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Population in Botswana compared to Sri Lanka: Trends, Charts, Rankings

Updated on by Georank team

The latest officially reported population of Botswana was 2,521,139 in 2024 vs 21,916,000 people in Sri Lanka in 2024. In 2026, based on the adjusted UN estimation, the current Botswana's population is 2,615,162 people compared to 22,185,425 in Sri Lanka.

Population statistics:

  • Sri Lanka's population is 8.48 times bigger than Botswana's.
  • Botswana is ranked the 142nd most populous country in the world, while Sri Lanka is the 63rd.
  • The countries together account for 0.3% of the world: 0.03% for Botswana vs 0.27% for Sri Lanka.
  • For the last 10 years, Botswana has had an average growth rate of +1.5% per year vs +0.57% in Sri Lanka.
  • Since 2006, the population of Botswana has increased from 1.87M people to 2.62M (39.5% growth), while Sri Lanka has grown from 20.4M to 22.2M (9.01% growth).

Botswana vs Sri Lanka: population by year and forecast

Botswana
Factual

Projection
Sri Lanka
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Population
Botswana Sri Lanka
2100 3,871,504 20,270,496
2099 3,876,625 20,383,669
2098 3,882,670 20,498,567
2097 3,887,985 20,611,123
2096 3,892,886 20,723,560
2095 3,897,211 20,834,629
2094 3,901,478 20,943,809
2093 3,905,541 21,052,131
2092 3,909,490 21,158,833
2091 3,913,899 21,263,961
2090 3,916,706 21,371,263
2089 3,917,351 21,475,426
2088 3,917,510 21,577,177
2087 3,916,826 21,677,510
2086 3,916,303 21,777,420
2085 3,915,785 21,876,464
2084 3,914,364 21,970,336
2083 3,912,929 22,062,801
2082 3,910,994 22,151,745
2081 3,910,013 22,240,834
2080 3,908,255 22,326,555
2079 3,905,358 22,411,438
2078 3,900,828 22,489,772
2077 3,896,126 22,565,028
2076 3,890,528 22,637,463
2075 3,884,696 22,707,112
2074 3,879,057 22,778,489
2073 3,873,259 22,844,703
2072 3,865,665 22,905,707
2071 3,858,720 22,964,866
2070 3,851,234 23,022,515
2069 3,841,316 23,076,310
2068 3,830,826 23,129,541
2067 3,818,341 23,184,596
2066 3,805,705 23,234,419
2065 3,791,211 23,285,901
2064 3,775,938 23,331,390
2063 3,760,179 23,372,184
2062 3,742,710 23,409,522
2061 3,723,346 23,441,893
2060 3,703,231 23,474,032
2059 3,682,816 23,502,132
2058 3,659,567 23,528,076
2057 3,635,514 23,550,580
2056 3,611,843 23,570,923
2055 3,587,056 23,582,432
2054 3,562,182 23,591,414
2053 3,535,732 23,601,371
2052 3,507,938 23,605,361
2051 3,479,939 23,606,194
2050 3,451,521 23,603,330
2049 3,422,143 23,597,604
2048 3,391,720 23,587,307
2047 3,360,414 23,570,881
2046 3,328,208 23,547,409
2045 3,296,489 23,515,133
2044 3,265,120 23,483,546
2043 3,233,076 23,446,242
2042 3,201,405 23,404,983
2041 3,168,873 23,357,358
2040 3,135,889 23,306,148
2039 3,101,794 23,248,341
2038 3,067,648 23,187,512
2037 3,032,620 23,120,775
2036 2,996,884 23,053,427
2035 2,960,590 22,981,808
2034 2,923,411 22,906,587
2033 2,885,991 22,826,414
2032 2,847,292 22,742,267
2031 2,808,872 22,655,907
2030 2,768,505 22,564,038
2029 2,728,467 22,470,759
2028 2,686,968 22,370,999
2027 2,645,863 22,266,017
2026 2,603,779 22,155,543
2025 2,562,651 22,039,908
2024 2,521,139 21,916,000
2023 2,480,244 22,037,000
2022 2,439,892 22,181,000
2021 2,401,441 22,156,000
2020 2,365,894 21,919,000
2019 2,332,083 21,803,000
2018 2,299,141 21,670,000
2017 2,266,747 21,453,000
2016 2,234,776 21,209,000
2015 2,203,273 20,970,000
2014 2,172,044 20,778,000
2013 2,140,682 20,585,000
2012 2,108,617 21,169,458
2011 2,073,535 21,009,048
2010 2,033,111 20,879,089
2009 1,990,673 20,756,435
2008 1,949,970 20,629,378
2007 1,911,201 20,492,545
2006 1,874,516 20,352,411
2005 1,839,877 20,216,524
2004 1,807,146 20,087,605
2003 1,775,736 19,951,521
2002 1,744,763 19,805,752
2001 1,712,254 19,600,362
2000 1,677,382 19,293,054
1999 1,641,997 18,944,731
1998 1,606,899 18,596,003
1997 1,571,691 18,248,200
1996 1,535,914 17,905,018
1995 1,498,836 17,564,068
1994 1,460,023 17,275,773
1993 1,420,115 17,025,918
1992 1,380,033 16,739,284
1991 1,341,756 16,475,354
1990 1,305,696 16,352,458
1989 1,270,274 16,248,557
1988 1,235,476 16,078,621
1987 1,199,167 15,916,576
1986 1,160,650 15,731,256
1985 1,121,945 15,544,154
1984 1,083,660 15,441,860
1983 1,046,137 15,388,794
1982 1,009,269 15,286,567
1981 969,996 15,099,414
1980 937,485 14,847,974
1979 901,742 14,579,614
1978 849,239 14,310,128
1977 799,574 14,049,371
1976 758,508 13,796,770
1975 720,380 13,548,984
1974 685,448 13,305,693
1973 652,408 13,060,916
1972 622,407 12,809,205
1971 600,481 12,551,910
1970 590,334 12,287,110
1969 587,066 12,013,858
1968 583,966 11,736,088
1967 580,933 11,457,328
1966 577,866 11,183,928
1965 574,664 10,916,965
1964 566,266 10,653,397
1963 552,966 10,395,040
1962 540,186 10,143,754
1961 527,942 9,899,372
1960 516,165 9,661,389

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/sri-lanka | CC BY

From 2006 to 2016, the population of Botswana increased by 360,260 people (a 19.2% growth), while Sri Lanka gained 856,589 people (a 4.21% growth).

For the next 10 years, from 2016 to 2026, Botswana gained 380,386 people (a 17% growth), while Sri Lanka's population increased by 976,425 people (a 4.6% growth).

Botswana was ranked 145th most populous country in 2006 and is 142nd in 2026. Sri Lanka was ranked 55th in 2006 and ranked 63rd 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 Sri Lanka will increase by 6.39% to 23,603,330 people and rank change from 63rd to 70th.

Botswana is projected to reach its peak in 2088 at 3.92M people compared to the peak of 23.6M people in 2051 for Sri Lanka.

Population growth rate by year

Botswana
Factual

Projection
Sri Lanka
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Growth rate
Botswana Sri Lanka
2100 -0.13% -0.56%
2099 -0.16% -0.56%
2098 -0.14% -0.55%
2097 -0.13% -0.54%
2096 -0.11% -0.53%
2095 -0.11% -0.52%
2094 -0.1% -0.51%
2093 -0.1% -0.5%
2092 -0.11% -0.49%
2091 -0.07% -0.5%
2090 -0.02% -0.49%
2089 -0.004% -0.47%
2088 0.02% -0.46%
2087 0.01% -0.46%
2086 0.01% -0.45%
2085 0.04% -0.43%
2084 0.04% -0.42%
2083 0.05% -0.4%
2082 0.03% -0.4%
2081 0.04% -0.38%
2080 0.07% -0.38%
2079 0.12% -0.35%
2078 0.12% -0.33%
2077 0.14% -0.32%
2076 0.15% -0.31%
2075 0.15% -0.31%
2074 0.15% -0.29%
2073 0.2% -0.27%
2072 0.18% -0.26%
2071 0.19% -0.25%
2070 0.26% -0.23%
2069 0.27% -0.23%
2068 0.33% -0.24%
2067 0.33% -0.21%
2066 0.38% -0.22%
2065 0.4% -0.19%
2064 0.42% -0.17%
2063 0.47% -0.16%
2062 0.52% -0.14%
2061 0.54% -0.14%
2060 0.55% -0.12%
2059 0.64% -0.11%
2058 0.66% -0.1%
2057 0.66% -0.09%
2056 0.69% -0.05%
2055 0.7% -0.04%
2054 0.75% -0.04%
2053 0.79% -0.02%
2052 0.8% -0.004%
2051 0.82% 0.01%
2050 0.86% 0.02%
2049 0.9% 0.04%
2048 0.93% 0.07%
2047 0.97% 0.1%
2046 0.96% 0.14%
2045 0.96% 0.13%
2044 0.99% 0.16%
2043 0.99% 0.18%
2042 1.03% 0.2%
2041 1.05% 0.22%
2040 1.1% 0.25%
2039 1.11% 0.26%
2038 1.16% 0.29%
2037 1.19% 0.29%
2036 1.23% 0.31%
2035 1.27% 0.33%
2034 1.3% 0.35%
2033 1.36% 0.37%
2032 1.37% 0.38%
2031 1.46% 0.41%
2030 1.47% 0.42%
2029 1.54% 0.45%
2028 1.55% 0.47%
2027 1.62% 0.5%
2026 1.6% 0.52%
2025 1.65% 0.57%
2024 1.65% -0.55%
2023 1.65% -0.65%
2022 1.6% 0.11%
2021 1.5% 1.08%
2020 1.45% 0.53%
2019 1.43% 0.61%
2018 1.43% 1.01%
2017 1.43% 1.15%
2016 1.43% 1.14%
2015 1.44% 0.92%
2014 1.47% 0.94%
2013 1.52% -2.76%
2012 1.69% 0.76%
2011 1.99% 0.62%
2010 2.13% 0.59%
2009 2.09% 0.62%
2008 2.03% 0.67%
2007 1.96% 0.69%
2006 1.88% 0.67%
2005 1.81% 0.64%
2004 1.77% 0.68%
2003 1.78% 0.74%
2002 1.9% 1.05%
2001 2.08% 1.59%
2000 2.15% 1.84%
1999 2.18% 1.88%
1998 2.24% 1.91%
1997 2.33% 1.92%
1996 2.47% 1.94%
1995 2.66% 1.67%
1994 2.81% 1.47%
1993 2.9% 1.71%
1992 2.85% 1.6%
1991 2.76% 0.75%
1990 2.79% 0.64%
1989 2.82% 1.06%
1988 3.03% 1.02%
1987 3.32% 1.18%
1986 3.45% 1.2%
1985 3.53% 0.66%
1984 3.59% 0.34%
1983 3.65% 0.67%
1982 4.05% 1.24%
1981 3.47% 1.69%
1980 3.96% 1.84%
1979 6.18% 1.88%
1978 6.21% 1.86%
1977 5.41% 1.83%
1976 5.29% 1.83%
1975 5.1% 1.83%
1974 5.06% 1.87%
1973 4.82% 1.97%
1972 3.65% 2.05%
1971 1.72% 2.16%
1970 0.56% 2.27%
1969 0.53% 2.37%
1968 0.52% 2.43%
1967 0.53% 2.44%
1966 0.56% 2.45%
1965 1.48% 2.47%
1964 2.41% 2.49%
1963 2.37% 2.48%
1962 2.32% 2.47%
1961 2.28% 2.46%

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/sri-lanka | CC BY

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

Live population counters

Botswana Sri Lanka
Current population
2615162
22185425
Population rank 142/197 63/197
Percent of world population 0.03% 0.27%
One net population change
12.9 minutes
4.34 minutes
One birth every
8.58 minutes
2.13 minutes
One death every
37 minutes
2.91 minutes
Daily growth/decline +112 -332
Annual growth/decline +40,895 -121,000
Annual growth/decline rate +1.65% -0.55%
Population growth rate rank 66/197 188/197
One migration net change every
1.55 hours
17.2 minutes
Annual migration change -5,665 -30,724
Net migration rank 120/196 165/196
Foreign-born residents 116,402 40,698
Foreign-born residents rank 126/195 156/195
Foreign-born share of population 4.6% 0.2%
Foreign-born share rank 96/195 190/195

Natural population change vs migration

Botswana
Natural

Migration
Sri Lanka
Natural

Migration
1x
Year Population change
Botswana Sri Lanka
Natural Migration Natural Migration
2025 - -5,665 - -30,724
2024 - -5,778 - -27,245
2023 47,098 -6,487 66,111 -28,011
2022 47,400 -7,306 95,378 -27,435
2021 40,894 -4,083 121,858 -29,586
2020 45,610 -11,330 170,968 -29,875
2019 45,110 -11,770 172,243 -28,426
2018 44,171 -11,623 183,610 -28,607
2017 43,154 -10,916 187,993 -22,324
2016 41,993 -10,286 194,232 -18,388
2015 40,897 -9,599 201,815 -29,797
2014 40,046 -8,893 211,541 -33,672
2013 39,404 -7,836 221,021 -37,754
2012 39,202 -6,636 229,138 -41,955
2011 38,613 -1,019 224,461 -90,839
2010 38,101 5,151 224,325 -98,060
2009 36,671 4,960 200,175 -81,130
2008 35,433 4,343 232,225 -97,144
2007 33,832 3,926 248,287 -109,695
2006 31,340 4,270 248,706 -107,045
2005 29,385 4,283 248,683 -118,594
2004 27,481 4,314 212,527 -84,795
2003 26,545 4,488 252,008 -107,573
2002 26,163 4,747 252,840 -105,718
2001 26,112 7,991 244,377 19,273
2000 25,850 9,798 227,060 123,894
1999 25,358 9,762 206,876 138,799
1998 25,397 9,685 201,059 150,724
1997 25,738 9,597 208,193 135,636
1996 26,847 9,368 215,290 127,236
1995 28,478 9,464 221,957 117,416
1994 30,664 9,023 228,904 8,323
1993 31,691 8,441 226,257 36,232
1992 31,995 8,026 222,230 88,542
1991 32,219 4,311 218,117 -1,047
1990 33,015 2,580 224,454 -195,736
1989 33,756 1,495 212,401 -33,305
1988 34,564 -215 219,184 -58,415
1987 35,647 2,624 226,414 -63,105
1986 36,203 2,558 233,782 -26,460
1985 35,966 2,683 247,836 -80,950
1984 35,530 2,393 263,175 -225,450
1983 35,142 1,980 277,768 -209,362
1982 34,859 1,751 300,030 -163,987
1981 34,327 7,610 328,096 -89,824
1980 33,934 -10,849 328,155 -63,541
1979 32,486 15,918 329,791 -57,683
1978 30,596 26,015 317,055 -50,189
1977 29,009 13,708 300,038 -45,383
1976 27,497 11,914 291,816 -41,258
1975 25,762 11,086 282,496 -37,475
1974 24,160 8,854 275,521 -33,979
1973 22,449 10,615 278,577 -30,582
1972 21,004 5,937 282,494 -27,071
1971 19,926 -3,016 281,200 -22,021
1970 19,438 -16,054 286,719 -16,299
1969 19,024 -15,870 286,218 -10,152
1968 18,725 -15,681 286,642 -7,163
1967 18,463 -15,438 284,738 -6,696
1966 18,250 -15,140 275,549 -6,794
1965 18,045 -14,753 272,422 -7,249
1964 17,634 -4,126 269,584 -7,614
1963 17,084 -4,000 262,880 -8,118
1962 16,507 -4,028 256,719 -8,909
1961 16,185 -4,168 251,087 -10,144
1960 15,861 -4,331 247,631 -12,610

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

GeoRank.org/population/botswana/sri-lanka | 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 Sri Lanka 85.3% is from natural causes (a gain of 1,605,749 people) and 14.7% is from migration (a loss of 276,121 people).

As of 2024, 116,402 residents or 4.6% of the population were not native-born in Botswana, compared to 40,698 people or 0.2% in Sri Lanka.

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
Sri Lanka
City Population
Colombo 648K
Gampaha 191K
Beruwala 165K
Negombo 142K
Kandy 120K
Sri Jayawardenepura Kotte 116K
Trincomalee 99.1K
Galle 93.1K
Matara 68.2K
Anuradhapura 63.2K

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/sri-lanka | 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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