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Population in Botswana compared to the Netherlands: Trends, Charts, Rankings

Updated on by Georank team

The latest officially reported population of Botswana was 2,521,139 in 2024 vs 17,993,485 people in the Netherlands in 2024. In 2026, based on the adjusted UN estimation, the current Botswana's population is 2,615,162 people compared to 18,252,623 in the Netherlands.

Population statistics:

  • The Netherlands' population is 6.98 times bigger than Botswana's.
  • Botswana is ranked the 142nd most populous country in the world, while the Netherlands is the 72nd.
  • The countries together account for 0.25% of the world: 0.03% for Botswana vs 0.22% for the Netherlands.
  • For the last 10 years, Botswana has had an average growth rate of +1.5% per year vs +0.62% in the Netherlands.
  • Since 2006, the population of Botswana has increased from 1.87M people to 2.62M (39.5% growth), while the Netherlands has grown from 16.3M to 18.3M (11.7% growth).

Botswana vs Netherlands: population by year and forecast

Botswana
Factual

Projection
Netherlands
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Population
Botswana Netherlands
2100 3,871,504 17,359,081
2099 3,876,625 17,392,412
2098 3,882,670 17,425,508
2097 3,887,985 17,459,827
2096 3,892,886 17,495,124
2095 3,897,211 17,532,593
2094 3,901,478 17,571,051
2093 3,905,541 17,610,792
2092 3,909,490 17,649,611
2091 3,913,899 17,688,532
2090 3,916,706 17,730,570
2089 3,917,351 17,770,380
2088 3,917,510 17,809,825
2087 3,916,826 17,845,820
2086 3,916,303 17,885,001
2085 3,915,785 17,921,302
2084 3,914,364 17,957,639
2083 3,912,929 17,994,232
2082 3,910,994 18,029,404
2081 3,910,013 18,063,233
2080 3,908,255 18,093,703
2079 3,905,358 18,124,294
2078 3,900,828 18,152,738
2077 3,896,126 18,181,372
2076 3,890,528 18,206,864
2075 3,884,696 18,227,791
2074 3,879,057 18,245,652
2073 3,873,259 18,263,765
2072 3,865,665 18,280,443
2071 3,858,720 18,295,700
2070 3,851,234 18,311,141
2069 3,841,316 18,326,509
2068 3,830,826 18,341,711
2067 3,818,341 18,356,770
2066 3,805,705 18,374,904
2065 3,791,211 18,396,018
2064 3,775,938 18,417,894
2063 3,760,179 18,441,434
2062 3,742,710 18,464,922
2061 3,723,346 18,492,436
2060 3,703,231 18,520,315
2059 3,682,816 18,548,786
2058 3,659,567 18,577,700
2057 3,635,514 18,608,370
2056 3,611,843 18,638,918
2055 3,587,056 18,666,514
2054 3,562,182 18,692,598
2053 3,535,732 18,718,268
2052 3,507,938 18,741,740
2051 3,479,939 18,768,309
2050 3,451,521 18,789,481
2049 3,422,143 18,809,886
2048 3,391,720 18,827,655
2047 3,360,414 18,844,635
2046 3,328,208 18,855,920
2045 3,296,489 18,867,286
2044 3,265,120 18,877,101
2043 3,233,076 18,882,735
2042 3,201,405 18,885,839
2041 3,168,873 18,885,255
2040 3,135,889 18,879,571
2039 3,101,794 18,870,248
2038 3,067,648 18,855,512
2037 3,032,620 18,837,172
2036 2,996,884 18,811,873
2035 2,960,590 18,783,312
2034 2,923,411 18,750,125
2033 2,885,991 18,708,101
2032 2,847,292 18,662,054
2031 2,808,872 18,609,452
2030 2,768,505 18,549,634
2029 2,728,467 18,481,269
2028 2,686,968 18,404,195
2027 2,645,863 18,320,644
2026 2,603,779 18,227,403
2025 2,562,651 18,118,662
2024 2,521,139 17,993,485
2023 2,480,244 17,877,117
2022 2,439,892 17,700,982
2021 2,401,441 17,533,044
2020 2,365,894 17,441,500
2019 2,332,083 17,344,874
2018 2,299,141 17,231,624
2017 2,266,747 17,131,296
2016 2,234,776 17,030,314
2015 2,203,273 16,939,923
2014 2,172,044 16,865,008
2013 2,140,682 16,804,432
2012 2,108,617 16,754,962
2011 2,073,535 16,693,074
2010 2,033,111 16,615,394
2009 1,990,673 16,530,388
2008 1,949,970 16,445,593
2007 1,911,201 16,381,696
2006 1,874,516 16,346,101
2005 1,839,877 16,319,868
2004 1,807,146 16,281,779
2003 1,775,736 16,225,302
2002 1,744,763 16,148,929
2001 1,712,254 16,046,180
2000 1,677,382 15,925,513
1999 1,641,997 15,812,088
1998 1,606,899 15,707,209
1997 1,571,691 15,610,650
1996 1,535,914 15,530,498
1995 1,498,836 15,459,006
1994 1,460,023 15,382,838
1993 1,420,115 15,290,368
1992 1,380,033 15,184,166
1991 1,341,756 15,069,798
1990 1,305,696 14,951,510
1989 1,270,274 14,848,907
1988 1,235,476 14,760,094
1987 1,199,167 14,665,037
1986 1,160,650 14,572,278
1985 1,121,945 14,491,632
1984 1,083,660 14,424,211
1983 1,046,137 14,367,070
1982 1,009,269 14,312,690
1981 969,996 14,247,208
1980 937,485 14,149,800
1979 901,742 14,038,270
1978 849,239 13,941,700
1977 799,574 13,856,185
1976 758,508 13,774,037
1975 720,380 13,666,335
1974 685,448 13,545,056
1973 652,408 13,439,322
1972 622,407 13,328,593
1971 600,481 13,194,497
1970 590,334 13,038,526
1969 587,066 12,877,984
1968 583,966 12,729,721
1967 580,933 12,598,201
1966 577,866 12,456,251
1965 574,664 12,294,732
1964 566,266 12,127,120
1963 552,966 11,965,966
1962 540,186 11,805,689
1961 527,942 11,638,712
1960 516,165 11,486,631

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/netherlands | CC BY

From 2006 to 2016, the population of Botswana increased by 360,260 people (a 19.2% growth), while the Netherlands gained 684,213 people (a 4.19% growth).

For the next 10 years, from 2016 to 2026, Botswana gained 380,386 people (a 17% growth), while the Netherlands' population increased by 1,222,309 people (a 7.18% growth).

Botswana was ranked 145th most populous country in 2006 and is 142nd in 2026. The Netherlands was ranked 61st in 2006 and ranked 72nd 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 the Netherlands will increase by 2.94% to 18,789,481 people and rank change from 72nd to 77th.

Botswana is projected to reach its peak in 2088 at 3.92M people compared to the peak of 18.9M people in 2042 for the Netherlands.

Population growth rate by year

Botswana
Factual

Projection
Netherlands
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Growth rate
Botswana Netherlands
2100 -0.13% -0.19%
2099 -0.16% -0.19%
2098 -0.14% -0.2%
2097 -0.13% -0.2%
2096 -0.11% -0.21%
2095 -0.11% -0.22%
2094 -0.1% -0.23%
2093 -0.1% -0.22%
2092 -0.11% -0.22%
2091 -0.07% -0.24%
2090 -0.02% -0.22%
2089 -0.004% -0.22%
2088 0.02% -0.2%
2087 0.01% -0.22%
2086 0.01% -0.2%
2085 0.04% -0.2%
2084 0.04% -0.2%
2083 0.05% -0.2%
2082 0.03% -0.19%
2081 0.04% -0.17%
2080 0.07% -0.17%
2079 0.12% -0.16%
2078 0.12% -0.16%
2077 0.14% -0.14%
2076 0.15% -0.11%
2075 0.15% -0.1%
2074 0.15% -0.1%
2073 0.2% -0.09%
2072 0.18% -0.08%
2071 0.19% -0.08%
2070 0.26% -0.08%
2069 0.27% -0.08%
2068 0.33% -0.08%
2067 0.33% -0.1%
2066 0.38% -0.11%
2065 0.4% -0.12%
2064 0.42% -0.13%
2063 0.47% -0.13%
2062 0.52% -0.15%
2061 0.54% -0.15%
2060 0.55% -0.15%
2059 0.64% -0.16%
2058 0.66% -0.16%
2057 0.66% -0.16%
2056 0.69% -0.15%
2055 0.7% -0.14%
2054 0.75% -0.14%
2053 0.79% -0.13%
2052 0.8% -0.14%
2051 0.82% -0.11%
2050 0.86% -0.11%
2049 0.9% -0.09%
2048 0.93% -0.09%
2047 0.97% -0.06%
2046 0.96% -0.06%
2045 0.96% -0.05%
2044 0.99% -0.03%
2043 0.99% -0.02%
2042 1.03% 0.003%
2041 1.05% 0.03%
2040 1.1% 0.05%
2039 1.11% 0.08%
2038 1.16% 0.1%
2037 1.19% 0.13%
2036 1.23% 0.15%
2035 1.27% 0.18%
2034 1.3% 0.22%
2033 1.36% 0.25%
2032 1.37% 0.28%
2031 1.46% 0.32%
2030 1.47% 0.37%
2029 1.54% 0.42%
2028 1.55% 0.46%
2027 1.62% 0.51%
2026 1.6% 0.6%
2025 1.65% 0.7%
2024 1.65% 0.65%
2023 1.65% 1%
2022 1.6% 0.96%
2021 1.5% 0.52%
2020 1.45% 0.56%
2019 1.43% 0.66%
2018 1.43% 0.59%
2017 1.43% 0.59%
2016 1.43% 0.53%
2015 1.44% 0.44%
2014 1.47% 0.36%
2013 1.52% 0.3%
2012 1.69% 0.37%
2011 1.99% 0.47%
2010 2.13% 0.51%
2009 2.09% 0.52%
2008 2.03% 0.39%
2007 1.96% 0.22%
2006 1.88% 0.16%
2005 1.81% 0.23%
2004 1.77% 0.35%
2003 1.78% 0.47%
2002 1.9% 0.64%
2001 2.08% 0.76%
2000 2.15% 0.72%
1999 2.18% 0.67%
1998 2.24% 0.62%
1997 2.33% 0.52%
1996 2.47% 0.46%
1995 2.66% 0.5%
1994 2.81% 0.6%
1993 2.9% 0.7%
1992 2.85% 0.76%
1991 2.76% 0.79%
1990 2.79% 0.69%
1989 2.82% 0.6%
1988 3.03% 0.65%
1987 3.32% 0.64%
1986 3.45% 0.56%
1985 3.53% 0.47%
1984 3.59% 0.4%
1983 3.65% 0.38%
1982 4.05% 0.46%
1981 3.47% 0.69%
1980 3.96% 0.79%
1979 6.18% 0.69%
1978 6.21% 0.62%
1977 5.41% 0.6%
1976 5.29% 0.79%
1975 5.1% 0.9%
1974 5.06% 0.79%
1973 4.82% 0.83%
1972 3.65% 1.02%
1971 1.72% 1.2%
1970 0.56% 1.25%
1969 0.53% 1.16%
1968 0.52% 1.04%
1967 0.53% 1.14%
1966 0.56% 1.31%
1965 1.48% 1.38%
1964 2.41% 1.35%
1963 2.37% 1.36%
1962 2.32% 1.43%
1961 2.28% 1.32%

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/netherlands | CC BY

In 2024, the population of Botswana grew by 1.65%, while the Netherlands' population grew by 0.65%.

Live population counters

Botswana Netherlands
Current population
2615162
18252623
Population rank 142/197 72/197
Percent of world population 0.03% 0.22%
One net population change
12.9 minutes
4.52 minutes
One birth every
8.58 minutes
3.2 minutes
One death every
37 minutes
3.09 minutes
Daily growth/decline +112 +319
Annual growth/decline +40,895 +116,368
Annual growth/decline rate +1.65% +0.65%
Population growth rate rank 66/197 121/197
One migration net change every
1.55 hours
5.03 minutes
Annual migration change -5,665 +104,681
Net migration rank 120/196 16/196
Foreign-born residents 116,402 2,956,518
Foreign-born residents rank 126/195 23/195
Foreign-born share of population 4.6% 16.2%
Foreign-born share rank 96/195 40/195

Natural population change vs migration

Botswana
Natural

Migration
Netherlands
Natural

Migration
1x
Year Population change
Botswana Netherlands
Natural Migration Natural Migration
2025 - -5,665 - 104,681
2024 - -5,778 - 121,628
2023 47,098 -6,487 -5,363 144,558
2022 47,400 -7,306 -1,770 224,472
2021 40,894 -4,083 7,014 106,416
2020 45,610 -11,330 0 67,598
2019 45,110 -11,770 17,345 109,003
2018 44,171 -11,623 15,508 87,197
2017 43,154 -10,916 18,844 86,332
2016 41,993 -10,286 23,843 88,743
2015 40,897 -9,599 23,716 55,585
2014 40,046 -8,893 35,417 36,591
2013 39,404 -7,836 30,248 19,973
2012 39,202 -6,636 35,186 14,861
2011 38,613 -1,019 45,072 31,224
2010 38,101 5,151 48,184 33,703
2009 36,671 4,960 51,244 39,832
2008 35,433 4,343 49,337 32,406
2007 33,832 3,926 49,145 -304
2006 31,340 4,270 49,038 -25,401
2005 29,385 4,283 50,592 -22,496
2004 27,481 4,314 56,987 -9,230
2003 26,545 4,488 58,411 7,937
2002 26,163 4,747 59,751 28,824
2001 26,112 7,991 62,580 56,096
2000 25,850 9,798 66,887 59,308
1999 25,358 9,762 60,086 47,179
1998 25,397 9,685 61,258 52,058
1997 25,738 9,597 56,198 31,302
1996 26,847 9,368 51,251 21,792
1995 28,478 9,464 54,106 15,056
1994 30,664 9,023 61,532 20,193
1993 31,691 8,441 58,103 44,514
1992 31,995 8,026 66,811 50,148
1991 32,219 4,311 69,321 51,670
1990 33,015 2,580 68,777 53,564
1989 33,756 1,495 59,396 31,165
1988 34,564 -215 61,993 31,026
1987 35,647 2,624 64,526 39,559
1986 36,203 2,558 59,746 30,380
1985 35,966 2,683 55,069 27,356
1984 35,530 2,393 54,812 12,902
1983 35,142 1,980 51,722 11,007
1982 34,859 1,751 54,388 7,644
1981 34,327 7,610 62,688 17,643
1980 33,934 -10,849 66,504 54,010
1979 32,486 15,918 63,172 42,772
1978 30,596 26,015 61,344 26,639
1977 29,009 13,708 63,739 19,809
1976 27,497 11,914 63,361 18,774
1975 25,762 11,086 64,232 68,569
1974 24,160 8,854 75,853 31,645
1973 22,449 10,615 84,668 18,705
1972 21,004 5,937 101,297 17,470
1971 19,926 -3,016 116,112 32,756
1970 19,438 -16,054 129,082 32,438
1969 19,024 -15,870 139,082 21,850
1968 18,725 -15,681 132,389 7,243
1967 18,463 -15,438 138,580 -10,673
1966 18,250 -15,140 138,265 20,740
1965 18,045 -14,753 146,308 19,444
1964 17,634 -4,126 157,653 15,014
1963 17,084 -4,000 154,361 -21
1962 16,507 -4,028 153,474 18,024
1961 16,185 -4,168 159,450 8,258
1960 15,861 -4,331 151,623 -13,235

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

GeoRank.org/population/botswana/netherlands | 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 the Netherlands 11.8% is from natural causes (a gain of 134,554 people) and 88.2% is from migration (a gain of 1,006,495 people).

As of 2024, 116,402 residents or 4.6% of the population were not native-born in Botswana, compared to 2,956,518 people or 16.2% in the Netherlands.

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
Netherlands
City Population
Amsterdam 921K
Rotterdam 664K
The Hague 548K
Utrecht 359K
Eindhoven 244K
Groningen 238K
Tilburg 228K
Almere 215K
Breda 188K
Nijmegen 177K

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/netherlands | 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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