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

Updated on by Georank team

The latest officially reported population of Botswana was 2,521,139 in 2024 vs 35,557,673 people in Malaysia in 2024. In 2026, based on the adjusted UN estimation, the current Botswana's population is 2,615,162 people compared to 36,512,221 in Malaysia.

Population statistics:

  • Malaysia's population is 14 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 +1.5% per year vs +1.5% in Malaysia.
  • Since 2006, the population of Botswana has increased from 1.87M people to 2.62M (39.5% growth), while Malaysia has grown from 26.4M to 36.5M (38.2% growth).

Botswana vs Malaysia: population by year and forecast

Botswana
Factual

Projection
Malaysia
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Population
Botswana Malaysia
2100 3,871,504 44,353,615
2099 3,876,625 44,467,475
2098 3,882,670 44,579,971
2097 3,887,985 44,695,979
2096 3,892,886 44,814,885
2095 3,897,211 44,932,404
2094 3,901,478 45,047,479
2093 3,905,541 45,165,126
2092 3,909,490 45,278,674
2091 3,913,899 45,390,002
2090 3,916,706 45,501,495
2089 3,917,351 45,610,046
2088 3,917,510 45,717,882
2087 3,916,826 45,823,085
2086 3,916,303 45,926,712
2085 3,915,785 46,020,742
2084 3,914,364 46,111,490
2083 3,912,929 46,202,286
2082 3,910,994 46,284,929
2081 3,910,013 46,359,700
2080 3,908,255 46,435,482
2079 3,905,358 46,496,102
2078 3,900,828 46,549,167
2077 3,896,126 46,594,188
2076 3,890,528 46,619,045
2075 3,884,696 46,643,115
2074 3,879,057 46,658,350
2073 3,873,259 46,670,848
2072 3,865,665 46,670,426
2071 3,858,720 46,660,436
2070 3,851,234 46,645,623
2069 3,841,316 46,623,238
2068 3,830,826 46,600,060
2067 3,818,341 46,569,264
2066 3,805,705 46,530,377
2065 3,791,211 46,481,890
2064 3,775,938 46,417,369
2063 3,760,179 46,350,674
2062 3,742,710 46,272,105
2061 3,723,346 46,178,092
2060 3,703,231 46,075,877
2059 3,682,816 45,958,718
2058 3,659,567 45,837,407
2057 3,635,514 45,707,213
2056 3,611,843 45,566,357
2055 3,587,056 45,418,953
2054 3,562,182 45,252,995
2053 3,535,732 45,069,089
2052 3,507,938 44,873,927
2051 3,479,939 44,668,767
2050 3,451,521 44,445,677
2049 3,422,143 44,217,593
2048 3,391,720 43,974,925
2047 3,360,414 43,712,325
2046 3,328,208 43,438,283
2045 3,296,489 43,157,909
2044 3,265,120 42,866,716
2043 3,233,076 42,557,941
2042 3,201,405 42,239,980
2041 3,168,873 41,922,379
2040 3,135,889 41,598,231
2039 3,101,794 41,270,953
2038 3,067,648 40,929,067
2037 3,032,620 40,584,773
2036 2,996,884 40,234,128
2035 2,960,590 39,876,375
2034 2,923,411 39,515,857
2033 2,885,991 39,152,086
2032 2,847,292 38,772,414
2031 2,808,872 38,386,293
2030 2,768,505 37,995,617
2029 2,728,467 37,606,753
2028 2,686,968 37,207,852
2027 2,645,863 36,806,585
2026 2,603,779 36,403,076
2025 2,562,651 35,987,113
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 (2025–2100, retrieved 2026-03-10); World Bank | Health (1960–2024, retrieved 2026-04-06).

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 380,386 people (a 17% growth), while Malaysia's population increased by 4,722,536 people (a 14.9% 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 32% to 3,451,521 people with a rank change from 142nd to 137th. The population of Malaysia will increase by 21.7% to 44,445,677 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 1.65% 1.21%
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 (2025–2100, retrieved 2026-03-10); World Bank | Health (1961–2024, retrieved 2026-04-06).

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

In 2024, the population of Botswana grew by 1.65%, while Malaysia's population grew by 1.23%.

Live population counters

Botswana Malaysia
Current population
2615162
36512221
Population rank 142/197 45/197
Percent of world population 0.03% 0.44%
One net population change
12.9 minutes
1.22 minutes
One birth every
8.58 minutes
1.21 minutes
One death every
37 minutes
2.9 minutes
Daily growth/decline +112 +1,182
Annual growth/decline +40,895 +431,375
Annual growth/decline rate +1.65% +1.23%
Population growth rate rank 66/197 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 - -5,778 - 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 2026-04-06).

GeoRank.org/population/botswana/malaysia | 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 Malaysia 61.7% is from natural causes (a gain of 3,029,648 people) and 38.3% is from migration (a gain of 1,882,159 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 (1960–2024, 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/malaysia | 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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