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

Updated on by Georank

The latest officially reported population of Botswana was 2,562,122 in 2025 vs 36,973,555 people in Saudi Arabia in 2025. In 2026, based on the adjusted UN estimation, the current Botswana's population is 2,624,853 people compared to 37,955,120 in Saudi Arabia.

Population statistics:

  • Saudi Arabia's population is 14.5 times bigger than Botswana's.
  • Botswana is ranked the 142nd most populous country in the world, while Saudi Arabia is the 43rd.
  • The countries together account for 0.49% of the world: 0.03% for Botswana vs 0.46% for Saudi Arabia.
  • For the last 10 years, Botswana has had an average growth rate of +1.51% per year vs +2.5% in Saudi Arabia.
  • Since 2006, the population of Botswana has increased from 1.87M people to 2.62M (40% growth), while Saudi Arabia has grown from 21.5M to 38M (76.9% growth).

Botswana vs Saudi Arabia: population by year and forecast

Botswana
Factual

Projection
Saudi Arabia
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Population
Botswana Saudi Arabia
2100 3,870,704 76,380,382
2099 3,875,823 75,896,692
2098 3,881,867 75,410,485
2097 3,887,181 74,922,342
2096 3,892,081 74,431,436
2095 3,896,405 73,939,761
2094 3,900,671 73,447,628
2093 3,904,733 72,954,272
2092 3,908,682 72,460,372
2091 3,913,090 71,966,760
2090 3,915,896 71,474,363
2089 3,916,540 70,984,330
2088 3,916,700 70,494,851
2087 3,916,016 70,006,368
2086 3,915,493 69,519,641
2085 3,914,975 69,035,093
2084 3,913,555 68,551,533
2083 3,912,119 68,068,933
2082 3,910,185 67,587,034
2081 3,909,204 67,105,252
2080 3,907,447 66,624,751
2079 3,904,550 66,144,495
2078 3,900,021 65,664,508
2077 3,895,321 65,183,768
2076 3,889,723 64,701,603
2075 3,883,893 64,217,651
2074 3,878,255 63,731,809
2073 3,872,458 63,243,084
2072 3,864,865 62,750,764
2071 3,857,922 62,255,408
2070 3,850,437 61,756,796
2069 3,840,521 61,253,878
2068 3,830,034 60,746,216
2067 3,817,551 60,235,232
2066 3,804,918 59,720,954
2065 3,790,427 59,203,814
2064 3,775,157 58,684,254
2063 3,759,402 58,161,702
2062 3,741,936 57,637,152
2061 3,722,576 57,109,207
2060 3,702,465 56,579,736
2059 3,682,055 56,047,666
2058 3,658,810 55,513,281
2057 3,634,762 54,978,393
2056 3,611,096 54,441,706
2055 3,586,314 53,904,081
2054 3,561,446 53,364,635
2053 3,535,001 52,823,422
2052 3,507,213 52,280,914
2051 3,479,219 51,737,228
2050 3,450,807 51,192,924
2049 3,421,435 50,647,663
2048 3,391,019 50,100,576
2047 3,359,719 49,552,613
2046 3,327,520 49,002,774
2045 3,295,807 48,451,215
2044 3,264,444 47,898,754
2043 3,232,407 47,346,122
2042 3,200,743 46,792,504
2041 3,168,217 46,237,820
2040 3,135,241 45,682,139
2039 3,101,153 45,126,407
2038 3,067,014 44,569,427
2037 3,031,993 44,012,415
2036 2,996,265 43,454,985
2035 2,959,978 42,897,909
2034 2,922,807 42,342,044
2033 2,885,394 41,787,423
2032 2,846,703 41,233,964
2031 2,808,291 40,680,599
2030 2,767,933 40,128,273
2029 2,727,903 39,530,306
2028 2,686,412 38,906,191
2027 2,645,316 38,267,271
2026 2,603,241 37,625,434
2025 2,562,122 36,973,555
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 (2026–2100, retrieved 2026-07-08); World Bank | Health (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-07-08).

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 390,077 people (a 17.5% growth), while Saudi Arabia's population increased by 7,000,922 people (a 22.6% growth).

Botswana was ranked 145th most populous country in 2006 and is 142nd in 2026. Saudi Arabia was ranked 50th in 2006 and ranked 43rd 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 Saudi Arabia will increase by 34.9% to 51,192,924 people and rank change from 43rd to 42nd.

Botswana is projected to reach its peak in 2088 at 3.92M people compared to the peak of 76.4M 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 1.63% 4.74%
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 (2026–2100, retrieved 2026-07-08); World Bank | Health (1961–2025, retrieved 2026-07-08).

GeoRank.org/population/botswana/saudi-arabia | CC BY

In 2025, the population of Botswana grew by 1.63%, while Saudi Arabia's population grew by 4.74%.

Live population counters

Botswana Saudi Arabia
Current population
2624853
37955120
Population rank 142/197 43/197
Percent of world population 0.03% 0.46%
One net population change
12.9 minutes
18.9 seconds
One birth every
8.56 minutes
54.2 seconds
One death every
36.3 minutes
6.37 minutes
Daily growth/decline +112 +4,584
Annual growth/decline +40,983 +1,673,275
Annual growth/decline rate +1.63% +4.74%
Population growth rate rank 65/197 2/197
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 46,951 -5,778 499,782 122,170
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 2026-07-08).

GeoRank.org/population/botswana/saudi-arabia | 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 Saudi Arabia 99.3% is from natural causes (a gain of 4,835,913 people) and 0.73% is from migration (a loss of 35,765 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 (1960–2025, 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/saudi-arabia | 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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