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Population in Botswana compared to New Zealand: Trends, Charts, Rankings

Updated on by Georank team

The latest officially reported population of Botswana was 2,521,139 in 2024 vs 5,287,500 people in New Zealand in 2024. In 2026, based on the adjusted UN estimation, the current Botswana's population is 2,615,162 people compared to 5,374,272 in New Zealand.

Population statistics:

  • New Zealand's population is 2.06 times bigger than Botswana's.
  • Botswana is ranked the 142nd most populous country in the world, while New Zealand is the 124th.
  • The countries together account for 0.1% of the world: 0.03% for Botswana vs 0.06% for New Zealand.
  • For the last 10 years, Botswana has had an average growth rate of +1.5% per year vs +1.6% in New Zealand.
  • Since 2006, the population of Botswana has increased from 1.87M people to 2.62M (39.5% growth), while New Zealand has grown from 4.18M to 5.37M (28.4% growth).

Botswana vs New Zealand: population by year and forecast

Botswana
Factual

Projection
New Zealand
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Population
Botswana New Zealand
2100 3,871,504 5,918,837
2099 3,876,625 5,923,132
2098 3,882,670 5,927,206
2097 3,887,985 5,930,263
2096 3,892,886 5,932,907
2095 3,897,211 5,934,847
2094 3,901,478 5,936,183
2093 3,905,541 5,938,804
2092 3,909,490 5,939,085
2091 3,913,899 5,940,665
2090 3,916,706 5,941,752
2089 3,917,351 5,944,871
2088 3,917,510 5,945,635
2087 3,916,826 5,948,586
2086 3,916,303 5,951,745
2085 3,915,785 5,955,275
2084 3,914,364 5,959,115
2083 3,912,929 5,963,613
2082 3,910,994 5,966,943
2081 3,910,013 5,968,511
2080 3,908,255 5,971,082
2079 3,905,358 5,972,331
2078 3,900,828 5,972,928
2077 3,896,126 5,971,804
2076 3,890,528 5,971,386
2075 3,884,696 5,970,985
2074 3,879,057 5,969,834
2073 3,873,259 5,968,506
2072 3,865,665 5,964,548
2071 3,858,720 5,964,493
2070 3,851,234 5,963,811
2069 3,841,316 5,962,551
2068 3,830,826 5,960,918
2067 3,818,341 5,958,438
2066 3,805,705 5,954,539
2065 3,791,211 5,950,378
2064 3,775,938 5,946,851
2063 3,760,179 5,944,910
2062 3,742,710 5,940,838
2061 3,723,346 5,939,601
2060 3,703,231 5,936,094
2059 3,682,816 5,931,426
2058 3,659,567 5,925,816
2057 3,635,514 5,919,823
2056 3,611,843 5,913,287
2055 3,587,056 5,904,352
2054 3,562,182 5,894,795
2053 3,535,732 5,884,875
2052 3,507,938 5,876,162
2051 3,479,939 5,864,176
2050 3,451,521 5,852,896
2049 3,422,143 5,844,165
2048 3,391,720 5,833,178
2047 3,360,414 5,822,035
2046 3,328,208 5,809,860
2045 3,296,489 5,795,785
2044 3,265,120 5,780,884
2043 3,233,076 5,764,579
2042 3,201,405 5,746,528
2041 3,168,873 5,727,253
2040 3,135,889 5,708,874
2039 3,101,794 5,690,018
2038 3,067,648 5,669,959
2037 3,032,620 5,650,253
2036 2,996,884 5,630,126
2035 2,960,590 5,609,155
2034 2,923,411 5,588,315
2033 2,885,991 5,565,507
2032 2,847,292 5,542,488
2031 2,808,872 5,517,391
2030 2,768,505 5,491,320
2029 2,728,467 5,462,926
2028 2,686,968 5,432,752
2027 2,645,863 5,399,898
2026 2,603,779 5,364,771
2025 2,562,651 5,327,462
2024 2,521,139 5,287,500
2023 2,480,244 5,200,000
2022 2,439,892 5,081,700
2021 2,401,441 5,084,600
2020 2,365,894 5,072,400
2019 2,332,083 4,970,300
2018 2,299,141 4,900,600
2017 2,266,747 4,813,600
2016 2,234,776 4,714,100
2015 2,203,273 4,609,400
2014 2,172,044 4,516,500
2013 2,140,682 4,442,100
2012 2,108,617 4,408,100
2011 2,073,535 4,384,000
2010 2,033,111 4,350,700
2009 1,990,673 4,302,600
2008 1,949,970 4,259,800
2007 1,911,201 4,223,800
2006 1,874,516 4,184,600
2005 1,839,877 4,133,900
2004 1,807,146 4,087,500
2003 1,775,736 4,027,200
2002 1,744,763 3,948,500
2001 1,712,254 3,880,500
2000 1,677,382 3,857,700
1999 1,641,997 3,835,100
1998 1,606,899 3,815,000
1997 1,571,691 3,781,300
1996 1,535,914 3,732,000
1995 1,498,836 3,673,400
1994 1,460,023 3,620,000
1993 1,420,115 3,572,200
1992 1,380,033 3,531,700
1991 1,341,756 3,495,100
1990 1,305,696 3,329,800
1989 1,270,274 3,299,200
1988 1,235,476 3,283,400
1987 1,199,167 3,274,400
1986 1,160,650 3,246,300
1985 1,121,945 3,247,100
1984 1,083,660 3,227,100
1983 1,046,137 3,199,300
1982 1,009,269 3,156,100
1981 969,996 3,124,900
1980 937,485 3,112,900
1979 901,742 3,109,000
1978 849,239 3,121,200
1977 799,574 3,120,200
1976 758,508 3,110,500
1975 720,380 3,083,100
1974 685,448 3,023,700
1973 652,408 2,961,300
1972 622,407 2,903,900
1971 600,481 2,853,000
1970 590,334 2,810,700
1969 587,066 2,772,800
1968 583,966 2,748,100
1967 580,933 2,724,100
1966 577,866 2,675,900
1965 574,664 2,628,400
1964 566,266 2,585,400
1963 552,966 2,531,800
1962 540,186 2,482,000
1961 527,942 2,419,700
1960 516,165 2,371,800

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/new-zealand | CC BY

From 2006 to 2016, the population of Botswana increased by 360,260 people (a 19.2% growth), while New Zealand gained 529,500 people (a 12.7% growth).

For the next 10 years, from 2016 to 2026, Botswana gained 380,386 people (a 17% growth), while New Zealand's population increased by 660,172 people (a 14% growth).

Botswana was ranked 145th most populous country in 2006 and is 142nd in 2026. New Zealand was ranked 122nd in 2006 and ranked 124th 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 New Zealand will increase by 8.91% to 5,852,896 people and rank change from 124th to 122nd.

Botswana is projected to reach its peak in 2088 at 3.92M people compared to the peak of 5.97M people in 2078 for New Zealand.

Population growth rate by year

Botswana
Factual

Projection
New Zealand
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Growth rate
Botswana New Zealand
2100 -0.13% -0.07%
2099 -0.16% -0.07%
2098 -0.14% -0.05%
2097 -0.13% -0.04%
2096 -0.11% -0.03%
2095 -0.11% -0.02%
2094 -0.1% -0.04%
2093 -0.1% -0.005%
2092 -0.11% -0.03%
2091 -0.07% -0.02%
2090 -0.02% -0.05%
2089 -0.004% -0.01%
2088 0.02% -0.05%
2087 0.01% -0.05%
2086 0.01% -0.06%
2085 0.04% -0.06%
2084 0.04% -0.08%
2083 0.05% -0.06%
2082 0.03% -0.03%
2081 0.04% -0.04%
2080 0.07% -0.02%
2079 0.12% -0.01%
2078 0.12% 0.02%
2077 0.14% 0.007%
2076 0.15% 0.007%
2075 0.15% 0.02%
2074 0.15% 0.02%
2073 0.2% 0.07%
2072 0.18% 0.001%
2071 0.19% 0.01%
2070 0.26% 0.02%
2069 0.27% 0.03%
2068 0.33% 0.04%
2067 0.33% 0.07%
2066 0.38% 0.07%
2065 0.4% 0.06%
2064 0.42% 0.03%
2063 0.47% 0.07%
2062 0.52% 0.02%
2061 0.54% 0.06%
2060 0.55% 0.08%
2059 0.64% 0.09%
2058 0.66% 0.1%
2057 0.66% 0.11%
2056 0.69% 0.15%
2055 0.7% 0.16%
2054 0.75% 0.17%
2053 0.79% 0.15%
2052 0.8% 0.2%
2051 0.82% 0.19%
2050 0.86% 0.15%
2049 0.9% 0.19%
2048 0.93% 0.19%
2047 0.97% 0.21%
2046 0.96% 0.24%
2045 0.96% 0.26%
2044 0.99% 0.28%
2043 0.99% 0.31%
2042 1.03% 0.34%
2041 1.05% 0.32%
2040 1.1% 0.33%
2039 1.11% 0.35%
2038 1.16% 0.35%
2037 1.19% 0.36%
2036 1.23% 0.37%
2035 1.27% 0.37%
2034 1.3% 0.41%
2033 1.36% 0.42%
2032 1.37% 0.45%
2031 1.46% 0.47%
2030 1.47% 0.52%
2029 1.54% 0.56%
2028 1.55% 0.61%
2027 1.62% 0.65%
2026 1.6% 0.7%
2025 1.65% 0.76%
2024 1.65% 1.68%
2023 1.65% 2.33%
2022 1.6% -0.06%
2021 1.5% 0.24%
2020 1.45% 2.05%
2019 1.43% 1.42%
2018 1.43% 1.81%
2017 1.43% 2.11%
2016 1.43% 2.27%
2015 1.44% 2.06%
2014 1.47% 1.67%
2013 1.52% 0.77%
2012 1.69% 0.55%
2011 1.99% 0.77%
2010 2.13% 1.12%
2009 2.09% 1%
2008 2.03% 0.85%
2007 1.96% 0.94%
2006 1.88% 1.23%
2005 1.81% 1.14%
2004 1.77% 1.5%
2003 1.78% 1.99%
2002 1.9% 1.75%
2001 2.08% 0.59%
2000 2.15% 0.59%
1999 2.18% 0.53%
1998 2.24% 0.89%
1997 2.33% 1.32%
1996 2.47% 1.6%
1995 2.66% 1.48%
1994 2.81% 1.34%
1993 2.9% 1.15%
1992 2.85% 1.05%
1991 2.76% 4.96%
1990 2.79% 0.93%
1989 2.82% 0.48%
1988 3.03% 0.27%
1987 3.32% 0.87%
1986 3.45% -0.02%
1985 3.53% 0.62%
1984 3.59% 0.87%
1983 3.65% 1.37%
1982 4.05% 1%
1981 3.47% 0.39%
1980 3.96% 0.13%
1979 6.18% -0.39%
1978 6.21% 0.03%
1977 5.41% 0.31%
1976 5.29% 0.89%
1975 5.1% 1.96%
1974 5.06% 2.11%
1973 4.82% 1.98%
1972 3.65% 1.78%
1971 1.72% 1.5%
1970 0.56% 1.37%
1969 0.53% 0.9%
1968 0.52% 0.88%
1967 0.53% 1.8%
1966 0.56% 1.81%
1965 1.48% 1.66%
1964 2.41% 2.12%
1963 2.37% 2.01%
1962 2.32% 2.57%
1961 2.28% 2.02%

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/new-zealand | CC BY

In 2024, the population of Botswana grew by 1.65%, while New Zealand's population grew by 1.68%.

Live population counters

Botswana New Zealand
Current population
2615162
5374272
Population rank 142/197 124/197
Percent of world population 0.03% 0.06%
One net population change
12.9 minutes
6.01 minutes
One birth every
8.58 minutes
9.31 minutes
One death every
37 minutes
14 minutes
Daily growth/decline +112 +240
Annual growth/decline +40,895 +87,500
Annual growth/decline rate +1.65% +1.68%
Population growth rate rank 66/197 65/197
One migration net change every
1.55 hours
30.3 minutes
Annual migration change -5,665 +17,403
Net migration rank 120/196 35/196
Foreign-born residents 116,402 1,467,989
Foreign-born residents rank 126/195 45/195
Foreign-born share of population 4.6% 28.2%
Foreign-born share rank 96/195 20/195

Natural population change vs migration

Botswana
Natural

Migration
New Zealand
Natural

Migration
1x
Year Population change
Botswana New Zealand
Natural Migration Natural Migration
2025 - -5,665 - 17,403
2024 - -5,778 - 18,766
2023 47,098 -6,487 18,876 21,404
2022 47,400 -7,306 20,123 21,404
2021 40,894 -4,083 23,644 -14,944
2020 45,610 -11,330 24,905 42,124
2019 45,110 -11,770 25,299 69,770
2018 44,171 -11,623 24,797 59,139
2017 43,154 -10,916 26,282 68,349
2016 41,993 -10,286 28,237 75,512
2015 40,897 -9,599 29,408 70,870
2014 40,046 -8,893 26,196 57,974
2013 39,404 -7,836 29,096 26,385
2012 39,202 -6,636 31,077 -1,015
2011 38,613 -1,019 31,302 -2,196
2010 38,101 5,151 35,458 6,722
2009 36,671 4,960 33,560 12,700
2008 35,433 4,343 35,143 4,804
2007 33,832 3,926 35,480 3,053
2006 31,340 4,270 30,924 14,542
2005 29,385 4,283 30,674 19,212
2004 27,481 4,314 29,634 24,521
2003 26,545 4,488 28,150 42,456
2002 26,163 4,747 25,941 48,195
2001 26,112 7,991 27,939 17,793
2000 25,850 9,798 29,897 -6,604
1999 25,358 9,762 28,916 -7,634
1998 25,397 9,685 29,146 -1,387
1997 25,738 9,597 30,137 12,040
1996 26,847 9,368 28,997 25,169
1995 28,478 9,464 29,828 26,743
1994 30,664 9,023 30,372 20,420
1993 31,691 8,441 31,685 12,638
1992 31,995 8,026 32,067 6,460
1991 32,219 4,311 33,518 31,156
1990 33,015 2,580 33,298 70,432
1989 33,756 1,495 30,749 -8,818
1988 34,564 -215 29,846 -17,005
1987 35,647 2,624 27,603 -7,631
1986 36,203 2,558 25,549 -10,234
1985 35,966 2,683 24,126 -13,462
1984 35,530 2,393 26,043 -901
1983 35,142 1,980 24,315 11,464
1982 34,859 1,751 24,207 7,982
1981 34,327 7,610 25,374 -7,606
1980 33,934 -10,849 23,658 -15,423
1979 32,486 15,918 26,675 -26,694
1978 30,596 26,015 26,156 -28,783
1977 29,009 13,708 28,020 -22,697
1976 27,497 11,914 29,456 -9,138
1975 25,762 11,086 31,355 13,196
1974 24,160 8,854 33,896 27,580
1973 22,449 10,615 35,239 28,261
1972 21,004 5,937 38,244 17,779
1971 19,926 -3,016 40,000 7,547
1970 19,438 -16,054 37,101 4,511
1969 19,024 -15,870 38,098 -5,212
1968 18,725 -15,681 37,594 -11,853
1967 18,463 -15,438 37,974 -2,289
1966 18,250 -15,140 36,151 9,161
1965 18,045 -14,753 36,982 9,245
1964 17,634 -4,126 39,375 9,806
1963 17,084 -4,000 42,027 10,226
1962 16,507 -4,028 42,865 12,697
1961 16,185 -4,168 43,482 10,689
1960 15,861 -4,331 41,791 3,846

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

GeoRank.org/population/botswana/new-zealand | 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 New Zealand 34.4% is from natural causes (a gain of 247,767 people) and 65.6% is from migration (a gain of 471,602 people).

As of 2024, 116,402 residents or 4.6% of the population were not native-born in Botswana, compared to 1,467,989 people or 28.2% in New Zealand.

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
New Zealand
City Population
Auckland 1.47M
Christchurch 383K
Wellington 216K
Hamilton 176K
Tauranga 151K
Dunedin 106K
Lower Hutt 103K
Palmerston North 81.5K
Napier 66.3K
Hibiscus Coast 59.8K

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/new-zealand | 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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