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

Updated on by Georank

The latest officially reported population of Botswana was 2,562,122 in 2025 vs 25,198,821 people in Mali in 2025. In 2026, based on the adjusted UN estimation, the current Botswana's population is 2,624,853 people compared to 26,322,576 in Mali.

Population statistics:

  • Mali's population is 10 times bigger than Botswana's.
  • Botswana is ranked the 142nd most populous country in the world, while Mali is the 58th.
  • The countries together account for 0.35% of the world: 0.03% for Botswana vs 0.32% for Mali.
  • For the last 10 years, Botswana has had an average growth rate of +1.51% per year vs +3.1% in Mali.
  • Since 2006, the population of Botswana has increased from 1.87M people to 2.62M (40% growth), while Mali has grown from 14M to 26.3M (88.2% growth).

Botswana vs Mali: population by year and forecast

Botswana
Factual

Projection
Mali
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Population
Botswana Mali
2100 3,870,704 80,362,778
2099 3,875,823 80,043,103
2098 3,881,867 79,704,143
2097 3,887,181 79,354,569
2096 3,892,081 78,987,874
2095 3,896,405 78,602,449
2094 3,900,671 78,192,601
2093 3,904,733 77,771,649
2092 3,908,682 77,337,997
2091 3,913,090 76,884,320
2090 3,915,896 76,409,599
2089 3,916,540 75,916,129
2088 3,916,700 75,405,009
2087 3,916,016 74,874,565
2086 3,915,493 74,331,613
2085 3,914,975 73,769,979
2084 3,913,555 73,189,821
2083 3,912,119 72,588,675
2082 3,910,185 71,975,720
2081 3,909,204 71,340,622
2080 3,907,447 70,699,377
2079 3,904,550 70,036,857
2078 3,900,021 69,359,523
2077 3,895,321 68,668,133
2076 3,889,723 67,965,034
2075 3,883,893 67,249,105
2074 3,878,255 66,516,075
2073 3,872,458 65,768,739
2072 3,864,865 65,009,716
2071 3,857,922 64,232,600
2070 3,850,437 63,450,597
2069 3,840,521 62,657,123
2068 3,830,034 61,850,168
2067 3,817,551 61,035,806
2066 3,804,918 60,215,831
2065 3,790,427 59,394,005
2064 3,775,157 58,560,766
2063 3,759,402 57,720,905
2062 3,741,936 56,873,801
2061 3,722,576 56,020,633
2060 3,702,465 55,160,220
2059 3,682,055 54,298,509
2058 3,658,810 53,431,783
2057 3,634,762 52,559,686
2056 3,611,096 51,686,173
2055 3,586,314 50,807,502
2054 3,561,446 49,930,546
2053 3,535,001 49,048,457
2052 3,507,213 48,161,836
2051 3,479,219 47,275,159
2050 3,450,807 46,385,854
2049 3,421,435 45,500,920
2048 3,391,019 44,612,126
2047 3,359,719 43,725,546
2046 3,327,520 42,836,054
2045 3,295,807 41,946,522
2044 3,264,444 41,057,406
2043 3,232,407 40,168,481
2042 3,200,743 39,281,666
2041 3,168,217 38,402,142
2040 3,135,241 37,521,801
2039 3,101,153 36,648,491
2038 3,067,014 35,768,661
2037 3,031,993 34,898,973
2036 2,996,265 34,032,460
2035 2,959,978 33,174,985
2034 2,922,807 32,324,451
2033 2,885,394 31,482,783
2032 2,846,703 30,652,485
2031 2,808,291 29,830,213
2030 2,767,933 29,025,640
2029 2,727,903 28,232,427
2028 2,686,412 27,453,124
2027 2,645,316 26,687,226
2026 2,603,241 25,937,442
2025 2,562,122 25,198,821
2024 2,521,139 24,478,595
2023 2,480,244 23,769,127
2022 2,439,892 23,072,640
2021 2,401,441 22,388,630
2020 2,365,894 21,713,836
2019 2,332,083 21,068,405
2018 2,299,141 20,442,030
2017 2,266,747 19,813,011
2016 2,234,776 19,191,289
2015 2,203,273 18,593,022
2014 2,172,044 18,020,267
2013 2,140,682 17,459,615
2012 2,108,617 16,957,033
2011 2,073,535 16,469,049
2010 2,033,111 15,945,198
2009 1,990,673 15,435,539
2008 1,949,970 14,940,782
2007 1,911,201 14,457,775
2006 1,874,516 13,990,139
2005 1,839,877 13,538,647
2004 1,807,146 13,102,409
2003 1,775,736 12,684,955
2002 1,744,763 12,288,050
2001 1,712,254 11,912,158
2000 1,677,382 11,559,290
1999 1,641,997 11,227,415
1998 1,606,899 10,919,573
1997 1,571,691 10,646,495
1996 1,535,914 10,407,278
1995 1,498,836 10,185,365
1994 1,460,023 9,967,031
1993 1,420,115 9,754,786
1992 1,380,033 9,553,540
1991 1,341,756 9,362,888
1990 1,305,696 9,178,830
1989 1,270,274 8,999,938
1988 1,235,476 8,833,996
1987 1,199,167 8,681,164
1986 1,160,650 8,531,277
1985 1,121,945 8,374,663
1984 1,083,660 8,208,599
1983 1,046,137 8,034,400
1982 1,009,269 7,860,194
1981 969,996 7,692,766
1980 937,485 7,530,515
1979 901,742 7,375,266
1978 849,239 7,229,651
1977 799,574 7,090,979
1976 758,508 6,960,979
1975 720,380 6,837,261
1974 685,448 6,715,436
1973 652,408 6,597,106
1972 622,407 6,483,726
1971 600,481 6,377,944
1970 590,334 6,276,472
1969 587,066 6,177,704
1968 583,966 6,082,979
1967 580,933 5,990,906
1966 577,866 5,902,204
1965 574,664 5,815,487
1964 566,266 5,730,125
1963 552,966 5,646,605
1962 540,186 5,563,917
1961 527,942 5,482,283
1960 516,165 5,402,550

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/mali | CC BY

From 2006 to 2016, the population of Botswana increased by 360,260 people (a 19.2% growth), while Mali gained 5,201,150 people (a 37.2% growth).

For the next 10 years, from 2016 to 2026, Botswana gained 390,077 people (a 17.5% growth), while Mali's population increased by 7,131,287 people (a 37.2% growth).

Botswana was ranked 145th most populous country in 2006 and is 142nd in 2026. Mali was ranked 66th in 2006 and ranked 58th 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 Mali will increase by 76.2% to 46,385,854 people and rank change from 58th to 47th.

Botswana is projected to reach its peak in 2088 at 3.92M people compared to the peak of 80.4M people in 2100 for Mali.

Population growth rate by year

Botswana
Factual

Projection
Mali
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Growth rate
Botswana Mali
2100 -0.13% 0.4%
2099 -0.16% 0.43%
2098 -0.14% 0.44%
2097 -0.13% 0.46%
2096 -0.11% 0.49%
2095 -0.11% 0.52%
2094 -0.1% 0.54%
2093 -0.1% 0.56%
2092 -0.11% 0.59%
2091 -0.07% 0.62%
2090 -0.02% 0.65%
2089 -0.004% 0.68%
2088 0.02% 0.71%
2087 0.01% 0.73%
2086 0.01% 0.76%
2085 0.04% 0.79%
2084 0.04% 0.83%
2083 0.05% 0.85%
2082 0.03% 0.89%
2081 0.04% 0.91%
2080 0.07% 0.95%
2079 0.12% 0.98%
2078 0.12% 1.01%
2077 0.14% 1.03%
2076 0.15% 1.06%
2075 0.15% 1.1%
2074 0.15% 1.14%
2073 0.2% 1.17%
2072 0.18% 1.21%
2071 0.19% 1.23%
2070 0.26% 1.27%
2069 0.27% 1.3%
2068 0.33% 1.33%
2067 0.33% 1.36%
2066 0.38% 1.38%
2065 0.4% 1.42%
2064 0.42% 1.46%
2063 0.47% 1.49%
2062 0.52% 1.52%
2061 0.54% 1.56%
2060 0.55% 1.59%
2059 0.64% 1.62%
2058 0.66% 1.66%
2057 0.66% 1.69%
2056 0.69% 1.73%
2055 0.7% 1.76%
2054 0.75% 1.8%
2053 0.79% 1.84%
2052 0.8% 1.88%
2051 0.82% 1.92%
2050 0.86% 1.94%
2049 0.9% 1.99%
2048 0.93% 2.03%
2047 0.97% 2.08%
2046 0.96% 2.12%
2045 0.96% 2.17%
2044 0.99% 2.21%
2043 0.99% 2.26%
2042 1.03% 2.29%
2041 1.05% 2.35%
2040 1.1% 2.38%
2039 1.11% 2.46%
2038 1.16% 2.49%
2037 1.19% 2.55%
2036 1.23% 2.58%
2035 1.27% 2.63%
2034 1.3% 2.67%
2033 1.36% 2.71%
2032 1.37% 2.76%
2031 1.46% 2.77%
2030 1.47% 2.81%
2029 1.54% 2.84%
2028 1.55% 2.87%
2027 1.62% 2.89%
2026 1.6% 2.93%
2025 1.63% 2.94%
2024 1.65% 2.98%
2023 1.65% 3.02%
2022 1.6% 3.06%
2021 1.5% 3.11%
2020 1.45% 3.06%
2019 1.43% 3.06%
2018 1.43% 3.17%
2017 1.43% 3.24%
2016 1.43% 3.22%
2015 1.44% 3.18%
2014 1.47% 3.21%
2013 1.52% 2.96%
2012 1.69% 2.96%
2011 1.99% 3.29%
2010 2.13% 3.3%
2009 2.09% 3.31%
2008 2.03% 3.34%
2007 1.96% 3.34%
2006 1.88% 3.33%
2005 1.81% 3.33%
2004 1.77% 3.29%
2003 1.78% 3.23%
2002 1.9% 3.16%
2001 2.08% 3.05%
2000 2.15% 2.96%
1999 2.18% 2.82%
1998 2.24% 2.56%
1997 2.33% 2.3%
1996 2.47% 2.18%
1995 2.66% 2.19%
1994 2.81% 2.18%
1993 2.9% 2.11%
1992 2.85% 2.04%
1991 2.76% 2.01%
1990 2.79% 1.99%
1989 2.82% 1.88%
1988 3.03% 1.76%
1987 3.32% 1.76%
1986 3.45% 1.87%
1985 3.53% 2.02%
1984 3.59% 2.17%
1983 3.65% 2.22%
1982 4.05% 2.18%
1981 3.47% 2.15%
1980 3.96% 2.1%
1979 6.18% 2.01%
1978 6.21% 1.96%
1977 5.41% 1.87%
1976 5.29% 1.81%
1975 5.1% 1.81%
1974 5.06% 1.79%
1973 4.82% 1.75%
1972 3.65% 1.66%
1971 1.72% 1.62%
1970 0.56% 1.6%
1969 0.53% 1.56%
1968 0.52% 1.54%
1967 0.53% 1.5%
1966 0.56% 1.49%
1965 1.48% 1.49%
1964 2.41% 1.48%
1963 2.37% 1.49%
1962 2.32% 1.49%
1961 2.28% 1.48%

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/mali | CC BY

In 2025, the population of Botswana grew by 1.63%, while Mali's population grew by 2.94%.

Live population counters

Botswana Mali
Current population
2624853
26322576
Population rank 142/197 58/197
Percent of world population 0.03% 0.32%
One net population change
12.9 minutes
43.9 seconds
One birth every
8.56 minutes
32.6 seconds
One death every
36.3 minutes
2.52 minutes
Daily growth/decline +112 +1,973
Annual growth/decline +40,983 +720,226
Annual growth/decline rate +1.63% +2.94%
Population growth rate rank 65/197 14/197
One migration net change every
1.55 hours
11 minutes
Annual migration change -5,665 -48,019
Net migration rank 120/196 173/196
Foreign-born residents 116,402 545,323
Foreign-born residents rank 126/195 76/195
Foreign-born share of population 4.6% 2.2%
Foreign-born share rank 96/195 131/195

Natural population change vs migration

Botswana
Natural

Migration
Mali
Natural

Migration
1x
Year Population change
Botswana Mali
Natural Migration Natural Migration
2025 - -5,665 - -48,019
2024 46,951 -5,778 759,375 -46,880
2023 47,098 -6,487 746,398 -39,953
2022 47,400 -7,306 726,465 -39,951
2021 40,894 -4,083 703,674 -22,210
2020 45,610 -11,330 683,053 -14,962
2019 45,110 -11,770 667,110 -44,373
2018 44,171 -11,623 670,723 -40,710
2017 43,154 -10,916 661,973 -33,942
2016 41,993 -10,286 645,652 -30,251
2015 40,897 -9,599 630,006 -48,872
2014 40,046 -8,893 614,419 -50,068
2013 39,404 -7,836 597,887 -40,951
2012 39,202 -6,636 588,748 -140,507
2011 38,613 -1,019 570,899 -43,160
2010 38,101 5,151 554,447 -34,483
2009 36,671 4,960 533,730 -34,383
2008 35,433 4,343 514,665 -24,509
2007 33,832 3,926 495,800 -19,945
2006 31,340 4,270 477,665 -18,247
2005 29,385 4,283 460,964 -17,413
2004 27,481 4,314 439,717 -10,796
2003 26,545 4,488 417,766 -11,768
2002 26,163 4,747 396,732 -8,914
2001 26,112 7,991 376,472 -12,507
2000 25,850 9,798 359,159 -17,395
1999 25,358 9,762 343,705 -21,702
1998 25,397 9,685 323,940 -30,255
1997 25,738 9,597 308,429 -55,978
1996 26,847 9,368 293,953 -67,974
1995 28,478 9,464 285,598 -67,763
1994 30,664 9,023 282,356 -63,533
1993 31,691 8,441 274,480 -68,816
1992 31,995 8,026 267,605 -70,789
1991 32,219 4,311 261,656 -77,172
1990 33,015 2,580 252,308 -68,668
1989 33,756 1,495 249,929 -75,771
1988 34,564 -215 245,682 -87,952
1987 35,647 2,624 238,871 -90,940
1986 36,203 2,558 233,799 -81,970
1985 35,966 2,683 224,734 -63,347
1984 35,530 2,393 218,078 -47,331
1983 35,142 1,980 211,795 -34,132
1982 34,859 1,751 204,892 -34,140
1981 34,327 7,610 198,227 -34,130
1980 33,934 -10,849 190,560 -30,156
1979 32,486 15,918 182,449 -32,353
1978 30,596 26,015 172,652 -31,520
1977 29,009 13,708 165,071 -28,853
1976 27,497 11,914 157,778 -33,999
1975 25,762 11,086 150,222 -26,572
1974 24,160 8,854 142,448 -22,449
1973 22,449 10,615 135,801 -19,137
1972 21,004 5,937 129,687 -19,594
1971 19,926 -3,016 123,591 -22,127
1970 19,438 -16,054 118,952 -17,479
1969 19,024 -15,870 114,361 -18,302
1968 18,725 -15,681 111,403 -18,015
1967 18,463 -15,438 107,650 -16,900
1966 18,250 -15,140 103,684 -17,032
1965 18,045 -14,753 100,451 -13,662
1964 17,634 -4,126 97,166 -13,226
1963 17,084 -4,000 95,055 -11,951
1962 16,507 -4,028 93,101 -10,821
1961 16,185 -4,168 91,115 -10,139
1960 15,861 -4,331 88,802 -10,314

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

GeoRank.org/population/botswana/mali | 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 Mali 95% is from natural causes (a gain of 6,894,429 people) and 4.99% is from migration (a loss of 362,104 people).

As of 2024, 116,402 residents or 4.6% of the population were not native-born in Botswana, compared to 545,323 people or 2.2% in Mali.

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
Mali
City Population
Bamako 4.23M
Sikasso 226K
Segou 131K
Bougouni 59.7K
Markala 46K
Koulikoro 43.2K
Banamba 30.6K

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/mali | 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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