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

Updated on by Georank team

The latest officially reported population of Botswana was 2,521,139 in 2024 vs 6,586,476 people in Serbia in 2024. In 2026, based on the adjusted UN estimation, the current Botswana's population is 2,615,162 people compared to 6,494,521 in Serbia.

Population statistics:

  • Serbia's population is 2.48 times bigger than Botswana's.
  • Botswana is ranked the 142nd most populous country in the world, while Serbia is the 110th.
  • The countries together account for 0.11% of the world: 0.03% for Botswana vs 0.08% for Serbia.
  • For the last 10 years, Botswana has had an average growth rate of +1.5% per year vs -0.76% in Serbia.
  • Since 2006, the population of Botswana has increased from 1.87M people to 2.62M (39.5% growth), while Serbia has declined from 7.41M to 6.49M (12.4% decline).

Botswana vs Serbia: population by year and forecast

Botswana
Factual

Projection
Serbia
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Population
Botswana Serbia
2100 3,871,504 3,621,418
2099 3,876,625 3,649,584
2098 3,882,670 3,677,789
2097 3,887,985 3,706,279
2096 3,892,886 3,734,933
2095 3,897,211 3,763,769
2094 3,901,478 3,792,851
2093 3,905,541 3,822,147
2092 3,909,490 3,851,865
2091 3,913,899 3,881,833
2090 3,916,706 3,911,964
2089 3,917,351 3,942,571
2088 3,917,510 3,973,274
2087 3,916,826 4,004,485
2086 3,916,303 4,036,066
2085 3,915,785 4,068,021
2084 3,914,364 4,100,403
2083 3,912,929 4,133,391
2082 3,910,994 4,166,924
2081 3,910,013 4,200,811
2080 3,908,255 4,235,306
2079 3,905,358 4,270,442
2078 3,900,828 4,306,246
2077 3,896,126 4,342,382
2076 3,890,528 4,378,754
2075 3,884,696 4,415,505
2074 3,879,057 4,452,888
2073 3,873,259 4,490,589
2072 3,865,665 4,528,672
2071 3,858,720 4,567,167
2070 3,851,234 4,606,212
2069 3,841,316 4,645,524
2068 3,830,826 4,685,090
2067 3,818,341 4,724,796
2066 3,805,705 4,764,445
2065 3,791,211 4,804,405
2064 3,775,938 4,844,434
2063 3,760,179 4,884,574
2062 3,742,710 4,924,899
2061 3,723,346 4,964,985
2060 3,703,231 5,005,138
2059 3,682,816 5,045,125
2058 3,659,567 5,085,292
2057 3,635,514 5,125,901
2056 3,611,843 5,166,530
2055 3,587,056 5,207,137
2054 3,562,182 5,247,793
2053 3,535,732 5,288,369
2052 3,507,938 5,329,487
2051 3,479,939 5,371,281
2050 3,451,521 5,413,067
2049 3,422,143 5,455,402
2048 3,391,720 5,498,031
2047 3,360,414 5,541,158
2046 3,328,208 5,584,824
2045 3,296,489 5,629,108
2044 3,265,120 5,673,908
2043 3,233,076 5,719,287
2042 3,201,405 5,765,400
2041 3,168,873 5,811,936
2040 3,135,889 5,858,464
2039 3,101,794 5,905,404
2038 3,067,648 5,952,107
2037 3,032,620 5,998,763
2036 2,996,884 6,045,097
2035 2,960,590 6,091,385
2034 2,923,411 6,137,447
2033 2,885,991 6,183,536
2032 2,847,292 6,229,136
2031 2,808,872 6,274,395
2030 2,768,505 6,319,422
2029 2,728,467 6,363,799
2028 2,686,968 6,407,914
2027 2,645,863 6,451,609
2026 2,603,779 6,494,521
2025 2,562,651 6,543,364
2024 2,521,139 6,586,476
2023 2,480,244 6,623,183
2022 2,439,892 6,664,449
2021 2,401,441 6,834,326
2020 2,365,894 6,899,126
2019 2,332,083 6,945,235
2018 2,299,141 6,982,604
2017 2,266,747 7,020,858
2016 2,234,776 7,058,322
2015 2,203,273 7,095,383
2014 2,172,044 7,131,787
2013 2,140,682 7,166,553
2012 2,108,617 7,201,497
2011 2,073,535 7,236,519
2010 2,033,111 7,291,436
2009 1,990,673 7,320,807
2008 1,949,970 7,350,222
2007 1,911,201 7,381,579
2006 1,874,516 7,411,569
2005 1,839,877 7,440,769
2004 1,807,146 7,463,157
2003 1,775,736 7,480,591
2002 1,744,763 7,500,031
2001 1,712,254 7,503,433
2000 1,677,382 7,516,346
1999 1,641,997 7,540,401
1998 1,606,899 7,567,745
1997 1,571,691 7,598,538
1996 1,535,914 7,622,185
1995 1,498,836 7,628,264
1994 1,460,023 7,622,711
1993 1,420,115 7,614,328
1992 1,380,033 7,604,063
1991 1,341,756 7,595,636
1990 1,305,696 7,897,937
1989 1,270,274 7,893,787
1988 1,235,476 7,884,218
1987 1,199,167 7,868,027
1986 1,160,650 7,853,824
1985 1,121,945 7,835,902
1984 1,083,660 7,813,549
1983 1,046,137 7,788,100
1982 1,009,269 7,763,335
1981 969,996 7,736,787
1980 937,485 7,709,544
1979 901,742 7,541,997
1978 849,239 7,504,017
1977 799,574 7,462,783
1976 758,508 7,418,973
1975 720,380 7,368,717
1974 685,448 7,326,043
1973 652,408 7,283,902
1972 622,407 7,252,012
1971 600,481 7,211,716
1970 590,334 7,164,993
1969 587,066 7,123,249
1968 583,966 7,007,586
1967 580,933 6,966,522
1966 577,866 6,927,969
1965 574,664 6,876,624
1964 566,266 6,832,855
1963 552,966 6,787,950
1962 540,186 6,740,264
1961 527,942 6,689,077
1960 516,165 6,638,992

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/serbia | CC BY

From 2006 to 2016, the population of Botswana increased by 360,260 people (a 19.2% growth), while Serbia lost 353,247 people (a 4.77% decline).

For the next 10 years, from 2016 to 2026, Botswana gained 380,386 people (a 17% growth), while Serbia's population decreased by 563,801 people (a 7.99% decline).

Botswana was ranked 145th most populous country in 2006 and is 142nd in 2026. Serbia was ranked 97th in 2006 and ranked 110th 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 Serbia will decrease by 16.7% to 5,413,067 people and rank change from 110th to 125th.

Botswana is projected to reach its peak in 2088 at 3.92M people, while Serbia's population already peaked in 1990 at 7.9M people and is projected to decrease to 3.62M people by 2100.

Population growth rate by year

Botswana
Factual

Projection
Serbia
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Growth rate
Botswana Serbia
2100 -0.13% -0.77%
2099 -0.16% -0.77%
2098 -0.14% -0.77%
2097 -0.13% -0.77%
2096 -0.11% -0.77%
2095 -0.11% -0.77%
2094 -0.1% -0.77%
2093 -0.1% -0.77%
2092 -0.11% -0.77%
2091 -0.07% -0.77%
2090 -0.02% -0.78%
2089 -0.004% -0.77%
2088 0.02% -0.78%
2087 0.01% -0.78%
2086 0.01% -0.79%
2085 0.04% -0.79%
2084 0.04% -0.8%
2083 0.05% -0.8%
2082 0.03% -0.81%
2081 0.04% -0.81%
2080 0.07% -0.82%
2079 0.12% -0.83%
2078 0.12% -0.83%
2077 0.14% -0.83%
2076 0.15% -0.83%
2075 0.15% -0.84%
2074 0.15% -0.84%
2073 0.2% -0.84%
2072 0.18% -0.84%
2071 0.19% -0.85%
2070 0.26% -0.85%
2069 0.27% -0.84%
2068 0.33% -0.84%
2067 0.33% -0.83%
2066 0.38% -0.83%
2065 0.4% -0.83%
2064 0.42% -0.82%
2063 0.47% -0.82%
2062 0.52% -0.81%
2061 0.54% -0.8%
2060 0.55% -0.79%
2059 0.64% -0.79%
2058 0.66% -0.79%
2057 0.66% -0.79%
2056 0.69% -0.78%
2055 0.7% -0.77%
2054 0.75% -0.77%
2053 0.79% -0.77%
2052 0.8% -0.78%
2051 0.82% -0.77%
2050 0.86% -0.78%
2049 0.9% -0.78%
2048 0.93% -0.78%
2047 0.97% -0.78%
2046 0.96% -0.79%
2045 0.96% -0.79%
2044 0.99% -0.79%
2043 0.99% -0.8%
2042 1.03% -0.8%
2041 1.05% -0.79%
2040 1.1% -0.79%
2039 1.11% -0.78%
2038 1.16% -0.78%
2037 1.19% -0.77%
2036 1.23% -0.76%
2035 1.27% -0.75%
2034 1.3% -0.75%
2033 1.36% -0.73%
2032 1.37% -0.72%
2031 1.46% -0.71%
2030 1.47% -0.7%
2029 1.54% -0.69%
2028 1.55% -0.68%
2027 1.62% -0.66%
2026 1.6% -0.75%
2025 1.65% -0.65%
2024 1.65% -0.55%
2023 1.65% -0.62%
2022 1.6% -2.49%
2021 1.5% -0.94%
2020 1.45% -0.66%
2019 1.43% -0.54%
2018 1.43% -0.54%
2017 1.43% -0.53%
2016 1.43% -0.52%
2015 1.44% -0.51%
2014 1.47% -0.49%
2013 1.52% -0.49%
2012 1.69% -0.48%
2011 1.99% -0.75%
2010 2.13% -0.4%
2009 2.09% -0.4%
2008 2.03% -0.42%
2007 1.96% -0.4%
2006 1.88% -0.39%
2005 1.81% -0.3%
2004 1.77% -0.23%
2003 1.78% -0.26%
2002 1.9% -0.05%
2001 2.08% -0.17%
2000 2.15% -0.32%
1999 2.18% -0.36%
1998 2.24% -0.41%
1997 2.33% -0.31%
1996 2.47% -0.08%
1995 2.66% 0.07%
1994 2.81% 0.11%
1993 2.9% 0.13%
1992 2.85% 0.11%
1991 2.76% -3.83%
1990 2.79% 0.05%
1989 2.82% 0.12%
1988 3.03% 0.21%
1987 3.32% 0.18%
1986 3.45% 0.23%
1985 3.53% 0.29%
1984 3.59% 0.33%
1983 3.65% 0.32%
1982 4.05% 0.34%
1981 3.47% 0.35%
1980 3.96% 2.22%
1979 6.18% 0.51%
1978 6.21% 0.55%
1977 5.41% 0.59%
1976 5.29% 0.68%
1975 5.1% 0.58%
1974 5.06% 0.58%
1973 4.82% 0.44%
1972 3.65% 0.56%
1971 1.72% 0.65%
1970 0.56% 0.59%
1969 0.53% 1.65%
1968 0.52% 0.59%
1967 0.53% 0.56%
1966 0.56% 0.75%
1965 1.48% 0.64%
1964 2.41% 0.66%
1963 2.37% 0.71%
1962 2.32% 0.77%
1961 2.28% 0.75%

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/serbia | CC BY

In 2024, the population of Botswana grew by 1.65%, while Serbia's population declined by 0.55%.

Live population counters

Botswana Serbia
Current population
2615162
6494521
Population rank 142/197 110/197
Percent of world population 0.03% 0.08%
One net population change
12.9 minutes
14.3 minutes
One birth every
8.58 minutes
8.63 minutes
One death every
37 minutes
5.4 minutes
Daily growth/decline +112 -101
Annual growth/decline +40,895 -36,707
Annual growth/decline rate +1.65% -0.55%
Population growth rate rank 66/197 189/197
One migration net change every
1.55 hours
40.3 minutes
Annual migration change -5,665 -13,086
Net migration rank 120/196 140/196
Foreign-born residents 116,402 712,550
Foreign-born residents rank 126/195 70/195
Foreign-born share of population 4.6% 10.6%
Foreign-born share rank 96/195 64/195

Natural population change vs migration

Botswana
Natural

Migration
Serbia
Natural

Migration
1x
Year Population change
Botswana Serbia
Natural Migration Natural Migration
2025 - -5,665 - -13,086
2024 - -5,778 - -8,132
2023 47,098 -6,487 -36,427 4,348
2022 47,400 -7,306 -46,651 40,118
2021 40,894 -4,083 -74,494 -8,974
2020 45,610 -11,330 -55,193 -10,220
2019 45,110 -11,770 -36,810 -18,891
2018 44,171 -11,623 -37,707 -18,883
2017 43,154 -10,916 -39,317 -18,651
2016 41,993 -10,286 -35,998 -18,322
2015 40,897 -9,599 -37,605 -18,789
2014 40,046 -8,893 -34,946 -18,846
2013 39,404 -7,836 -34,399 -17,866
2012 39,202 -6,636 -35,288 -18,513
2011 38,613 -1,019 -36,906 611
2010 38,101 5,151 -34,999 3,632
2009 36,671 4,960 -33,676 6,043
2008 35,433 4,343 -33,590 7,070
2007 33,832 3,926 -34,693 7,045
2006 31,340 4,270 -31,870 8,018
2005 29,385 4,283 -34,227 7,945
2004 27,481 4,314 -26,121 7,300
2003 26,545 4,488 -24,686 6,854
2002 26,163 4,747 -24,750 1,562
2001 26,112 7,991 -20,259 -12,007
2000 25,850 9,798 -30,065 -14,368
1999 25,358 9,762 -29,408 -4,073
1998 25,397 9,685 -23,006 -5,665
1997 25,738 9,597 -18,389 -5,817
1996 26,847 9,368 -16,007 -5,598
1995 28,478 9,464 -7,628 -6,019
1994 30,664 9,023 -7,157 -5,934
1993 31,691 8,441 -5,703 -5,972
1992 31,995 8,026 -3,779 -4,415
1991 32,219 4,311 2,210 -8,483
1990 33,015 2,580 7,416 -16,260
1989 33,756 1,495 11,872 -16,360
1988 34,564 -215 13,852 -15,715
1987 35,647 2,624 16,711 -16,686
1986 36,203 2,558 19,407 -17,990
1985 35,966 2,683 22,090 -17,646
1984 35,530 2,393 23,815 -15,567
1983 35,142 1,980 27,515 -15,301
1982 34,859 1,751 30,603 -13,550
1981 34,327 7,610 34,304 -8,531
1980 33,934 -10,849 36,273 287
1979 32,486 15,918 39,022 -960
1978 30,596 26,015 43,636 -1,481
1977 29,009 13,708 48,105 -1,953
1976 27,497 11,914 51,399 -2,744
1975 25,762 11,086 52,502 -3,490
1974 24,160 8,854 51,583 -3,525
1973 22,449 10,615 49,596 -2,396
1972 21,004 5,937 48,248 -348
1971 19,926 -3,016 47,424 1,655
1970 19,438 -16,054 48,343 1,861
1969 19,024 -15,870 50,304 4,112
1968 18,725 -15,681 51,653 5,430
1967 18,463 -15,438 53,120 6,114
1966 18,250 -15,140 53,338 7,037
1965 18,045 -14,753 53,383 7,957
1964 17,634 -4,126 54,185 8,045
1963 17,084 -4,000 55,580 8,276
1962 16,507 -4,028 59,307 6,064
1961 16,185 -4,168 61,065 6,422
1960 15,861 -4,331 63,642 4,377

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

GeoRank.org/population/botswana/serbia | 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 Serbia 83.3% is from natural causes (a loss of 435,148 people) and 16.7% is from migration (a loss of 87,110 people).

As of 2024, 116,402 residents or 4.6% of the population were not native-born in Botswana, compared to 712,550 people or 10.6% in Serbia.

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
Serbia
City Population
Belgrade 1.2M
Novi Sad 260K
Pristina 227K
Nis 183K
Kragujevac 151K
Subotica 106K
Valjevo 90.3K
Cacak 71.9K
Mitrovica 71.6K
Novi Pazar 66.5K

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/serbia | 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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