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

Updated on by Georank team

The latest officially reported population of Botswana was 2,521,139 in 2024 vs 6,916,140 people in Nicaragua in 2024. In 2026, based on the adjusted UN estimation, the current Botswana's population is 2,615,162 people compared to 7,124,343 in Nicaragua.

Population statistics:

  • Nicaragua's population is 2.72 times bigger than Botswana's.
  • Botswana is ranked the 142nd most populous country in the world, while Nicaragua is the 107th.
  • The countries together account for 0.12% of the world: 0.03% for Botswana vs 0.09% for Nicaragua.
  • For the last 10 years, Botswana has had an average growth rate of +1.5% per year vs +1.33% in Nicaragua.
  • Since 2006, the population of Botswana has increased from 1.87M people to 2.62M (39.5% growth), while Nicaragua has grown from 5.42M to 7.12M (31.5% growth).

Botswana vs Nicaragua: population by year and forecast

Botswana
Factual

Projection
Nicaragua
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Population
Botswana Nicaragua
2100 3,871,504 8,688,116
2099 3,876,625 8,724,538
2098 3,882,670 8,760,232
2097 3,887,985 8,794,755
2096 3,892,886 8,828,433
2095 3,897,211 8,861,157
2094 3,901,478 8,892,755
2093 3,905,541 8,924,287
2092 3,909,490 8,954,488
2091 3,913,899 8,984,026
2090 3,916,706 9,012,075
2089 3,917,351 9,039,709
2088 3,917,510 9,065,862
2087 3,916,826 9,090,942
2086 3,916,303 9,115,336
2085 3,915,785 9,138,363
2084 3,914,364 9,160,205
2083 3,912,929 9,180,483
2082 3,910,994 9,199,639
2081 3,910,013 9,217,574
2080 3,908,255 9,233,677
2079 3,905,358 9,247,995
2078 3,900,828 9,260,269
2077 3,896,126 9,271,296
2076 3,890,528 9,280,355
2075 3,884,696 9,287,263
2074 3,879,057 9,293,340
2073 3,873,259 9,297,217
2072 3,865,665 9,298,930
2071 3,858,720 9,298,548
2070 3,851,234 9,296,541
2069 3,841,316 9,292,245
2068 3,830,826 9,285,519
2067 3,818,341 9,277,073
2066 3,805,705 9,266,063
2065 3,791,211 9,253,359
2064 3,775,938 9,238,451
2063 3,760,179 9,221,261
2062 3,742,710 9,201,687
2061 3,723,346 9,180,231
2060 3,703,231 9,156,164
2059 3,682,816 9,129,485
2058 3,659,567 9,100,437
2057 3,635,514 9,069,770
2056 3,611,843 9,037,076
2055 3,587,056 9,002,004
2054 3,562,182 8,964,646
2053 3,535,732 8,925,248
2052 3,507,938 8,883,323
2051 3,479,939 8,838,651
2050 3,451,521 8,791,647
2049 3,422,143 8,743,003
2048 3,391,720 8,691,701
2047 3,360,414 8,638,293
2046 3,328,208 8,583,244
2045 3,296,489 8,525,953
2044 3,265,120 8,466,669
2043 3,233,076 8,405,733
2042 3,201,405 8,342,871
2041 3,168,873 8,278,159
2040 3,135,889 8,211,510
2039 3,101,794 8,143,346
2038 3,067,648 8,072,943
2037 3,032,620 8,000,701
2036 2,996,884 7,926,969
2035 2,960,590 7,851,540
2034 2,923,411 7,774,327
2033 2,885,991 7,695,506
2032 2,847,292 7,615,273
2031 2,808,872 7,533,169
2030 2,768,505 7,449,842
2029 2,728,467 7,364,850
2028 2,686,968 7,278,061
2027 2,645,863 7,189,755
2026 2,603,779 7,100,090
2025 2,562,651 7,008,896
2024 2,521,139 6,916,140
2023 2,480,244 6,823,613
2022 2,439,892 6,730,654
2021 2,401,441 6,644,741
2020 2,365,894 6,565,267
2019 2,332,083 6,483,657
2018 2,299,141 6,400,080
2017 2,266,747 6,316,231
2016 2,234,776 6,232,666
2015 2,203,273 6,149,417
2014 2,172,044 6,066,492
2013 2,140,682 5,983,845
2012 2,108,617 5,901,287
2011 2,073,535 5,819,051
2010 2,033,111 5,737,450
2009 1,990,673 5,656,601
2008 1,949,970 5,576,593
2007 1,911,201 5,497,243
2006 1,874,516 5,418,855
2005 1,839,877 5,342,105
2004 1,807,146 5,272,912
2003 1,775,736 5,210,963
2002 1,744,763 5,149,909
2001 1,712,254 5,087,825
2000 1,677,382 5,022,633
1999 1,641,997 4,954,018
1998 1,606,899 4,883,655
1997 1,571,691 4,809,573
1996 1,535,914 4,729,974
1995 1,498,836 4,642,931
1994 1,460,023 4,549,316
1993 1,420,115 4,453,732
1992 1,380,033 4,357,026
1991 1,341,756 4,259,637
1990 1,305,696 4,162,559
1989 1,270,274 4,066,476
1988 1,235,476 3,972,320
1987 1,199,167 3,882,164
1986 1,160,650 3,794,157
1985 1,121,945 3,706,479
1984 1,083,660 3,619,104
1983 1,046,137 3,530,282
1982 1,009,269 3,438,745
1981 969,996 3,345,674
1980 937,485 3,252,403
1979 901,742 3,164,525
1978 849,239 3,080,314
1977 799,574 2,992,534
1976 758,508 2,903,851
1975 720,380 2,816,943
1974 685,448 2,732,075
1973 652,408 2,649,278
1972 622,407 2,573,578
1971 600,481 2,499,825
1970 590,334 2,423,065
1969 587,066 2,348,398
1968 583,966 2,275,836
1967 580,933 2,205,567
1966 577,866 2,137,820
1965 574,664 2,072,681
1964 566,266 2,010,176
1963 552,966 1,950,159
1962 540,186 1,892,320
1961 527,942 1,836,451
1960 516,165 1,782,370

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/nicaragua | CC BY

From 2006 to 2016, the population of Botswana increased by 360,260 people (a 19.2% growth), while Nicaragua gained 813,811 people (a 15% growth).

For the next 10 years, from 2016 to 2026, Botswana gained 380,386 people (a 17% growth), while Nicaragua's population increased by 891,677 people (a 14.3% growth).

Botswana was ranked 145th most populous country in 2006 and is 142nd in 2026. Nicaragua was ranked 109th in 2006 and ranked 107th 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 Nicaragua will increase by 23.4% to 8,791,647 people and rank change from 107th to 108th.

Botswana is projected to reach its peak in 2088 at 3.92M people compared to the peak of 9.3M people in 2072 for Nicaragua.

Population growth rate by year

Botswana
Factual

Projection
Nicaragua
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Growth rate
Botswana Nicaragua
2100 -0.13% -0.42%
2099 -0.16% -0.41%
2098 -0.14% -0.39%
2097 -0.13% -0.38%
2096 -0.11% -0.37%
2095 -0.11% -0.36%
2094 -0.1% -0.35%
2093 -0.1% -0.34%
2092 -0.11% -0.33%
2091 -0.07% -0.31%
2090 -0.02% -0.31%
2089 -0.004% -0.29%
2088 0.02% -0.28%
2087 0.01% -0.27%
2086 0.01% -0.25%
2085 0.04% -0.24%
2084 0.04% -0.22%
2083 0.05% -0.21%
2082 0.03% -0.19%
2081 0.04% -0.17%
2080 0.07% -0.15%
2079 0.12% -0.13%
2078 0.12% -0.12%
2077 0.14% -0.1%
2076 0.15% -0.07%
2075 0.15% -0.07%
2074 0.15% -0.04%
2073 0.2% -0.02%
2072 0.18% 0.004%
2071 0.19% 0.02%
2070 0.26% 0.05%
2069 0.27% 0.07%
2068 0.33% 0.09%
2067 0.33% 0.12%
2066 0.38% 0.14%
2065 0.4% 0.16%
2064 0.42% 0.19%
2063 0.47% 0.21%
2062 0.52% 0.23%
2061 0.54% 0.26%
2060 0.55% 0.29%
2059 0.64% 0.32%
2058 0.66% 0.34%
2057 0.66% 0.36%
2056 0.69% 0.39%
2055 0.7% 0.42%
2054 0.75% 0.44%
2053 0.79% 0.47%
2052 0.8% 0.51%
2051 0.82% 0.53%
2050 0.86% 0.56%
2049 0.9% 0.59%
2048 0.93% 0.62%
2047 0.97% 0.64%
2046 0.96% 0.67%
2045 0.96% 0.7%
2044 0.99% 0.72%
2043 0.99% 0.75%
2042 1.03% 0.78%
2041 1.05% 0.81%
2040 1.1% 0.84%
2039 1.11% 0.87%
2038 1.16% 0.9%
2037 1.19% 0.93%
2036 1.23% 0.96%
2035 1.27% 0.99%
2034 1.3% 1.02%
2033 1.36% 1.05%
2032 1.37% 1.09%
2031 1.46% 1.12%
2030 1.47% 1.15%
2029 1.54% 1.19%
2028 1.55% 1.23%
2027 1.62% 1.26%
2026 1.6% 1.3%
2025 1.65% 1.34%
2024 1.65% 1.36%
2023 1.65% 1.38%
2022 1.6% 1.29%
2021 1.5% 1.21%
2020 1.45% 1.26%
2019 1.43% 1.31%
2018 1.43% 1.33%
2017 1.43% 1.34%
2016 1.43% 1.35%
2015 1.44% 1.37%
2014 1.47% 1.38%
2013 1.52% 1.4%
2012 1.69% 1.41%
2011 1.99% 1.42%
2010 2.13% 1.43%
2009 2.09% 1.43%
2008 2.03% 1.44%
2007 1.96% 1.45%
2006 1.88% 1.44%
2005 1.81% 1.31%
2004 1.77% 1.19%
2003 1.78% 1.19%
2002 1.9% 1.22%
2001 2.08% 1.3%
2000 2.15% 1.39%
1999 2.18% 1.44%
1998 2.24% 1.54%
1997 2.33% 1.68%
1996 2.47% 1.87%
1995 2.66% 2.06%
1994 2.81% 2.15%
1993 2.9% 2.22%
1992 2.85% 2.29%
1991 2.76% 2.33%
1990 2.79% 2.36%
1989 2.82% 2.37%
1988 3.03% 2.32%
1987 3.32% 2.32%
1986 3.45% 2.37%
1985 3.53% 2.41%
1984 3.59% 2.52%
1983 3.65% 2.66%
1982 4.05% 2.78%
1981 3.47% 2.87%
1980 3.96% 2.78%
1979 6.18% 2.73%
1978 6.21% 2.93%
1977 5.41% 3.05%
1976 5.29% 3.09%
1975 5.1% 3.11%
1974 5.06% 3.13%
1973 4.82% 2.94%
1972 3.65% 2.95%
1971 1.72% 3.17%
1970 0.56% 3.18%
1969 0.53% 3.19%
1968 0.52% 3.19%
1967 0.53% 3.17%
1966 0.56% 3.14%
1965 1.48% 3.11%
1964 2.41% 3.08%
1963 2.37% 3.06%
1962 2.32% 3.04%
1961 2.28% 3.03%

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/nicaragua | CC BY

In 2024, the population of Botswana grew by 1.65%, while Nicaragua's population grew by 1.36%.

Live population counters

Botswana Nicaragua
Current population
2615162
7124343
Population rank 142/197 107/197
Percent of world population 0.03% 0.09%
One net population change
12.9 minutes
5.68 minutes
One birth every
8.58 minutes
3.98 minutes
One death every
37 minutes
16.8 minutes
Daily growth/decline +112 +253
Annual growth/decline +40,895 +92,527
Annual growth/decline rate +1.65% +1.36%
Population growth rate rank 66/197 78/197
One migration net change every
1.55 hours
1.05 hours
Annual migration change -5,665 -8,371
Net migration rank 120/196 129/196
Foreign-born residents 116,402 43,757
Foreign-born residents rank 126/195 154/195
Foreign-born share of population 4.6% 0.6%
Foreign-born share rank 96/195 172/195

Natural population change vs migration

Botswana
Natural

Migration
Nicaragua
Natural

Migration
1x
Year Population change
Botswana Nicaragua
Natural Migration Natural Migration
2025 - -5,665 - -8,371
2024 - -5,778 - -8,189
2023 47,098 -6,487 100,921 -7,996
2022 47,400 -7,306 100,987 -7,996
2021 40,894 -4,083 89,213 -10,383
2020 45,610 -11,330 90,515 -10,383
2019 45,110 -11,770 102,817 -19,730
2018 44,171 -11,623 104,814 -20,742
2017 43,154 -10,916 105,468 -21,849
2016 41,993 -10,286 106,585 -23,076
2015 40,897 -9,599 107,344 -24,353
2014 40,046 -8,893 108,420 -25,570
2013 39,404 -7,836 109,032 -26,587
2012 39,202 -6,636 110,065 -27,389
2011 38,613 -1,019 110,026 -28,221
2010 38,101 5,151 110,475 -29,081
2009 36,671 4,960 110,213 -29,913
2008 35,433 4,343 110,395 -30,675
2007 33,832 3,926 110,341 -31,357
2006 31,340 4,270 110,073 -32,274
2005 29,385 4,283 108,984 -33,280
2004 27,481 4,314 106,904 -44,222
2003 26,545 4,488 106,142 -44,931
2002 26,163 4,747 105,805 -44,906
2001 26,112 7,991 107,109 -43,837
2000 25,850 9,798 109,192 -42,087
1999 25,358 9,762 110,217 -40,095
1998 25,397 9,685 108,862 -38,260
1997 25,738 9,597 114,415 -36,851
1996 26,847 9,368 116,849 -35,208
1995 28,478 9,464 118,325 -25,889
1994 30,664 9,023 119,565 -24,773
1993 31,691 8,441 120,469 -24,091
1992 31,995 8,026 121,204 -24,171
1991 32,219 4,311 121,787 -24,028
1990 33,015 2,580 120,677 -24,280
1989 33,756 1,495 120,128 -24,364
1988 34,564 -215 117,299 -24,753
1987 35,647 2,624 112,885 -25,127
1986 36,203 2,558 113,054 -24,805
1985 35,966 2,683 110,949 -23,840
1984 35,530 2,393 110,133 -22,493
1983 35,142 1,980 110,618 -20,620
1982 34,859 1,751 112,468 -19,395
1981 34,327 7,610 110,421 -17,353
1980 33,934 -10,849 108,604 -15,130
1979 32,486 15,918 96,429 -14,152
1978 30,596 26,015 98,419 -12,273
1977 29,009 13,708 100,498 -11,082
1976 27,497 11,914 98,100 -10,155
1975 25,762 11,086 95,230 -9,349
1974 24,160 8,854 92,505 -8,639
1973 22,449 10,615 89,662 -7,947
1972 21,004 5,937 76,906 -7,219
1971 19,926 -3,016 84,139 -6,328
1970 19,438 -16,054 81,127 -5,423
1969 19,024 -15,870 78,237 -4,592
1968 18,725 -15,681 75,458 -3,979
1967 18,463 -15,438 72,722 -3,666
1966 18,250 -15,140 69,883 -3,443
1965 18,045 -14,753 67,056 -3,231
1964 17,634 -4,126 64,227 -3,043
1963 17,084 -4,000 61,738 -2,881
1962 16,507 -4,028 59,547 -2,727
1961 16,185 -4,168 57,499 -2,579
1960 15,861 -4,331 55,664 -2,418

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

GeoRank.org/population/botswana/nicaragua | 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 Nicaragua 85.5% is from natural causes (a gain of 1,017,084 people) and 14.5% is from migration (a loss of 172,078 people).

As of 2024, 116,402 residents or 4.6% of the population were not native-born in Botswana, compared to 43,757 people or 0.6% in Nicaragua.

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
Nicaragua
City Population
Managua 937K
Leon 174K
Masaya 140K
Matagalpa 133K
Chinandega 122K
Esteli 112K
Granada 105K
Jinotega 99.4K
Juigalpa 51.8K
San Juan del Sur 14.7K

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/nicaragua | 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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