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

Updated on by Georank

The latest officially reported population of Botswana was 2,562,122 in 2025 vs 14,569,341 people in Rwanda in 2025. In 2026, based on the adjusted UN estimation, the current Botswana's population is 2,624,853 people compared to 15,062,056 in Rwanda.

Population statistics:

  • Rwanda's population is 5.74 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 +1.51% per year vs +2.28% in Rwanda.
  • Since 2006, the population of Botswana has increased from 1.87M people to 2.62M (40% growth), while Rwanda has grown from 9.3M to 15.1M (62% growth).

Botswana vs Rwanda: population by year and forecast

Botswana
Factual

Projection
Rwanda
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Population
Botswana Rwanda
2100 3,870,704 33,113,283
2099 3,875,823 33,008,545
2098 3,881,867 32,927,982
2097 3,887,181 32,853,307
2096 3,892,081 32,768,037
2095 3,896,405 32,635,508
2094 3,900,671 32,550,001
2093 3,904,733 32,416,870
2092 3,908,682 32,294,333
2091 3,913,090 32,191,262
2090 3,915,896 32,088,747
2089 3,916,540 31,892,591
2088 3,916,700 31,746,789
2087 3,916,016 31,553,150
2086 3,915,493 31,399,004
2085 3,914,975 31,254,597
2084 3,913,555 31,112,448
2083 3,912,119 30,937,106
2082 3,910,185 30,752,861
2081 3,909,204 30,576,992
2080 3,907,447 30,386,351
2079 3,904,550 30,195,560
2078 3,900,021 30,016,688
2077 3,895,321 29,819,259
2076 3,889,723 29,645,610
2075 3,883,893 29,441,964
2074 3,878,255 29,243,980
2073 3,872,458 29,025,977
2072 3,864,865 28,798,822
2071 3,857,922 28,578,302
2070 3,850,437 28,334,300
2069 3,840,521 28,121,174
2068 3,830,034 27,872,383
2067 3,817,551 27,609,059
2066 3,804,918 27,372,823
2065 3,790,427 27,101,698
2064 3,775,157 26,838,144
2063 3,759,402 26,559,838
2062 3,741,936 26,312,631
2061 3,722,576 26,001,660
2060 3,702,465 25,729,037
2059 3,682,055 25,453,407
2058 3,658,810 25,121,995
2057 3,634,762 24,853,512
2056 3,611,096 24,582,198
2055 3,586,314 24,281,895
2054 3,561,446 23,991,958
2053 3,535,001 23,705,290
2052 3,507,213 23,421,032
2051 3,479,219 23,113,700
2050 3,450,807 22,814,556
2049 3,421,435 22,498,806
2048 3,391,019 22,171,841
2047 3,359,719 21,848,486
2046 3,327,520 21,554,082
2045 3,295,807 21,228,573
2044 3,264,444 20,915,810
2043 3,232,407 20,548,490
2042 3,200,743 20,214,283
2041 3,168,217 19,845,021
2040 3,135,241 19,475,227
2039 3,101,153 19,108,842
2038 3,067,014 18,773,398
2037 3,031,993 18,433,422
2036 2,996,265 18,128,058
2035 2,959,978 17,765,049
2034 2,922,807 17,432,165
2033 2,885,394 17,100,072
2032 2,846,703 16,822,053
2031 2,808,291 16,495,903
2030 2,767,933 16,178,061
2029 2,727,903 15,868,812
2028 2,686,412 15,554,713
2027 2,645,316 15,217,275
2026 2,603,241 14,898,118
2025 2,562,122 14,569,341
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 (2026–2100, retrieved 2026-07-08); World Bank | Health (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-07-08).

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 390,077 people (a 17.5% growth), while Rwanda's population increased by 3,142,873 people (a 26.4% 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 31.5% to 3,450,807 people with a rank change from 142nd to 137th. The population of Rwanda will increase by 51.5% to 22,814,556 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 1.63% 2.19%
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 (2026–2100, retrieved 2026-07-08); World Bank | Health (1961–2025, retrieved 2026-07-08).

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

In 2025, the population of Botswana grew by 1.63%, while Rwanda's population grew by 2.19%.

Live population counters

Botswana Rwanda
Current population
2624853
15062056
Population rank 142/197 77/197
Percent of world population 0.03% 0.18%
One net population change
12.9 minutes
1.69 minutes
One birth every
8.56 minutes
1.31 minutes
One death every
36.3 minutes
6.25 minutes
Daily growth/decline +112 +857
Annual growth/decline +40,983 +312,774
Annual growth/decline rate +1.63% +2.19%
Population growth rate rank 65/197 40/197
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 46,951 -5,778 316,025 -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 2026-07-08).

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

Over the last 10 years, 83.3% of the population change in Botswana is from natural causes (a gain of 443,278 people) and 16.7% is from migration (a loss of 89,178 people). In Rwanda 94% is from natural causes (a gain of 3,104,542 people) and 6.03% is from migration (a loss of 199,112 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 (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-07-08); United Nations | World Population Prospects (1960–2026, retrieved 2026-07-08); U.S. Census Bureau (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-07-08); Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) (2000–2019, retrieved 2026-07-08).

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

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Data sources:

  1. World Bank | Health (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-07-08)
  2. United Nations | World Population Prospects (1960–2100, retrieved 2026-07-08)
  3. U.S. Census Bureau (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-07-08)
  4. Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) (2000–2019, retrieved 2026-07-08)
  5. Wikidata (2026, retrieved 2026-07-08)

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