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Population in Botswana compared to Sierra Leone: Trends, Charts, Rankings

Updated on by Georank

The latest officially reported population of Botswana was 2,562,122 in 2025 vs 8,819,794 people in Sierra Leone in 2025. In 2026, based on the adjusted UN estimation, the current Botswana's population is 2,624,853 people compared to 9,090,531 in Sierra Leone.

Population statistics:

  • Sierra Leone's population is 3.46 times bigger than Botswana's.
  • Botswana is ranked the 142nd most populous country in the world, while Sierra Leone is the 100th.
  • The countries together account for 0.14% of the world: 0.03% for Botswana vs 0.11% for Sierra Leone.
  • For the last 10 years, Botswana has had an average growth rate of +1.51% per year vs +2.29% in Sierra Leone.
  • Since 2006, the population of Botswana has increased from 1.87M people to 2.62M (40% growth), while Sierra Leone has grown from 5.62M to 9.09M (61.6% growth).

Botswana vs Sierra Leone: population by year and forecast

Botswana
Factual

Projection
Sierra Leone
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Population
Botswana Sierra Leone
2100 3,870,704 16,107,087
2099 3,875,823 16,121,940
2098 3,881,867 16,135,035
2097 3,887,181 16,149,905
2096 3,892,081 16,160,672
2095 3,896,405 16,169,304
2094 3,900,671 16,168,902
2093 3,904,733 16,173,609
2092 3,908,682 16,170,778
2091 3,913,090 16,163,901
2090 3,915,896 16,154,165
2089 3,916,540 16,142,526
2088 3,916,700 16,128,775
2087 3,916,016 16,112,585
2086 3,915,493 16,085,549
2085 3,914,975 16,064,212
2084 3,913,555 16,040,563
2083 3,912,119 16,006,923
2082 3,910,185 15,970,872
2081 3,909,204 15,930,880
2080 3,907,447 15,892,665
2079 3,904,550 15,850,728
2078 3,900,021 15,801,450
2077 3,895,321 15,750,408
2076 3,889,723 15,695,310
2075 3,883,893 15,635,345
2074 3,878,255 15,580,279
2073 3,872,458 15,512,655
2072 3,864,865 15,442,481
2071 3,857,922 15,370,747
2070 3,850,437 15,293,426
2069 3,840,521 15,212,664
2068 3,830,034 15,124,069
2067 3,817,551 15,028,190
2066 3,804,918 14,931,295
2065 3,790,427 14,833,794
2064 3,775,157 14,736,872
2063 3,759,402 14,638,180
2062 3,741,936 14,525,736
2061 3,722,576 14,420,068
2060 3,702,465 14,307,451
2059 3,682,055 14,194,972
2058 3,658,810 14,077,124
2057 3,634,762 13,957,197
2056 3,611,096 13,832,494
2055 3,586,314 13,702,508
2054 3,561,446 13,576,231
2053 3,535,001 13,440,929
2052 3,507,213 13,299,910
2051 3,479,219 13,152,910
2050 3,450,807 13,006,688
2049 3,421,435 12,863,637
2048 3,391,019 12,712,671
2047 3,359,719 12,566,944
2046 3,327,520 12,411,042
2045 3,295,807 12,254,651
2044 3,264,444 12,088,895
2043 3,232,407 11,928,393
2042 3,200,743 11,767,372
2041 3,168,217 11,599,942
2040 3,135,241 11,428,331
2039 3,101,153 11,259,845
2038 3,067,014 11,097,180
2037 3,031,993 10,928,754
2036 2,996,265 10,757,928
2035 2,959,978 10,582,918
2034 2,922,807 10,411,088
2033 2,885,394 10,238,503
2032 2,846,703 10,059,929
2031 2,808,291 9,881,109
2030 2,767,933 9,705,485
2029 2,727,903 9,529,493
2028 2,686,412 9,358,412
2027 2,645,316 9,177,288
2026 2,603,241 8,998,902
2025 2,562,122 8,819,794
2024 2,521,139 8,642,022
2023 2,480,244 8,460,512
2022 2,439,892 8,276,807
2021 2,401,441 8,094,602
2020 2,365,894 7,912,558
2019 2,332,083 7,731,991
2018 2,299,141 7,554,563
2017 2,266,747 7,379,299
2016 2,234,776 7,205,328
2015 2,203,273 7,037,655
2014 2,172,044 6,876,385
2013 2,140,682 6,714,051
2012 2,108,617 6,551,080
2011 2,073,535 6,387,251
2010 2,033,111 6,222,714
2009 1,990,673 6,055,646
2008 1,949,970 5,894,722
2007 1,911,201 5,749,352
2006 1,874,516 5,624,466
2005 1,839,877 5,501,712
2004 1,807,146 5,355,717
2003 1,775,736 5,177,687
2002 1,744,763 4,971,435
2001 1,712,254 4,692,716
2000 1,677,382 4,423,611
1999 1,641,997 4,318,043
1998 1,606,899 4,295,785
1997 1,571,691 4,253,716
1996 1,535,914 4,199,210
1995 1,498,836 4,179,179
1994 1,460,023 4,173,105
1993 1,420,115 4,157,130
1992 1,380,033 4,166,366
1991 1,341,756 4,246,267
1990 1,305,696 4,196,828
1989 1,270,274 4,034,037
1988 1,235,476 3,934,517
1987 1,199,167 3,829,718
1986 1,160,650 3,728,380
1985 1,121,945 3,638,438
1984 1,083,660 3,558,758
1983 1,046,137 3,481,646
1982 1,009,269 3,408,183
1981 969,996 3,338,940
1980 937,485 3,272,089
1979 901,742 3,207,499
1978 849,239 3,145,517
1977 799,574 3,085,354
1976 758,508 3,028,820
1975 720,380 2,974,657
1974 685,448 2,920,459
1973 652,408 2,866,955
1972 622,407 2,814,388
1971 600,481 2,763,222
1970 590,334 2,712,286
1969 587,066 2,661,365
1968 583,966 2,611,532
1967 580,933 2,562,384
1966 577,866 2,514,638
1965 574,664 2,468,666
1964 566,266 2,424,390
1963 552,966 2,382,258
1962 540,186 2,342,242
1961 527,942 2,304,227
1960 516,165 2,268,356

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/sierra-leone | CC BY

From 2006 to 2016, the population of Botswana increased by 360,260 people (a 19.2% growth), while Sierra Leone gained 1,580,862 people (a 28.1% growth).

For the next 10 years, from 2016 to 2026, Botswana gained 390,077 people (a 17.5% growth), while Sierra Leone's population increased by 1,885,203 people (a 26.2% growth).

Botswana was ranked 145th most populous country in 2006 and is 142nd in 2026. Sierra Leone was ranked 105th in 2006 and ranked 100th 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 Sierra Leone will increase by 43.1% to 13,006,688 people and rank change from 100th to 91st.

Botswana is projected to reach its peak in 2088 at 3.92M people compared to the peak of 16.2M people in 2093 for Sierra Leone.

Population growth rate by year

Botswana
Factual

Projection
Sierra Leone
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Growth rate
Botswana Sierra Leone
2100 -0.13% -0.09%
2099 -0.16% -0.08%
2098 -0.14% -0.09%
2097 -0.13% -0.07%
2096 -0.11% -0.05%
2095 -0.11% 0.002%
2094 -0.1% -0.03%
2093 -0.1% 0.02%
2092 -0.11% 0.04%
2091 -0.07% 0.06%
2090 -0.02% 0.07%
2089 -0.004% 0.09%
2088 0.02% 0.1%
2087 0.01% 0.17%
2086 0.01% 0.13%
2085 0.04% 0.15%
2084 0.04% 0.21%
2083 0.05% 0.23%
2082 0.03% 0.25%
2081 0.04% 0.24%
2080 0.07% 0.26%
2079 0.12% 0.31%
2078 0.12% 0.32%
2077 0.14% 0.35%
2076 0.15% 0.38%
2075 0.15% 0.35%
2074 0.15% 0.44%
2073 0.2% 0.45%
2072 0.18% 0.47%
2071 0.19% 0.51%
2070 0.26% 0.53%
2069 0.27% 0.59%
2068 0.33% 0.64%
2067 0.33% 0.65%
2066 0.38% 0.66%
2065 0.4% 0.66%
2064 0.42% 0.67%
2063 0.47% 0.77%
2062 0.52% 0.73%
2061 0.54% 0.79%
2060 0.55% 0.79%
2059 0.64% 0.84%
2058 0.66% 0.86%
2057 0.66% 0.9%
2056 0.69% 0.95%
2055 0.7% 0.93%
2054 0.75% 1.01%
2053 0.79% 1.06%
2052 0.8% 1.12%
2051 0.82% 1.12%
2050 0.86% 1.11%
2049 0.9% 1.19%
2048 0.93% 1.16%
2047 0.97% 1.26%
2046 0.96% 1.28%
2045 0.96% 1.37%
2044 0.99% 1.35%
2043 0.99% 1.37%
2042 1.03% 1.44%
2041 1.05% 1.5%
2040 1.1% 1.5%
2039 1.11% 1.47%
2038 1.16% 1.54%
2037 1.19% 1.59%
2036 1.23% 1.65%
2035 1.27% 1.65%
2034 1.3% 1.69%
2033 1.36% 1.78%
2032 1.37% 1.81%
2031 1.46% 1.81%
2030 1.47% 1.85%
2029 1.54% 1.83%
2028 1.55% 1.97%
2027 1.62% 1.98%
2026 1.6% 2.03%
2025 1.63% 2.06%
2024 1.65% 2.15%
2023 1.65% 2.22%
2022 1.6% 2.25%
2021 1.5% 2.3%
2020 1.45% 2.34%
2019 1.43% 2.35%
2018 1.43% 2.38%
2017 1.43% 2.41%
2016 1.43% 2.38%
2015 1.44% 2.35%
2014 1.47% 2.42%
2013 1.52% 2.49%
2012 1.69% 2.56%
2011 1.99% 2.64%
2010 2.13% 2.76%
2009 2.09% 2.73%
2008 2.03% 2.53%
2007 1.96% 2.22%
2006 1.88% 2.23%
2005 1.81% 2.73%
2004 1.77% 3.44%
2003 1.78% 4.15%
2002 1.9% 5.94%
2001 2.08% 6.08%
2000 2.15% 2.44%
1999 2.18% 0.52%
1998 2.24% 0.99%
1997 2.33% 1.3%
1996 2.47% 0.48%
1995 2.66% 0.15%
1994 2.81% 0.38%
1993 2.9% -0.22%
1992 2.85% -1.88%
1991 2.76% 1.18%
1990 2.79% 4.04%
1989 2.82% 2.53%
1988 3.03% 2.74%
1987 3.32% 2.72%
1986 3.45% 2.47%
1985 3.53% 2.24%
1984 3.59% 2.21%
1983 3.65% 2.16%
1982 4.05% 2.07%
1981 3.47% 2.04%
1980 3.96% 2.01%
1979 6.18% 1.97%
1978 6.21% 1.95%
1977 5.41% 1.87%
1976 5.29% 1.82%
1975 5.1% 1.86%
1974 5.06% 1.87%
1973 4.82% 1.87%
1972 3.65% 1.85%
1971 1.72% 1.88%
1970 0.56% 1.91%
1969 0.53% 1.91%
1968 0.52% 1.92%
1967 0.53% 1.9%
1966 0.56% 1.86%
1965 1.48% 1.83%
1964 2.41% 1.77%
1963 2.37% 1.71%
1962 2.32% 1.65%
1961 2.28% 1.58%

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/sierra-leone | CC BY

In 2025, the population of Botswana grew by 1.63%, while Sierra Leone's population grew by 2.06%.

Live population counters

Botswana Sierra Leone
Current population
2624853
9090531
Population rank 142/197 100/197
Percent of world population 0.03% 0.11%
One net population change
12.9 minutes
2.96 minutes
One birth every
8.56 minutes
2.02 minutes
One death every
36.3 minutes
7.41 minutes
Daily growth/decline +112 +487
Annual growth/decline +40,983 +177,772
Annual growth/decline rate +1.63% +2.06%
Population growth rate rank 65/197 47/197
One migration net change every
1.55 hours
46.6 minutes
Annual migration change -5,665 -11,309
Net migration rank 120/196 136/196
Foreign-born residents 116,402 49,997
Foreign-born residents rank 126/195 151/195
Foreign-born share of population 4.6% 0.6%
Foreign-born share rank 96/195 174/195

Natural population change vs migration

Botswana
Natural

Migration
Sierra Leone
Natural

Migration
1x
Year Population change
Botswana Sierra Leone
Natural Migration Natural Migration
2025 - -5,665 - -11,309
2024 46,951 -5,778 189,234 -11,000
2023 47,098 -6,487 188,788 -4,000
2022 47,400 -7,306 186,625 -4,000
2021 40,894 -4,083 183,326 -1,544
2020 45,610 -11,330 181,015 1,292
2019 45,110 -11,770 181,068 -2,238
2018 44,171 -11,623 178,772 -2,741
2017 43,154 -10,916 173,259 1,234
2016 41,993 -10,286 168,784 4,657
2015 40,897 -9,599 162,275 -356
2014 40,046 -8,893 160,137 485
2013 39,404 -7,836 161,265 2,773
2012 39,202 -6,636 160,915 988
2011 38,613 -1,019 158,858 6,895
2010 38,101 5,151 155,338 7,983
2009 36,671 4,960 152,669 18,145
2008 35,433 4,343 149,855 1,182
2007 33,832 3,926 145,740 -6,042
2006 31,340 4,270 144,127 -34,052
2005 29,385 4,283 137,234 -1,805
2004 27,481 4,314 132,661 23,897
2003 26,545 4,488 130,312 69,185
2002 26,163 4,747 126,429 86,578
2001 26,112 7,991 116,647 227,791
2000 25,850 9,798 110,754 83,013
1999 25,358 9,762 102,295 -84,926
1998 25,397 9,685 103,906 -76,766
1997 25,738 9,597 105,433 -48,437
1996 26,847 9,368 104,140 -52,110
1995 28,478 9,464 100,885 -112,857
1994 30,664 9,023 101,486 -77,371
1993 31,691 8,441 103,317 -95,476
1992 31,995 8,026 103,251 -129,565
1991 32,219 4,311 105,477 -238,965
1990 33,015 2,580 100,778 131,587
1989 33,756 1,495 98,298 -5,079
1988 34,564 -215 96,344 9,470
1987 35,647 2,624 94,235 9,558
1986 36,203 2,558 90,902 7,992
1985 35,966 2,683 88,869 -7,873
1984 35,530 2,393 87,072 -8,708
1983 35,142 1,980 84,628 -8,783
1982 34,859 1,751 82,457 -11,379
1981 34,327 7,610 80,111 -12,699
1980 33,934 -10,849 77,932 -11,641
1979 32,486 15,918 75,992 -13,095
1978 30,596 26,015 74,130 -13,073
1977 29,009 13,708 71,663 -12,399
1976 27,497 11,914 69,506 -15,686
1975 25,762 11,086 67,560 -13,058
1974 24,160 8,854 65,357 -11,473
1973 22,449 10,615 62,443 -9,322
1972 21,004 5,937 60,279 -8,267
1971 19,926 -3,016 58,484 -8,162
1970 19,438 -16,054 56,513 -4,957
1969 19,024 -15,870 54,768 -4,485
1968 18,725 -15,681 53,126 -3,743
1967 18,463 -15,438 51,734 -2,819
1966 18,250 -15,140 49,486 -2,911
1965 18,045 -14,753 47,223 -1,851
1964 17,634 -4,126 45,487 -2,308
1963 17,084 -4,000 43,569 -2,480
1962 16,507 -4,028 41,603 -2,658
1961 16,185 -4,168 40,022 -2,947
1960 15,861 -4,331 38,192 -3,528

Data sources: World Bank | Health (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-07-08).

GeoRank.org/population/botswana/sierra-leone | 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 Sierra Leone 99% is from natural causes (a gain of 1,793,146 people) and 1.03% is from migration (a loss of 18,696 people).

As of 2024, 116,402 residents or 4.6% of the population were not native-born in Botswana, compared to 49,997 people or 0.6% in Sierra Leone.

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
Sierra Leone
City Population
Freetown 951K
Bo 234K
Kenema 188K

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/sierra-leone | 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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