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

Updated on by Georank team

The latest officially reported population of Botswana was 2,521,139 in 2024 vs 232,679,478 people in Nigeria in 2024. In 2026, based on the adjusted UN estimation, the current Botswana's population is 2,615,162 people compared to 243,824,469 in Nigeria.

Population statistics:

  • Nigeria's population is 93.2 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 2.97% of the world: 0.03% for Botswana vs 2.94% for Nigeria.
  • For the last 10 years, Botswana has had an average growth rate of +1.5% per year vs +2.31% in Nigeria.
  • Since 2006, the population of Botswana has increased from 1.87M people to 2.62M (39.5% growth), while Nigeria has grown from 149M to 244M (63.6% growth).

Botswana vs Nigeria: population by year and forecast

Botswana
Factual

Projection
Nigeria
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Population
Botswana Nigeria
2100 3,871,504 481,678,166
2099 3,876,625 481,494,914
2098 3,882,670 481,219,866
2097 3,887,985 480,876,108
2096 3,892,886 480,460,381
2095 3,897,211 479,976,454
2094 3,901,478 479,432,855
2093 3,905,541 478,807,152
2092 3,909,490 478,097,591
2091 3,913,899 477,274,569
2090 3,916,706 476,367,086
2089 3,917,351 475,363,859
2088 3,917,510 474,268,867
2087 3,916,826 473,072,894
2086 3,916,303 471,769,229
2085 3,915,785 470,365,292
2084 3,914,364 468,843,169
2083 3,912,929 467,224,322
2082 3,910,994 465,509,151
2081 3,910,013 463,679,779
2080 3,908,255 461,741,930
2079 3,905,358 459,680,797
2078 3,900,828 457,513,367
2077 3,896,126 455,254,796
2076 3,890,528 452,885,729
2075 3,884,696 450,402,898
2074 3,879,057 447,825,224
2073 3,873,259 445,152,156
2072 3,865,665 442,375,349
2071 3,858,720 439,499,004
2070 3,851,234 436,539,777
2069 3,841,316 433,472,204
2068 3,830,826 430,320,190
2067 3,818,341 427,066,199
2066 3,805,705 423,736,078
2065 3,791,211 420,318,527
2064 3,775,938 416,811,285
2063 3,760,179 413,231,409
2062 3,742,710 409,583,480
2061 3,723,346 405,859,509
2060 3,703,231 402,073,494
2059 3,682,816 398,228,736
2058 3,659,567 394,315,883
2057 3,635,514 390,341,867
2056 3,611,843 386,298,064
2055 3,587,056 382,193,151
2054 3,562,182 378,030,342
2053 3,535,732 373,799,276
2052 3,507,938 369,501,634
2051 3,479,939 365,149,555
2050 3,451,521 360,734,783
2049 3,422,143 356,271,401
2048 3,391,720 351,752,501
2047 3,360,414 347,169,674
2046 3,328,208 342,532,578
2045 3,296,489 337,834,528
2044 3,265,120 333,076,416
2043 3,233,076 328,256,555
2042 3,201,405 323,388,886
2041 3,168,873 318,469,120
2040 3,135,889 313,492,800
2039 3,101,794 308,474,350
2038 3,067,648 303,423,786
2037 3,032,620 298,351,344
2036 2,996,884 293,250,795
2035 2,960,590 288,138,368
2034 2,923,411 283,018,151
2033 2,885,991 277,897,810
2032 2,847,292 272,769,123
2031 2,808,872 267,666,779
2030 2,768,505 262,583,487
2029 2,728,467 257,504,936
2028 2,686,968 252,465,743
2027 2,645,863 247,457,208
2026 2,603,779 242,477,499
2025 2,562,651 237,546,527
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 (2025–2100, retrieved 2026-03-10); World Bank | Health (1960–2024, retrieved 2026-04-06).

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 380,386 people (a 17% growth), while Nigeria's population increased by 48,380,769 people (a 24.8% 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 32% to 3,451,521 people with a rank change from 142nd to 137th. The population of Nigeria will increase by 47.9% to 360,734,783 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 1.65% 2.09%
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 (2025–2100, retrieved 2026-03-10); World Bank | Health (1961–2024, retrieved 2026-04-06).

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

In 2024, the population of Botswana grew by 1.65%, while Nigeria's population grew by 2.1%.

Live population counters

Botswana Nigeria
Current population
2615162
243824469
Population rank 142/197 6/197
Percent of world population 0.03% 2.94%
One net population change
12.9 minutes
6.58 seconds
One birth every
8.58 minutes
4.2 seconds
One death every
37 minutes
11.8 seconds
Daily growth/decline +112 +13,141
Annual growth/decline +40,895 +4,796,533
Annual growth/decline rate +1.65% +2.1%
Population growth rate rank 66/197 48/197
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 - -5,778 - -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 2026-04-06).

GeoRank.org/population/botswana/nigeria | 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 Nigeria 99.2% is from natural causes (a gain of 47,163,517 people) and 0.77% is from migration (a loss of 368,103 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 2.55M
Benin 1.78M
Abuja 1.69M
Onitsha 1.48M
Maiduguri 1.2M
Aba 1.16M
Enugu 1.03M

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/nigeria | 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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