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Population in Botswana compared to North Korea: Trends, Charts, Rankings

Updated on by Georank team

The latest officially reported population of Botswana was 2,521,139 in 2024 vs 26,498,823 people in North Korea in 2024. In 2026, based on the adjusted UN estimation, the current Botswana's population is 2,615,162 people compared to 26,659,144 in North Korea.

Population statistics:

  • North Korea's population is 10.2 times bigger than Botswana's.
  • Botswana is ranked the 142nd most populous country in the world, while North Korea is the 57th.
  • The countries together account for 0.35% of the world: 0.03% for Botswana vs 0.32% for North Korea.
  • For the last 10 years, Botswana has had an average growth rate of +1.5% per year vs +0.41% in North Korea.
  • Since 2006, the population of Botswana has increased from 1.87M people to 2.62M (39.5% growth), while North Korea has grown from 24.5M to 26.7M (8.7% growth).

Botswana vs North Korea: population by year and forecast

Botswana
Factual

Projection
North Korea
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Population
Botswana North Korea
2100 3,871,504 19,604,631
2099 3,876,625 19,733,548
2098 3,882,670 19,862,949
2097 3,887,985 19,993,288
2096 3,892,886 20,124,518
2095 3,897,211 20,256,401
2094 3,901,478 20,388,156
2093 3,905,541 20,520,253
2092 3,909,490 20,652,961
2091 3,913,899 20,785,785
2090 3,916,706 20,918,305
2089 3,917,351 21,050,580
2088 3,917,510 21,182,325
2087 3,916,826 21,314,047
2086 3,916,303 21,445,329
2085 3,915,785 21,575,835
2084 3,914,364 21,705,777
2083 3,912,929 21,835,029
2082 3,910,994 21,964,199
2081 3,910,013 22,092,862
2080 3,908,255 22,220,948
2079 3,905,358 22,348,577
2078 3,900,828 22,475,755
2077 3,896,126 22,602,817
2076 3,890,528 22,729,499
2075 3,884,696 22,856,369
2074 3,879,057 22,983,784
2073 3,873,259 23,111,441
2072 3,865,665 23,239,261
2071 3,858,720 23,367,583
2070 3,851,234 23,496,136
2069 3,841,316 23,625,538
2068 3,830,826 23,755,136
2067 3,818,341 23,884,879
2066 3,805,705 24,015,027
2065 3,791,211 24,144,985
2064 3,775,938 24,274,257
2063 3,760,179 24,402,439
2062 3,742,710 24,529,941
2061 3,723,346 24,656,350
2060 3,703,231 24,780,911
2059 3,682,816 24,903,037
2058 3,659,567 25,023,260
2057 3,635,514 25,140,523
2056 3,611,843 25,255,342
2055 3,587,056 25,366,397
2054 3,562,182 25,474,292
2053 3,535,732 25,578,870
2052 3,507,938 25,679,963
2051 3,479,939 25,777,639
2050 3,451,521 25,871,673
2049 3,422,143 25,962,167
2048 3,391,720 26,048,593
2047 3,360,414 26,131,429
2046 3,328,208 26,210,487
2045 3,296,489 26,286,208
2044 3,265,120 26,358,331
2043 3,233,076 26,427,062
2042 3,201,405 26,491,482
2041 3,168,873 26,552,564
2040 3,135,889 26,609,557
2039 3,101,794 26,661,815
2038 3,067,648 26,708,400
2037 3,032,620 26,749,134
2036 2,996,884 26,783,304
2035 2,960,590 26,810,026
2034 2,923,411 26,828,912
2033 2,885,991 26,839,229
2032 2,847,292 26,840,944
2031 2,808,872 26,832,957
2030 2,768,505 26,814,812
2029 2,728,467 26,787,117
2028 2,686,968 26,749,227
2027 2,645,863 26,701,444
2026 2,603,779 26,643,460
2025 2,562,651 26,575,953
2024 2,521,139 26,498,823
2023 2,480,244 26,418,204
2022 2,439,892 26,328,845
2021 2,401,441 26,232,534
2020 2,365,894 26,136,312
2019 2,332,083 26,037,632
2018 2,299,141 25,931,147
2017 2,266,747 25,817,709
2016 2,234,776 25,698,326
2015 2,203,273 25,575,350
2014 2,172,044 25,451,262
2013 2,140,682 25,329,451
2012 2,108,617 25,211,728
2011 2,073,535 25,097,874
2010 2,033,111 24,987,258
2009 1,990,673 24,878,332
2008 1,949,970 24,764,618
2007 1,911,201 24,646,383
2006 1,874,516 24,524,507
2005 1,839,877 24,396,433
2004 1,807,146 24,254,943
2003 1,775,736 24,090,380
2002 1,744,763 23,943,973
2001 1,712,254 23,815,358
2000 1,677,382 23,665,910
1999 1,641,997 23,497,599
1998 1,606,899 23,311,564
1997 1,571,691 23,110,830
1996 1,535,914 22,895,746
1995 1,498,836 22,669,304
1994 1,460,023 22,393,975
1993 1,420,115 22,073,352
1992 1,380,033 21,750,911
1991 1,341,756 21,428,638
1990 1,305,696 21,112,137
1989 1,270,274 20,804,367
1988 1,235,476 20,503,161
1987 1,199,167 20,205,483
1986 1,160,650 19,910,855
1985 1,121,945 19,620,388
1984 1,083,660 19,335,043
1983 1,046,137 19,054,034
1982 1,009,269 18,776,357
1981 969,996 18,501,295
1980 937,485 18,236,786
1979 901,742 17,983,470
1978 849,239 17,735,995
1977 799,574 17,492,798
1976 758,508 17,243,450
1975 720,380 16,971,055
1974 685,448 16,673,121
1973 652,408 16,350,367
1972 622,407 15,975,069
1971 600,481 15,572,457
1970 590,334 15,172,775
1969 587,066 14,767,615
1968 583,966 14,365,596
1967 580,933 13,958,350
1966 577,866 13,569,094
1965 574,664 13,219,369
1964 566,266 12,889,770
1963 552,966 12,567,057
1962 540,186 12,262,882
1961 527,942 11,990,713
1960 516,165 11,722,953

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/north-korea | CC BY

From 2006 to 2016, the population of Botswana increased by 360,260 people (a 19.2% growth), while North Korea gained 1,173,819 people (a 4.79% growth).

For the next 10 years, from 2016 to 2026, Botswana gained 380,386 people (a 17% growth), while North Korea's population increased by 960,818 people (a 3.74% growth).

Botswana was ranked 145th most populous country in 2006 and is 142nd in 2026. North Korea was ranked 46th in 2006 and ranked 57th 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 North Korea will decrease by 2.95% to 25,871,673 people and rank change from 57th to 66th.

Botswana is projected to reach its peak in 2088 at 3.92M people compared to the peak of 26.8M people in 2032 for North Korea.

Population growth rate by year

Botswana
Factual

Projection
North Korea
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Growth rate
Botswana North Korea
2100 -0.13% -0.65%
2099 -0.16% -0.65%
2098 -0.14% -0.65%
2097 -0.13% -0.65%
2096 -0.11% -0.65%
2095 -0.11% -0.65%
2094 -0.1% -0.64%
2093 -0.1% -0.64%
2092 -0.11% -0.64%
2091 -0.07% -0.63%
2090 -0.02% -0.63%
2089 -0.004% -0.62%
2088 0.02% -0.62%
2087 0.01% -0.61%
2086 0.01% -0.6%
2085 0.04% -0.6%
2084 0.04% -0.59%
2083 0.05% -0.59%
2082 0.03% -0.58%
2081 0.04% -0.58%
2080 0.07% -0.57%
2079 0.12% -0.57%
2078 0.12% -0.56%
2077 0.14% -0.56%
2076 0.15% -0.56%
2075 0.15% -0.55%
2074 0.15% -0.55%
2073 0.2% -0.55%
2072 0.18% -0.55%
2071 0.19% -0.55%
2070 0.26% -0.55%
2069 0.27% -0.55%
2068 0.33% -0.54%
2067 0.33% -0.54%
2066 0.38% -0.54%
2065 0.4% -0.53%
2064 0.42% -0.53%
2063 0.47% -0.52%
2062 0.52% -0.51%
2061 0.54% -0.5%
2060 0.55% -0.49%
2059 0.64% -0.48%
2058 0.66% -0.47%
2057 0.66% -0.45%
2056 0.69% -0.44%
2055 0.7% -0.42%
2054 0.75% -0.41%
2053 0.79% -0.39%
2052 0.8% -0.38%
2051 0.82% -0.36%
2050 0.86% -0.35%
2049 0.9% -0.33%
2048 0.93% -0.32%
2047 0.97% -0.3%
2046 0.96% -0.29%
2045 0.96% -0.27%
2044 0.99% -0.26%
2043 0.99% -0.24%
2042 1.03% -0.23%
2041 1.05% -0.21%
2040 1.1% -0.2%
2039 1.11% -0.17%
2038 1.16% -0.15%
2037 1.19% -0.13%
2036 1.23% -0.1%
2035 1.27% -0.07%
2034 1.3% -0.04%
2033 1.36% -0.006%
2032 1.37% 0.03%
2031 1.46% 0.07%
2030 1.47% 0.1%
2029 1.54% 0.14%
2028 1.55% 0.18%
2027 1.62% 0.22%
2026 1.6% 0.25%
2025 1.65% 0.29%
2024 1.65% 0.31%
2023 1.65% 0.34%
2022 1.6% 0.37%
2021 1.5% 0.37%
2020 1.45% 0.38%
2019 1.43% 0.41%
2018 1.43% 0.44%
2017 1.43% 0.46%
2016 1.43% 0.48%
2015 1.44% 0.49%
2014 1.47% 0.48%
2013 1.52% 0.47%
2012 1.69% 0.45%
2011 1.99% 0.44%
2010 2.13% 0.44%
2009 2.09% 0.46%
2008 2.03% 0.48%
2007 1.96% 0.5%
2006 1.88% 0.52%
2005 1.81% 0.58%
2004 1.77% 0.68%
2003 1.78% 0.61%
2002 1.9% 0.54%
2001 2.08% 0.63%
2000 2.15% 0.72%
1999 2.18% 0.8%
1998 2.24% 0.87%
1997 2.33% 0.94%
1996 2.47% 1%
1995 2.66% 1.23%
1994 2.81% 1.45%
1993 2.9% 1.48%
1992 2.85% 1.5%
1991 2.76% 1.5%
1990 2.79% 1.48%
1989 2.82% 1.47%
1988 3.03% 1.47%
1987 3.32% 1.48%
1986 3.45% 1.48%
1985 3.53% 1.48%
1984 3.59% 1.47%
1983 3.65% 1.48%
1982 4.05% 1.49%
1981 3.47% 1.45%
1980 3.96% 1.41%
1979 6.18% 1.4%
1978 6.21% 1.39%
1977 5.41% 1.45%
1976 5.29% 1.61%
1975 5.1% 1.79%
1974 5.06% 1.97%
1973 4.82% 2.35%
1972 3.65% 2.59%
1971 1.72% 2.63%
1970 0.56% 2.74%
1969 0.53% 2.8%
1968 0.52% 2.92%
1967 0.53% 2.87%
1966 0.56% 2.65%
1965 1.48% 2.56%
1964 2.41% 2.57%
1963 2.37% 2.48%
1962 2.32% 2.27%
1961 2.28% 2.28%

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/north-korea | CC BY

In 2024, the population of Botswana grew by 1.65%, while North Korea's population grew by 0.31%.

Live population counters

Botswana North Korea
Current population
2615162
26659144
Population rank 142/197 57/197
Percent of world population 0.03% 0.32%
One net population change
12.9 minutes
6.52 minutes
One birth every
8.58 minutes
1.54 minutes
One death every
37 minutes
2.05 minutes
Daily growth/decline +112 +221
Annual growth/decline +40,895 +80,619
Annual growth/decline rate +1.65% +0.31%
Population growth rate rank 66/197 150/197
One migration net change every
1.55 hours
3.15 hours
Annual migration change -5,665 -2,787
Net migration rank 120/196 104/196
Foreign-born residents 116,402 50,439
Foreign-born residents rank 126/195 150/195
Foreign-born share of population 4.6% 0.2%
Foreign-born share rank 96/195 189/195

Natural population change vs migration

Botswana
Natural

Migration
North Korea
Natural

Migration
1x
Year Population change
Botswana North Korea
Natural Migration Natural Migration
2025 - -5,665 - -2,787
2024 - -5,778 - -2,473
2023 47,098 -6,487 86,203 -1,997
2022 47,400 -7,306 96,495 -1,997
2021 40,894 -4,083 99,710 -1,585
2020 45,610 -11,330 95,920 -1,585
2019 45,110 -11,770 106,208 -3,142
2018 44,171 -11,623 113,164 -3,225
2017 43,154 -10,916 120,181 -3,224
2016 41,993 -10,286 125,048 -3,222
2015 40,897 -9,599 127,365 -3,208
2014 40,046 -8,893 127,078 -3,042
2013 39,404 -7,836 122,519 -2,933
2012 39,202 -6,636 118,773 -2,919
2011 38,613 -1,019 114,798 -2,957
2010 38,101 5,151 112,443 -3,053
2009 36,671 4,960 111,530 -3,058
2008 35,433 4,343 122,015 -3,051
2007 33,832 3,926 120,521 -3,021
2006 31,340 4,270 129,171 -2,948
2005 29,385 4,283 132,765 -2,861
2004 27,481 4,314 155,838 -2,758
2003 26,545 4,488 178,775 -2,717
2002 26,163 4,747 119,504 -2,763
2001 26,112 7,991 143,321 -2,884
2000 25,850 9,798 161,591 -3,142
1999 25,358 9,762 181,613 -3,443
1998 25,397 9,685 197,589 -3,706
1997 25,738 9,597 211,325 -3,745
1996 26,847 9,368 226,095 -3,512
1995 28,478 9,464 233,381 -3,094
1994 30,664 9,023 320,861 -517
1993 31,691 8,441 320,880 0
1992 31,995 8,026 324,002 0
1991 32,219 4,311 320,551 0
1990 33,015 2,580 312,460 0
1989 33,756 1,495 303,078 0
1988 34,564 -215 299,305 0
1987 35,647 2,624 296,030 0
1986 36,203 2,558 293,227 0
1985 35,966 2,683 287,714 0
1984 35,530 2,393 282,987 0
1983 35,142 1,980 279,046 0
1982 34,859 1,751 276,332 0
1981 34,327 7,610 273,800 0
1980 33,934 -10,849 255,206 0
1979 32,486 15,918 251,409 0
1978 30,596 26,015 243,533 0
1977 29,009 13,708 242,870 0
1976 27,497 11,914 255,841 0
1975 25,762 11,086 288,966 0
1974 24,160 8,854 306,902 0
1973 22,449 10,615 338,600 0
1972 21,004 5,937 411,997 0
1971 19,926 -3,016 393,220 0
1970 19,438 -16,054 406,129 0
1969 19,024 -15,870 404,189 0
1968 18,725 -15,681 399,837 0
1967 18,463 -15,438 414,632 0
1966 18,250 -15,140 363,882 0
1965 18,045 -14,753 335,587 0
1964 17,634 -4,126 323,623 0
1963 17,084 -4,000 321,805 0
1962 16,507 -4,028 286,534 0
1961 16,185 -4,168 257,788 0
1960 15,861 -4,331 277,717 0

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

GeoRank.org/population/botswana/north-korea | 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 North Korea 97.7% is from natural causes (a gain of 1,097,372 people) and 2.33% is from migration (a loss of 26,227 people).

As of 2024, 116,402 residents or 4.6% of the population were not native-born in Botswana, compared to 50,439 people or 0.2% in North Korea.

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
North Korea
City Population
Pyongyang 2.86M
Hamhung 769K
Chongjin 668K
Sunchon 437K
Nampo 367K
Wonsan 363K
Sinuiju 359K
Tanchon 346K
Kaechon 320K
Kaesong 308K

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/north-korea | 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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