The latest officially reported population of Botswana was 2,521,139 in 2024 vs 17,695 people in Palau in 2024. In 2026, based on the adjusted UN estimation, the current Botswana's population is 2,615,162 people compared to 17,629 in Palau.
Population statistics:
- Botswana's population is 148.3 times bigger than Palau's.
- Botswana is ranked the 142nd most populous country in the world, while Palau is the 194th.
- The countries together account for 0.03% of the world: 0.03% for Botswana vs 0.0002% for Palau.
- For the last 10 years, Botswana has had an average growth rate of +1.5% per year vs +0.02% in Palau.
- Since 2006, the population of Botswana has increased from 1.87M people to 2.62M (39.5% growth), while Palau has declined from 19.6K to 17.6K (10% decline).
Botswana vs Palau: population by year and forecast
| Year | Population | |
|---|---|---|
Botswana
|
Palau
|
|
| 2100 | 3,871,504 | 11,152 |
| 2099 | 3,876,625 | 11,216 |
| 2098 | 3,882,670 | 11,281 |
| 2097 | 3,887,985 | 11,352 |
| 2096 | 3,892,886 | 11,417 |
| 2095 | 3,897,211 | 11,485 |
| 2094 | 3,901,478 | 11,549 |
| 2093 | 3,905,541 | 11,616 |
| 2092 | 3,909,490 | 11,682 |
| 2091 | 3,913,899 | 11,753 |
| 2090 | 3,916,706 | 11,829 |
| 2089 | 3,917,351 | 11,907 |
| 2088 | 3,917,510 | 11,968 |
| 2087 | 3,916,826 | 12,040 |
| 2086 | 3,916,303 | 12,109 |
| 2085 | 3,915,785 | 12,171 |
| 2084 | 3,914,364 | 12,251 |
| 2083 | 3,912,929 | 12,316 |
| 2082 | 3,910,994 | 12,382 |
| 2081 | 3,910,013 | 12,457 |
| 2080 | 3,908,255 | 12,537 |
| 2079 | 3,905,358 | 12,608 |
| 2078 | 3,900,828 | 12,681 |
| 2077 | 3,896,126 | 12,758 |
| 2076 | 3,890,528 | 12,838 |
| 2075 | 3,884,696 | 12,914 |
| 2074 | 3,879,057 | 13,007 |
| 2073 | 3,873,259 | 13,091 |
| 2072 | 3,865,665 | 13,161 |
| 2071 | 3,858,720 | 13,252 |
| 2070 | 3,851,234 | 13,338 |
| 2069 | 3,841,316 | 13,430 |
| 2068 | 3,830,826 | 13,525 |
| 2067 | 3,818,341 | 13,621 |
| 2066 | 3,805,705 | 13,723 |
| 2065 | 3,791,211 | 13,818 |
| 2064 | 3,775,938 | 13,920 |
| 2063 | 3,760,179 | 14,025 |
| 2062 | 3,742,710 | 14,136 |
| 2061 | 3,723,346 | 14,251 |
| 2060 | 3,703,231 | 14,358 |
| 2059 | 3,682,816 | 14,479 |
| 2058 | 3,659,567 | 14,589 |
| 2057 | 3,635,514 | 14,718 |
| 2056 | 3,611,843 | 14,837 |
| 2055 | 3,587,056 | 14,961 |
| 2054 | 3,562,182 | 15,084 |
| 2053 | 3,535,732 | 15,206 |
| 2052 | 3,507,938 | 15,332 |
| 2051 | 3,479,939 | 15,453 |
| 2050 | 3,451,521 | 15,562 |
| 2049 | 3,422,143 | 15,682 |
| 2048 | 3,391,720 | 15,797 |
| 2047 | 3,360,414 | 15,912 |
| 2046 | 3,328,208 | 16,024 |
| 2045 | 3,296,489 | 16,132 |
| 2044 | 3,265,120 | 16,245 |
| 2043 | 3,233,076 | 16,339 |
| 2042 | 3,201,405 | 16,445 |
| 2041 | 3,168,873 | 16,549 |
| 2040 | 3,135,889 | 16,631 |
| 2039 | 3,101,794 | 16,727 |
| 2038 | 3,067,648 | 16,805 |
| 2037 | 3,032,620 | 16,895 |
| 2036 | 2,996,884 | 16,964 |
| 2035 | 2,960,590 | 17,042 |
| 2034 | 2,923,411 | 17,118 |
| 2033 | 2,885,991 | 17,190 |
| 2032 | 2,847,292 | 17,250 |
| 2031 | 2,808,872 | 17,330 |
| 2030 | 2,768,505 | 17,398 |
| 2029 | 2,728,467 | 17,457 |
| 2028 | 2,686,968 | 17,527 |
| 2027 | 2,645,863 | 17,576 |
| 2026 | 2,603,779 | 17,629 |
| 2025 | 2,562,651 | 17,672 |
| 2024 | 2,521,139 | 17,695 |
| 2023 | 2,480,244 | 17,727 |
| 2022 | 2,439,892 | 17,759 |
| 2021 | 2,401,441 | 17,783 |
| 2020 | 2,365,894 | 17,792 |
| 2019 | 2,332,083 | 17,798 |
| 2018 | 2,299,141 | 17,814 |
| 2017 | 2,266,747 | 17,812 |
| 2016 | 2,234,776 | 17,797 |
| 2015 | 2,203,273 | 17,770 |
| 2014 | 2,172,044 | 17,715 |
| 2013 | 2,140,682 | 17,648 |
| 2012 | 2,108,617 | 17,765 |
| 2011 | 2,073,535 | 18,078 |
| 2010 | 2,033,111 | 18,396 |
| 2009 | 1,990,673 | 18,709 |
| 2008 | 1,949,970 | 19,009 |
| 2007 | 1,911,201 | 19,302 |
| 2006 | 1,874,516 | 19,593 |
| 2005 | 1,839,877 | 19,819 |
| 2004 | 1,807,146 | 19,820 |
| 2003 | 1,775,736 | 19,659 |
| 2002 | 1,744,763 | 19,503 |
| 2001 | 1,712,254 | 19,352 |
| 2000 | 1,677,382 | 19,178 |
| 1999 | 1,641,997 | 18,901 |
| 1998 | 1,606,899 | 18,524 |
| 1997 | 1,571,691 | 18,108 |
| 1996 | 1,535,914 | 17,654 |
| 1995 | 1,498,836 | 17,195 |
| 1994 | 1,460,023 | 16,770 |
| 1993 | 1,420,115 | 16,372 |
| 1992 | 1,380,033 | 15,989 |
| 1991 | 1,341,756 | 15,614 |
| 1990 | 1,305,696 | 15,259 |
| 1989 | 1,270,274 | 14,945 |
| 1988 | 1,235,476 | 14,645 |
| 1987 | 1,199,167 | 14,334 |
| 1986 | 1,160,650 | 14,024 |
| 1985 | 1,121,945 | 13,688 |
| 1984 | 1,083,660 | 13,337 |
| 1983 | 1,046,137 | 13,006 |
| 1982 | 1,009,269 | 12,694 |
| 1981 | 969,996 | 12,402 |
| 1980 | 937,485 | 12,271 |
| 1979 | 901,742 | 12,337 |
| 1978 | 849,239 | 12,440 |
| 1977 | 799,574 | 12,525 |
| 1976 | 758,508 | 12,598 |
| 1975 | 720,380 | 12,655 |
| 1974 | 685,448 | 12,687 |
| 1973 | 652,408 | 12,552 |
| 1972 | 622,407 | 12,194 |
| 1971 | 600,481 | 11,759 |
| 1970 | 590,334 | 11,368 |
| 1969 | 587,066 | 11,159 |
| 1968 | 583,966 | 11,080 |
| 1967 | 580,933 | 10,988 |
| 1966 | 577,866 | 10,805 |
| 1965 | 574,664 | 10,547 |
| 1964 | 566,266 | 10,292 |
| 1963 | 552,966 | 10,037 |
| 1962 | 540,186 | 9,793 |
| 1961 | 527,942 | 9,555 |
| 1960 | 516,165 | 9,328 |
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/palau | CC BY 
From 2006 to 2016, the population of Botswana increased by 360,260 people (a 19.2% growth), while Palau lost 1,796 people (a 9.17% decline).
For the next 10 years, from 2016 to 2026, Botswana gained 380,386 people (a 17% growth), while Palau's population decreased by 168 people (a 0.94% decline).
Botswana was ranked 145th most populous country in 2006 and is 142nd in 2026. Palau was ranked 194th in 2006 and still ranked 194th 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 Palau will decrease by 11.7% to 15,562 people and rank change from 194th to 195th.
Botswana is projected to reach its peak in 2088 at 3.92M people, while Palau's population already peaked in 2004 at 19.8K people and is projected to decrease to 11.2K people by 2100.
Population growth rate by year
| Year | Growth rate | |
|---|---|---|
|
Botswana
|
Palau
|
|
| 2100 | -0.13% | -0.57% |
| 2099 | -0.16% | -0.58% |
| 2098 | -0.14% | -0.62% |
| 2097 | -0.13% | -0.57% |
| 2096 | -0.11% | -0.59% |
| 2095 | -0.11% | -0.55% |
| 2094 | -0.1% | -0.58% |
| 2093 | -0.1% | -0.56% |
| 2092 | -0.11% | -0.6% |
| 2091 | -0.07% | -0.65% |
| 2090 | -0.02% | -0.65% |
| 2089 | -0.004% | -0.51% |
| 2088 | 0.02% | -0.6% |
| 2087 | 0.01% | -0.57% |
| 2086 | 0.01% | -0.51% |
| 2085 | 0.04% | -0.65% |
| 2084 | 0.04% | -0.53% |
| 2083 | 0.05% | -0.53% |
| 2082 | 0.03% | -0.6% |
| 2081 | 0.04% | -0.64% |
| 2080 | 0.07% | -0.56% |
| 2079 | 0.12% | -0.58% |
| 2078 | 0.12% | -0.6% |
| 2077 | 0.14% | -0.62% |
| 2076 | 0.15% | -0.59% |
| 2075 | 0.15% | -0.71% |
| 2074 | 0.15% | -0.64% |
| 2073 | 0.2% | -0.53% |
| 2072 | 0.18% | -0.69% |
| 2071 | 0.19% | -0.65% |
| 2070 | 0.26% | -0.68% |
| 2069 | 0.27% | -0.7% |
| 2068 | 0.33% | -0.7% |
| 2067 | 0.33% | -0.74% |
| 2066 | 0.38% | -0.69% |
| 2065 | 0.4% | -0.73% |
| 2064 | 0.42% | -0.75% |
| 2063 | 0.47% | -0.78% |
| 2062 | 0.52% | -0.81% |
| 2061 | 0.54% | -0.74% |
| 2060 | 0.55% | -0.84% |
| 2059 | 0.64% | -0.75% |
| 2058 | 0.66% | -0.88% |
| 2057 | 0.66% | -0.81% |
| 2056 | 0.69% | -0.83% |
| 2055 | 0.7% | -0.81% |
| 2054 | 0.75% | -0.8% |
| 2053 | 0.79% | -0.82% |
| 2052 | 0.8% | -0.78% |
| 2051 | 0.82% | -0.7% |
| 2050 | 0.86% | -0.76% |
| 2049 | 0.9% | -0.73% |
| 2048 | 0.93% | -0.72% |
| 2047 | 0.97% | -0.7% |
| 2046 | 0.96% | -0.67% |
| 2045 | 0.96% | -0.7% |
| 2044 | 0.99% | -0.57% |
| 2043 | 0.99% | -0.64% |
| 2042 | 1.03% | -0.63% |
| 2041 | 1.05% | -0.49% |
| 2040 | 1.1% | -0.57% |
| 2039 | 1.11% | -0.46% |
| 2038 | 1.16% | -0.53% |
| 2037 | 1.19% | -0.41% |
| 2036 | 1.23% | -0.46% |
| 2035 | 1.27% | -0.44% |
| 2034 | 1.3% | -0.42% |
| 2033 | 1.36% | -0.35% |
| 2032 | 1.37% | -0.46% |
| 2031 | 1.46% | -0.39% |
| 2030 | 1.47% | -0.34% |
| 2029 | 1.54% | -0.4% |
| 2028 | 1.55% | -0.28% |
| 2027 | 1.62% | -0.3% |
| 2026 | 1.6% | -0.24% |
| 2025 | 1.65% | -0.13% |
| 2024 | 1.65% | -0.18% |
| 2023 | 1.65% | -0.18% |
| 2022 | 1.6% | -0.13% |
| 2021 | 1.5% | -0.05% |
| 2020 | 1.45% | -0.03% |
| 2019 | 1.43% | -0.09% |
| 2018 | 1.43% | 0.01% |
| 2017 | 1.43% | 0.08% |
| 2016 | 1.43% | 0.15% |
| 2015 | 1.44% | 0.31% |
| 2014 | 1.47% | 0.38% |
| 2013 | 1.52% | -0.66% |
| 2012 | 1.69% | -1.73% |
| 2011 | 1.99% | -1.73% |
| 2010 | 2.13% | -1.67% |
| 2009 | 2.09% | -1.58% |
| 2008 | 2.03% | -1.52% |
| 2007 | 1.96% | -1.49% |
| 2006 | 1.88% | -1.14% |
| 2005 | 1.81% | -0.005% |
| 2004 | 1.77% | 0.82% |
| 2003 | 1.78% | 0.8% |
| 2002 | 1.9% | 0.78% |
| 2001 | 2.08% | 0.91% |
| 2000 | 2.15% | 1.47% |
| 1999 | 2.18% | 2.04% |
| 1998 | 2.24% | 2.3% |
| 1997 | 2.33% | 2.57% |
| 1996 | 2.47% | 2.67% |
| 1995 | 2.66% | 2.53% |
| 1994 | 2.81% | 2.43% |
| 1993 | 2.9% | 2.4% |
| 1992 | 2.85% | 2.4% |
| 1991 | 2.76% | 2.33% |
| 1990 | 2.79% | 2.1% |
| 1989 | 2.82% | 2.05% |
| 1988 | 3.03% | 2.17% |
| 1987 | 3.32% | 2.21% |
| 1986 | 3.45% | 2.45% |
| 1985 | 3.53% | 2.63% |
| 1984 | 3.59% | 2.54% |
| 1983 | 3.65% | 2.46% |
| 1982 | 4.05% | 2.35% |
| 1981 | 3.47% | 1.07% |
| 1980 | 3.96% | -0.53% |
| 1979 | 6.18% | -0.83% |
| 1978 | 6.21% | -0.68% |
| 1977 | 5.41% | -0.58% |
| 1976 | 5.29% | -0.45% |
| 1975 | 5.1% | -0.25% |
| 1974 | 5.06% | 1.08% |
| 1973 | 4.82% | 2.94% |
| 1972 | 3.65% | 3.7% |
| 1971 | 1.72% | 3.44% |
| 1970 | 0.56% | 1.87% |
| 1969 | 0.53% | 0.71% |
| 1968 | 0.52% | 0.84% |
| 1967 | 0.53% | 1.69% |
| 1966 | 0.56% | 2.45% |
| 1965 | 1.48% | 2.48% |
| 1964 | 2.41% | 2.54% |
| 1963 | 2.37% | 2.49% |
| 1962 | 2.32% | 2.49% |
| 1961 | 2.28% | 2.43% |
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/palau | CC BY
In 2024, the population of Botswana grew by 1.65%, while Palau's population declined by 0.18%.
Live population counters
|
Botswana
|
Palau
|
|
|---|---|---|
| Current population |
2615162
|
17629
|
| Population rank | 142/197 | 194/197 |
| Percent of world population | 0.03% | 0.0002% |
| One net population change |
12.9 minutes
|
1.63 weeks
|
| One birth every |
8.58 minutes
|
1.89 days
|
| One death every |
37 minutes
|
1.8 days
|
| Daily growth/decline | +112 | +0 |
| Annual growth/decline | +40,895 | -32 |
| Annual growth/decline rate | +1.65% | -0.18% |
| Population growth rate rank | 66/197 | 175/197 |
| One migration net change every |
1.55 hours
|
3.27 weeks
|
| Annual migration change | -5,665 | -16 |
| Net migration rank | 120/196 | 78/196 |
| Foreign-born residents | 116,402 | 5,212 |
| Foreign-born residents rank | 126/195 | 184/195 |
| Foreign-born share of population | 4.6% | 29.5% |
| Foreign-born share rank | 96/195 | 19/195 |
Natural population change vs migration
| Year | Population change | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Botswana
|
Palau
|
|||
| Natural | Migration | Natural | Migration | |
| 2025 | - | -5,665 | - | -16 |
| 2024 | - | -5,778 | - | -14 |
| 2023 | 47,098 | -6,487 | -10 | -19 |
| 2022 | 47,400 | -7,306 | -7 | -20 |
| 2021 | 40,894 | -4,083 | -3 | -21 |
| 2020 | 45,610 | -11,330 | 8 | 0 |
| 2019 | 45,110 | -11,770 | 23 | -46 |
| 2018 | 44,171 | -11,623 | 29 | -35 |
| 2017 | 43,154 | -10,916 | 43 | -33 |
| 2016 | 41,993 | -10,286 | 53 | -35 |
| 2015 | 40,897 | -9,599 | 55 | -11 |
| 2014 | 40,046 | -8,893 | 73 | -7 |
| 2013 | 39,404 | -7,836 | 88 | -28 |
| 2012 | 39,202 | -6,636 | 86 | -387 |
| 2011 | 38,613 | -1,019 | 83 | -405 |
| 2010 | 38,101 | 5,151 | 81 | -392 |
| 2009 | 36,671 | 4,960 | 81 | -382 |
| 2008 | 35,433 | 4,343 | 79 | -378 |
| 2007 | 33,832 | 3,926 | 80 | -372 |
| 2006 | 31,340 | 4,270 | 79 | -365 |
| 2005 | 29,385 | 4,283 | 80 | -250 |
| 2004 | 27,481 | 4,314 | 83 | 79 |
| 2003 | 26,545 | 4,488 | 86 | 71 |
| 2002 | 26,163 | 4,747 | 88 | 67 |
| 2001 | 26,112 | 7,991 | 88 | 65 |
| 2000 | 25,850 | 9,798 | 85 | 120 |
| 1999 | 25,358 | 9,762 | 100 | 243 |
| 1998 | 25,397 | 9,685 | 116 | 280 |
| 1997 | 25,738 | 9,597 | 140 | 297 |
| 1996 | 26,847 | 9,368 | 166 | 312 |
| 1995 | 28,478 | 9,464 | 186 | 258 |
| 1994 | 30,664 | 9,023 | 195 | 211 |
| 1993 | 31,691 | 8,441 | 196 | 193 |
| 1992 | 31,995 | 8,026 | 183 | 193 |
| 1991 | 32,219 | 4,311 | 175 | 193 |
| 1990 | 33,015 | 2,580 | 181 | 156 |
| 1989 | 33,756 | 1,495 | 185 | 113 |
| 1988 | 34,564 | -215 | 183 | 126 |
| 1987 | 35,647 | 2,624 | 182 | 125 |
| 1986 | 36,203 | 2,558 | 182 | 135 |
| 1985 | 35,966 | 2,683 | 181 | 179 |
| 1984 | 35,530 | 2,393 | 181 | 157 |
| 1983 | 35,142 | 1,980 | 176 | 144 |
| 1982 | 34,859 | 1,751 | 170 | 132 |
| 1981 | 34,327 | 7,610 | 161 | 120 |
| 1980 | 33,934 | -10,849 | 165 | -179 |
| 1979 | 32,486 | 15,918 | 176 | -291 |
| 1978 | 30,596 | 26,015 | 193 | -285 |
| 1977 | 29,009 | 13,708 | 213 | -292 |
| 1976 | 27,497 | 11,914 | 236 | -296 |
| 1975 | 25,762 | 11,086 | 249 | -296 |
| 1974 | 24,160 | 8,854 | 256 | -282 |
| 1973 | 22,449 | 10,615 | 268 | 22 |
| 1972 | 21,004 | 5,937 | 280 | 147 |
| 1971 | 19,926 | -3,016 | 287 | 156 |
| 1970 | 19,438 | -16,054 | 286 | 54 |
| 1969 | 19,024 | -15,870 | 283 | -209 |
| 1968 | 18,725 | -15,681 | 275 | -194 |
| 1967 | 18,463 | -15,438 | 266 | -150 |
| 1966 | 18,250 | -15,140 | 268 | -18 |
| 1965 | 18,045 | -14,753 | 275 | -16 |
| 1964 | 17,634 | -4,126 | 284 | -27 |
| 1963 | 17,084 | -4,000 | 291 | -41 |
| 1962 | 16,507 | -4,028 | 296 | -54 |
| 1961 | 16,185 | -4,168 | 298 | -65 |
| 1960 | 15,861 | -4,331 | 296 | -70 |
Data sources: World Bank | Health (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-04-06).
GeoRank.org/population/botswana/palau | 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 Palau 53.8% is from natural causes (a gain of 264 people) and 46.2% is from migration (a loss of 227 people).
As of 2024, 116,402 residents or 4.6% of the population were not native-born in Botswana, compared to 5,212 people or 29.5% in Palau.
Biggest cities by population
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Population differences between Botswana and Palau
|
Botswana
|
Palau
|
|
|---|---|---|
| Life expectancy | 69.6 years | 69.6 years |
| Average age | 26.7 years | 38.4 years |
| Median age | 24.2 years | 39.2 years |
| Male:Female ratio | 49.8:50.2 | 53.9:46.1 |
| Fertility rate | 2.73 births per woman | 1.91 births per woman |
| Population density | 11.9 ppl/mi² | 99.3 ppl/mi² |
Population map with other countries
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/palau | CC BY
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Data sources:
- World Bank | Health (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-04-06)
- United Nations | World Population Prospects (1960–2100, retrieved 2026-03-10)
- U.S. Census Bureau (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-02-08)
- Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) (2000–2019, retrieved 2026-02-20)
- Wikidata (2026, retrieved 2026-02-08)
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