Skip to content

Population in Botswana compared to Saudi Arabia: Trends, Charts, Rankings

Updated on by Georank team

The latest officially reported population of Botswana was 2,521,139 in 2024 vs 35,300,280 people in Saudi Arabia in 2024. In 2026, based on the adjusted UN estimation, the current Botswana's population is 2,615,162 people compared to 36,734,925 in Saudi Arabia.

Population statistics:

  • Saudi Arabia's population is 14 times bigger than Botswana's.
  • Botswana is ranked the 142nd most populous country in the world, while Saudi Arabia is the 44th.
  • The countries together account for 0.47% of the world: 0.03% for Botswana vs 0.44% for Saudi Arabia.
  • For the last 10 years, Botswana has had an average growth rate of +1.5% per year vs +2.3% in Saudi Arabia.
  • Since 2006, the population of Botswana has increased from 1.87M people to 2.62M (39.5% growth), while Saudi Arabia has grown from 21.5M to 36.7M (71.2% growth).

Botswana vs Saudi Arabia: population by year and forecast

Botswana
Factual

Projection
Saudi Arabia
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Population
Botswana Saudi Arabia
2100 3,871,504 74,230,118
2099 3,876,625 73,760,045
2098 3,882,670 73,287,526
2097 3,887,985 72,813,125
2096 3,892,886 72,336,039
2095 3,897,211 71,858,206
2094 3,901,478 71,379,928
2093 3,905,541 70,900,460
2092 3,909,490 70,420,464
2091 3,913,899 69,940,749
2090 3,916,706 69,462,214
2089 3,917,351 68,985,976
2088 3,917,510 68,510,277
2087 3,916,826 68,035,545
2086 3,916,303 67,562,521
2085 3,915,785 67,091,615
2084 3,914,364 66,621,667
2083 3,912,929 66,152,653
2082 3,910,994 65,684,321
2081 3,910,013 65,216,102
2080 3,908,255 64,749,128
2079 3,905,358 64,282,393
2078 3,900,828 63,815,918
2077 3,896,126 63,348,712
2076 3,890,528 62,880,120
2075 3,884,696 62,409,793
2074 3,879,057 61,937,628
2073 3,873,259 61,462,662
2072 3,865,665 60,984,202
2071 3,858,720 60,502,791
2070 3,851,234 60,018,216
2069 3,841,316 59,529,456
2068 3,830,826 59,036,086
2067 3,818,341 58,539,487
2066 3,805,705 58,039,687
2065 3,791,211 57,537,106
2064 3,775,938 57,032,172
2063 3,760,179 56,524,331
2062 3,742,710 56,014,549
2061 3,723,346 55,501,467
2060 3,703,231 54,986,901
2059 3,682,816 54,469,809
2058 3,659,567 53,950,469
2057 3,635,514 53,430,639
2056 3,611,843 52,909,061
2055 3,587,056 52,386,571
2054 3,562,182 51,862,312
2053 3,535,732 51,336,335
2052 3,507,938 50,809,100
2051 3,479,939 50,280,719
2050 3,451,521 49,751,739
2049 3,422,143 49,221,828
2048 3,391,720 48,690,143
2047 3,360,414 48,157,605
2046 3,328,208 47,623,246
2045 3,296,489 47,087,215
2044 3,265,120 46,550,306
2043 3,233,076 46,013,232
2042 3,201,405 45,475,200
2041 3,168,873 44,936,131
2040 3,135,889 44,396,093
2039 3,101,794 43,856,006
2038 3,067,648 43,314,707
2037 3,032,620 42,773,375
2036 2,996,884 42,231,639
2035 2,960,590 41,690,245
2034 2,923,411 41,150,029
2033 2,885,991 40,611,021
2032 2,847,292 40,073,144
2031 2,808,872 39,535,357
2030 2,768,505 38,998,581
2029 2,728,467 38,417,447
2028 2,686,968 37,810,902
2027 2,645,863 37,189,969
2026 2,603,779 36,566,201
2025 2,562,651 35,932,673
2024 2,521,139 35,300,280
2023 2,480,244 33,702,731
2022 2,439,892 32,175,224
2021 2,401,441 30,784,383
2020 2,365,894 31,552,510
2019 2,332,083 30,063,799
2018 2,299,141 30,196,281
2017 2,266,747 30,977,355
2016 2,234,776 30,954,198
2015 2,203,273 29,816,382
2014 2,172,044 28,309,273
2013 2,140,682 27,624,004
2012 2,108,617 26,168,861
2011 2,073,535 25,091,867
2010 2,033,111 23,978,487
2009 1,990,673 24,217,654
2008 1,949,970 23,287,877
2007 1,911,201 22,368,313
2006 1,874,516 21,459,144
2005 1,839,877 20,559,890
2004 1,807,146 19,669,480
2003 1,775,736 18,786,767
2002 1,744,763 17,910,910
2001 1,712,254 17,041,397
2000 1,677,382 16,177,722
1999 1,641,997 15,472,075
1998 1,606,899 14,922,185
1997 1,571,691 14,374,943
1996 1,535,914 13,831,009
1995 1,498,836 13,289,245
1994 1,460,023 12,750,040
1993 1,420,115 12,215,862
1992 1,380,033 11,686,676
1991 1,341,756 11,160,744
1990 1,305,696 10,640,691
1989 1,270,274 10,128,394
1988 1,235,476 9,629,165
1987 1,199,167 9,130,194
1986 1,160,650 8,628,639
1985 1,121,945 8,151,779
1984 1,083,660 7,697,307
1983 1,046,137 7,252,941
1982 1,009,269 6,824,486
1981 969,996 6,420,551
1980 937,485 6,047,997
1979 901,742 5,703,698
1978 849,239 5,381,902
1977 799,574 5,083,048
1976 758,508 4,807,933
1975 720,380 4,556,287
1974 685,448 4,323,632
1973 652,408 4,106,344
1972 622,407 3,905,722
1971 600,481 3,724,031
1970 590,334 3,562,470
1969 587,066 3,417,114
1968 583,966 3,282,711
1967 580,933 3,157,242
1966 577,866 3,039,887
1965 574,664 2,928,771
1964 566,266 2,821,968
1963 552,966 2,719,341
1962 540,186 2,620,910
1961 527,942 2,526,347
1960 516,165 2,435,403

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/saudi-arabia | CC BY

From 2006 to 2016, the population of Botswana increased by 360,260 people (a 19.2% growth), while Saudi Arabia gained 9,495,054 people (a 44.2% growth).

For the next 10 years, from 2016 to 2026, Botswana gained 380,386 people (a 17% growth), while Saudi Arabia's population increased by 5,780,727 people (a 18.7% growth).

Botswana was ranked 145th most populous country in 2006 and is 142nd in 2026. Saudi Arabia was ranked 50th in 2006 and ranked 44th 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 Saudi Arabia will increase by 35.4% to 49,751,739 people and rank change from 44th to 43rd.

Botswana is projected to reach its peak in 2088 at 3.92M people compared to the peak of 74.2M people in 2100 for Saudi Arabia.

Population growth rate by year

Botswana
Factual

Projection
Saudi Arabia
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Growth rate
Botswana Saudi Arabia
2100 -0.13% 0.64%
2099 -0.16% 0.64%
2098 -0.14% 0.65%
2097 -0.13% 0.66%
2096 -0.11% 0.66%
2095 -0.11% 0.67%
2094 -0.1% 0.68%
2093 -0.1% 0.68%
2092 -0.11% 0.69%
2091 -0.07% 0.69%
2090 -0.02% 0.69%
2089 -0.004% 0.69%
2088 0.02% 0.7%
2087 0.01% 0.7%
2086 0.01% 0.7%
2085 0.04% 0.71%
2084 0.04% 0.71%
2083 0.05% 0.71%
2082 0.03% 0.72%
2081 0.04% 0.72%
2080 0.07% 0.73%
2079 0.12% 0.73%
2078 0.12% 0.74%
2077 0.14% 0.75%
2076 0.15% 0.75%
2075 0.15% 0.76%
2074 0.15% 0.77%
2073 0.2% 0.78%
2072 0.18% 0.8%
2071 0.19% 0.81%
2070 0.26% 0.82%
2069 0.27% 0.84%
2068 0.33% 0.85%
2067 0.33% 0.86%
2066 0.38% 0.87%
2065 0.4% 0.89%
2064 0.42% 0.9%
2063 0.47% 0.91%
2062 0.52% 0.92%
2061 0.54% 0.94%
2060 0.55% 0.95%
2059 0.64% 0.96%
2058 0.66% 0.97%
2057 0.66% 0.99%
2056 0.69% 1%
2055 0.7% 1.01%
2054 0.75% 1.02%
2053 0.79% 1.04%
2052 0.8% 1.05%
2051 0.82% 1.06%
2050 0.86% 1.08%
2049 0.9% 1.09%
2048 0.93% 1.11%
2047 0.97% 1.12%
2046 0.96% 1.14%
2045 0.96% 1.15%
2044 0.99% 1.17%
2043 0.99% 1.18%
2042 1.03% 1.2%
2041 1.05% 1.22%
2040 1.1% 1.23%
2039 1.11% 1.25%
2038 1.16% 1.27%
2037 1.19% 1.28%
2036 1.23% 1.3%
2035 1.27% 1.31%
2034 1.3% 1.33%
2033 1.36% 1.34%
2032 1.37% 1.36%
2031 1.46% 1.38%
2030 1.47% 1.51%
2029 1.54% 1.6%
2028 1.55% 1.67%
2027 1.62% 1.71%
2026 1.6% 1.76%
2025 1.65% 1.79%
2024 1.65% 4.74%
2023 1.65% 4.75%
2022 1.6% 4.52%
2021 1.5% -2.43%
2020 1.45% 4.95%
2019 1.43% -0.44%
2018 1.43% -2.52%
2017 1.43% 0.07%
2016 1.43% 3.82%
2015 1.44% 5.32%
2014 1.47% 2.48%
2013 1.52% 5.56%
2012 1.69% 4.29%
2011 1.99% 4.64%
2010 2.13% -0.99%
2009 2.09% 3.99%
2008 2.03% 4.11%
2007 1.96% 4.24%
2006 1.88% 4.37%
2005 1.81% 4.53%
2004 1.77% 4.7%
2003 1.78% 4.89%
2002 1.9% 5.1%
2001 2.08% 5.34%
2000 2.15% 4.56%
1999 2.18% 3.69%
1998 2.24% 3.81%
1997 2.33% 3.93%
1996 2.47% 4.08%
1995 2.66% 4.23%
1994 2.81% 4.37%
1993 2.9% 4.53%
1992 2.85% 4.71%
1991 2.76% 4.89%
1990 2.79% 5.06%
1989 2.82% 5.18%
1988 3.03% 5.47%
1987 3.32% 5.81%
1986 3.45% 5.85%
1985 3.53% 5.9%
1984 3.59% 6.13%
1983 3.65% 6.28%
1982 4.05% 6.29%
1981 3.47% 6.16%
1980 3.96% 6.04%
1979 6.18% 5.98%
1978 6.21% 5.88%
1977 5.41% 5.72%
1976 5.29% 5.52%
1975 5.1% 5.38%
1974 5.06% 5.29%
1973 4.82% 5.14%
1972 3.65% 4.88%
1971 1.72% 4.54%
1970 0.56% 4.25%
1969 0.53% 4.09%
1968 0.52% 3.97%
1967 0.53% 3.86%
1966 0.56% 3.79%
1965 1.48% 3.78%
1964 2.41% 3.77%
1963 2.37% 3.76%
1962 2.32% 3.74%
1961 2.28% 3.73%

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/saudi-arabia | CC BY

In 2024, the population of Botswana grew by 1.65%, while Saudi Arabia's population grew by 4.74%.

Live population counters

Botswana Saudi Arabia
Current population
2615162
36734925
Population rank 142/197 44/197
Percent of world population 0.03% 0.44%
One net population change
12.9 minutes
19.7 seconds
One birth every
8.58 minutes
57 seconds
One death every
37 minutes
6.66 minutes
Daily growth/decline +112 +4,377
Annual growth/decline +40,895 +1,597,549
Annual growth/decline rate +1.65% +4.74%
Population growth rate rank 66/197 4/197
One migration net change every
1.55 hours
4.4 minutes
Annual migration change -5,665 +119,738
Net migration rank 120/196 13/196
Foreign-born residents 116,402 13,683,841
Foreign-born residents rank 126/195 3/195
Foreign-born share of population 4.6% 40.3%
Foreign-born share rank 96/195 14/195

Natural population change vs migration

Botswana
Natural

Migration
Saudi Arabia
Natural

Migration
1x
Year Population change
Botswana Saudi Arabia
Natural Migration Natural Migration
2025 - -5,665 - 119,738
2024 - -5,778 - 122,170
2023 47,098 -6,487 474,366 325,691
2022 47,400 -7,306 406,920 977,072
2021 40,894 -4,083 409,032 -106,287
2020 45,610 -11,330 447,036 -74,725
2019 45,110 -11,770 474,407 191,582
2018 44,171 -11,623 528,767 -988,751
2017 43,154 -10,916 546,751 -920,812
2016 41,993 -10,286 537,829 -26,997
2015 40,897 -9,599 511,023 465,292
2014 40,046 -8,893 493,431 469,144
2013 39,404 -7,836 475,299 485,794
2012 39,202 -6,636 465,649 479,206
2011 38,613 -1,019 443,675 491,253
2010 38,101 5,151 418,641 504,955
2009 36,671 4,960 438,557 496,229
2008 35,433 4,343 433,457 491,337
2007 33,832 3,926 425,199 489,136
2006 31,340 4,270 399,333 504,661
2005 29,385 4,283 375,938 518,565
2004 27,481 4,314 362,843 523,472
2003 26,545 4,488 364,520 514,606
2002 26,163 4,747 372,099 500,508
2001 26,112 7,991 382,153 484,252
2000 25,850 9,798 392,407 468,515
1999 25,358 9,762 390,112 160,263
1998 25,397 9,685 389,499 159,898
1997 25,738 9,597 385,033 160,066
1996 26,847 9,368 382,248 160,532
1995 28,478 9,464 380,231 160,512
1994 30,664 9,023 377,351 160,306
1993 31,691 8,441 372,621 158,074
1992 31,995 8,026 366,763 160,908
1991 32,219 4,311 361,329 162,857
1990 33,015 2,580 355,495 160,416
1989 33,756 1,495 349,399 159,273
1988 34,564 -215 342,865 146,918
1987 35,647 2,624 333,088 175,075
1986 36,203 2,558 322,340 172,606
1985 35,966 2,683 310,558 148,208
1984 35,530 2,393 296,615 153,562
1983 35,142 1,980 280,616 157,930
1982 34,859 1,751 264,831 153,528
1981 34,327 7,610 249,156 140,355
1980 33,934 -10,849 234,372 121,220
1979 32,486 15,918 220,186 112,826
1978 30,596 26,015 205,331 105,263
1977 29,009 13,708 191,103 96,015
1976 27,497 11,914 178,024 85,083
1975 25,762 11,086 166,223 73,960
1974 24,160 8,854 155,478 69,653
1973 22,449 10,615 145,450 63,995
1972 21,004 5,937 136,360 55,439
1971 19,926 -3,016 127,600 43,989
1970 19,438 -16,054 120,440 31,097
1969 19,024 -15,870 113,859 25,312
1968 18,725 -15,681 108,281 21,366
1967 18,463 -15,438 103,343 17,947
1966 18,250 -15,140 98,361 15,054
1965 18,045 -14,753 93,820 15,000
1964 17,634 -4,126 89,776 15,000
1963 17,084 -4,000 85,480 15,000
1962 16,507 -4,028 81,393 15,000
1961 16,185 -4,168 77,743 15,000
1960 15,861 -4,331 74,143 15,000

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

GeoRank.org/population/botswana/saudi-arabia | 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 Saudi Arabia 93.9% is from natural causes (a gain of 4,829,562 people) and 6.05% is from migration (a gain of 311,209 people).

As of 2024, 116,402 residents or 4.6% of the population were not native-born in Botswana, compared to 13,683,841 people or 40.3% in Saudi Arabia.

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
Saudi Arabia
City Population
Riyadh 7.01M
Jeddah 4.7M
Mecca 2.43M
Medina 1.41M
Dammam 903K
Tabuk 886K
Qatif 625K
Jubail 379K
Ha'il 311K
Yanbu 299K

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/saudi-arabia | 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.