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

Updated on by Georank

The latest officially reported population of Botswana was 2,562,122 in 2025 vs 237,527,782 people in Nigeria in 2025. In 2026, based on the adjusted UN estimation, the current Botswana's population is 2,624,853 people compared to 245,016,045 in Nigeria.

Population statistics:

  • Nigeria's population is 93.3 times bigger than Botswana's.
  • Botswana is ranked the 142nd most populous country in the world, while Nigeria is the 6th.
  • The countries together account for 2.98% of the world: 0.03% for Botswana vs 2.95% for Nigeria.
  • For the last 10 years, Botswana has had an average growth rate of +1.51% per year vs +2.25% in Nigeria.
  • Since 2006, the population of Botswana has increased from 1.87M people to 2.62M (40% growth), while Nigeria has grown from 149M to 245M (64.4% growth).

Botswana vs Nigeria: population by year and forecast

Botswana
Factual

Projection
Nigeria
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Population
Botswana Nigeria
2100 3,870,704 481,640,156
2099 3,875,823 481,456,918
2098 3,881,867 481,181,892
2097 3,887,181 480,838,161
2096 3,892,081 480,422,467
2095 3,896,405 479,938,579
2094 3,900,671 479,395,022
2093 3,904,733 478,769,369
2092 3,908,682 478,059,864
2091 3,913,090 477,236,907
2090 3,915,896 476,329,495
2089 3,916,540 475,326,347
2088 3,916,700 474,231,442
2087 3,916,016 473,035,563
2086 3,915,493 471,732,001
2085 3,914,975 470,328,175
2084 3,913,555 468,806,172
2083 3,912,119 467,187,453
2082 3,910,185 465,472,417
2081 3,909,204 463,643,190
2080 3,907,447 461,705,493
2079 3,904,550 459,644,523
2078 3,900,021 457,477,264
2077 3,895,321 455,218,871
2076 3,889,723 452,849,991
2075 3,883,893 450,367,356
2074 3,878,255 447,789,885
2073 3,872,458 445,117,028
2072 3,864,865 442,340,440
2071 3,857,922 439,464,323
2070 3,850,437 436,505,329
2069 3,840,521 433,437,998
2068 3,830,034 430,286,232
2067 3,817,551 427,032,499
2066 3,804,918 423,702,640
2065 3,790,427 420,285,359
2064 3,775,157 416,778,394
2063 3,759,402 413,198,800
2062 3,741,936 409,551,159
2061 3,722,576 405,827,482
2060 3,702,465 402,041,765
2059 3,682,055 398,197,311
2058 3,658,810 394,284,767
2057 3,634,762 390,311,065
2056 3,611,096 386,267,580
2055 3,586,314 382,162,992
2054 3,561,446 378,000,511
2053 3,535,001 373,769,779
2052 3,507,213 369,472,476
2051 3,479,219 365,120,741
2050 3,450,807 360,706,317
2049 3,421,435 356,243,287
2048 3,391,019 351,724,743
2047 3,359,719 347,142,279
2046 3,327,520 342,505,549
2045 3,295,807 337,807,869
2044 3,264,444 333,050,132
2043 3,232,407 328,230,652
2042 3,200,743 323,363,366
2041 3,168,217 318,443,989
2040 3,135,241 313,468,061
2039 3,101,153 308,450,008
2038 3,067,014 303,399,842
2037 3,031,993 298,327,800
2036 2,996,265 293,227,654
2035 2,959,978 288,115,630
2034 2,922,807 282,995,818
2033 2,885,394 277,875,880
2032 2,846,703 272,747,599
2031 2,808,291 267,645,657
2030 2,767,933 262,562,767
2029 2,727,903 257,484,616
2028 2,686,412 252,445,821
2027 2,645,316 247,437,680
2026 2,603,241 242,458,365
2025 2,562,122 237,527,782
2024 2,521,139 232,679,478
2023 2,480,244 227,882,945
2022 2,439,892 223,150,896
2021 2,401,441 218,529,286
2020 2,365,894 213,996,181
2019 2,332,083 209,485,641
2018 2,299,141 204,938,755
2017 2,266,747 200,254,579
2016 2,234,776 195,443,700
2015 2,203,273 190,671,878
2014 2,172,044 185,896,915
2013 2,140,682 181,049,443
2012 2,108,617 176,200,625
2011 2,073,535 171,379,598
2010 2,033,111 166,642,886
2009 1,990,673 162,049,464
2008 1,949,970 157,595,014
2007 1,911,201 153,267,261
2006 1,874,516 149,077,334
2005 1,839,877 145,017,253
2004 1,807,146 141,057,045
2003 1,775,736 137,202,644
2002 1,744,763 133,471,989
2001 1,712,254 129,862,595
2000 1,677,382 126,382,494
1999 1,641,997 123,047,320
1998 1,606,899 119,846,254
1997 1,571,691 116,754,792
1996 1,535,914 113,754,779
1995 1,498,836 110,819,428
1994 1,460,023 107,935,714
1993 1,420,115 105,122,069
1992 1,380,033 102,372,770
1991 1,341,756 99,720,162
1990 1,305,696 97,120,925
1989 1,270,274 94,531,014
1988 1,235,476 92,020,090
1987 1,199,167 89,591,716
1986 1,160,650 87,235,953
1985 1,121,945 84,897,973
1984 1,083,660 82,526,443
1983 1,046,137 80,438,260
1982 1,009,269 78,378,701
1981 969,996 76,068,103
1980 937,485 73,764,641
1979 901,742 71,498,242
1978 849,239 69,326,532
1977 799,574 67,234,590
1976 758,508 65,258,009
1975 720,380 63,410,815
1974 685,448 61,679,144
1973 652,408 60,082,139
1972 622,407 58,601,748
1971 600,481 57,214,684
1970 590,334 55,893,838
1969 587,066 54,631,914
1968 583,966 53,432,783
1967 580,933 52,293,065
1966 577,866 51,188,234
1965 574,664 50,086,764
1964 566,266 49,012,016
1963 552,966 47,973,575
1962 540,186 46,965,292
1961 527,942 45,989,310
1960 516,165 45,053,782

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/nigeria | CC BY

From 2006 to 2016, the population of Botswana increased by 360,260 people (a 19.2% growth), while Nigeria gained 46,366,366 people (a 31.1% growth).

For the next 10 years, from 2016 to 2026, Botswana gained 390,077 people (a 17.5% growth), while Nigeria's population increased by 49,572,345 people (a 25.4% growth).

Botswana was ranked 145th most populous country in 2006 and is 142nd in 2026. Nigeria was ranked 7th in 2006 and ranked 6th 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 Nigeria will increase by 47.2% to 360,706,317 people and rank change from 6th to 5th.

Botswana is projected to reach its peak in 2088 at 3.92M people compared to the peak of 482M people in 2100 for Nigeria.

Population growth rate by year

Botswana
Factual

Projection
Nigeria
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Growth rate
Botswana Nigeria
2100 -0.13% 0.04%
2099 -0.16% 0.06%
2098 -0.14% 0.07%
2097 -0.13% 0.09%
2096 -0.11% 0.1%
2095 -0.11% 0.11%
2094 -0.1% 0.13%
2093 -0.1% 0.15%
2092 -0.11% 0.17%
2091 -0.07% 0.19%
2090 -0.02% 0.21%
2089 -0.004% 0.23%
2088 0.02% 0.25%
2087 0.01% 0.28%
2086 0.01% 0.3%
2085 0.04% 0.32%
2084 0.04% 0.35%
2083 0.05% 0.37%
2082 0.03% 0.39%
2081 0.04% 0.42%
2080 0.07% 0.45%
2079 0.12% 0.47%
2078 0.12% 0.5%
2077 0.14% 0.52%
2076 0.15% 0.55%
2075 0.15% 0.58%
2074 0.15% 0.6%
2073 0.2% 0.63%
2072 0.18% 0.65%
2071 0.19% 0.68%
2070 0.26% 0.71%
2069 0.27% 0.73%
2068 0.33% 0.76%
2067 0.33% 0.79%
2066 0.38% 0.81%
2065 0.4% 0.84%
2064 0.42% 0.87%
2063 0.47% 0.89%
2062 0.52% 0.92%
2061 0.54% 0.94%
2060 0.55% 0.97%
2059 0.64% 0.99%
2058 0.66% 1.02%
2057 0.66% 1.05%
2056 0.69% 1.07%
2055 0.7% 1.1%
2054 0.75% 1.13%
2053 0.79% 1.16%
2052 0.8% 1.19%
2051 0.82% 1.22%
2050 0.86% 1.25%
2049 0.9% 1.28%
2048 0.93% 1.32%
2047 0.97% 1.35%
2046 0.96% 1.39%
2045 0.96% 1.43%
2044 0.99% 1.47%
2043 0.99% 1.51%
2042 1.03% 1.54%
2041 1.05% 1.59%
2040 1.1% 1.63%
2039 1.11% 1.66%
2038 1.16% 1.7%
2037 1.19% 1.74%
2036 1.23% 1.77%
2035 1.27% 1.81%
2034 1.3% 1.84%
2033 1.36% 1.88%
2032 1.37% 1.91%
2031 1.46% 1.94%
2030 1.47% 1.97%
2029 1.54% 2%
2028 1.55% 2.02%
2027 1.62% 2.05%
2026 1.6% 2.08%
2025 1.63% 2.08%
2024 1.65% 2.1%
2023 1.65% 2.12%
2022 1.6% 2.11%
2021 1.5% 2.12%
2020 1.45% 2.15%
2019 1.43% 2.22%
2018 1.43% 2.34%
2017 1.43% 2.46%
2016 1.43% 2.5%
2015 1.44% 2.57%
2014 1.47% 2.68%
2013 1.52% 2.75%
2012 1.69% 2.81%
2011 1.99% 2.84%
2010 2.13% 2.83%
2009 2.09% 2.83%
2008 2.03% 2.82%
2007 1.96% 2.81%
2006 1.88% 2.8%
2005 1.81% 2.81%
2004 1.77% 2.81%
2003 1.78% 2.8%
2002 1.9% 2.78%
2001 2.08% 2.75%
2000 2.15% 2.71%
1999 2.18% 2.67%
1998 2.24% 2.65%
1997 2.33% 2.64%
1996 2.47% 2.65%
1995 2.66% 2.67%
1994 2.81% 2.68%
1993 2.9% 2.69%
1992 2.85% 2.66%
1991 2.76% 2.68%
1990 2.79% 2.74%
1989 2.82% 2.73%
1988 3.03% 2.71%
1987 3.32% 2.7%
1986 3.45% 2.75%
1985 3.53% 2.87%
1984 3.59% 2.6%
1983 3.65% 2.63%
1982 4.05% 3.04%
1981 3.47% 3.12%
1980 3.96% 3.17%
1979 6.18% 3.13%
1978 6.21% 3.11%
1977 5.41% 3.03%
1976 5.29% 2.91%
1975 5.1% 2.81%
1974 5.06% 2.66%
1973 4.82% 2.53%
1972 3.65% 2.42%
1971 1.72% 2.36%
1970 0.56% 2.31%
1969 0.53% 2.24%
1968 0.52% 2.18%
1967 0.53% 2.16%
1966 0.56% 2.2%
1965 1.48% 2.19%
1964 2.41% 2.16%
1963 2.37% 2.15%
1962 2.32% 2.12%
1961 2.28% 2.08%

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/nigeria | CC BY

In 2025, the population of Botswana grew by 1.63%, while Nigeria's population grew by 2.08%.

Live population counters

Botswana Nigeria
Current population
2624853
245016045
Population rank 142/197 6/197
Percent of world population 0.03% 2.95%
One net population change
12.9 minutes
6.52 seconds
One birth every
8.56 minutes
4.17 seconds
One death every
36.3 minutes
11.6 seconds
Daily growth/decline +112 +13,283
Annual growth/decline +40,983 +4,848,304
Annual growth/decline rate +1.63% +2.08%
Population growth rate rank 65/197 45/197
One migration net change every
1.55 hours
34.5 minutes
Annual migration change -5,665 -15,258
Net migration rank 120/196 145/196
Foreign-born residents 116,402 1,403,281
Foreign-born residents rank 126/195 49/195
Foreign-born share of population 4.6% 0.6%
Foreign-born share rank 96/195 173/195

Natural population change vs migration

Botswana
Natural

Migration
Nigeria
Natural

Migration
1x
Year Population change
Botswana Nigeria
Natural Migration Natural Migration
2025 - -5,665 - -15,258
2024 46,951 -5,778 4,851,833 -35,202
2023 47,098 -6,487 4,834,309 -57,936
2022 47,400 -7,306 4,739,502 -51,680
2021 40,894 -4,083 4,641,562 -86,115
2020 45,610 -11,330 4,525,164 -14,497
2019 45,110 -11,770 4,609,941 -99,722
2018 44,171 -11,623 4,659,898 -76,565
2017 43,154 -10,916 4,706,183 78,685
2016 41,993 -10,286 4,761,594 75,265
2015 40,897 -9,599 4,823,045 -116,162
2014 40,046 -8,893 4,862,319 -19,376
2013 39,404 -7,836 4,811,751 40,201
2012 39,202 -6,636 4,774,508 71,138
2011 38,613 -1,019 4,728,363 67,808
2010 38,101 5,151 4,629,173 47,966
2009 36,671 4,960 4,528,149 -18,422
2008 35,433 4,343 4,412,976 -13,646
2007 33,832 3,926 4,265,428 -9,162
2006 31,340 4,270 4,135,703 -12,093
2005 29,385 4,283 4,013,788 -17,146
2004 27,481 4,314 3,877,376 46,370
2003 26,545 4,488 3,751,120 33,857
2002 26,163 4,747 3,606,814 69,594
2001 26,112 7,991 3,478,370 64,163
2000 25,850 9,798 3,343,196 74,535
1999 25,358 9,762 3,155,425 97,195
1998 25,397 9,685 3,003,946 145,575
1997 25,738 9,597 2,936,500 96,885
1996 26,847 9,368 2,882,205 84,448
1995 28,478 9,464 2,830,771 73,243
1994 30,664 9,023 2,735,198 128,134
1993 31,691 8,441 2,673,675 90,200
1992 31,995 8,026 2,596,173 138,412
1991 32,219 4,311 2,527,807 42,760
1990 33,015 2,580 2,491,928 135,959
1989 33,756 1,495 2,452,324 99,588
1988 34,564 -215 2,376,419 93,510
1987 35,647 2,624 2,322,397 64,418
1986 36,203 2,558 2,295,003 29,682
1985 35,966 2,683 2,289,784 61,514
1984 35,530 2,393 2,278,060 113,758
1983 35,142 1,980 2,292,089 -507,539
1982 34,859 1,751 2,233,401 101,116
1981 34,327 7,610 2,179,884 106,723
1980 33,934 -10,849 2,121,618 198,672
1979 32,486 15,918 2,074,807 137,721
1978 30,596 26,015 2,019,621 111,258
1977 29,009 13,708 1,923,917 129,075
1976 27,497 11,914 1,827,289 72,889
1975 25,762 11,086 1,718,623 75,603
1974 24,160 8,854 1,624,813 44,281
1973 22,449 10,615 1,525,485 -618
1972 21,004 5,937 1,448,928 -12,962
1971 19,926 -3,016 1,373,896 -35,639
1970 19,438 -16,054 1,295,507 7,953
1969 19,024 -15,870 1,213,484 6,912
1968 18,725 -15,681 1,168,254 9,615
1967 18,463 -15,438 1,082,884 18,683
1966 18,250 -15,140 1,095,582 12,513
1965 18,045 -14,753 1,061,840 32,988
1964 17,634 -4,126 1,028,272 26,411
1963 17,084 -4,000 995,116 27,115
1962 16,507 -4,028 966,452 27,906
1961 16,185 -4,168 932,111 25,515
1960 15,861 -4,331 901,301 12,131

Data sources: World Bank | Health (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-07-08).

GeoRank.org/population/botswana/nigeria | 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 Nigeria 99.2% is from natural causes (a gain of 47,153,031 people) and 0.81% is from migration (a loss of 383,929 people).

As of 2024, 116,402 residents or 4.6% of the population were not native-born in Botswana, compared to 1,403,281 people or 0.6% in Nigeria.

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
Nigeria
City Population
Lagos 15.1M
Kano 4.35M
Port Harcourt 3.32M
Ibadan 2.56M
Benin 1.78M
Abuja 1.69M
Onitsha 1.48M
Aba 1.16M
Enugu 1.03M
Owerri 908K

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/nigeria | 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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