Skip to content

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

Updated on by Georank team

The latest officially reported population of Botswana was 2,521,139 in 2024 vs 14,256,567 people in Rwanda in 2024. In 2026, based on the adjusted UN estimation, the current Botswana's population is 2,615,162 people compared to 14,975,051 in Rwanda.

Population statistics:

  • Rwanda's population is 5.73 times bigger than Botswana's.
  • Botswana is ranked the 142nd most populous country in the world, while Rwanda is the 77th.
  • The countries together account for 0.21% of the world: 0.03% for Botswana vs 0.18% for Rwanda.
  • For the last 10 years, Botswana has had an average growth rate of +1.5% per year vs +2.31% in Rwanda.
  • Since 2006, the population of Botswana has increased from 1.87M people to 2.62M (39.5% growth), while Rwanda has grown from 9.3M to 15M (61% growth).

Botswana vs Rwanda: population by year and forecast

Botswana
Factual

Projection
Rwanda
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Population
Botswana Rwanda
2100 3,871,504 33,092,520
2099 3,876,625 32,987,847
2098 3,882,670 32,907,335
2097 3,887,985 32,832,706
2096 3,892,886 32,747,490
2095 3,897,211 32,615,044
2094 3,901,478 32,529,590
2093 3,905,541 32,396,544
2092 3,909,490 32,274,083
2091 3,913,899 32,171,077
2090 3,916,706 32,068,626
2089 3,917,351 31,872,593
2088 3,917,510 31,726,882
2087 3,916,826 31,533,364
2086 3,916,303 31,379,315
2085 3,915,785 31,235,000
2084 3,914,364 31,092,940
2083 3,912,929 30,917,707
2082 3,910,994 30,733,578
2081 3,910,013 30,557,819
2080 3,908,255 30,367,298
2079 3,905,358 30,176,627
2078 3,900,828 29,997,866
2077 3,896,126 29,800,561
2076 3,890,528 29,627,021
2075 3,884,696 29,423,503
2074 3,879,057 29,225,643
2073 3,873,259 29,007,777
2072 3,865,665 28,780,763
2071 3,858,720 28,560,382
2070 3,851,234 28,316,533
2069 3,841,316 28,103,541
2068 3,830,826 27,854,906
2067 3,818,341 27,591,747
2066 3,805,705 27,355,659
2065 3,791,211 27,084,704
2064 3,775,938 26,821,315
2063 3,760,179 26,543,184
2062 3,742,710 26,296,132
2061 3,723,346 25,985,356
2060 3,703,231 25,712,904
2059 3,682,816 25,437,446
2058 3,659,567 25,106,242
2057 3,635,514 24,837,928
2056 3,611,843 24,566,784
2055 3,587,056 24,266,669
2054 3,562,182 23,976,914
2053 3,535,732 23,690,426
2052 3,507,938 23,406,346
2051 3,479,939 23,099,207
2050 3,451,521 22,800,250
2049 3,422,143 22,484,698
2048 3,391,720 22,157,938
2047 3,360,414 21,834,786
2046 3,328,208 21,540,566
2045 3,296,489 21,215,262
2044 3,265,120 20,902,695
2043 3,233,076 20,535,605
2042 3,201,405 20,201,608
2041 3,168,873 19,832,577
2040 3,135,889 19,463,015
2039 3,101,794 19,096,860
2038 3,067,648 18,761,626
2037 3,032,620 18,421,864
2036 2,996,884 18,116,691
2035 2,960,590 17,753,910
2034 2,923,411 17,421,234
2033 2,885,991 17,089,349
2032 2,847,292 16,811,505
2031 2,808,872 16,485,559
2030 2,768,505 16,167,916
2029 2,728,467 15,858,862
2028 2,686,968 15,544,959
2027 2,645,863 15,207,733
2026 2,603,779 14,888,776
2025 2,562,651 14,560,205
2024 2,521,139 14,256,567
2023 2,480,244 13,954,471
2022 2,439,892 13,651,030
2021 2,401,441 13,355,260
2020 2,365,894 13,065,837
2019 2,332,083 12,776,103
2018 2,299,141 12,487,996
2017 2,266,747 12,202,060
2016 2,234,776 11,919,183
2015 2,203,273 11,640,022
2014 2,172,044 11,364,757
2013 2,140,682 11,093,340
2012 2,108,617 10,829,901
2011 2,073,535 10,573,733
2010 2,033,111 10,317,553
2009 1,990,673 10,060,432
2008 1,949,970 9,804,269
2007 1,911,201 9,549,933
2006 1,874,516 9,299,246
2005 1,839,877 9,054,528
2004 1,807,146 8,816,844
2003 1,775,736 8,586,875
2002 1,744,763 8,400,180
2001 1,712,254 8,287,094
2000 1,677,382 8,213,931
1999 1,641,997 8,147,912
1998 1,606,899 8,081,681
1997 1,571,691 7,755,238
1996 1,535,914 6,708,764
1995 1,498,836 5,674,118
1994 1,460,023 6,792,352
1993 1,420,115 7,981,132
1992 1,380,033 7,683,266
1991 1,341,756 7,526,966
1990 1,305,696 7,375,307
1989 1,270,274 7,184,706
1988 1,235,476 6,968,071
1987 1,199,167 6,749,493
1986 1,160,650 6,531,881
1985 1,121,945 6,317,228
1984 1,083,660 6,107,627
1983 1,046,137 5,905,311
1982 1,009,269 5,711,549
1981 969,996 5,527,230
1980 937,485 5,353,259
1979 901,742 5,189,541
1978 849,239 5,035,171
1977 799,574 4,888,240
1976 758,508 4,745,954
1975 720,380 4,607,728
1974 685,448 4,474,228
1973 652,408 4,345,047
1972 622,407 4,220,335
1971 600,481 4,100,044
1970 590,334 3,980,669
1969 587,066 3,861,271
1968 583,966 3,744,010
1967 580,933 3,629,577
1966 577,866 3,521,626
1965 574,664 3,423,210
1964 566,266 3,334,834
1963 552,966 3,258,890
1962 540,186 3,186,025
1961 527,942 3,106,779
1960 516,165 3,022,294

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/rwanda | CC BY

From 2006 to 2016, the population of Botswana increased by 360,260 people (a 19.2% growth), while Rwanda gained 2,619,937 people (a 28.2% growth).

For the next 10 years, from 2016 to 2026, Botswana gained 380,386 people (a 17% growth), while Rwanda's population increased by 3,055,868 people (a 25.6% growth).

Botswana was ranked 145th most populous country in 2006 and is 142nd in 2026. Rwanda was ranked 86th in 2006 and ranked 77th 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 Rwanda will increase by 52.3% to 22,800,250 people and rank change from 77th to 72nd.

Botswana is projected to reach its peak in 2088 at 3.92M people compared to the peak of 33.1M people in 2100 for Rwanda.

Population growth rate by year

Botswana
Factual

Projection
Rwanda
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Growth rate
Botswana Rwanda
2100 -0.13% 0.32%
2099 -0.16% 0.24%
2098 -0.14% 0.23%
2097 -0.13% 0.26%
2096 -0.11% 0.41%
2095 -0.11% 0.26%
2094 -0.1% 0.41%
2093 -0.1% 0.38%
2092 -0.11% 0.32%
2091 -0.07% 0.32%
2090 -0.02% 0.62%
2089 -0.004% 0.46%
2088 0.02% 0.61%
2087 0.01% 0.49%
2086 0.01% 0.46%
2085 0.04% 0.46%
2084 0.04% 0.57%
2083 0.05% 0.6%
2082 0.03% 0.58%
2081 0.04% 0.63%
2080 0.07% 0.63%
2079 0.12% 0.6%
2078 0.12% 0.66%
2077 0.14% 0.59%
2076 0.15% 0.69%
2075 0.15% 0.68%
2074 0.15% 0.75%
2073 0.2% 0.79%
2072 0.18% 0.77%
2071 0.19% 0.86%
2070 0.26% 0.76%
2069 0.27% 0.89%
2068 0.33% 0.95%
2067 0.33% 0.86%
2066 0.38% 1%
2065 0.4% 0.98%
2064 0.42% 1.05%
2063 0.47% 0.94%
2062 0.52% 1.2%
2061 0.54% 1.06%
2060 0.55% 1.08%
2059 0.64% 1.32%
2058 0.66% 1.08%
2057 0.66% 1.1%
2056 0.69% 1.24%
2055 0.7% 1.21%
2054 0.75% 1.21%
2053 0.79% 1.21%
2052 0.8% 1.33%
2051 0.82% 1.31%
2050 0.86% 1.4%
2049 0.9% 1.47%
2048 0.93% 1.48%
2047 0.97% 1.37%
2046 0.96% 1.53%
2045 0.96% 1.5%
2044 0.99% 1.79%
2043 0.99% 1.65%
2042 1.03% 1.86%
2041 1.05% 1.9%
2040 1.1% 1.92%
2039 1.11% 1.79%
2038 1.16% 1.84%
2037 1.19% 1.68%
2036 1.23% 2.04%
2035 1.27% 1.91%
2034 1.3% 1.94%
2033 1.36% 1.65%
2032 1.37% 1.98%
2031 1.46% 1.96%
2030 1.47% 1.95%
2029 1.54% 2.02%
2028 1.55% 2.22%
2027 1.62% 2.14%
2026 1.6% 2.26%
2025 1.65% 2.13%
2024 1.65% 2.16%
2023 1.65% 2.22%
2022 1.6% 2.21%
2021 1.5% 2.22%
2020 1.45% 2.27%
2019 1.43% 2.31%
2018 1.43% 2.34%
2017 1.43% 2.37%
2016 1.43% 2.4%
2015 1.44% 2.42%
2014 1.47% 2.45%
2013 1.52% 2.43%
2012 1.69% 2.42%
2011 1.99% 2.48%
2010 2.13% 2.56%
2009 2.09% 2.61%
2008 2.03% 2.66%
2007 1.96% 2.7%
2006 1.88% 2.7%
2005 1.81% 2.7%
2004 1.77% 2.68%
2003 1.78% 2.22%
2002 1.9% 1.36%
2001 2.08% 0.89%
2000 2.15% 0.81%
1999 2.18% 0.82%
1998 2.24% 4.21%
1997 2.33% 15.6%
1996 2.47% 18.2%
1995 2.66% -16.5%
1994 2.81% -14.9%
1993 2.9% 3.88%
1992 2.85% 2.08%
1991 2.76% 2.06%
1990 2.79% 2.65%
1989 2.82% 3.11%
1988 3.03% 3.24%
1987 3.32% 3.33%
1986 3.45% 3.4%
1985 3.53% 3.43%
1984 3.59% 3.43%
1983 3.65% 3.39%
1982 4.05% 3.33%
1981 3.47% 3.25%
1980 3.96% 3.15%
1979 6.18% 3.07%
1978 6.21% 3.01%
1977 5.41% 3%
1976 5.29% 3%
1975 5.1% 2.98%
1974 5.06% 2.97%
1973 4.82% 2.96%
1972 3.65% 2.93%
1971 1.72% 3%
1970 0.56% 3.09%
1969 0.53% 3.13%
1968 0.52% 3.15%
1967 0.53% 3.07%
1966 0.56% 2.87%
1965 1.48% 2.65%
1964 2.41% 2.33%
1963 2.37% 2.29%
1962 2.32% 2.55%
1961 2.28% 2.8%

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/rwanda | CC BY

In 2024, the population of Botswana grew by 1.65%, while Rwanda's population grew by 2.16%.

Live population counters

Botswana Rwanda
Current population
2615162
14975051
Population rank 142/197 77/197
Percent of world population 0.03% 0.18%
One net population change
12.9 minutes
1.74 minutes
One birth every
8.58 minutes
1.33 minutes
One death every
37 minutes
6.35 minutes
Daily growth/decline +112 +828
Annual growth/decline +40,895 +302,096
Annual growth/decline rate +1.65% +2.16%
Population growth rate rank 66/197 45/197
One migration net change every
1.55 hours
1.4 hours
Annual migration change -5,665 +6,282
Net migration rank 120/196 48/196
Foreign-born residents 116,402 513,316
Foreign-born residents rank 126/195 80/195
Foreign-born share of population 4.6% 3.6%
Foreign-born share rank 96/195 109/195

Natural population change vs migration

Botswana
Natural

Migration
Rwanda
Natural

Migration
1x
Year Population change
Botswana Rwanda
Natural Migration Natural Migration
2025 - -5,665 - 6,282
2024 - -5,778 - -15,582
2023 47,098 -6,487 312,762 -9,001
2022 47,400 -7,306 312,145 -9,001
2021 40,894 -4,083 309,895 -21,492
2020 45,610 -11,330 312,692 -22,251
2019 45,110 -11,770 313,525 -24,492
2018 44,171 -11,623 312,512 -25,323
2017 43,154 -10,916 310,323 -25,634
2016 41,993 -10,286 305,549 -24,474
2015 40,897 -9,599 299,114 -21,862
2014 40,046 -8,893 292,779 -19,505
2013 39,404 -7,836 286,331 -16,779
2012 39,202 -6,636 282,584 -25,260
2011 38,613 -1,019 282,922 -27,915
2010 38,101 5,151 286,848 -29,501
2009 36,671 4,960 287,034 -30,128
2008 35,433 4,343 287,334 -31,913
2007 33,832 3,926 285,791 -32,537
2006 31,340 4,270 282,149 -34,008
2005 29,385 4,283 275,121 -33,830
2004 27,481 4,314 265,273 -31,214
2003 26,545 4,488 251,243 -25,355
2002 26,163 4,747 239,036 -91,518
2001 26,112 7,991 230,845 -152,197
2000 25,850 9,798 221,276 -153,588
1999 25,358 9,762 210,518 -146,162
1998 25,397 9,685 197,185 -129,089
1997 25,738 9,597 174,687 410,106
1996 26,847 9,368 140,455 1,367,700
1995 28,478 9,464 121,137 439,995
1994 30,664 9,023 -719,479 -2,078,111
1993 31,691 8,441 183,926 236,110
1992 31,995 8,026 188,025 -12,334
1991 32,219 4,311 196,431 -59,519
1990 33,015 2,580 207,895 -41,483
1989 33,756 1,495 217,632 -2,826
1988 34,564 -215 223,759 -5,285
1987 35,647 2,624 225,744 -7,062
1986 36,203 2,558 225,526 -8,982
1985 35,966 2,683 223,794 -11,031
1984 35,530 2,393 219,337 -12,899
1983 35,142 1,980 212,750 -14,560
1982 34,859 1,751 205,147 -15,818
1981 34,327 7,610 195,769 -16,453
1980 33,934 -10,849 184,988 -16,359
1979 32,486 15,918 174,477 -15,669
1978 30,596 26,015 163,779 -13,838
1977 29,009 13,708 155,011 -11,084
1976 27,497 11,914 147,665 -7,027
1975 25,762 11,086 140,596 -4,791
1974 24,160 8,854 135,743 -4,535
1973 22,449 10,615 131,021 -3,862
1972 21,004 5,937 126,403 -4,156
1971 19,926 -3,016 122,567 -4,230
1970 19,438 -16,054 119,273 1,149
1969 19,024 -15,870 115,394 2,983
1968 18,725 -15,681 111,422 4,728
1967 18,463 -15,438 108,053 4,655
1966 18,250 -15,140 105,128 -1,930
1965 18,045 -14,753 103,422 -9,774
1964 17,634 -4,126 102,562 -19,458
1963 17,084 -4,000 94,296 -25,524
1962 16,507 -4,028 102,548 -25,594
1961 16,185 -4,168 102,051 -20,508
1960 15,861 -4,331 100,627 -13,198

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

GeoRank.org/population/botswana/rwanda | 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 Rwanda 93.8% is from natural causes (a gain of 3,081,296 people) and 6.18% is from migration (a loss of 203,035 people).

As of 2024, 116,402 residents or 4.6% of the population were not native-born in Botswana, compared to 513,316 people or 3.6% in Rwanda.

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
Rwanda
City Population
Kigali 1.75M
Ruhengeri 153K
Gisenyi 53.6K
Byumba 36.4K
Cyangugu 27.4K
Nyanza 25.4K
Butare 19.9K
Kibuye 12.3K

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/rwanda | CC BY

Help us show the world through your eyes

Share a photo of your city and help others discover what it looks like to live there. Your contribution makes our data come alive.

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)

Creative Commons Attribution (CC BY) — you’re free to copy, share, remix, adapt, and use even commercially as long as you give appropriate credit and clearly indicate if you made changes. Other sources may be subject to different license terms.