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

Updated on by Georank team

The latest officially reported population of Botswana was 2,521,139 in 2024 vs 11,947 people in Nauru in 2024. In 2026, based on the adjusted UN estimation, the current Botswana's population is 2,615,162 people compared to 12,125 in Nauru.

Population statistics:

  • Botswana's population is 215.7 times bigger than Nauru's.
  • Botswana is ranked the 142nd most populous country in the world, while Nauru is the 195th.
  • The countries together account for 0.03% of the world: 0.03% for Botswana vs 0.0001% for Nauru.
  • For the last 10 years, Botswana has had an average growth rate of +1.5% per year vs +1.17% in Nauru.
  • Since 2006, the population of Botswana has increased from 1.87M people to 2.62M (39.5% growth), while Nauru has grown from 10K to 12.1K (20.8% growth).

Botswana vs Nauru: population by year and forecast

Botswana
Factual

Projection
Nauru
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Population
Botswana Nauru
2100 3,871,504 20,717
2099 3,876,625 20,686
2098 3,882,670 20,645
2097 3,887,985 20,605
2096 3,892,886 20,570
2095 3,897,211 20,535
2094 3,901,478 20,488
2093 3,905,541 20,432
2092 3,909,490 20,386
2091 3,913,899 20,341
2090 3,916,706 20,285
2089 3,917,351 20,219
2088 3,917,510 20,152
2087 3,916,826 20,096
2086 3,916,303 20,028
2085 3,915,785 19,959
2084 3,914,364 19,880
2083 3,912,929 19,796
2082 3,910,994 19,709
2081 3,910,013 19,611
2080 3,908,255 19,525
2079 3,905,358 19,420
2078 3,900,828 19,312
2077 3,896,126 19,206
2076 3,890,528 19,098
2075 3,884,696 18,986
2074 3,879,057 18,874
2073 3,873,259 18,758
2072 3,865,665 18,638
2071 3,858,720 18,535
2070 3,851,234 18,396
2069 3,841,316 18,289
2068 3,830,826 18,168
2067 3,818,341 18,025
2066 3,805,705 17,903
2065 3,791,211 17,777
2064 3,775,938 17,649
2063 3,760,179 17,524
2062 3,742,710 17,402
2061 3,723,346 17,267
2060 3,703,231 17,137
2059 3,682,816 17,013
2058 3,659,567 16,882
2057 3,635,514 16,752
2056 3,611,843 16,612
2055 3,587,056 16,472
2054 3,562,182 16,335
2053 3,535,732 16,193
2052 3,507,938 16,049
2051 3,479,939 15,888
2050 3,451,521 15,738
2049 3,422,143 15,572
2048 3,391,720 15,412
2047 3,360,414 15,241
2046 3,328,208 15,064
2045 3,296,489 14,895
2044 3,265,120 14,718
2043 3,233,076 14,546
2042 3,201,405 14,363
2041 3,168,873 14,180
2040 3,135,889 13,996
2039 3,101,794 13,827
2038 3,067,648 13,672
2037 3,032,620 13,513
2036 2,996,884 13,363
2035 2,960,590 13,196
2034 2,923,411 13,040
2033 2,885,991 12,894
2032 2,847,292 12,758
2031 2,808,872 12,625
2030 2,768,505 12,504
2029 2,728,467 12,386
2028 2,686,968 12,292
2027 2,645,863 12,182
2026 2,603,779 12,105
2025 2,562,651 12,030
2024 2,521,139 11,947
2023 2,480,244 11,875
2022 2,439,892 11,801
2021 2,401,441 11,709
2020 2,365,894 11,643
2019 2,332,083 11,587
2018 2,299,141 11,477
2017 2,266,747 11,324
2016 2,234,776 11,150
2015 2,203,273 10,954
2014 2,172,044 10,742
2013 2,140,682 10,517
2012 2,108,617 10,267
2011 2,073,535 10,098
2010 2,033,111 10,043
2009 1,990,673 10,016
2008 1,949,970 10,009
2007 1,911,201 10,020
2006 1,874,516 10,034
2005 1,839,877 10,049
2004 1,807,146 10,060
2003 1,775,736 10,059
2002 1,744,763 10,082
2001 1,712,254 10,130
2000 1,677,382 10,168
1999 1,641,997 10,187
1998 1,606,899 10,198
1997 1,571,691 10,197
1996 1,535,914 10,183
1995 1,498,836 10,165
1994 1,460,023 10,137
1993 1,420,115 10,102
1992 1,380,033 10,021
1991 1,341,756 9,850
1990 1,305,696 9,622
1989 1,270,274 9,390
1988 1,235,476 9,165
1987 1,199,167 8,946
1986 1,160,650 8,742
1985 1,121,945 8,551
1984 1,083,660 8,377
1983 1,046,137 8,216
1982 1,009,269 8,040
1981 969,996 7,839
1980 937,485 7,649
1979 901,742 7,468
1978 849,239 7,298
1977 799,574 7,163
1976 758,508 7,064
1975 720,380 6,987
1974 685,448 6,923
1973 652,408 6,866
1972 622,407 6,812
1971 600,481 6,762
1970 590,334 6,710
1969 587,066 6,581
1968 583,966 6,328
1967 580,933 6,135
1966 577,866 6,043
1965 574,664 5,832
1964 566,266 5,515
1963 552,966 5,226
1962 540,186 4,979
1961 527,942 4,774
1960 516,165 4,607

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/nauru | CC BY

From 2006 to 2016, the population of Botswana increased by 360,260 people (a 19.2% growth), while Nauru gained 1,116 people (a 11.1% growth).

For the next 10 years, from 2016 to 2026, Botswana gained 380,386 people (a 17% growth), while Nauru's population increased by 975 people (a 8.74% growth).

Botswana was ranked 145th most populous country in 2006 and is 142nd in 2026. Nauru was ranked 196th in 2006 and ranked 195th 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 Nauru will increase by 29.8% to 15,738 people and rank change from 195th to 194th.

Botswana is projected to reach its peak in 2088 at 3.92M people compared to the peak of 20.7K people in 2100 for Nauru.

Population growth rate by year

Botswana
Factual

Projection
Nauru
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Growth rate
Botswana Nauru
2100 -0.13% 0.15%
2099 -0.16% 0.2%
2098 -0.14% 0.19%
2097 -0.13% 0.17%
2096 -0.11% 0.17%
2095 -0.11% 0.23%
2094 -0.1% 0.27%
2093 -0.1% 0.23%
2092 -0.11% 0.22%
2091 -0.07% 0.28%
2090 -0.02% 0.33%
2089 -0.004% 0.33%
2088 0.02% 0.28%
2087 0.01% 0.34%
2086 0.01% 0.35%
2085 0.04% 0.39%
2084 0.04% 0.43%
2083 0.05% 0.44%
2082 0.03% 0.5%
2081 0.04% 0.44%
2080 0.07% 0.54%
2079 0.12% 0.56%
2078 0.12% 0.55%
2077 0.14% 0.57%
2076 0.15% 0.59%
2075 0.15% 0.6%
2074 0.15% 0.62%
2073 0.2% 0.65%
2072 0.18% 0.56%
2071 0.19% 0.75%
2070 0.26% 0.59%
2069 0.27% 0.66%
2068 0.33% 0.8%
2067 0.33% 0.68%
2066 0.38% 0.71%
2065 0.4% 0.73%
2064 0.42% 0.71%
2063 0.47% 0.7%
2062 0.52% 0.78%
2061 0.54% 0.76%
2060 0.55% 0.73%
2059 0.64% 0.78%
2058 0.66% 0.77%
2057 0.66% 0.85%
2056 0.69% 0.85%
2055 0.7% 0.84%
2054 0.75% 0.87%
2053 0.79% 0.9%
2052 0.8% 1.01%
2051 0.82% 0.96%
2050 0.86% 1.06%
2049 0.9% 1.04%
2048 0.93% 1.12%
2047 0.97% 1.17%
2046 0.96% 1.14%
2045 0.96% 1.2%
2044 0.99% 1.19%
2043 0.99% 1.27%
2042 1.03% 1.29%
2041 1.05% 1.32%
2040 1.1% 1.22%
2039 1.11% 1.14%
2038 1.16% 1.17%
2037 1.19% 1.12%
2036 1.23% 1.27%
2035 1.27% 1.19%
2034 1.3% 1.14%
2033 1.36% 1.06%
2032 1.37% 1.06%
2031 1.46% 0.96%
2030 1.47% 0.96%
2029 1.54% 0.77%
2028 1.55% 0.9%
2027 1.62% 0.64%
2026 1.6% 0.63%
2025 1.65% 0.7%
2024 1.65% 0.61%
2023 1.65% 0.63%
2022 1.6% 0.79%
2021 1.5% 0.57%
2020 1.45% 0.48%
2019 1.43% 0.96%
2018 1.43% 1.35%
2017 1.43% 1.56%
2016 1.43% 1.79%
2015 1.44% 1.97%
2014 1.47% 2.14%
2013 1.52% 2.43%
2012 1.69% 1.67%
2011 1.99% 0.55%
2010 2.13% 0.27%
2009 2.09% 0.07%
2008 2.03% -0.11%
2007 1.96% -0.14%
2006 1.88% -0.15%
2005 1.81% -0.11%
2004 1.77% 0.01%
2003 1.78% -0.23%
2002 1.9% -0.47%
2001 2.08% -0.37%
2000 2.15% -0.19%
1999 2.18% -0.11%
1998 2.24% 0.01%
1997 2.33% 0.14%
1996 2.47% 0.18%
1995 2.66% 0.28%
1994 2.81% 0.35%
1993 2.9% 0.81%
1992 2.85% 1.74%
1991 2.76% 2.37%
1990 2.79% 2.47%
1989 2.82% 2.45%
1988 3.03% 2.45%
1987 3.32% 2.33%
1986 3.45% 2.23%
1985 3.53% 2.08%
1984 3.59% 1.96%
1983 3.65% 2.19%
1982 4.05% 2.56%
1981 3.47% 2.48%
1980 3.96% 2.42%
1979 6.18% 2.33%
1978 6.21% 1.88%
1977 5.41% 1.4%
1976 5.29% 1.1%
1975 5.1% 0.92%
1974 5.06% 0.83%
1973 4.82% 0.79%
1972 3.65% 0.74%
1971 1.72% 0.77%
1970 0.56% 1.96%
1969 0.53% 4%
1968 0.52% 3.15%
1967 0.53% 1.52%
1966 0.56% 3.62%
1965 1.48% 5.75%
1964 2.41% 5.53%
1963 2.37% 4.96%
1962 2.32% 4.29%
1961 2.28% 3.62%

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/nauru | CC BY

In 2024, the population of Botswana grew by 1.65%, while Nauru's population grew by 0.61%.

Live population counters

Botswana Nauru
Current population
2615162
12125
Population rank 142/197 195/197
Percent of world population 0.03% 0.0001%
One net population change
12.9 minutes
5.07 days
One birth every
8.58 minutes
1.21 days
One death every
37 minutes
4.1 days
Daily growth/decline +112 +0
Annual growth/decline +40,895 +72
Annual growth/decline rate +1.65% +0.61%
Population growth rate rank 66/197 126/197
One migration net change every
1.55 hours
3 days
Annual migration change -5,665 -122
Net migration rank 120/196 82/196
Foreign-born residents 116,402 2,548
Foreign-born residents rank 126/195 191/195
Foreign-born share of population 4.6% 21.3%
Foreign-born share rank 96/195 29/195

Natural population change vs migration

Botswana
Natural

Migration
Nauru
Natural

Migration
1x
Year Population change
Botswana Nauru
Natural Migration Natural Migration
2025 - -5,665 - -122
2024 - -5,778 - -121
2023 47,098 -6,487 213 -148
2022 47,400 -7,306 226 -144
2021 40,894 -4,083 236 -137
2020 45,610 -11,330 246 -214
2019 45,110 -11,770 255 -171
2018 44,171 -11,623 265 -131
2017 43,154 -10,916 279 -115
2016 41,993 -10,286 289 -105
2015 40,897 -9,599 291 -86
2014 40,046 -8,893 290 -69
2013 39,404 -7,836 291 -53
2012 39,202 -6,636 292 -38
2011 38,613 -1,019 291 -206
2010 38,101 5,151 281 -246
2009 36,671 4,960 261 -249
2008 35,433 4,343 240 -243
2007 33,832 3,926 222 -235
2006 31,340 4,270 209 -224
2005 29,385 4,283 204 -217
2004 27,481 4,314 202 -210
2003 26,545 4,488 201 -199
2002 26,163 4,747 200 -247
2001 26,112 7,991 203 -252
2000 25,850 9,798 207 -236
1999 25,358 9,762 212 -227
1998 25,397 9,685 214 -217
1997 25,738 9,597 218 -209
1996 26,847 9,368 221 -204
1995 28,478 9,464 225 -201
1994 30,664 9,023 229 -196
1993 31,691 8,441 235 -194
1992 31,995 8,026 237 -121
1991 32,219 4,311 225 0
1990 33,015 2,580 214 20
1989 33,756 1,495 204 24
1988 34,564 -215 195 29
1987 35,647 2,624 186 27
1986 36,203 2,558 178 21
1985 35,966 2,683 171 8
1984 35,530 2,393 166 -2
1983 35,142 1,980 163 -5
1982 34,859 1,751 162 30
1981 34,327 7,610 157 44
1980 33,934 -10,849 145 44
1979 32,486 15,918 130 48
1978 30,596 26,015 111 40
1977 29,009 13,708 89 32
1976 27,497 11,914 79 0
1975 25,762 11,086 70 0
1974 24,160 8,854 63 0
1973 22,449 10,615 57 0
1972 21,004 5,937 53 0
1971 19,926 -3,016 50 0
1970 19,438 -16,054 49 0
1969 19,024 -15,870 71 132
1968 18,725 -15,681 116 180
1967 18,463 -15,438 117 -28
1966 18,250 -15,140 123 -32
1965 18,045 -14,753 113 218
1964 17,634 -4,126 100 203
1963 17,084 -4,000 88 181
1962 16,507 -4,028 75 158
1961 16,185 -4,168 70 120
1960 15,861 -4,331 72 76

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

GeoRank.org/population/botswana/nauru | 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 Nauru 66.2% is from natural causes (a gain of 2,590 people) and 33.8% is from migration (a loss of 1,320 people).

As of 2024, 116,402 residents or 4.6% of the population were not native-born in Botswana, compared to 2,548 people or 21.3% in Nauru.

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
Nauru
City Population
Yaren 747

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/nauru | 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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