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

Updated on by Georank team

The latest officially reported population of Botswana was 2,521,139 in 2024 vs 5,169,395 people in Mauritania in 2024. In 2026, based on the adjusted UN estimation, the current Botswana's population is 2,615,162 people compared to 5,505,206 in Mauritania.

Population statistics:

  • Mauritania's population is 2.11 times bigger than Botswana's.
  • Botswana is ranked the 142nd most populous country in the world, while Mauritania is the 122nd.
  • The countries together account for 0.1% of the world: 0.03% for Botswana vs 0.07% for Mauritania.
  • For the last 10 years, Botswana has had an average growth rate of +1.5% per year vs +3% in Mauritania.
  • Since 2006, the population of Botswana has increased from 1.87M people to 2.62M (39.5% growth), while Mauritania has grown from 3.01M to 5.51M (82.7% growth).

Botswana vs Mauritania: population by year and forecast

Botswana
Factual

Projection
Mauritania
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Population
Botswana Mauritania
2100 3,871,504 17,309,980
2099 3,876,625 17,202,690
2098 3,882,670 17,090,030
2097 3,887,985 16,975,270
2096 3,892,886 16,857,252
2095 3,897,211 16,739,240
2094 3,901,478 16,617,272
2093 3,905,541 16,492,589
2092 3,909,490 16,366,098
2091 3,913,899 16,235,771
2090 3,916,706 16,103,700
2089 3,917,351 15,969,059
2088 3,917,510 15,831,339
2087 3,916,826 15,690,143
2086 3,916,303 15,547,605
2085 3,915,785 15,403,967
2084 3,914,364 15,257,740
2083 3,912,929 15,108,271
2082 3,910,994 14,958,279
2081 3,910,013 14,805,332
2080 3,908,255 14,651,508
2079 3,905,358 14,496,397
2078 3,900,828 14,337,117
2077 3,896,126 14,175,812
2076 3,890,528 14,013,255
2075 3,884,696 13,849,027
2074 3,879,057 13,684,146
2073 3,873,259 13,517,681
2072 3,865,665 13,349,376
2071 3,858,720 13,178,237
2070 3,851,234 13,007,812
2069 3,841,316 12,835,311
2068 3,830,826 12,662,862
2067 3,818,341 12,487,379
2066 3,805,705 12,311,503
2065 3,791,211 12,136,616
2064 3,775,938 11,958,955
2063 3,760,179 11,783,144
2062 3,742,710 11,606,044
2061 3,723,346 11,428,738
2060 3,703,231 11,251,427
2059 3,682,816 11,072,236
2058 3,659,567 10,892,076
2057 3,635,514 10,713,858
2056 3,611,843 10,536,935
2055 3,587,056 10,358,532
2054 3,562,182 10,179,658
2053 3,535,732 9,999,712
2052 3,507,938 9,819,098
2051 3,479,939 9,639,209
2050 3,451,521 9,461,249
2049 3,422,143 9,283,353
2048 3,391,720 9,104,299
2047 3,360,414 8,926,851
2046 3,328,208 8,748,845
2045 3,296,489 8,572,397
2044 3,265,120 8,397,189
2043 3,233,076 8,222,194
2042 3,201,405 8,048,139
2041 3,168,873 7,876,803
2040 3,135,889 7,706,696
2039 3,101,794 7,537,689
2038 3,067,648 7,369,184
2037 3,032,620 7,202,472
2036 2,996,884 7,036,729
2035 2,960,590 6,871,981
2034 2,923,411 6,708,364
2033 2,885,991 6,546,168
2032 2,847,292 6,385,827
2031 2,808,872 6,227,564
2030 2,768,505 6,070,865
2029 2,728,467 5,916,516
2028 2,686,968 5,764,060
2027 2,645,863 5,613,919
2026 2,603,779 5,464,898
2025 2,562,651 5,317,228
2024 2,521,139 5,169,395
2023 2,480,244 5,022,441
2022 2,439,892 4,875,637
2021 2,401,441 4,734,874
2020 2,365,894 4,600,131
2019 2,332,083 4,467,708
2018 2,299,141 4,337,685
2017 2,266,747 4,210,600
2016 2,234,776 4,086,657
2015 2,203,273 3,965,959
2014 2,172,044 3,848,514
2013 2,140,682 3,734,318
2012 2,108,617 3,619,034
2011 2,073,535 3,502,811
2010 2,033,111 3,390,965
2009 1,990,673 3,284,448
2008 1,949,970 3,183,269
2007 1,911,201 3,093,059
2006 1,874,516 3,013,660
2005 1,839,877 2,939,059
2004 1,807,146 2,868,664
2003 1,775,736 2,802,046
2002 1,744,763 2,738,655
2001 1,712,254 2,678,760
2000 1,677,382 2,613,441
1999 1,641,997 2,541,698
1998 1,606,899 2,474,651
1997 1,571,691 2,411,306
1996 1,535,914 2,358,188
1995 1,498,836 2,312,017
1994 1,460,023 2,249,454
1993 1,420,115 2,174,328
1992 1,380,033 2,088,135
1991 1,341,756 2,009,738
1990 1,305,696 1,951,878
1989 1,270,274 1,903,048
1988 1,235,476 1,855,859
1987 1,199,167 1,803,014
1986 1,160,650 1,751,835
1985 1,121,945 1,702,107
1984 1,083,660 1,653,693
1983 1,046,137 1,606,746
1982 1,009,269 1,561,176
1981 969,996 1,516,877
1980 937,485 1,474,043
1979 901,742 1,432,758
1978 849,239 1,392,713
1977 799,574 1,353,768
1976 758,508 1,315,336
1975 720,380 1,277,330
1974 685,448 1,240,188
1973 652,408 1,203,838
1972 622,407 1,168,355
1971 600,481 1,133,702
1970 590,334 1,099,806
1969 587,066 1,066,754
1968 583,966 1,034,739
1967 580,933 1,003,843
1966 577,866 974,157
1965 574,664 945,838
1964 566,266 918,955
1963 552,966 893,423
1962 540,186 869,184
1961 527,942 846,167
1960 516,165 824,298

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/mauritania | CC BY

From 2006 to 2016, the population of Botswana increased by 360,260 people (a 19.2% growth), while Mauritania gained 1,072,997 people (a 35.6% growth).

For the next 10 years, from 2016 to 2026, Botswana gained 380,386 people (a 17% growth), while Mauritania's population increased by 1,418,549 people (a 34.7% growth).

Botswana was ranked 145th most populous country in 2006 and is 142nd in 2026. Mauritania was ranked 132nd in 2006 and ranked 122nd 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 Mauritania will increase by 71.9% to 9,461,249 people and rank change from 122nd to 102nd.

Botswana is projected to reach its peak in 2088 at 3.92M people compared to the peak of 17.3M people in 2100 for Mauritania.

Population growth rate by year

Botswana
Factual

Projection
Mauritania
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Growth rate
Botswana Mauritania
2100 -0.13% 0.62%
2099 -0.16% 0.66%
2098 -0.14% 0.68%
2097 -0.13% 0.7%
2096 -0.11% 0.7%
2095 -0.11% 0.73%
2094 -0.1% 0.76%
2093 -0.1% 0.77%
2092 -0.11% 0.8%
2091 -0.07% 0.82%
2090 -0.02% 0.84%
2089 -0.004% 0.87%
2088 0.02% 0.9%
2087 0.01% 0.92%
2086 0.01% 0.93%
2085 0.04% 0.96%
2084 0.04% 0.99%
2083 0.05% 1%
2082 0.03% 1.03%
2081 0.04% 1.05%
2080 0.07% 1.07%
2079 0.12% 1.11%
2078 0.12% 1.14%
2077 0.14% 1.16%
2076 0.15% 1.19%
2075 0.15% 1.2%
2074 0.15% 1.23%
2073 0.2% 1.26%
2072 0.18% 1.3%
2071 0.19% 1.31%
2070 0.26% 1.34%
2069 0.27% 1.36%
2068 0.33% 1.41%
2067 0.33% 1.43%
2066 0.38% 1.44%
2065 0.4% 1.49%
2064 0.42% 1.49%
2063 0.47% 1.53%
2062 0.52% 1.55%
2061 0.54% 1.58%
2060 0.55% 1.62%
2059 0.64% 1.65%
2058 0.66% 1.66%
2057 0.66% 1.68%
2056 0.69% 1.72%
2055 0.7% 1.76%
2054 0.75% 1.8%
2053 0.79% 1.84%
2052 0.8% 1.87%
2051 0.82% 1.88%
2050 0.86% 1.92%
2049 0.9% 1.97%
2048 0.93% 1.99%
2047 0.97% 2.03%
2046 0.96% 2.06%
2045 0.96% 2.09%
2044 0.99% 2.13%
2043 0.99% 2.16%
2042 1.03% 2.18%
2041 1.05% 2.21%
2040 1.1% 2.24%
2039 1.11% 2.29%
2038 1.16% 2.31%
2037 1.19% 2.36%
2036 1.23% 2.4%
2035 1.27% 2.44%
2034 1.3% 2.48%
2033 1.36% 2.51%
2032 1.37% 2.54%
2031 1.46% 2.58%
2030 1.47% 2.61%
2029 1.54% 2.64%
2028 1.55% 2.67%
2027 1.62% 2.73%
2026 1.6% 2.78%
2025 1.65% 2.86%
2024 1.65% 2.93%
2023 1.65% 3.01%
2022 1.6% 2.97%
2021 1.5% 2.93%
2020 1.45% 2.96%
2019 1.43% 3%
2018 1.43% 3.02%
2017 1.43% 3.03%
2016 1.43% 3.04%
2015 1.44% 3.05%
2014 1.47% 3.06%
2013 1.52% 3.19%
2012 1.69% 3.32%
2011 1.99% 3.3%
2010 2.13% 3.24%
2009 2.09% 3.18%
2008 2.03% 2.92%
2007 1.96% 2.63%
2006 1.88% 2.54%
2005 1.81% 2.45%
2004 1.77% 2.38%
2003 1.78% 2.31%
2002 1.9% 2.24%
2001 2.08% 2.5%
2000 2.15% 2.82%
1999 2.18% 2.71%
1998 2.24% 2.63%
1997 2.33% 2.25%
1996 2.47% 2%
1995 2.66% 2.78%
1994 2.81% 3.46%
1993 2.9% 4.13%
1992 2.85% 3.9%
1991 2.76% 2.96%
1990 2.79% 2.57%
1989 2.82% 2.54%
1988 3.03% 2.93%
1987 3.32% 2.92%
1986 3.45% 2.92%
1985 3.53% 2.93%
1984 3.59% 2.92%
1983 3.65% 2.92%
1982 4.05% 2.92%
1981 3.47% 2.91%
1980 3.96% 2.88%
1979 6.18% 2.88%
1978 6.21% 2.88%
1977 5.41% 2.92%
1976 5.29% 2.98%
1975 5.1% 2.99%
1974 5.06% 3.02%
1973 4.82% 3.04%
1972 3.65% 3.06%
1971 1.72% 3.08%
1970 0.56% 3.1%
1969 0.53% 3.09%
1968 0.52% 3.08%
1967 0.53% 3.05%
1966 0.56% 2.99%
1965 1.48% 2.93%
1964 2.41% 2.86%
1963 2.37% 2.79%
1962 2.32% 2.72%
1961 2.28% 2.65%

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/mauritania | CC BY

In 2024, the population of Botswana grew by 1.65%, while Mauritania's population grew by 2.93%.

Live population counters

Botswana Mauritania
Current population
2615162
5505206
Population rank 142/197 122/197
Percent of world population 0.03% 0.07%
One net population change
12.9 minutes
3.58 minutes
One birth every
8.58 minutes
3.04 minutes
One death every
37 minutes
19 minutes
Daily growth/decline +112 +403
Annual growth/decline +40,895 +146,954
Annual growth/decline rate +1.65% +2.93%
Population growth rate rank 66/197 17/197
One migration net change every
1.55 hours
1.74 hours
Annual migration change -5,665 -5,044
Net migration rank 120/196 115/196
Foreign-born residents 116,402 195,937
Foreign-born residents rank 126/195 113/195
Foreign-born share of population 4.6% 3.8%
Foreign-born share rank 96/195 107/195

Natural population change vs migration

Botswana
Natural

Migration
Mauritania
Natural

Migration
1x
Year Population change
Botswana Mauritania
Natural Migration Natural Migration
2025 - -5,665 - -5,044
2024 - -5,778 - -2,185
2023 47,098 -6,487 145,164 2,999
2022 47,400 -7,306 142,451 2,999
2021 40,894 -4,083 137,557 -1,483
2020 45,610 -11,330 134,899 -1,483
2019 45,110 -11,770 134,460 -3,019
2018 44,171 -11,623 131,584 -2,987
2017 43,154 -10,916 128,562 -3,001
2016 41,993 -10,286 125,342 -3,008
2015 40,897 -9,599 122,092 -3,019
2014 40,046 -8,893 118,792 -2,980
2013 39,404 -7,836 115,558 -2,987
2012 39,202 -6,636 113,489 4,515
2011 38,613 -1,019 111,165 3,272
2010 38,101 5,151 108,121 1,128
2009 36,671 4,960 105,273 -1,481
2008 35,433 4,343 102,432 -3,860
2007 33,832 3,926 98,895 -17,048
2006 31,340 4,270 94,991 -18,033
2005 29,385 4,283 90,940 -18,693
2004 27,481 4,314 87,578 -19,042
2003 26,545 4,488 83,804 -19,104
2002 26,163 4,747 80,993 -18,903
2001 26,112 7,991 78,769 -21,067
2000 25,850 9,798 75,929 -2,997
1999 25,358 9,762 73,554 -2,999
1998 25,397 9,685 72,045 -8,504
1997 25,738 9,597 71,327 -8,187
1996 26,847 9,368 71,939 -28,840
1995 28,478 9,464 72,244 -22,997
1994 30,664 9,023 70,570 5,304
1993 31,691 8,441 68,167 6,217
1992 31,995 8,026 63,501 34,505
1991 32,219 4,311 61,782 -2,997
1990 33,015 2,580 59,934 -3,000
1989 33,756 1,495 58,666 -17,941
1988 34,564 -215 56,654 -2,997
1987 35,647 2,624 55,037 -2,998
1986 36,203 2,558 53,313 -2,998
1985 35,966 2,683 52,125 -2,998
1984 35,530 2,393 50,705 -2,998
1983 35,142 1,980 49,187 -2,998
1982 34,859 1,751 47,947 -2,998
1981 34,327 7,610 46,641 -2,998
1980 33,934 -10,849 45,026 -2,997
1979 32,486 15,918 43,537 -2,997
1978 30,596 26,015 42,539 -2,998
1977 29,009 13,708 41,352 -2,999
1976 27,497 11,914 40,149 -1,645
1975 25,762 11,086 38,975 -1,472
1974 24,160 8,854 38,106 -1,321
1973 22,449 10,615 37,122 -1,201
1972 21,004 5,937 36,184 -1,139
1971 19,926 -3,016 35,279 -1,014
1970 19,438 -16,054 34,382 -855
1969 19,024 -15,870 33,252 -688
1968 18,725 -15,681 32,029 -565
1967 18,463 -15,438 30,853 -514
1966 18,250 -15,140 29,502 -466
1965 18,045 -14,753 28,028 -434
1964 17,634 -4,126 26,565 -390
1963 17,084 -4,000 25,250 -362
1962 16,507 -4,028 23,927 -342
1961 16,185 -4,168 22,781 -332
1960 15,861 -4,331 21,604 -318

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

GeoRank.org/population/botswana/mauritania | 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 Mauritania 98.9% is from natural causes (a gain of 1,320,903 people) and 1.12% is from migration (a loss of 14,982 people).

As of 2024, 116,402 residents or 4.6% of the population were not native-born in Botswana, compared to 195,937 people or 3.8% in Mauritania.

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
Mauritania
City Population
Nouakchott 1.45M
Rosso 61.2K

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/mauritania | 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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