 2039 | 3,101,794 | 2,734,400 |
| 2038 | 3,067,648 | 2,708,216 |
| 2037 | 3,032,620 | 2,681,863 |
| 2036 | 2,996,884 | 2,654,755 |
| 2035 | 2,960,590 | 2,627,701 |
| 2034 | 2,923,411 | 2,600,880 |
| 2033 | 2,885,991 | 2,574,065 |
| 2032 | 2,847,292 | 2,547,344 |
| 2031 | 2,808,872 | 2,520,831 |
| 2030 | 2,768,505 | 2,494,646 |
| 2029 | 2,728,467 | 2,468,268 |
| 2028 | 2,686,968 | 2,441,871 |
| 2027 | 2,645,863 | 2,415,830 |
| 2026 | 2,603,779 | 2,389,516 |
| 2025 | 2,562,651 | 2,363,516 |
| 2024 | 2,521,139 | 2,337,423 |
| 2023 | 2,480,244 | 2,311,472 |
| 2022 | 2,439,892 | 2,286,110 |
| 2021 | 2,401,441 | 2,261,542 |
| 2020 | 2,365,894 | 2,235,727 |
| 2019 | 2,332,083 | 2,209,405 |
| 2018 | 2,299,141 | 2,183,603 |
| 2017 | 2,266,747 | 2,157,110 |
| 2016 | 2,234,776 | 2,130,422 |
| 2015 | 2,203,273 | 2,104,611 |
| 2014 | 2,172,044 | 2,080,089 |
| 2013 | 2,140,682 | 2,056,504 |
| 2012 | 2,108,617 | 2,034,354 |
| 2011 | 2,073,535 | 2,014,009 |
| 2010 | 2,033,111 | 1,996,251 |
| 2009 | 1,990,673 | 1,980,883 |
| 2008 | 1,949,970 | 1,966,541 |
| 2007 | 1,911,201 | 1,953,268 |
| 2006 | 1,874,516 | 1,945,063 |
| 2005 | 1,839,877 | 1,953,076 |
| 2004 | 1,807,146 | 1,971,129 |
| 2003 | 1,775,736 | 1,985,059 |
| 2002 | 1,744,763 | 1,994,679 |
| 2001 | 1,712,254 | 2,000,853 |
| 2000 | 1,677,382 | 2,003,913 |
| 1999 | 1,641,997 | 2,003,234 |
| 1998 | 1,606,899 | 1,998,049 |
| 1997 | 1,571,691 | 1,988,130 |
| 1996 | 1,535,914 | 1,972,418 |
| 1995 | 1,498,836 | 1,951,437 |
| 1994 | 1,460,023 | 1,927,707 |
| 1993 | 1,420,115 | 1,901,793 |
| 1992 | 1,380,033 | 1,873,274 |
| 1991 | 1,341,756 | 1,842,379 |
| 1990 | 1,305,696 | 1,809,696 |
| 1989 | 1,270,274 | 1,775,436 |
| 1988 | 1,235,476 | 1,739,841 |
| 1987 | 1,199,167 | 1,703,390 |
| 1986 | 1,160,650 | 1,666,138 |
| 1985 | 1,121,945 | 1,624,379 |
| 1984 | 1,083,660 | 1,578,986 |
| 1983 | 1,046,137 | 1,534,413 |
| 1982 | 1,009,269 | 1,490,732 |
| 1981 | 969,996 | 1,448,069 |
| 1980 | 937,485 | 1,406,521 |
| 1979 | 901,742 | 1,366,169 |
| 1978 | 849,239 | 1,327,240 |
| 1977 | 799,574 | 1,289,967 |
| 1976 | 758,508 | 1,253,214 |
| 1975 | 720,380 | 1,213,643 |
| 1974 | 685,448 | 1,172,420 |
| 1973 | 652,408 | 1,132,697 |
| 1972 | 622,407 | 1,094,063 |
| 1971 | 600,481 | 1,056,246 |
| 1970 | 590,334 | 1,019,273 |
| 1969 | 587,066 | 983,202 |
| 1968 | 583,966 | 948,105 |
| 1967 | 580,933 | 913,982 |
| 1966 | 577,866 | 881,870 |
| 1965 | 574,664 | 854,090 |
| 1964 | 566,266 | 829,437 |
| 1963 | 552,966 | 805,373 |
| 1962 | 540,186 | 781,814 |
| 1961 | 527,942 | 758,824 |
| 1960 | 516,165 | 736,500 |
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/lesotho | CC BY 
From 2006 to 2016, the population of Botswana increased by 360,260 people (a 19.2% growth), while Lesotho gained 185,359 people (a 9.53% growth).
For the next 10 years, from 2016 to 2026, Botswana gained 380,386 people (a 17% growth), while Lesotho's population increased by 266,211 people (a 12.5% growth).
Botswana was ranked 145th most populous country in 2006 and is 142nd in 2026. Lesotho was ranked 144th in 2006 and ranked 143rd 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 Lesotho will increase by 25.2% to 2,999,457 people and rank change from 143rd to 141st.
Botswana is projected to reach its peak in 2088 at 3.92M people compared to the peak of 3.33M people in 2083 for Lesotho.
Population growth rate by year
| Year | Growth rate | |
|---|---|---|
|
Botswana
|
Lesotho
|
|
| 2100 | -0.13% | -0.18% |
| 2099 | -0.16% | -0.18% |
| 2098 | -0.14% | -0.17% |
| 2097 | -0.13% | -0.15% |
| 2096 | -0.11% | -0.15% |
| 2095 | -0.11% | -0.12% |
| 2094 | -0.1% | -0.11% |
| 2093 | -0.1% | -0.12% |
| 2092 | -0.11% | -0.09% |
| 2091 | -0.07% | -0.07% |
| 2090 | -0.02% | -0.06% |
| 2089 | -0.004% | -0.05% |
| 2088 | 0.02% | -0.04% |
| 2087 | 0.01% | -0.01% |
| 2086 | 0.01% | -0.02% |
| 2085 | 0.04% | -0.007% |
| 2084 | 0.04% | -0% |
| 2083 | 0.05% | 0.008% |
| 2082 | 0.03% | 0.02% |
| 2081 | 0.04% | 0.03% |
| 2080 | 0.07% | 0.06% |
| 2079 | 0.12% | 0.08% |
| 2078 | 0.12% | 0.1% |
| 2077 | 0.14% | 0.11% |
| 2076 | 0.15% | 0.11% |
| 2075 | 0.15% | 0.15% |
| 2074 | 0.15% | 0.16% |
| 2073 | 0.2% | 0.17% |
| 2072 | 0.18% | 0.2% |
| 2071 | 0.19% | 0.24% |
| 2070 | 0.26% | 0.26% |
| 2069 | 0.27% | 0.28% |
| 2068 | 0.33% | 0.29% |
| 2067 | 0.33% | 0.3% |
| 2066 | 0.38% | 0.3% |
| 2065 | 0.4% | 0.33% |
| 2064 | 0.42% | 0.35% |
| 2063 | 0.47% | 0.4% |
| 2062 | 0.52% | 0.42% |
| 2061 | 0.54% | 0.44% |
| 2060 | 0.55% | 0.47% |
| 2059 | 0.64% | 0.48% |
| 2058 | 0.66% | 0.5% |
| 2057 | 0.66% | 0.52% |
| 2056 | 0.69% | 0.56% |
| 2055 | 0.7% | 0.56% |
| 2054 | 0.75% | 0.6% |
| 2053 | 0.79% | 0.64% |
| 2052 | 0.8% | 0.68% |
| 2051 | 0.82% | 0.69% |
| 2050 | 0.86% | 0.72% |
| 2049 | 0.9% | 0.75% |
| 2048 | 0.93% | 0.79% |
| 2047 | 0.97% | 0.8% |
| 2046 | 0.96% | 0.82% |
| 2045 | 0.96% | 0.84% |
| 2044 | 0.99% | 0.87% |
| 2043 | 0.99% | 0.89% |
| 2042 | 1.03% | 0.92% |
| 2041 | 1.05% | 0.93% |
| 2040 | 1.1% | 0.95% |
| 2039 | 1.11% | 0.97% |
| 2038 | 1.16% | 0.98% |
| 2037 | 1.19% | 1.02% |
| 2036 | 1.23% | 1.03% |
| 2035 | 1.27% | 1.03% |
| 2034 | 1.3% | 1.04% |
| 2033 | 1.36% | 1.05% |
| 2032 | 1.37% | 1.05% |
| 2031 | 1.46% | 1.05% |
| 2030 | 1.47% | 1.07% |
| 2029 | 1.54% | 1.08% |
| 2028 | 1.55% | 1.08% |
| 2027 | 1.62% | 1.1% |
| 2026 | 1.6% | 1.1% |
| 2025 | 1.65% | 1.12% |
| 2024 | 1.65% | 1.12% |
| 2023 | 1.65% | 1.11% |
| 2022 | 1.6% | 1.09% |
| 2021 | 1.5% | 1.15% |
| 2020 | 1.45% | 1.19% |
| 2019 | 1.43% | 1.18% |
| 2018 | 1.43% | 1.23% |
| 2017 | 1.43% | 1.25% |
| 2016 | 1.43% | 1.23% |
| 2015 | 1.44% | 1.18% |
| 2014 | 1.47% | 1.15% |
| 2013 | 1.52% | 1.09% |
| 2012 | 1.69% | 1.01% |
| 2011 | 1.99% | 0.89% |
| 2010 | 2.13% | 0.78% |
| 2009 | 2.09% | 0.73% |
| 2008 | 2.03% | 0.68% |
| 2007 | 1.96% | 0.42% |
| 2006 | 1.88% | -0.41% |
| 2005 | 1.81% | -0.92% |
| 2004 | 1.77% | -0.7% |
| 2003 | 1.78% | -0.48% |
| 2002 | 1.9% | -0.31% |
| 2001 | 2.08% | -0.15% |
| 2000 | 2.15% | 0.03% |
| 1999 | 2.18% | 0.26% |
| 1998 | 2.24% | 0.5% |
| 1997 | 2.33% | 0.8% |
| 1996 | 2.47% | 1.08% |
| 1995 | 2.66% | 1.23% |
| 1994 | 2.81% | 1.36% |
| 1993 | 2.9% | 1.52% |
| 1992 | 2.85% | 1.68% |
| 1991 | 2.76% | 1.81% |
| 1990 | 2.79% | 1.93% |
| 1989 | 2.82% | 2.05% |
| 1988 | 3.03% | 2.14% |
| 1987 | 3.32% | 2.24% |
| 1986 | 3.45% | 2.57% |
| 1985 | 3.53% | 2.87% |
| 1984 | 3.59% | 2.9% |
| 1983 | 3.65% | 2.93% |
| 1982 | 4.05% | 2.95% |
| 1981 | 3.47% | 2.95% |
| 1980 | 3.96% | 2.95% |
| 1979 | 6.18% | 2.93% |
| 1978 | 6.21% | 2.89% |
| 1977 | 5.41% | 2.93% |
| 1976 | 5.29% | 3.26% |
| 1975 | 5.1% | 3.52% |
| 1974 | 5.06% | 3.51% |
| 1973 | 4.82% | 3.53% |
| 1972 | 3.65% | 3.58% |
| 1971 | 1.72% | 3.63% |
| 1970 | 0.56% | 3.67% |
| 1969 | 0.53% | 3.7% |
| 1968 | 0.52% | 3.73% |
| 1967 | 0.53% | 3.64% |
| 1966 | 0.56% | 3.25% |
| 1965 | 1.48% | 2.97% |
| 1964 | 2.41% | 2.99% |
| 1963 | 2.37% | 3.01% |
| 1962 | 2.32% | 3.03% |
| 1961 | 2.28% | 3.03% |
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/lesotho | CC BY
In 2024, the population of Botswana grew by 1.65%, while Lesotho's population grew by 1.12%.
Live population counters
|
Botswana
|
Lesotho
|
|
|---|---|---|
| Current population |
2615162
|
2396633
|
| Population rank | 142/197 | 143/197 |
| Percent of world population | 0.03% | 0.03% |
| One net population change |
12.9 minutes
|
20.3 minutes
|
| One birth every |
8.58 minutes
|
9.43 minutes
|
| One death every |
37 minutes
|
21.4 minutes
|
| Daily growth/decline | +112 | +71 |
| Annual growth/decline | +40,895 | +25,951 |
| Annual growth/decline rate | +1.65% | +1.12% |
| Population growth rate rank | 66/197 | 93/197 |
| One migration net change every |
1.55 hours
|
1.69 hours
|
| Annual migration change | -5,665 | -5,192 |
| Net migration rank | 120/196 | 117/196 |
| Foreign-born residents | 116,402 | 15,039 |
| Foreign-born residents rank | 126/195 | 173/195 |
| Foreign-born share of population | 4.6% | 0.6% |
| Foreign-born share rank | 96/195 | 170/195 |
Natural population change vs migration
| Year | Population change | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Botswana
|
Lesotho
|
|||
| Natural | Migration | Natural | Migration | |
| 2025 | - | -5,665 | - | -5,192 |
| 2024 | - | -5,778 | - | -5,107 |
| 2023 | 47,098 | -6,487 | 31,115 | -5,168 |
| 2022 | 47,400 | -7,306 | 30,803 | -6,023 |
| 2021 | 40,894 | -4,083 | 27,806 | -3,449 |
| 2020 | 45,610 | -11,330 | 30,721 | -3,449 |
| 2019 | 45,110 | -11,770 | 32,279 | -6,896 |
| 2018 | 44,171 | -11,623 | 33,112 | -6,892 |
| 2017 | 43,154 | -10,916 | 33,601 | -6,850 |
| 2016 | 41,993 | -10,286 | 33,390 | -6,766 |
| 2015 | 40,897 | -9,599 | 32,087 | -7,087 |
| 2014 | 40,046 | -8,893 | 30,922 | -6,877 |
| 2013 | 39,404 | -7,836 | 29,789 | -6,659 |
| 2012 | 39,202 | -6,636 | 27,592 | -6,425 |
| 2011 | 38,613 | -1,019 | 25,647 | -6,118 |
| 2010 | 38,101 | 5,151 | 21,877 | -5,886 |
| 2009 | 36,671 | 4,960 | 20,335 | -5,599 |
| 2008 | 35,433 | 4,343 | 19,349 | -5,392 |
| 2007 | 33,832 | 3,926 | 17,763 | -5,179 |
| 2006 | 31,340 | 4,270 | 15,234 | -11,416 |
| 2005 | 29,385 | 4,283 | 15,831 | -35,679 |
| 2004 | 27,481 | 4,314 | 17,271 | -33,530 |
| 2003 | 26,545 | 4,488 | 20,133 | -31,723 |
| 2002 | 26,163 | 4,747 | 22,274 | -29,924 |
| 2001 | 26,112 | 7,991 | 23,190 | -27,874 |
| 2000 | 25,850 | 9,798 | 24,786 | -26,220 |
| 1999 | 25,358 | 9,762 | 27,393 | -24,610 |
| 1998 | 25,397 | 9,685 | 30,889 | -23,299 |
| 1997 | 25,738 | 9,597 | 34,637 | -22,396 |
| 1996 | 26,847 | 9,368 | 36,228 | -17,042 |
| 1995 | 28,478 | 9,464 | 37,370 | -14,588 |
| 1994 | 30,664 | 9,023 | 38,629 | -13,953 |
| 1993 | 31,691 | 8,441 | 40,505 | -13,347 |
| 1992 | 31,995 | 8,026 | 42,579 | -12,707 |
| 1991 | 32,219 | 4,311 | 44,026 | -12,114 |
| 1990 | 33,015 | 2,580 | 45,060 | -11,598 |
| 1989 | 33,756 | 1,495 | 46,264 | -11,207 |
| 1988 | 34,564 | -215 | 47,158 | -11,028 |
| 1987 | 35,647 | 2,624 | 47,718 | -10,946 |
| 1986 | 36,203 | 2,558 | 45,232 | -7,501 |
| 1985 | 35,966 | 2,683 | 44,575 | 1,222 |
| 1984 | 35,530 | 2,393 | 43,785 | 1,199 |
| 1983 | 35,142 | 1,980 | 42,899 | 1,253 |
| 1982 | 34,859 | 1,751 | 41,941 | 1,281 |
| 1981 | 34,327 | 7,610 | 40,808 | 1,307 |
| 1980 | 33,934 | -10,849 | 39,617 | 1,361 |
| 1979 | 32,486 | 15,918 | 38,440 | 1,285 |
| 1978 | 30,596 | 26,015 | 37,084 | 1,047 |
| 1977 | 29,009 | 13,708 | 35,654 | 746 |
| 1976 | 27,497 | 11,914 | 34,117 | 2,986 |
| 1975 | 25,762 | 11,086 | 32,311 | 9,723 |
| 1974 | 24,160 | 8,854 | 30,444 | 9,972 |
| 1973 | 22,449 | 10,615 | 28,859 | 10,183 |
| 1972 | 21,004 | 5,937 | 27,841 | 10,386 |
| 1971 | 19,926 | -3,016 | 26,838 | 10,563 |
| 1970 | 19,438 | -16,054 | 25,935 | 10,605 |
| 1969 | 19,024 | -15,870 | 25,137 | 10,465 |
| 1968 | 18,725 | -15,681 | 24,490 | 10,108 |
| 1967 | 18,463 | -15,438 | 23,911 | 9,734 |
| 1966 | 18,250 | -15,140 | 23,326 | 7,248 |
| 1965 | 18,045 | -14,753 | 22,755 | 2,239 |
| 1964 | 17,634 | -4,126 | 22,116 | 2,198 |
| 1963 | 17,084 | -4,000 | 21,585 | 2,220 |
| 1962 | 16,507 | -4,028 | 21,132 | 2,172 |
| 1961 | 16,185 | -4,168 | 20,581 | 2,100 |
| 1960 | 15,861 | -4,331 | 19,981 | 1,989 |
Data sources: World Bank | Health (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-04-06).
GeoRank.org/population/botswana/lesotho | 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 Lesotho 84.2% is from natural causes (a gain of 315,836 people) and 15.8% is from migration (a loss of 59,457 people).
As of 2024, 116,402 residents or 4.6% of the population were not native-born in Botswana, compared to 15,039 people or 0.6% in Lesotho.
Biggest cities by population
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Population differences between Botswana and Lesotho
|
Botswana
|
Lesotho
|
|
|---|---|---|
| Life expectancy | 69.6 years | 58.6 years |
| Average age | 26.7 years | 25.8 years |
| Median age | 24.2 years | 22.7 years |
| Male:Female ratio | 49.8:50.2 | 48.7:51.3 |
| Fertility rate | 2.73 births per woman | 2.69 births per woman |
| Population density | 11.9 ppl/mi² | 203.8 ppl/mi² |
Population map with other countries
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/lesotho | CC BY
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Data sources:
- World Bank | Health (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-04-06)
- United Nations | World Population Prospects (1960–2100, retrieved 2026-03-10)
- U.S. Census Bureau (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-02-08)
- Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) (2000–2019, retrieved 2026-02-20)
- Wikidata (2026, retrieved 2026-02-08)
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