Skip to content

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

Updated on by Georank team

The latest officially reported population of Botswana was 2,521,139 in 2024 vs 8,642,022 people in Sierra Leone in 2024. In 2026, based on the adjusted UN estimation, the current Botswana's population is 2,615,162 people compared to 9,049,533 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 101st.
  • 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 +1.5% per year vs +2.32% in Sierra Leone.
  • Since 2006, the population of Botswana has increased from 1.87M people to 2.62M (39.5% growth), while Sierra Leone has grown from 5.62M to 9.05M (60.9% growth).

Botswana vs Sierra Leone: population by year and forecast

Botswana
Factual

Projection
Sierra Leone
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Population
Botswana Sierra Leone
2100 3,871,504 16,111,324
2099 3,876,625 16,126,181
2098 3,882,670 16,139,280
2097 3,887,985 16,154,153
2096 3,892,886 16,164,923
2095 3,897,211 16,173,557
2094 3,901,478 16,173,155
2093 3,905,541 16,177,864
2092 3,909,490 16,175,032
2091 3,913,899 16,168,153
2090 3,916,706 16,158,415
2089 3,917,351 16,146,773
2088 3,917,510 16,133,018
2087 3,916,826 16,116,823
2086 3,916,303 16,089,780
2085 3,915,785 16,068,438
2084 3,914,364 16,044,782
2083 3,912,929 16,011,134
2082 3,910,994 15,975,073
2081 3,910,013 15,935,071
2080 3,908,255 15,896,846
2079 3,905,358 15,854,898
2078 3,900,828 15,805,607
2077 3,896,126 15,754,551
2076 3,890,528 15,699,439
2075 3,884,696 15,639,458
2074 3,879,057 15,584,377
2073 3,873,259 15,516,736
2072 3,865,665 15,446,543
2071 3,858,720 15,374,790
2070 3,851,234 15,297,449
2069 3,841,316 15,216,666
2068 3,830,826 15,128,048
2067 3,818,341 15,032,144
2066 3,805,705 14,935,222
2065 3,791,211 14,837,697
2064 3,775,938 14,740,749
2063 3,760,179 14,642,031
2062 3,742,710 14,529,557
2061 3,723,346 14,423,861
2060 3,703,231 14,311,215
2059 3,682,816 14,198,706
2058 3,659,567 14,080,827
2057 3,635,514 13,960,869
2056 3,611,843 13,836,132
2055 3,587,056 13,706,113
2054 3,562,182 13,579,802
2053 3,535,732 13,444,465
2052 3,507,938 13,303,409
2051 3,479,939 13,156,370
2050 3,451,521 13,010,109
2049 3,422,143 12,867,021
2048 3,391,720 12,716,015
2047 3,360,414 12,570,250
2046 3,328,208 12,414,307
2045 3,296,489 12,257,874
2044 3,265,120 12,092,075
2043 3,233,076 11,931,531
2042 3,201,405 11,770,467
2041 3,168,873 11,602,993
2040 3,135,889 11,431,337
2039 3,101,794 11,262,807
2038 3,067,648 11,100,099
2037 3,032,620 10,931,629
2036 2,996,884 10,760,758
2035 2,960,590 10,585,702
2034 2,923,411 10,413,826
2033 2,885,991 10,241,196
2032 2,847,292 10,062,575
2031 2,808,872 9,883,708
2030 2,768,505 9,708,038
2029 2,728,467 9,532,000
2028 2,686,968 9,360,873
2027 2,645,863 9,179,702
2026 2,603,779 9,001,269
2025 2,562,651 8,822,114
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 (2025–2100, retrieved 2026-03-10); World Bank | Health (1960–2024, retrieved 2026-04-06).

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 380,386 people (a 17% growth), while Sierra Leone's population increased by 1,844,205 people (a 25.6% growth).

Botswana was ranked 145th most populous country in 2006 and is 142nd in 2026. Sierra Leone was ranked 106th in 2006 and ranked 101st 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 Sierra Leone will increase by 43.8% to 13,010,109 people and rank change from 101st 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 1.65% 2.08%
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 (2025–2100, retrieved 2026-03-10); World Bank | Health (1961–2024, retrieved 2026-04-06).

GeoRank.org/population/botswana/sierra-leone | CC BY

In 2024, the population of Botswana grew by 1.65%, while Sierra Leone's population grew by 2.15%.

Live population counters

Botswana Sierra Leone
Current population
2615162
9049533
Population rank 142/197 101/197
Percent of world population 0.03% 0.11%
One net population change
12.9 minutes
2.9 minutes
One birth every
8.58 minutes
2.03 minutes
One death every
37 minutes
7.5 minutes
Daily growth/decline +112 +497
Annual growth/decline +40,895 +181,510
Annual growth/decline rate +1.65% +2.15%
Population growth rate rank 66/197 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 - -5,778 - -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 2026-04-06).

GeoRank.org/population/botswana/sierra-leone | 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 Sierra Leone 99.6% is from natural causes (a gain of 1,764,049 people) and 0.41% is from migration (a loss of 7,211 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 (1960–2024, 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/sierra-leone | 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.