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Population in Botswana compared to South Africa: Trends, Charts, Rankings

Updated on by Georank team

The latest officially reported population of Botswana was 2,521,139 in 2024 vs 64,007,187 people in South Africa in 2024. In 2026, based on the adjusted UN estimation, the current Botswana's population is 2,615,162 people compared to 65,683,993 in South Africa.

Population statistics:

  • South Africa's population is 25.1 times bigger than Botswana's.
  • Botswana is ranked the 142nd most populous country in the world, while South Africa is the 24th.
  • The countries together account for 0.82% of the world: 0.03% for Botswana vs 0.79% for South Africa.
  • For the last 10 years, Botswana has had an average growth rate of +1.5% per year vs +1.44% in South Africa.
  • Since 2006, the population of Botswana has increased from 1.87M people to 2.62M (39.5% growth), while South Africa has grown from 50M to 65.7M (31.4% growth).

Botswana vs South Africa: population by year and forecast

Botswana
Factual

Projection
South Africa
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Population
Botswana South Africa
2100 3,871,504 94,767,727
2099 3,876,625 94,556,931
2098 3,882,670 94,349,546
2097 3,887,985 94,158,472
2096 3,892,886 93,960,605
2095 3,897,211 93,752,736
2094 3,901,478 93,527,902
2093 3,905,541 93,300,398
2092 3,909,490 93,074,837
2091 3,913,899 92,826,204
2090 3,916,706 92,594,033
2089 3,917,351 92,355,184
2088 3,917,510 92,112,914
2087 3,916,826 91,866,024
2086 3,916,303 91,614,165
2085 3,915,785 91,385,350
2084 3,914,364 91,139,318
2083 3,912,929 90,877,425
2082 3,910,994 90,615,359
2081 3,910,013 90,345,492
2080 3,908,255 90,071,835
2079 3,905,358 89,801,998
2078 3,900,828 89,526,224
2077 3,896,126 89,249,206
2076 3,890,528 88,986,114
2075 3,884,696 88,713,215
2074 3,879,057 88,428,616
2073 3,873,259 88,149,885
2072 3,865,665 87,866,246
2071 3,858,720 87,540,177
2070 3,851,234 87,209,425
2069 3,841,316 86,901,512
2068 3,830,826 86,588,742
2067 3,818,341 86,268,392
2066 3,805,705 85,935,310
2065 3,791,211 85,604,376
2064 3,775,938 85,244,950
2063 3,760,179 84,875,503
2062 3,742,710 84,503,237
2061 3,723,346 84,132,885
2060 3,703,231 83,748,999
2059 3,682,816 83,354,923
2058 3,659,567 82,947,675
2057 3,635,514 82,538,045
2056 3,611,843 82,127,477
2055 3,587,056 81,698,196
2054 3,562,182 81,255,867
2053 3,535,732 80,818,632
2052 3,507,938 80,367,409
2051 3,479,939 79,886,672
2050 3,451,521 79,411,977
2049 3,422,143 78,925,493
2048 3,391,720 78,437,677
2047 3,360,414 77,922,211
2046 3,328,208 77,397,298
2045 3,296,489 76,879,838
2044 3,265,120 76,357,155
2043 3,233,076 75,827,709
2042 3,201,405 75,291,615
2041 3,168,873 74,748,408
2040 3,135,889 74,205,530
2039 3,101,794 73,663,047
2038 3,067,648 73,105,930
2037 3,032,620 72,532,742
2036 2,996,884 71,956,247
2035 2,960,590 71,362,555
2034 2,923,411 70,762,815
2033 2,885,991 70,153,205
2032 2,847,292 69,527,410
2031 2,808,872 68,890,002
2030 2,768,505 68,245,372
2029 2,728,467 67,573,179
2028 2,686,968 66,884,377
2027 2,645,863 66,190,258
2026 2,603,779 65,496,277
2025 2,562,651 64,770,314
2024 2,521,139 64,007,187
2023 2,480,244 63,212,384
2022 2,439,892 62,378,410
2021 2,401,441 61,502,603
2020 2,365,894 60,562,381
2019 2,332,083 59,587,885
2018 2,299,141 58,613,001
2017 2,266,747 57,635,162
2016 2,234,776 57,259,551
2015 2,203,273 56,723,537
2014 2,172,044 55,594,838
2013 2,140,682 54,678,791
2012 2,108,617 53,782,567
2011 2,073,535 52,995,205
2010 2,033,111 52,344,051
2009 1,990,673 51,728,516
2008 1,949,970 51,114,599
2007 1,911,201 50,528,584
2006 1,874,516 49,998,277
2005 1,839,877 49,490,033
2004 1,807,146 48,991,421
2003 1,775,736 48,500,348
2002 1,744,763 48,019,415
2001 1,712,254 47,566,800
2000 1,677,382 47,159,719
1999 1,641,997 46,730,335
1998 1,606,899 46,223,880
1997 1,571,691 45,666,838
1996 1,535,914 45,123,018
1995 1,498,836 44,541,554
1994 1,460,023 44,004,139
1993 1,420,115 43,297,156
1992 1,380,033 42,443,509
1991 1,341,756 41,687,898
1990 1,305,696 40,746,268
1989 1,270,274 39,628,575
1988 1,235,476 38,480,649
1987 1,199,167 37,326,190
1986 1,160,650 36,180,515
1985 1,121,945 35,042,093
1984 1,083,660 33,892,788
1983 1,046,137 32,739,304
1982 1,009,269 31,615,339
1981 969,996 30,541,044
1980 937,485 29,518,857
1979 901,742 28,634,162
1978 849,239 27,869,507
1977 799,574 27,118,952
1976 758,508 26,395,450
1975 720,380 25,690,940
1974 685,448 24,989,108
1973 652,408 24,294,263
1972 622,407 23,609,456
1971 600,481 22,942,143
1970 590,334 22,279,984
1969 587,066 21,614,676
1968 583,966 20,957,287
1967 580,933 20,314,066
1966 577,866 19,690,087
1965 574,664 19,089,380
1964 566,266 18,511,361
1963 552,966 17,954,564
1962 540,186 17,418,522
1961 527,942 16,908,035
1960 516,165 16,440,172

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/south-africa | CC BY

From 2006 to 2016, the population of Botswana increased by 360,260 people (a 19.2% growth), while South Africa gained 7,261,274 people (a 14.5% growth).

For the next 10 years, from 2016 to 2026, Botswana gained 380,386 people (a 17% growth), while South Africa's population increased by 8,424,442 people (a 14.7% growth).

Botswana was ranked 145th most populous country in 2006 and is 142nd in 2026. South Africa was ranked 24th in 2006 and still ranked 24th 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 South Africa will increase by 20.9% to 79,411,977 people and rank change from 24th to 23rd.

Botswana is projected to reach its peak in 2088 at 3.92M people compared to the peak of 94.8M people in 2100 for South Africa.

Population growth rate by year

Botswana
Factual

Projection
South Africa
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Growth rate
Botswana South Africa
2100 -0.13% 0.22%
2099 -0.16% 0.22%
2098 -0.14% 0.2%
2097 -0.13% 0.21%
2096 -0.11% 0.22%
2095 -0.11% 0.24%
2094 -0.1% 0.24%
2093 -0.1% 0.24%
2092 -0.11% 0.27%
2091 -0.07% 0.25%
2090 -0.02% 0.26%
2089 -0.004% 0.26%
2088 0.02% 0.27%
2087 0.01% 0.27%
2086 0.01% 0.25%
2085 0.04% 0.27%
2084 0.04% 0.29%
2083 0.05% 0.29%
2082 0.03% 0.3%
2081 0.04% 0.3%
2080 0.07% 0.3%
2079 0.12% 0.31%
2078 0.12% 0.31%
2077 0.14% 0.3%
2076 0.15% 0.31%
2075 0.15% 0.32%
2074 0.15% 0.32%
2073 0.2% 0.32%
2072 0.18% 0.37%
2071 0.19% 0.38%
2070 0.26% 0.35%
2069 0.27% 0.36%
2068 0.33% 0.37%
2067 0.33% 0.39%
2066 0.38% 0.39%
2065 0.4% 0.42%
2064 0.42% 0.44%
2063 0.47% 0.44%
2062 0.52% 0.44%
2061 0.54% 0.46%
2060 0.55% 0.47%
2059 0.64% 0.49%
2058 0.66% 0.5%
2057 0.66% 0.5%
2056 0.69% 0.53%
2055 0.7% 0.54%
2054 0.75% 0.54%
2053 0.79% 0.56%
2052 0.8% 0.6%
2051 0.82% 0.6%
2050 0.86% 0.62%
2049 0.9% 0.62%
2048 0.93% 0.66%
2047 0.97% 0.68%
2046 0.96% 0.67%
2045 0.96% 0.68%
2044 0.99% 0.7%
2043 0.99% 0.71%
2042 1.03% 0.73%
2041 1.05% 0.73%
2040 1.1% 0.74%
2039 1.11% 0.76%
2038 1.16% 0.79%
2037 1.19% 0.8%
2036 1.23% 0.83%
2035 1.27% 0.85%
2034 1.3% 0.87%
2033 1.36% 0.9%
2032 1.37% 0.93%
2031 1.46% 0.94%
2030 1.47% 0.99%
2029 1.54% 1.03%
2028 1.55% 1.05%
2027 1.62% 1.06%
2026 1.6% 1.12%
2025 1.65% 1.19%
2024 1.65% 1.26%
2023 1.65% 1.34%
2022 1.6% 1.42%
2021 1.5% 1.55%
2020 1.45% 1.64%
2019 1.43% 1.66%
2018 1.43% 1.7%
2017 1.43% 0.66%
2016 1.43% 0.94%
2015 1.44% 2.03%
2014 1.47% 1.68%
2013 1.52% 1.67%
2012 1.69% 1.49%
2011 1.99% 1.24%
2010 2.13% 1.19%
2009 2.09% 1.2%
2008 2.03% 1.16%
2007 1.96% 1.06%
2006 1.88% 1.03%
2005 1.81% 1.02%
2004 1.77% 1.01%
2003 1.78% 1%
2002 1.9% 0.95%
2001 2.08% 0.86%
2000 2.15% 0.92%
1999 2.18% 1.1%
1998 2.24% 1.22%
1997 2.33% 1.21%
1996 2.47% 1.31%
1995 2.66% 1.22%
1994 2.81% 1.63%
1993 2.9% 2.01%
1992 2.85% 1.81%
1991 2.76% 2.31%
1990 2.79% 2.82%
1989 2.82% 2.98%
1988 3.03% 3.09%
1987 3.32% 3.17%
1986 3.45% 3.25%
1985 3.53% 3.39%
1984 3.59% 3.52%
1983 3.65% 3.56%
1982 4.05% 3.52%
1981 3.47% 3.46%
1980 3.96% 3.09%
1979 6.18% 2.74%
1978 6.21% 2.77%
1977 5.41% 2.74%
1976 5.29% 2.74%
1975 5.1% 2.81%
1974 5.06% 2.86%
1973 4.82% 2.9%
1972 3.65% 2.91%
1971 1.72% 2.97%
1970 0.56% 3.08%
1969 0.53% 3.14%
1968 0.52% 3.17%
1967 0.53% 3.17%
1966 0.56% 3.15%
1965 1.48% 3.12%
1964 2.41% 3.1%
1963 2.37% 3.08%
1962 2.32% 3.02%
1961 2.28% 2.85%

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/south-africa | CC BY

In 2024, the population of Botswana grew by 1.65%, while South Africa's population grew by 1.26%.

Live population counters

Botswana South Africa
Current population
2615162
65683993
Population rank 142/197 24/197
Percent of world population 0.03% 0.79%
One net population change
12.9 minutes
39.7 seconds
One birth every
8.58 minutes
26.6 seconds
One death every
37 minutes
54 seconds
Daily growth/decline +112 +2,178
Annual growth/decline +40,895 +794,803
Annual growth/decline rate +1.65% +1.26%
Population growth rate rank 66/197 85/197
One migration net change every
1.55 hours
3.6 minutes
Annual migration change -5,665 +146,370
Net migration rank 120/196 9/196
Foreign-born residents 116,402 2,631,100
Foreign-born residents rank 126/195 28/195
Foreign-born share of population 4.6% 4.1%
Foreign-born share rank 96/195 105/195

Natural population change vs migration

Botswana
Natural

Migration
South Africa
Natural

Migration
1x
Year Population change
Botswana South Africa
Natural Migration Natural Migration
2025 - -5,665 - 146,370
2024 - -5,778 - 166,972
2023 47,098 -6,487 602,793 228,222
2022 47,400 -7,306 603,636 233,284
2021 40,894 -4,083 456,411 458,246
2020 45,610 -11,330 595,873 369,901
2019 45,110 -11,770 652,130 331,124
2018 44,171 -11,623 648,319 318,260
2017 43,154 -10,916 645,975 343,146
2016 41,993 -10,286 641,365 -879,235
2015 40,897 -9,599 668,771 641,150
2014 40,046 -8,893 674,754 272,697
2013 39,404 -7,836 652,427 232,230
2012 39,202 -6,636 643,723 264,091
2011 38,613 -1,019 601,708 65,166
2010 38,101 5,151 566,834 68,563
2009 36,671 4,960 554,115 41,528
2008 35,433 4,343 595,332 36,869
2007 33,832 3,926 503,567 36,339
2006 31,340 4,270 487,584 33,159
2005 29,385 4,283 464,464 31,286
2004 27,481 4,314 442,540 58,924
2003 26,545 4,488 415,018 65,604
2002 26,163 4,747 430,926 50,313
2001 26,112 7,991 484,801 -60,793
2000 25,850 9,798 526,963 -136,794
1999 25,358 9,762 594,643 -126,011
1998 25,397 9,685 627,027 -82,722
1997 25,738 9,597 667,969 -98,181
1996 26,847 9,368 710,868 -193,007
1995 28,478 9,464 743,488 -98,403
1994 30,664 9,023 698,609 -268,849
1993 31,691 8,441 789,220 194,977
1992 31,995 8,026 794,415 -71,342
1991 32,219 4,311 827,296 -39,131
1990 33,015 2,580 835,421 259,718
1989 33,756 1,495 884,629 255,605
1988 34,564 -215 909,221 246,382
1987 35,647 2,624 922,330 231,009
1986 36,203 2,558 903,644 234,378
1985 35,966 2,683 893,889 244,940
1984 35,530 2,393 869,011 290,789
1983 35,142 1,980 837,013 310,172
1982 34,859 1,751 807,550 293,195
1981 34,327 7,610 767,833 279,985
1980 33,934 -10,849 738,415 258,127
1979 32,486 15,918 716,541 56,323
1978 30,596 26,015 694,341 62,121
1977 29,009 13,708 680,929 63,739
1976 27,497 11,914 675,011 27,333
1975 25,762 11,086 667,862 38,809
1974 24,160 8,854 658,438 38,518
1973 22,449 10,615 651,596 41,125
1972 21,004 5,937 638,754 38,163
1971 19,926 -3,016 624,761 32,961
1970 19,438 -16,054 605,102 61,514
1969 19,024 -15,870 590,794 73,225
1968 18,725 -15,681 571,841 78,932
1967 18,463 -15,438 553,741 81,932
1966 18,250 -15,140 534,862 77,417
1965 18,045 -14,753 506,632 82,514
1964 17,634 -4,126 490,606 76,298
1963 17,084 -4,000 473,821 72,844
1962 16,507 -4,028 455,634 69,771
1961 16,185 -4,168 437,851 57,728
1960 15,861 -4,331 421,263 18,891

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

GeoRank.org/population/botswana/south-africa | 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 South Africa 72.8% is from natural causes (a gain of 6,190,027 people) and 27.2% is from migration (a gain of 2,316,795 people).

As of 2024, 116,402 residents or 4.6% of the population were not native-born in Botswana, compared to 2,631,100 people or 4.1% in South Africa.

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
South Africa
City Population
Johannesburg 4.8M
Cape Town 3.78M
Soweto 1.27M
Pietermaritzburg 839K
Pretoria 742K
Durban 595K
Rustenburg 550K
Randburg 337K
Port Elizabeth 312K
East London 267K

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/south-africa | 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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