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

Updated on by Georank team

The latest officially reported population of Botswana was 2,521,139 in 2024 vs 3,030,131 people in Namibia in 2024. In 2026, based on the adjusted UN estimation, the current Botswana's population is 2,615,162 people compared to 3,173,089 in Namibia.

Population statistics:

  • Namibia's population is 1.21 times bigger than Botswana's.
  • Botswana is ranked the 142nd most populous country in the world, while Namibia is the 134th.
  • The countries together account for 0.07% of the world: 0.03% for Botswana vs 0.04% for Namibia.
  • For the last 10 years, Botswana has had an average growth rate of +1.5% per year vs +2.73% in Namibia.
  • Since 2006, the population of Botswana has increased from 1.87M people to 2.62M (39.5% growth), while Namibia has grown from 1.99M to 3.17M (59.3% growth).

Botswana vs Namibia: population by year and forecast

Botswana
Factual

Projection
Namibia
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Population
Botswana Namibia
2100 3,871,504 5,958,153
2099 3,876,625 5,952,623
2098 3,882,670 5,947,142
2097 3,887,985 5,942,285
2096 3,892,886 5,938,162
2095 3,897,211 5,930,395
2094 3,901,478 5,922,248
2093 3,905,541 5,911,235
2092 3,909,490 5,899,026
2091 3,913,899 5,886,490
2090 3,916,706 5,871,938
2089 3,917,351 5,858,234
2088 3,917,510 5,842,720
2087 3,916,826 5,825,856
2086 3,916,303 5,806,643
2085 3,915,785 5,789,246
2084 3,914,364 5,771,050
2083 3,912,929 5,751,610
2082 3,910,994 5,730,648
2081 3,910,013 5,707,476
2080 3,908,255 5,682,842
2079 3,905,358 5,659,698
2078 3,900,828 5,634,313
2077 3,896,126 5,608,096
2076 3,890,528 5,580,829
2075 3,884,696 5,551,107
2074 3,879,057 5,522,025
2073 3,873,259 5,494,180
2072 3,865,665 5,464,749
2071 3,858,720 5,434,461
2070 3,851,234 5,403,822
2069 3,841,316 5,371,517
2068 3,830,826 5,336,950
2067 3,818,341 5,300,707
2066 3,805,705 5,263,191
2065 3,791,211 5,227,346
2064 3,775,938 5,190,323
2063 3,760,179 5,150,579
2062 3,742,710 5,109,760
2061 3,723,346 5,068,478
2060 3,703,231 5,023,587
2059 3,682,816 4,979,591
2058 3,659,567 4,933,964
2057 3,635,514 4,887,985
2056 3,611,843 4,840,537
2055 3,587,056 4,790,848
2054 3,562,182 4,741,942
2053 3,535,732 4,691,180
2052 3,507,938 4,639,835
2051 3,479,939 4,587,353
2050 3,451,521 4,533,502
2049 3,422,143 4,482,650
2048 3,391,720 4,430,309
2047 3,360,414 4,373,597
2046 3,328,208 4,318,050
2045 3,296,489 4,259,166
2044 3,265,120 4,202,338
2043 3,233,076 4,144,892
2042 3,201,405 4,088,713
2041 3,168,873 4,032,347
2040 3,135,889 3,976,987
2039 3,101,794 3,920,720
2038 3,067,648 3,862,015
2037 3,032,620 3,804,482
2036 2,996,884 3,747,072
2035 2,960,590 3,689,163
2034 2,923,411 3,631,737
2033 2,885,991 3,575,000
2032 2,847,292 3,516,310
2031 2,808,872 3,456,265
2030 2,768,505 3,395,964
2029 2,728,467 3,336,698
2028 2,686,968 3,277,428
2027 2,645,863 3,216,917
2026 2,603,779 3,156,839
2025 2,562,651 3,094,769
2024 2,521,139 3,030,131
2023 2,480,244 2,963,095
2022 2,439,892 2,889,662
2021 2,401,441 2,810,548
2020 2,365,894 2,728,762
2019 2,332,083 2,650,494
2018 2,299,141 2,577,327
2017 2,266,747 2,506,853
2016 2,234,776 2,439,213
2015 2,203,273 2,374,300
2014 2,172,044 2,312,139
2013 2,140,682 2,252,508
2012 2,108,617 2,194,654
2011 2,073,535 2,146,325
2010 2,033,111 2,109,811
2009 1,990,673 2,077,394
2008 1,949,970 2,047,056
2007 1,911,201 2,018,600
2006 1,874,516 1,991,888
2005 1,839,877 1,966,582
2004 1,807,146 1,942,082
2003 1,775,736 1,917,464
2002 1,744,763 1,889,970
2001 1,712,254 1,857,048
2000 1,677,382 1,818,647
1999 1,641,997 1,776,368
1998 1,606,899 1,732,745
1997 1,571,691 1,689,264
1996 1,535,914 1,646,103
1995 1,498,836 1,602,170
1994 1,460,023 1,556,304
1993 1,420,115 1,508,697
1992 1,380,033 1,461,322
1991 1,341,756 1,415,684
1990 1,305,696 1,369,303
1989 1,270,274 1,288,947
1988 1,235,476 1,209,696
1987 1,199,167 1,167,889
1986 1,160,650 1,131,081
1985 1,121,945 1,096,890
1984 1,083,660 1,065,989
1983 1,046,137 1,037,511
1982 1,009,269 1,010,308
1981 969,996 992,500
1980 937,485 981,434
1979 901,742 962,825
1978 849,239 947,269
1977 799,574 931,104
1976 758,508 906,566
1975 720,380 881,032
1974 685,448 854,320
1973 652,408 828,928
1972 622,407 804,399
1971 600,481 780,584
1970 590,334 757,868
1969 587,066 736,120
1968 583,966 715,542
1967 580,933 696,045
1966 577,866 677,655
1965 574,664 660,558
1964 566,266 644,530
1963 552,966 629,589
1962 540,186 615,759
1961 527,942 603,067
1960 516,165 591,465

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/namibia | CC BY

From 2006 to 2016, the population of Botswana increased by 360,260 people (a 19.2% growth), while Namibia gained 447,325 people (a 22.5% growth).

For the next 10 years, from 2016 to 2026, Botswana gained 380,386 people (a 17% growth), while Namibia's population increased by 733,876 people (a 30.1% growth).

Botswana was ranked 145th most populous country in 2006 and is 142nd in 2026. Namibia was ranked 143rd in 2006 and ranked 134th 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 Namibia will increase by 42.9% to 4,533,502 people and rank change from 134th to 131st.

Botswana is projected to reach its peak in 2088 at 3.92M people compared to the peak of 5.96M people in 2100 for Namibia.

Population growth rate by year

Botswana
Factual

Projection
Namibia
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Growth rate
Botswana Namibia
2100 -0.13% 0.09%
2099 -0.16% 0.09%
2098 -0.14% 0.08%
2097 -0.13% 0.07%
2096 -0.11% 0.13%
2095 -0.11% 0.14%
2094 -0.1% 0.19%
2093 -0.1% 0.21%
2092 -0.11% 0.21%
2091 -0.07% 0.25%
2090 -0.02% 0.23%
2089 -0.004% 0.27%
2088 0.02% 0.29%
2087 0.01% 0.33%
2086 0.01% 0.3%
2085 0.04% 0.32%
2084 0.04% 0.34%
2083 0.05% 0.37%
2082 0.03% 0.41%
2081 0.04% 0.43%
2080 0.07% 0.41%
2079 0.12% 0.45%
2078 0.12% 0.47%
2077 0.14% 0.49%
2076 0.15% 0.54%
2075 0.15% 0.53%
2074 0.15% 0.51%
2073 0.2% 0.54%
2072 0.18% 0.56%
2071 0.19% 0.57%
2070 0.26% 0.6%
2069 0.27% 0.65%
2068 0.33% 0.68%
2067 0.33% 0.71%
2066 0.38% 0.69%
2065 0.4% 0.71%
2064 0.42% 0.77%
2063 0.47% 0.8%
2062 0.52% 0.81%
2061 0.54% 0.89%
2060 0.55% 0.88%
2059 0.64% 0.92%
2058 0.66% 0.94%
2057 0.66% 0.98%
2056 0.69% 1.04%
2055 0.7% 1.03%
2054 0.75% 1.08%
2053 0.79% 1.11%
2052 0.8% 1.14%
2051 0.82% 1.19%
2050 0.86% 1.13%
2049 0.9% 1.18%
2048 0.93% 1.3%
2047 0.97% 1.29%
2046 0.96% 1.38%
2045 0.96% 1.35%
2044 0.99% 1.39%
2043 0.99% 1.37%
2042 1.03% 1.4%
2041 1.05% 1.39%
2040 1.1% 1.44%
2039 1.11% 1.52%
2038 1.16% 1.51%
2037 1.19% 1.53%
2036 1.23% 1.57%
2035 1.27% 1.58%
2034 1.3% 1.59%
2033 1.36% 1.67%
2032 1.37% 1.74%
2031 1.46% 1.78%
2030 1.47% 1.78%
2029 1.54% 1.81%
2028 1.55% 1.88%
2027 1.62% 1.9%
2026 1.6% 2.01%
2025 1.65% 2.13%
2024 1.65% 2.26%
2023 1.65% 2.54%
2022 1.6% 2.81%
2021 1.5% 3%
2020 1.45% 2.95%
2019 1.43% 2.84%
2018 1.43% 2.81%
2017 1.43% 2.77%
2016 1.43% 2.73%
2015 1.44% 2.69%
2014 1.47% 2.65%
2013 1.52% 2.64%
2012 1.69% 2.25%
2011 1.99% 1.73%
2010 2.13% 1.56%
2009 2.09% 1.48%
2008 2.03% 1.41%
2007 1.96% 1.34%
2006 1.88% 1.29%
2005 1.81% 1.26%
2004 1.77% 1.28%
2003 1.78% 1.45%
2002 1.9% 1.77%
2001 2.08% 2.11%
2000 2.15% 2.38%
1999 2.18% 2.52%
1998 2.24% 2.57%
1997 2.33% 2.62%
1996 2.47% 2.74%
1995 2.66% 2.95%
1994 2.81% 3.16%
1993 2.9% 3.24%
1992 2.85% 3.22%
1991 2.76% 3.39%
1990 2.79% 6.23%
1989 2.82% 6.55%
1988 3.03% 3.58%
1987 3.32% 3.25%
1986 3.45% 3.12%
1985 3.53% 2.9%
1984 3.59% 2.74%
1983 3.65% 2.69%
1982 4.05% 1.79%
1981 3.47% 1.13%
1980 3.96% 1.93%
1979 6.18% 1.64%
1978 6.21% 1.74%
1977 5.41% 2.71%
1976 5.29% 2.9%
1975 5.1% 3.13%
1974 5.06% 3.06%
1973 4.82% 3.05%
1972 3.65% 3.05%
1971 1.72% 3%
1970 0.56% 2.95%
1969 0.53% 2.88%
1968 0.52% 2.8%
1967 0.53% 2.71%
1966 0.56% 2.59%
1965 1.48% 2.49%
1964 2.41% 2.37%
1963 2.37% 2.25%
1962 2.32% 2.1%
1961 2.28% 1.96%

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/namibia | CC BY

In 2024, the population of Botswana grew by 1.65%, while Namibia's population grew by 2.26%.

Live population counters

Botswana Namibia
Current population
2615162
3173089
Population rank 142/197 134/197
Percent of world population 0.03% 0.04%
One net population change
12.9 minutes
7.84 minutes
One birth every
8.58 minutes
6.85 minutes
One death every
37 minutes
28.8 minutes
Daily growth/decline +112 +184
Annual growth/decline +40,895 +67,036
Annual growth/decline rate +1.65% +2.26%
Population growth rate rank 66/197 41/197
One migration net change every
1.55 hours
4.71 hours
Annual migration change -5,665 +1,866
Net migration rank 120/196 57/196
Foreign-born residents 116,402 116,035
Foreign-born residents rank 126/195 127/195
Foreign-born share of population 4.6% 3.8%
Foreign-born share rank 96/195 108/195

Natural population change vs migration

Botswana
Natural

Migration
Namibia
Natural

Migration
1x
Year Population change
Botswana Namibia
Natural Migration Natural Migration
2025 - -5,665 - 1,866
2024 - -5,778 - 4,211
2023 47,098 -6,487 58,435 11,675
2022 47,400 -7,306 54,534 22,212
2021 40,894 -4,083 50,160 31,327
2020 45,610 -11,330 55,034 27,056
2019 45,110 -11,770 54,769 19,676
2018 44,171 -11,623 53,970 17,920
2017 43,154 -10,916 52,975 16,080
2016 41,993 -10,286 52,228 14,002
2015 40,897 -9,599 50,846 12,755
2014 40,046 -8,893 49,581 11,134
2013 39,404 -7,836 47,801 10,748
2012 39,202 -6,636 46,204 10,957
2011 38,613 -1,019 43,557 -4,067
2010 38,101 5,151 42,046 -8,518
2009 36,671 4,960 39,942 -8,626
2008 35,433 4,343 38,147 -8,775
2007 33,832 3,926 36,430 -8,905
2006 31,340 4,270 34,690 -8,792
2005 29,385 4,283 32,909 -8,195
2004 27,481 4,314 31,478 -7,192
2003 26,545 4,488 31,115 -6,153
2002 26,163 4,747 31,947 -1,913
2001 26,112 7,991 32,942 2,869
2000 25,850 9,798 35,280 5,709
1999 25,358 9,762 37,233 6,333
1998 25,397 9,685 37,500 6,180
1997 25,738 9,597 37,256 6,023
1996 26,847 9,368 37,177 5,866
1995 28,478 9,464 39,119 5,712
1994 30,664 9,023 41,316 5,578
1993 31,691 8,441 42,861 5,464
1992 31,995 8,026 43,945 2,487
1991 32,219 4,311 44,523 309
1990 33,015 2,580 43,956 3,969
1989 33,756 1,495 37,715 75,072
1988 34,564 -215 34,798 10,916
1987 35,647 2,624 33,340 4,559
1986 36,203 2,558 31,764 3,953
1985 35,966 2,683 30,575 2,090
1984 35,530 2,393 29,395 -267
1983 35,142 1,980 28,307 -481
1982 34,859 1,751 27,474 -889
1981 34,327 7,610 27,938 -18,901
1980 33,934 -10,849 28,142 -15,041
1979 32,486 15,918 28,930 -4,818
1978 30,596 26,015 29,821 -22,827
1977 29,009 13,708 29,241 -3,907
1976 27,497 11,914 28,785 -5,048
1975 25,762 11,086 27,882 -553
1974 24,160 8,854 26,844 -744
1973 22,449 10,615 25,754 -1,066
1972 21,004 5,937 24,606 -236
1971 19,926 -3,016 23,467 -208
1970 19,438 -16,054 22,414 -244
1969 19,024 -15,870 21,387 -57
1968 18,725 -15,681 20,470 -636
1967 18,463 -15,438 19,498 -339
1966 18,250 -15,140 18,635 -1,023
1965 18,045 -14,753 17,902 -1,327
1964 17,634 -4,126 17,134 -1,660
1963 17,084 -4,000 16,430 -2,016
1962 16,507 -4,028 15,656 -2,403
1961 16,185 -4,168 14,936 -2,807
1960 15,861 -4,331 14,307 -3,227

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

GeoRank.org/population/botswana/namibia | 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 Namibia 74.3% is from natural causes (a gain of 532,532 people) and 25.7% is from migration (a gain of 183,837 people).

As of 2024, 116,402 residents or 4.6% of the population were not native-born in Botswana, compared to 116,035 people or 3.8% in Namibia.

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
Namibia
City Population
Windhoek 431K
Walvis Bay 103K
Swakopmund 75.9K
Otjiwarongo 49K
Rehoboth 40.8K
Tsumeb 35K
Gobabis 33.4K
Mariental 18.5K
Oshikango 12.4K
Omaruru 10.8K

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/namibia | 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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