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

Updated on by Georank

The latest officially reported population of Botswana was 2,562,122 in 2025 vs 35,977,838 people in Malaysia in 2025. In 2026, based on the adjusted UN estimation, the current Botswana's population is 2,624,853 people compared to 36,600,906 in Malaysia.

Population statistics:

  • Malaysia's population is 13.9 times bigger than Botswana's.
  • Botswana is ranked the 142nd most populous country in the world, while Malaysia is the 45th.
  • The countries together account for 0.47% of the world: 0.03% for Botswana vs 0.44% for Malaysia.
  • For the last 10 years, Botswana has had an average growth rate of +1.51% per year vs +1.45% in Malaysia.
  • Since 2006, the population of Botswana has increased from 1.87M people to 2.62M (40% growth), while Malaysia has grown from 26.4M to 36.6M (38.5% growth).

Botswana vs Malaysia: population by year and forecast

Botswana
Factual

Projection
Malaysia
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Population
Botswana Malaysia
2100 3,870,704 44,342,183
2099 3,875,823 44,456,013
2098 3,881,867 44,568,480
2097 3,887,181 44,684,459
2096 3,892,081 44,803,334
2095 3,896,405 44,920,823
2094 3,900,671 45,035,868
2093 3,904,733 45,153,485
2092 3,908,682 45,267,003
2091 3,913,090 45,378,303
2090 3,915,896 45,489,767
2089 3,916,540 45,598,290
2088 3,916,700 45,706,098
2087 3,916,016 45,811,274
2086 3,915,493 45,914,874
2085 3,914,975 46,008,880
2084 3,913,555 46,099,604
2083 3,912,119 46,190,377
2082 3,910,185 46,272,999
2081 3,909,204 46,347,751
2080 3,907,447 46,423,514
2079 3,904,550 46,484,118
2078 3,900,021 46,537,169
2077 3,895,321 46,582,178
2076 3,889,723 46,607,029
2075 3,883,893 46,631,092
2074 3,878,255 46,646,324
2073 3,872,458 46,658,819
2072 3,864,865 46,658,396
2071 3,857,922 46,648,409
2070 3,850,437 46,633,600
2069 3,840,521 46,611,221
2068 3,830,034 46,588,049
2067 3,817,551 46,557,261
2066 3,804,918 46,518,384
2065 3,790,427 46,469,909
2064 3,775,157 46,405,405
2063 3,759,402 46,338,727
2062 3,741,936 46,260,178
2061 3,722,576 46,166,190
2060 3,702,465 46,064,001
2059 3,682,055 45,946,872
2058 3,658,810 45,825,593
2057 3,634,762 45,695,432
2056 3,611,096 45,554,612
2055 3,586,314 45,407,246
2054 3,561,446 45,241,331
2053 3,535,001 45,057,472
2052 3,507,213 44,862,361
2051 3,479,219 44,657,253
2050 3,450,807 44,434,221
2049 3,421,435 44,206,196
2048 3,391,019 43,963,591
2047 3,359,719 43,701,058
2046 3,327,520 43,427,087
2045 3,295,807 43,146,785
2044 3,264,444 42,855,667
2043 3,232,407 42,546,972
2042 3,200,743 42,229,093
2041 3,168,217 41,911,573
2040 3,135,241 41,587,509
2039 3,101,153 41,260,315
2038 3,067,014 40,918,517
2037 3,031,993 40,574,312
2036 2,996,265 40,223,758
2035 2,959,978 39,866,097
2034 2,922,807 39,505,672
2033 2,885,394 39,141,994
2032 2,846,703 38,762,420
2031 2,808,291 38,376,399
2030 2,767,933 37,985,824
2029 2,727,903 37,597,060
2028 2,686,412 37,198,261
2027 2,645,316 36,797,098
2026 2,603,241 36,393,693
2025 2,562,122 35,977,838
2024 2,521,139 35,557,673
2023 2,480,244 35,126,298
2022 2,439,892 34,695,493
2021 2,401,441 34,282,399
2020 2,365,894 33,889,558
2019 2,332,083 33,440,596
2018 2,299,141 32,910,967
2017 2,266,747 32,355,644
2016 2,234,776 31,789,685
2015 2,203,273 31,232,798
2014 2,172,044 30,696,137
2013 2,140,682 30,174,265
2012 2,108,617 29,662,831
2011 2,073,535 29,162,039
2010 2,033,111 28,655,776
2009 1,990,673 28,124,778
2008 1,949,970 27,570,059
2007 1,911,201 26,998,389
2006 1,874,516 26,417,909
2005 1,839,877 25,836,071
2004 1,807,146 25,256,772
2003 1,775,736 24,679,602
2002 1,744,763 24,102,477
2001 1,712,254 23,526,538
2000 1,677,382 22,967,816
1999 1,641,997 22,435,531
1998 1,606,899 21,906,713
1997 1,571,691 21,375,218
1996 1,535,914 20,850,087
1995 1,498,836 20,330,599
1994 1,460,023 19,820,446
1993 1,420,115 19,322,664
1992 1,380,033 18,834,572
1991 1,341,756 18,342,464
1990 1,305,696 17,833,171
1989 1,270,274 17,314,997
1988 1,235,476 16,796,605
1987 1,199,167 16,276,737
1986 1,160,650 15,760,419
1985 1,121,945 15,252,258
1984 1,083,660 14,759,009
1983 1,046,137 14,285,907
1982 1,009,269 13,832,798
1981 969,996 13,399,203
1980 937,485 12,983,363
1979 901,742 12,627,862
1978 849,239 12,328,157
1977 799,574 12,035,713
1976 758,508 11,750,097
1975 720,380 11,471,914
1974 685,448 11,200,906
1973 652,408 10,935,621
1972 622,407 10,676,835
1971 600,481 10,423,453
1970 590,334 10,178,802
1969 587,066 9,947,597
1968 583,966 9,725,281
1967 580,933 9,507,099
1966 577,866 9,284,688
1965 574,664 9,056,408
1964 566,266 8,828,406
1963 552,966 8,602,160
1962 540,186 8,380,172
1961 527,942 8,164,443
1960 516,165 7,956,197

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/malaysia | CC BY

From 2006 to 2016, the population of Botswana increased by 360,260 people (a 19.2% growth), while Malaysia gained 5,371,776 people (a 20.3% growth).

For the next 10 years, from 2016 to 2026, Botswana gained 390,077 people (a 17.5% growth), while Malaysia's population increased by 4,811,221 people (a 15.1% growth).

Botswana was ranked 145th most populous country in 2006 and is 142nd in 2026. Malaysia was ranked 44th in 2006 and ranked 45th 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 Malaysia will increase by 21.4% to 44,434,221 people and rank change from 45th to 49th.

Botswana is projected to reach its peak in 2088 at 3.92M people compared to the peak of 46.7M people in 2073 for Malaysia.

Population growth rate by year

Botswana
Factual

Projection
Malaysia
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Growth rate
Botswana Malaysia
2100 -0.13% -0.26%
2099 -0.16% -0.25%
2098 -0.14% -0.26%
2097 -0.13% -0.27%
2096 -0.11% -0.26%
2095 -0.11% -0.26%
2094 -0.1% -0.26%
2093 -0.1% -0.25%
2092 -0.11% -0.25%
2091 -0.07% -0.25%
2090 -0.02% -0.24%
2089 -0.004% -0.24%
2088 0.02% -0.23%
2087 0.01% -0.23%
2086 0.01% -0.2%
2085 0.04% -0.2%
2084 0.04% -0.2%
2083 0.05% -0.18%
2082 0.03% -0.16%
2081 0.04% -0.16%
2080 0.07% -0.13%
2079 0.12% -0.11%
2078 0.12% -0.1%
2077 0.14% -0.05%
2076 0.15% -0.05%
2075 0.15% -0.03%
2074 0.15% -0.03%
2073 0.2% 0.001%
2072 0.18% 0.02%
2071 0.19% 0.03%
2070 0.26% 0.05%
2069 0.27% 0.05%
2068 0.33% 0.07%
2067 0.33% 0.08%
2066 0.38% 0.1%
2065 0.4% 0.14%
2064 0.42% 0.14%
2063 0.47% 0.17%
2062 0.52% 0.2%
2061 0.54% 0.22%
2060 0.55% 0.25%
2059 0.64% 0.26%
2058 0.66% 0.28%
2057 0.66% 0.31%
2056 0.69% 0.32%
2055 0.7% 0.37%
2054 0.75% 0.41%
2053 0.79% 0.43%
2052 0.8% 0.46%
2051 0.82% 0.5%
2050 0.86% 0.52%
2049 0.9% 0.55%
2048 0.93% 0.6%
2047 0.97% 0.63%
2046 0.96% 0.65%
2045 0.96% 0.68%
2044 0.99% 0.73%
2043 0.99% 0.75%
2042 1.03% 0.76%
2041 1.05% 0.78%
2040 1.1% 0.79%
2039 1.11% 0.84%
2038 1.16% 0.85%
2037 1.19% 0.87%
2036 1.23% 0.9%
2035 1.27% 0.91%
2034 1.3% 0.93%
2033 1.36% 0.98%
2032 1.37% 1.01%
2031 1.46% 1.03%
2030 1.47% 1.03%
2029 1.54% 1.07%
2028 1.55% 1.09%
2027 1.62% 1.11%
2026 1.6% 1.16%
2025 1.63% 1.18%
2024 1.65% 1.23%
2023 1.65% 1.24%
2022 1.6% 1.2%
2021 1.5% 1.16%
2020 1.45% 1.34%
2019 1.43% 1.61%
2018 1.43% 1.72%
2017 1.43% 1.78%
2016 1.43% 1.78%
2015 1.44% 1.75%
2014 1.47% 1.73%
2013 1.52% 1.72%
2012 1.69% 1.72%
2011 1.99% 1.77%
2010 2.13% 1.89%
2009 2.09% 2.01%
2008 2.03% 2.12%
2007 1.96% 2.2%
2006 1.88% 2.25%
2005 1.81% 2.29%
2004 1.77% 2.34%
2003 1.78% 2.39%
2002 1.9% 2.45%
2001 2.08% 2.43%
2000 2.15% 2.37%
1999 2.18% 2.41%
1998 2.24% 2.49%
1997 2.33% 2.52%
1996 2.47% 2.56%
1995 2.66% 2.57%
1994 2.81% 2.58%
1993 2.9% 2.59%
1992 2.85% 2.68%
1991 2.76% 2.86%
1990 2.79% 2.99%
1989 2.82% 3.09%
1988 3.03% 3.19%
1987 3.32% 3.28%
1986 3.45% 3.33%
1985 3.53% 3.34%
1984 3.59% 3.31%
1983 3.65% 3.28%
1982 4.05% 3.24%
1981 3.47% 3.2%
1980 3.96% 2.82%
1979 6.18% 2.43%
1978 6.21% 2.43%
1977 5.41% 2.43%
1976 5.29% 2.42%
1975 5.1% 2.42%
1974 5.06% 2.43%
1973 4.82% 2.42%
1972 3.65% 2.43%
1971 1.72% 2.4%
1970 0.56% 2.32%
1969 0.53% 2.29%
1968 0.52% 2.29%
1967 0.53% 2.4%
1966 0.56% 2.52%
1965 1.48% 2.58%
1964 2.41% 2.63%
1963 2.37% 2.65%
1962 2.32% 2.64%
1961 2.28% 2.62%

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/malaysia | CC BY

In 2025, the population of Botswana grew by 1.63%, while Malaysia's population grew by 1.18%.

Live population counters

Botswana Malaysia
Current population
2624853
36600906
Population rank 142/197 45/197
Percent of world population 0.03% 0.44%
One net population change
12.9 minutes
1.25 minutes
One birth every
8.56 minutes
1.2 minutes
One death every
36.3 minutes
2.8 minutes
Daily growth/decline +112 +1,151
Annual growth/decline +40,983 +420,165
Annual growth/decline rate +1.63% +1.18%
Population growth rate rank 65/197 89/197
One migration net change every
1.55 hours
3.16 minutes
Annual migration change -5,665 +166,615
Net migration rank 120/196 7/196
Foreign-born residents 116,402 3,806,514
Foreign-born residents rank 126/195 18/195
Foreign-born share of population 4.6% 10.7%
Foreign-born share rank 96/195 62/195

Natural population change vs migration

Botswana
Natural

Migration
Malaysia
Natural

Migration
1x
Year Population change
Botswana Malaysia
Natural Migration Natural Migration
2025 - -5,665 - 166,615
2024 46,951 -5,778 252,068 174,770
2023 47,098 -6,487 254,806 181,071
2022 47,400 -7,306 237,560 188,154
2021 40,894 -4,083 212,002 188,506
2020 45,610 -11,330 283,282 101,907
2019 45,110 -11,770 309,426 203,284
2018 44,171 -11,623 324,568 221,965
2017 43,154 -10,916 336,434 227,677
2016 41,993 -10,286 345,681 222,141
2015 40,897 -9,599 358,302 187,663
2014 40,046 -8,893 367,587 159,791
2013 39,404 -7,836 366,738 149,637
2012 39,202 -6,636 371,497 134,975
2011 38,613 -1,019 372,836 122,269
2010 38,101 5,151 360,260 157,164
2009 36,671 4,960 366,157 178,410
2008 35,433 4,343 362,380 202,481
2007 33,832 3,926 348,711 229,784
2006 31,340 4,270 349,509 232,971
2005 29,385 4,283 355,324 225,864
2004 27,481 4,314 365,138 212,278
2003 26,545 4,488 377,425 199,510
2002 26,163 4,747 381,084 196,227
2001 26,112 7,991 400,939 173,613
2000 25,850 9,798 417,371 125,499
1999 25,358 9,762 432,355 89,335
1998 25,397 9,685 436,316 99,639
1997 25,738 9,597 447,768 79,266
1996 26,847 9,368 450,174 73,040
1995 28,478 9,464 443,349 72,393
1994 30,664 9,023 437,873 66,685
1993 31,691 8,441 429,910 61,079
1992 31,995 8,026 418,900 66,286
1991 32,219 4,311 401,938 97,111
1990 33,015 2,580 384,518 135,020
1989 33,756 1,495 373,277 143,544
1988 34,564 -215 386,507 133,478
1987 35,647 2,624 381,999 137,759
1986 36,203 2,558 385,799 127,081
1985 35,966 2,683 383,243 120,215
1984 35,530 2,393 376,797 106,248
1983 35,142 1,980 365,290 97,862
1982 34,859 1,751 353,138 89,942
1981 34,327 7,610 339,991 84,142
1980 33,934 -10,849 326,947 80,617
1979 32,486 15,918 317,439 -13,980
1978 30,596 26,015 311,027 -15,059
1977 29,009 13,708 305,515 -16,601
1976 27,497 11,914 300,615 -18,316
1975 25,762 11,086 294,541 -20,480
1974 24,160 8,854 289,880 -21,919
1973 22,449 10,615 284,611 -21,995
1972 21,004 5,937 276,263 -21,305
1971 19,926 -3,016 272,323 -20,535
1970 19,438 -16,054 269,341 -31,839
1969 19,024 -15,870 264,327 -39,420
1968 18,725 -15,681 260,705 -40,996
1967 18,463 -15,438 258,764 -42,108
1966 18,250 -15,140 262,162 -33,993
1965 18,045 -14,753 264,836 -36,456
1964 17,634 -4,126 266,406 -38,785
1963 17,084 -4,000 265,815 -40,952
1962 16,507 -4,028 262,140 -43,033
1961 16,185 -4,168 257,270 -44,916
1960 15,861 -4,331 251,090 -46,948

Data sources: World Bank | Health (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-07-08).

GeoRank.org/population/botswana/malaysia | 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 Malaysia 60.6% is from natural causes (a gain of 2,914,129 people) and 39.4% is from migration (a gain of 1,897,138 people).

As of 2024, 116,402 residents or 4.6% of the population were not native-born in Botswana, compared to 3,806,514 people or 10.7% in Malaysia.

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
Malaysia
City Population
Kuala Lumpur 9M
Klang 878K
Ipoh 867K
Johor Bahru 798K
George Town 794K
Shah Alam 741K
Subang Jaya 708K
Petaling Jaya 639K
Kuantan 608K
Sungai Petani 545K

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/malaysia | 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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