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

Updated on by Georank

The latest officially reported population of Botswana was 2,562,122 in 2025 vs 12,025 people in Nauru in 2025. In 2026, based on the adjusted UN estimation, the current Botswana's population is 2,624,853 people compared to 12,139 in Nauru.

Population statistics:

  • Botswana's population is 216.2 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 +1.51% per year vs +1.03% in Nauru.
  • Since 2006, the population of Botswana has increased from 1.87M people to 2.62M (40% growth), while Nauru has grown from 10K to 12.1K (21% growth).

Botswana vs Nauru: population by year and forecast

Botswana
Factual

Projection
Nauru
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Population
Botswana Nauru
2100 3,870,704 20,708
2099 3,875,823 20,677
2098 3,881,867 20,636
2097 3,887,181 20,596
2096 3,892,081 20,561
2095 3,896,405 20,526
2094 3,900,671 20,479
2093 3,904,733 20,423
2092 3,908,682 20,377
2091 3,913,090 20,332
2090 3,915,896 20,276
2089 3,916,540 20,210
2088 3,916,700 20,143
2087 3,916,016 20,087
2086 3,915,493 20,019
2085 3,914,975 19,950
2084 3,913,555 19,872
2083 3,912,119 19,787
2082 3,910,185 19,700
2081 3,909,204 19,603
2080 3,907,447 19,517
2079 3,904,550 19,411
2078 3,900,021 19,304
2077 3,895,321 19,198
2076 3,889,723 19,089
2075 3,883,893 18,978
2074 3,878,255 18,866
2073 3,872,458 18,750
2072 3,864,865 18,630
2071 3,857,922 18,527
2070 3,850,437 18,388
2069 3,840,521 18,281
2068 3,830,034 18,160
2067 3,817,551 18,017
2066 3,804,918 17,896
2065 3,790,427 17,769
2064 3,775,157 17,641
2063 3,759,402 17,516
2062 3,741,936 17,394
2061 3,722,576 17,260
2060 3,702,465 17,129
2059 3,682,055 17,006
2058 3,658,810 16,874
2057 3,634,762 16,745
2056 3,611,096 16,605
2055 3,586,314 16,465
2054 3,561,446 16,328
2053 3,535,001 16,186
2052 3,507,213 16,042
2051 3,479,219 15,881
2050 3,450,807 15,731
2049 3,421,435 15,565
2048 3,391,019 15,405
2047 3,359,719 15,234
2046 3,327,520 15,058
2045 3,295,807 14,888
2044 3,264,444 14,712
2043 3,232,407 14,539
2042 3,200,743 14,357
2041 3,168,217 14,174
2040 3,135,241 13,990
2039 3,101,153 13,821
2038 3,067,014 13,666
2037 3,031,993 13,507
2036 2,996,265 13,358
2035 2,959,978 13,190
2034 2,922,807 13,035
2033 2,885,394 12,888
2032 2,846,703 12,753
2031 2,808,291 12,619
2030 2,767,933 12,499
2029 2,727,903 12,381
2028 2,686,412 12,286
2027 2,645,316 12,177
2026 2,603,241 12,100
2025 2,562,122 12,025
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 (2026–2100, retrieved 2026-07-08); World Bank | Health (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-07-08).

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 390,077 people (a 17.5% growth), while Nauru's population increased by 989 people (a 8.87% 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 31.5% to 3,450,807 people with a rank change from 142nd to 137th. The population of Nauru will increase by 29.6% to 15,731 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 1.63% 0.65%
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 (2026–2100, retrieved 2026-07-08); World Bank | Health (1961–2025, retrieved 2026-07-08).

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

In 2025, the population of Botswana grew by 1.63%, while Nauru's population grew by 0.65%.

Live population counters

Botswana Nauru
Current population
2624853
12139
Population rank 142/197 195/197
Percent of world population 0.03% 0.0001%
One net population change
12.9 minutes
4.69 days
One birth every
8.56 minutes
1.25 days
One death every
36.3 minutes
4.06 days
Daily growth/decline +112 +0
Annual growth/decline +40,983 +78
Annual growth/decline rate +1.63% +0.65%
Population growth rate rank 65/197 119/197
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 46,951 -5,778 203 -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 2026-07-08).

GeoRank.org/population/botswana/nauru | 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 Nauru 64.6% is from natural causes (a gain of 2,503 people) and 35.4% is from migration (a loss of 1,372 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 (1960–2025, 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/nauru | 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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