Skip to content

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

Updated on by Georank team

The latest officially reported population of Botswana was 2,521,139 in 2024 vs 11,943,408 people in South Sudan in 2024. In 2026, based on the adjusted UN estimation, the current Botswana's population is 2,615,162 people compared to 12,507,858 in South Sudan.

Population statistics:

  • South Sudan's population is 4.78 times bigger than Botswana's.
  • Botswana is ranked the 142nd most populous country in the world, while South Sudan is the 80th.
  • The countries together account for 0.18% of the world: 0.03% for Botswana vs 0.15% for South Sudan.
  • For the last 10 years, Botswana has had an average growth rate of +1.5% per year vs +0.65% in South Sudan.
  • Since 2006, the population of Botswana has increased from 1.87M people to 2.62M (39.5% growth), while South Sudan has grown from 7.98M to 12.5M (56.8% growth).

Botswana vs South Sudan: population by year and forecast

Botswana
Factual

Projection
South Sudan
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Population
Botswana South Sudan
2100 3,871,504 24,086,901
2099 3,876,625 24,081,477
2098 3,882,670 24,063,461
2097 3,887,985 24,065,268
2096 3,892,886 24,054,483
2095 3,897,211 24,046,345
2094 3,901,478 24,047,776
2093 3,905,541 24,039,017
2092 3,909,490 24,019,054
2091 3,913,899 24,000,308
2090 3,916,706 23,978,496
2089 3,917,351 23,937,487
2088 3,917,510 23,892,166
2087 3,916,826 23,857,250
2086 3,916,303 23,803,312
2085 3,915,785 23,759,178
2084 3,914,364 23,687,109
2083 3,912,929 23,617,646
2082 3,910,994 23,541,119
2081 3,910,013 23,466,449
2080 3,908,255 23,391,758
2079 3,905,358 23,294,252
2078 3,900,828 23,197,067
2077 3,896,126 23,086,584
2076 3,890,528 22,987,331
2075 3,884,696 22,868,587
2074 3,879,057 22,726,189
2073 3,873,259 22,583,672
2072 3,865,665 22,438,943
2071 3,858,720 22,288,026
2070 3,851,234 22,151,650
2069 3,841,316 22,003,659
2068 3,830,826 21,829,800
2067 3,818,341 21,662,211
2066 3,805,705 21,496,881
2065 3,791,211 21,317,455
2064 3,775,938 21,142,002
2063 3,760,179 20,965,122
2062 3,742,710 20,785,055
2061 3,723,346 20,608,964
2060 3,703,231 20,430,857
2059 3,682,816 20,235,022
2058 3,659,567 20,048,974
2057 3,635,514 19,853,696
2056 3,611,843 19,659,362
2055 3,587,056 19,464,297
2054 3,562,182 19,257,481
2053 3,535,732 19,060,517
2052 3,507,938 18,840,461
2051 3,479,939 18,633,198
2050 3,451,521 18,434,212
2049 3,422,143 18,230,881
2048 3,391,720 18,021,026
2047 3,360,414 17,806,282
2046 3,328,208 17,579,173
2045 3,296,489 17,355,041
2044 3,265,120 17,121,972
2043 3,233,076 16,888,278
2042 3,201,405 16,645,354
2041 3,168,873 16,396,768
2040 3,135,889 16,142,816
2039 3,101,794 15,889,952
2038 3,067,648 15,628,043
2037 3,032,620 15,363,975
2036 2,996,884 15,091,275
2035 2,960,590 14,815,307
2034 2,923,411 14,543,511
2033 2,885,991 14,278,180
2032 2,847,292 14,007,134
2031 2,808,872 13,730,637
2030 2,768,505 13,465,615
2029 2,728,467 13,206,477
2028 2,686,968 12,947,082
2027 2,645,863 12,692,769
2026 2,603,779 12,439,296
2025 2,562,651 12,193,102
2024 2,521,139 11,943,408
2023 2,480,244 11,483,374
2022 2,439,892 11,021,177
2021 2,401,441 10,865,780
2020 2,365,894 10,698,467
2019 2,332,083 10,423,384
2018 2,299,141 10,122,977
2017 2,266,747 10,259,154
2016 2,234,776 10,830,102
2015 2,203,273 11,107,561
2014 2,172,044 11,235,073
2013 2,140,682 11,166,275
2012 2,108,617 10,756,240
2011 2,073,535 10,288,109
2010 2,033,111 9,745,953
2009 1,990,673 9,243,556
2008 1,949,970 8,817,647
2007 1,911,201 8,388,788
2006 1,874,516 7,976,526
2005 1,839,877 7,590,143
2004 1,807,146 7,233,041
2003 1,775,736 6,903,127
2002 1,744,763 6,596,806
2001 1,712,254 6,308,391
2000 1,677,382 6,032,267
1999 1,641,997 5,771,628
1998 1,606,899 5,620,068
1997 1,571,691 5,509,136
1996 1,535,914 5,356,925
1995 1,498,836 5,225,836
1994 1,460,023 5,071,184
1993 1,420,115 4,956,002
1992 1,380,033 4,909,749
1991 1,341,756 4,836,677
1990 1,305,696 4,737,633
1989 1,270,274 4,713,229
1988 1,235,476 4,848,029
1987 1,199,167 4,962,395
1986 1,160,650 4,921,240
1985 1,121,945 4,834,296
1984 1,083,660 4,750,627
1983 1,046,137 4,661,574
1982 1,009,269 4,557,686
1981 969,996 4,447,272
1980 937,485 4,339,030
1979 901,742 4,232,605
1978 849,239 4,127,657
1977 799,574 4,024,032
1976 758,508 3,921,910
1975 720,380 3,821,494
1974 685,448 3,723,259
1973 652,408 3,627,383
1972 622,407 3,542,497
1971 600,481 3,468,646
1970 590,334 3,409,614
1969 587,066 3,365,533
1968 583,966 3,321,528
1967 580,933 3,277,648
1966 577,866 3,236,423
1965 574,664 3,189,835
1964 566,266 3,129,918
1963 552,966 3,072,669
1962 540,186 3,024,308
1961 527,942 2,976,724
1960 516,165 2,931,559

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-sudan | CC BY

From 2006 to 2016, the population of Botswana increased by 360,260 people (a 19.2% growth), while South Sudan gained 2,853,576 people (a 35.8% growth).

For the next 10 years, from 2016 to 2026, Botswana gained 380,386 people (a 17% growth), while South Sudan's population increased by 1,677,756 people (a 15.5% growth).

Botswana was ranked 145th most populous country in 2006 and is 142nd in 2026. South Sudan was ranked 92nd in 2006 and ranked 80th 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 Sudan will increase by 47.4% to 18,434,212 people and rank change from 80th to 78th.

Botswana is projected to reach its peak in 2088 at 3.92M people compared to the peak of 24.1M people in 2100 for South Sudan.

Population growth rate by year

Botswana
Factual

Projection
South Sudan
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Growth rate
Botswana South Sudan
2100 -0.13% 0.02%
2099 -0.16% 0.07%
2098 -0.14% -0.008%
2097 -0.13% 0.04%
2096 -0.11% 0.03%
2095 -0.11% -0.006%
2094 -0.1% 0.04%
2093 -0.1% 0.08%
2092 -0.11% 0.08%
2091 -0.07% 0.09%
2090 -0.02% 0.17%
2089 -0.004% 0.19%
2088 0.02% 0.15%
2087 0.01% 0.23%
2086 0.01% 0.19%
2085 0.04% 0.3%
2084 0.04% 0.29%
2083 0.05% 0.33%
2082 0.03% 0.32%
2081 0.04% 0.32%
2080 0.07% 0.42%
2079 0.12% 0.42%
2078 0.12% 0.48%
2077 0.14% 0.43%
2076 0.15% 0.52%
2075 0.15% 0.63%
2074 0.15% 0.63%
2073 0.2% 0.64%
2072 0.18% 0.68%
2071 0.19% 0.62%
2070 0.26% 0.67%
2069 0.27% 0.8%
2068 0.33% 0.77%
2067 0.33% 0.77%
2066 0.38% 0.84%
2065 0.4% 0.83%
2064 0.42% 0.84%
2063 0.47% 0.87%
2062 0.52% 0.85%
2061 0.54% 0.87%
2060 0.55% 0.97%
2059 0.64% 0.93%
2058 0.66% 0.98%
2057 0.66% 0.99%
2056 0.69% 1%
2055 0.7% 1.07%
2054 0.75% 1.03%
2053 0.79% 1.17%
2052 0.8% 1.11%
2051 0.82% 1.08%
2050 0.86% 1.12%
2049 0.9% 1.16%
2048 0.93% 1.21%
2047 0.97% 1.29%
2046 0.96% 1.29%
2045 0.96% 1.36%
2044 0.99% 1.38%
2043 0.99% 1.46%
2042 1.03% 1.52%
2041 1.05% 1.57%
2040 1.1% 1.59%
2039 1.11% 1.68%
2038 1.16% 1.72%
2037 1.19% 1.81%
2036 1.23% 1.86%
2035 1.27% 1.87%
2034 1.3% 1.86%
2033 1.36% 1.94%
2032 1.37% 2.01%
2031 1.46% 1.97%
2030 1.47% 1.96%
2029 1.54% 2%
2028 1.55% 2%
2027 1.62% 2.04%
2026 1.6% 2.02%
2025 1.65% 2.09%
2024 1.65% 4.01%
2023 1.65% 4.19%
2022 1.6% 1.43%
2021 1.5% 1.56%
2020 1.45% 2.64%
2019 1.43% 2.97%
2018 1.43% -1.33%
2017 1.43% -5.27%
2016 1.43% -2.5%
2015 1.44% -1.13%
2014 1.47% 0.62%
2013 1.52% 3.81%
2012 1.69% 4.55%
2011 1.99% 5.56%
2010 2.13% 5.44%
2009 2.09% 4.83%
2008 2.03% 5.11%
2007 1.96% 5.17%
2006 1.88% 5.09%
2005 1.81% 4.94%
2004 1.77% 4.78%
2003 1.78% 4.64%
2002 1.9% 4.57%
2001 2.08% 4.58%
2000 2.15% 4.52%
1999 2.18% 2.7%
1998 2.24% 2.01%
1997 2.33% 2.84%
1996 2.47% 2.51%
1995 2.66% 3.05%
1994 2.81% 2.32%
1993 2.9% 0.94%
1992 2.85% 1.51%
1991 2.76% 2.09%
1990 2.79% 0.52%
1989 2.82% -2.78%
1988 3.03% -2.3%
1987 3.32% 0.84%
1986 3.45% 1.8%
1985 3.53% 1.76%
1984 3.59% 1.91%
1983 3.65% 2.28%
1982 4.05% 2.48%
1981 3.47% 2.49%
1980 3.96% 2.51%
1979 6.18% 2.54%
1978 6.21% 2.58%
1977 5.41% 2.6%
1976 5.29% 2.63%
1975 5.1% 2.64%
1974 5.06% 2.64%
1973 4.82% 2.4%
1972 3.65% 2.13%
1971 1.72% 1.73%
1970 0.56% 1.31%
1969 0.53% 1.32%
1968 0.52% 1.34%
1967 0.53% 1.27%
1966 0.56% 1.46%
1965 1.48% 1.91%
1964 2.41% 1.86%
1963 2.37% 1.6%
1962 2.32% 1.6%
1961 2.28% 1.54%

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-sudan | CC BY

In 2024, the population of Botswana grew by 1.65%, while South Sudan's population grew by 4.01%.

Live population counters

Botswana South Sudan
Current population
2615162
12507858
Population rank 142/197 80/197
Percent of world population 0.03% 0.15%
One net population change
12.9 minutes
1.14 minutes
One birth every
8.58 minutes
1.6 minutes
One death every
37 minutes
4.76 minutes
Daily growth/decline +112 +1,260
Annual growth/decline +40,895 +460,034
Annual growth/decline rate +1.65% +4.01%
Population growth rate rank 66/197 7/197
One migration net change every
1.55 hours
1.43 hours
Annual migration change -5,665 +6,145
Net migration rank 120/196 50/196
Foreign-born residents 116,402 914,001
Foreign-born residents rank 126/195 62/195
Foreign-born share of population 4.6% 7.7%
Foreign-born share rank 96/195 77/195

Natural population change vs migration

Botswana
Natural

Migration
South Sudan
Natural

Migration
1x
Year Population change
Botswana South Sudan
Natural Migration Natural Migration
2025 - -5,665 - 6,145
2024 - -5,778 - 15,374
2023 47,098 -6,487 217,966 455,000
2022 47,400 -7,306 211,166 40,259
2021 40,894 -4,083 213,567 -154,359
2020 45,610 -11,330 212,332 62,935
2019 45,110 -11,770 209,708 65,198
2018 44,171 -11,623 168,497 157,408
2017 43,154 -10,916 72,193 -670,477
2016 41,993 -10,286 110,553 -654,225
2015 40,897 -9,599 148,542 -159,822
2014 40,046 -8,893 227,611 -471,523
2013 39,404 -7,836 315,983 65,337
2012 39,202 -6,636 312,974 125,771
2011 38,613 -1,019 303,181 194,325
2010 38,101 5,151 287,409 299,402
2009 36,671 4,960 278,859 139,129
2008 35,433 4,343 268,268 165,557
2007 33,832 3,926 256,546 167,350
2006 31,340 4,270 246,706 153,926
2005 29,385 4,283 239,272 132,869
2004 27,481 4,314 231,877 110,182
2003 26,545 4,488 225,822 91,951
2002 26,163 4,747 212,014 82,847
2001 26,112 7,991 204,108 77,856
2000 25,850 9,798 196,055 74,227
1999 25,358 9,762 180,721 70,271
1998 25,397 9,685 -12,157 64,285
1997 25,738 9,597 121,454 48,280
1996 26,847 9,368 116,728 17,953
1995 28,478 9,464 110,417 17,077
1994 30,664 9,023 165,407 16,407
1993 31,691 8,441 32,779 15,772
1992 31,995 8,026 28,874 15,077
1991 32,219 4,311 87,873 14,327
1990 33,015 2,580 82,900 12,988
1989 33,756 1,495 83,735 -130,821
1988 34,564 -215 -125,447 -97,065
1987 35,647 2,624 5,756 -11,976
1986 36,203 2,558 99,502 -10,973
1985 35,966 2,683 95,342 -9,986
1984 35,530 2,393 90,970 -8,984
1983 35,142 1,980 104,107 -7,986
1982 34,859 1,751 118,641 -6,983
1981 34,327 7,610 115,163 -5,994
1980 33,934 -10,849 112,307 -4,997
1979 32,486 15,918 109,540 -3,997
1978 30,596 26,015 107,352 -2,998
1977 29,009 13,708 104,886 -1,997
1976 27,497 11,914 102,346 -995
1975 25,762 11,086 99,882 -395
1974 24,160 8,854 97,181 -192
1973 22,449 10,615 94,765 0
1972 21,004 5,937 74,803 193
1971 19,926 -3,016 72,308 394
1970 19,438 -16,054 44,776 587
1969 19,024 -15,870 42,015 786
1968 18,725 -15,681 44,213 995
1967 18,463 -15,438 41,357 1,194
1966 18,250 -15,140 38,523 1,386
1965 18,045 -14,753 51,682 1,591
1964 17,634 -4,126 64,786 1,785
1963 17,084 -4,000 46,333 1,591
1962 16,507 -4,028 47,406 1,386
1961 16,185 -4,168 45,186 1,194
1960 15,861 -4,331 42,945 995

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

GeoRank.org/population/botswana/south-sudan | 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 Sudan 57.4% is from natural causes (a gain of 1,792,135 people) and 42.6% is from migration (a loss of 1,329,606 people).

As of 2024, 116,402 residents or 4.6% of the population were not native-born in Botswana, compared to 914,001 people or 7.7% in South Sudan.

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 Sudan
City Population
Juba 500K
Wau 321K
Bor 315K
Malakal 147K
Yambio 130K

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-sudan | 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.