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Population in Botswana compared to Papua New Guinea: Trends, Charts, Rankings

Updated on by Georank team

The latest officially reported population of Botswana was 2,521,139 in 2024 vs 10,576,502 people in Papua New Guinea in 2024. In 2026, based on the adjusted UN estimation, the current Botswana's population is 2,615,162 people compared to 11,002,753 in Papua New Guinea.

Population statistics:

  • Papua New Guinea's population is 4.21 times bigger than Botswana's.
  • Botswana is ranked the 142nd most populous country in the world, while Papua New Guinea is the 89th.
  • The countries together account for 0.16% of the world: 0.03% for Botswana vs 0.13% for Papua New Guinea.
  • For the last 10 years, Botswana has had an average growth rate of +1.5% per year vs +2.23% in Papua New Guinea.
  • Since 2006, the population of Botswana has increased from 1.87M people to 2.62M (39.5% growth), while Papua New Guinea has grown from 6.75M to 11M (63.1% growth).

Botswana vs Papua New Guinea: population by year and forecast

Botswana
Factual

Projection
Papua New Guinea
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Population
Botswana Papua New Guinea
2100 3,871,504 18,802,138
2099 3,876,625 18,790,040
2098 3,882,670 18,776,265
2097 3,887,985 18,758,897
2096 3,892,886 18,737,707
2095 3,897,211 18,714,219
2094 3,901,478 18,687,257
2093 3,905,541 18,658,233
2092 3,909,490 18,625,772
2091 3,913,899 18,590,001
2090 3,916,706 18,549,501
2089 3,917,351 18,510,463
2088 3,917,510 18,468,827
2087 3,916,826 18,424,378
2086 3,916,303 18,376,043
2085 3,915,785 18,325,641
2084 3,914,364 18,274,394
2083 3,912,929 18,218,709
2082 3,910,994 18,163,177
2081 3,910,013 18,104,285
2080 3,908,255 18,039,008
2079 3,905,358 17,975,778
2078 3,900,828 17,908,670
2077 3,896,126 17,840,781
2076 3,890,528 17,771,791
2075 3,884,696 17,699,428
2074 3,879,057 17,625,044
2073 3,873,259 17,548,128
2072 3,865,665 17,466,649
2071 3,858,720 17,381,598
2070 3,851,234 17,295,105
2069 3,841,316 17,205,503
2068 3,830,826 17,112,154
2067 3,818,341 17,015,090
2066 3,805,705 16,915,436
2065 3,791,211 16,812,946
2064 3,775,938 16,708,669
2063 3,760,179 16,604,296
2062 3,742,710 16,497,292
2061 3,723,346 16,386,905
2060 3,703,231 16,270,535
2059 3,682,816 16,152,614
2058 3,659,567 16,032,684
2057 3,635,514 15,909,649
2056 3,611,843 15,784,519
2055 3,587,056 15,656,542
2054 3,562,182 15,523,143
2053 3,535,732 15,389,244
2052 3,507,938 15,250,715
2051 3,479,939 15,110,389
2050 3,451,521 14,968,530
2049 3,422,143 14,821,865
2048 3,391,720 14,673,459
2047 3,360,414 14,522,926
2046 3,328,208 14,370,120
2045 3,296,489 14,213,585
2044 3,265,120 14,056,036
2043 3,233,076 13,897,765
2042 3,201,405 13,738,690
2041 3,168,873 13,577,382
2040 3,135,889 13,413,396
2039 3,101,794 13,247,486
2038 3,067,648 13,079,352
2037 3,032,620 12,909,735
2036 2,996,884 12,738,223
2035 2,960,590 12,566,543
2034 2,923,411 12,392,476
2033 2,885,991 12,218,246
2032 2,847,292 12,042,345
2031 2,808,872 11,865,316
2030 2,768,505 11,685,599
2029 2,728,467 11,504,890
2028 2,686,968 11,322,573
2027 2,645,863 11,138,409
2026 2,603,779 10,952,454
2025 2,562,651 10,765,048
2024 2,521,139 10,576,502
2023 2,480,244 10,389,635
2022 2,439,892 10,203,169
2021 2,401,441 10,012,896
2020 2,365,894 9,815,746
2019 2,332,083 9,609,010
2018 2,299,141 9,394,513
2017 2,266,747 9,178,714
2016 2,234,776 8,961,718
2015 2,203,273 8,743,246
2014 2,172,044 8,523,441
2013 2,140,682 8,302,698
2012 2,108,617 8,081,390
2011 2,073,535 7,859,346
2010 2,033,111 7,633,523
2009 1,990,673 7,406,438
2008 1,949,970 7,183,002
2007 1,911,201 6,963,345
2006 1,874,516 6,747,720
2005 1,839,877 6,535,905
2004 1,807,146 6,328,041
2003 1,775,736 6,123,997
2002 1,744,763 5,924,003
2001 1,712,254 5,728,435
2000 1,677,382 5,537,064
1999 1,641,997 5,349,333
1998 1,606,899 5,166,390
1997 1,571,691 4,987,883
1996 1,535,914 4,813,361
1995 1,498,836 4,644,278
1994 1,460,023 4,480,208
1993 1,420,115 4,320,872
1992 1,380,033 4,166,699
1991 1,341,756 4,021,837
1990 1,305,696 3,896,481
1989 1,270,274 3,796,078
1988 1,235,476 3,711,880
1987 1,199,167 3,632,543
1986 1,160,650 3,554,793
1985 1,121,945 3,478,936
1984 1,083,660 3,405,198
1983 1,046,137 3,333,633
1982 1,009,269 3,264,291
1981 969,996 3,197,019
1980 937,485 3,131,512
1979 901,742 3,067,341
1978 849,239 3,003,714
1977 799,574 2,940,327
1976 758,508 2,877,327
1975 720,380 2,814,820
1974 685,448 2,752,671
1973 652,408 2,690,629
1972 622,407 2,628,432
1971 600,481 2,566,421
1970 590,334 2,505,628
1969 587,066 2,446,927
1968 583,966 2,390,803
1967 580,933 2,337,532
1966 577,866 2,285,774
1965 574,664 2,235,820
1964 566,266 2,188,325
1963 552,966 2,141,376
1962 540,186 2,093,919
1961 527,942 2,046,127
1960 516,165 1,995,110

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/papua-new-guinea | CC BY

From 2006 to 2016, the population of Botswana increased by 360,260 people (a 19.2% growth), while Papua New Guinea gained 2,213,998 people (a 32.8% growth).

For the next 10 years, from 2016 to 2026, Botswana gained 380,386 people (a 17% growth), while Papua New Guinea's population increased by 2,041,035 people (a 22.8% growth).

Botswana was ranked 145th most populous country in 2006 and is 142nd in 2026. Papua New Guinea was ranked 100th in 2006 and ranked 89th 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 Papua New Guinea will increase by 36% to 14,968,530 people and rank change from 89th to 85th.

Botswana is projected to reach its peak in 2088 at 3.92M people compared to the peak of 18.8M people in 2100 for Papua New Guinea.

Population growth rate by year

Botswana
Factual

Projection
Papua New Guinea
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Growth rate
Botswana Papua New Guinea
2100 -0.13% 0.06%
2099 -0.16% 0.07%
2098 -0.14% 0.09%
2097 -0.13% 0.11%
2096 -0.11% 0.13%
2095 -0.11% 0.14%
2094 -0.1% 0.16%
2093 -0.1% 0.17%
2092 -0.11% 0.19%
2091 -0.07% 0.22%
2090 -0.02% 0.21%
2089 -0.004% 0.23%
2088 0.02% 0.24%
2087 0.01% 0.26%
2086 0.01% 0.28%
2085 0.04% 0.28%
2084 0.04% 0.31%
2083 0.05% 0.31%
2082 0.03% 0.33%
2081 0.04% 0.36%
2080 0.07% 0.35%
2079 0.12% 0.37%
2078 0.12% 0.38%
2077 0.14% 0.39%
2076 0.15% 0.41%
2075 0.15% 0.42%
2074 0.15% 0.44%
2073 0.2% 0.47%
2072 0.18% 0.49%
2071 0.19% 0.5%
2070 0.26% 0.52%
2069 0.27% 0.55%
2068 0.33% 0.57%
2067 0.33% 0.59%
2066 0.38% 0.61%
2065 0.4% 0.62%
2064 0.42% 0.63%
2063 0.47% 0.65%
2062 0.52% 0.67%
2061 0.54% 0.72%
2060 0.55% 0.73%
2059 0.64% 0.75%
2058 0.66% 0.77%
2057 0.66% 0.79%
2056 0.69% 0.82%
2055 0.7% 0.86%
2054 0.75% 0.87%
2053 0.79% 0.91%
2052 0.8% 0.93%
2051 0.82% 0.95%
2050 0.86% 0.99%
2049 0.9% 1.01%
2048 0.93% 1.04%
2047 0.97% 1.06%
2046 0.96% 1.1%
2045 0.96% 1.12%
2044 0.99% 1.14%
2043 0.99% 1.16%
2042 1.03% 1.19%
2041 1.05% 1.22%
2040 1.1% 1.25%
2039 1.11% 1.29%
2038 1.16% 1.31%
2037 1.19% 1.35%
2036 1.23% 1.37%
2035 1.27% 1.4%
2034 1.3% 1.43%
2033 1.36% 1.46%
2032 1.37% 1.49%
2031 1.46% 1.54%
2030 1.47% 1.57%
2029 1.54% 1.61%
2028 1.55% 1.65%
2027 1.62% 1.7%
2026 1.6% 1.74%
2025 1.65% 1.78%
2024 1.65% 1.8%
2023 1.65% 1.83%
2022 1.6% 1.9%
2021 1.5% 2.01%
2020 1.45% 2.15%
2019 1.43% 2.28%
2018 1.43% 2.35%
2017 1.43% 2.42%
2016 1.43% 2.5%
2015 1.44% 2.58%
2014 1.47% 2.66%
2013 1.52% 2.74%
2012 1.69% 2.83%
2011 1.99% 2.96%
2010 2.13% 3.07%
2009 2.09% 3.11%
2008 2.03% 3.15%
2007 1.96% 3.2%
2006 1.88% 3.24%
2005 1.81% 3.28%
2004 1.77% 3.33%
2003 1.78% 3.38%
2002 1.9% 3.41%
2001 2.08% 3.46%
2000 2.15% 3.51%
1999 2.18% 3.54%
1998 2.24% 3.58%
1997 2.33% 3.63%
1996 2.47% 3.64%
1995 2.66% 3.66%
1994 2.81% 3.69%
1993 2.9% 3.7%
1992 2.85% 3.6%
1991 2.76% 3.22%
1990 2.79% 2.64%
1989 2.82% 2.27%
1988 3.03% 2.18%
1987 3.32% 2.19%
1986 3.45% 2.18%
1985 3.53% 2.17%
1984 3.59% 2.15%
1983 3.65% 2.12%
1982 4.05% 2.1%
1981 3.47% 2.09%
1980 3.96% 2.09%
1979 6.18% 2.12%
1978 6.21% 2.16%
1977 5.41% 2.19%
1976 5.29% 2.22%
1975 5.1% 2.26%
1974 5.06% 2.31%
1973 4.82% 2.37%
1972 3.65% 2.42%
1971 1.72% 2.43%
1970 0.56% 2.4%
1969 0.53% 2.35%
1968 0.52% 2.28%
1967 0.53% 2.26%
1966 0.56% 2.23%
1965 1.48% 2.17%
1964 2.41% 2.19%
1963 2.37% 2.27%
1962 2.32% 2.34%
1961 2.28% 2.56%

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/papua-new-guinea | CC BY

In 2024, the population of Botswana grew by 1.65%, while Papua New Guinea's population grew by 1.8%.

Live population counters

Botswana Papua New Guinea
Current population
2615162
11002753
Population rank 142/197 89/197
Percent of world population 0.03% 0.13%
One net population change
12.9 minutes
2.81 minutes
One birth every
8.58 minutes
2.06 minutes
One death every
37 minutes
7.76 minutes
Daily growth/decline +112 +512
Annual growth/decline +40,895 +186,867
Annual growth/decline rate +1.65% +1.8%
Population growth rate rank 66/197 59/197
One migration net change every
1.55 hours
1.29 days
Annual migration change -5,665 -284
Net migration rank 120/196 87/196
Foreign-born residents 116,402 31,171
Foreign-born residents rank 126/195 163/195
Foreign-born share of population 4.6% 0.3%
Foreign-born share rank 96/195 183/195

Natural population change vs migration

Botswana
Natural

Migration
Papua New Guinea
Natural

Migration
1x
Year Population change
Botswana Papua New Guinea
Natural Migration Natural Migration
2025 - -5,665 - -284
2024 - -5,778 - -707
2023 47,098 -6,487 187,637 -787
2022 47,400 -7,306 186,861 -787
2021 40,894 -4,083 183,766 10,703
2020 45,610 -11,330 189,130 10,703
2019 45,110 -11,770 190,662 22,978
2018 44,171 -11,623 190,662 24,684
2017 43,154 -10,916 189,715 26,513
2016 41,993 -10,286 189,281 28,473
2015 40,897 -9,599 188,600 30,580
2014 40,046 -8,893 187,592 32,840
2013 39,404 -7,836 185,790 35,280
2012 39,202 -6,636 183,658 37,893
2011 38,613 -1,019 181,842 40,690
2010 38,101 5,151 178,998 50,106
2009 36,671 4,960 175,421 49,647
2008 35,433 4,343 172,823 48,985
2007 33,832 3,926 169,306 48,203
2006 31,340 4,270 166,540 47,191
2005 29,385 4,283 163,888 46,014
2004 27,481 4,314 161,023 44,811
2003 26,545 4,488 158,611 43,639
2002 26,163 4,747 155,091 42,657
2001 26,112 7,991 151,431 41,962
2000 25,850 9,798 147,496 41,855
1999 25,358 9,762 143,592 42,519
1998 25,397 9,685 136,677 43,091
1997 25,738 9,597 134,458 42,787
1996 26,847 9,368 129,802 41,994
1995 28,478 9,464 125,410 40,962
1994 30,664 9,023 122,113 39,669
1993 31,691 8,441 118,668 38,220
1992 31,995 8,026 114,818 36,622
1991 32,219 4,311 111,453 26,830
1990 33,015 2,580 110,033 2,398
1989 33,756 1,495 108,199 -19,824
1988 34,564 -215 106,256 -26,232
1987 35,647 2,624 104,367 -25,720
1986 36,203 2,558 102,346 -25,495
1985 35,966 2,683 100,333 -25,470
1984 35,530 2,393 98,103 -25,487
1983 35,142 1,980 95,982 -25,465
1982 34,859 1,751 93,522 -25,355
1981 34,327 7,610 91,767 -25,383
1980 33,934 -10,849 90,266 -25,638
1979 32,486 15,918 89,330 -25,618
1978 30,596 26,015 88,747 -25,208
1977 29,009 13,708 87,954 -24,722
1976 27,497 11,914 86,965 -24,198
1975 25,762 11,086 85,809 -23,562
1974 24,160 8,854 84,829 -22,771
1973 22,449 10,615 83,821 -21,803
1972 21,004 5,937 82,672 -20,303
1971 19,926 -3,016 80,599 -18,945
1970 19,438 -16,054 78,712 -18,773
1969 19,024 -15,870 76,454 -18,994
1968 18,725 -15,681 73,983 -19,188
1967 18,463 -15,438 71,519 -19,767
1966 18,250 -15,140 69,206 -17,454
1965 18,045 -14,753 66,693 -18,532
1964 17,634 -4,126 64,558 -17,730
1963 17,084 -4,000 62,260 -15,189
1962 16,507 -4,028 59,974 -12,141
1961 16,185 -4,168 58,151 -10,409
1960 15,861 -4,331 56,326 -2,034

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

GeoRank.org/population/botswana/papua-new-guinea | 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 Papua New Guinea 91% is from natural causes (a gain of 1,883,906 people) and 8.98% is from migration (a gain of 185,900 people).

As of 2024, 116,402 residents or 4.6% of the population were not native-born in Botswana, compared to 31,171 people or 0.3% in Papua New Guinea.

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
Papua New Guinea
City Population
Port Moresby 317K
Lae 101K

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/papua-new-guinea | 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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