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Population in Botswana compared to Switzerland: Trends, Charts, Rankings

Updated on by Georank team

The latest officially reported population of Botswana was 2,521,139 in 2024 vs 9,005,582 people in Switzerland in 2024. In 2026, based on the adjusted UN estimation, the current Botswana's population is 2,615,162 people compared to 9,107,866 in Switzerland.

Population statistics:

  • Switzerland's population is 3.48 times bigger than Botswana's.
  • Botswana is ranked the 142nd most populous country in the world, while Switzerland is the 100th.
  • The countries together account for 0.14% of the world: 0.03% for Botswana vs 0.11% for Switzerland.
  • For the last 10 years, Botswana has had an average growth rate of +1.5% per year vs +0.98% in Switzerland.
  • Since 2006, the population of Botswana has increased from 1.87M people to 2.62M (39.5% growth), while Switzerland has grown from 7.48M to 9.11M (21.7% growth).

Botswana vs Switzerland: population by year and forecast

Botswana
Factual

Projection
Switzerland
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Population
Botswana Switzerland
2100 3,871,504 9,234,296
2099 3,876,625 9,226,472
2098 3,882,670 9,220,109
2097 3,887,985 9,212,728
2096 3,892,886 9,208,997
2095 3,897,211 9,203,477
2094 3,901,478 9,199,095
2093 3,905,541 9,196,672
2092 3,909,490 9,194,082
2091 3,913,899 9,191,145
2090 3,916,706 9,189,122
2089 3,917,351 9,188,754
2088 3,917,510 9,190,102
2087 3,916,826 9,189,763
2086 3,916,303 9,191,494
2085 3,915,785 9,195,728
2084 3,914,364 9,199,983
2083 3,912,929 9,204,908
2082 3,910,994 9,210,695
2081 3,910,013 9,217,065
2080 3,908,255 9,223,475
2079 3,905,358 9,230,920
2078 3,900,828 9,237,649
2077 3,896,126 9,245,300
2076 3,890,528 9,250,248
2075 3,884,696 9,255,753
2074 3,879,057 9,266,455
2073 3,873,259 9,275,439
2072 3,865,665 9,283,185
2071 3,858,720 9,292,913
2070 3,851,234 9,303,843
2069 3,841,316 9,311,935
2068 3,830,826 9,320,335
2067 3,818,341 9,327,741
2066 3,805,705 9,339,455
2065 3,791,211 9,351,481
2064 3,775,938 9,362,413
2063 3,760,179 9,372,441
2062 3,742,710 9,383,258
2061 3,723,346 9,395,036
2060 3,703,231 9,403,920
2059 3,682,816 9,414,241
2058 3,659,567 9,422,560
2057 3,635,514 9,428,212
2056 3,611,843 9,435,441
2055 3,587,056 9,443,890
2054 3,562,182 9,451,268
2053 3,535,732 9,456,389
2052 3,507,938 9,456,418
2051 3,479,939 9,456,395
2050 3,451,521 9,454,544
2049 3,422,143 9,451,083
2048 3,391,720 9,444,091
2047 3,360,414 9,437,061
2046 3,328,208 9,430,954
2045 3,296,489 9,425,155
2044 3,265,120 9,418,152
2043 3,233,076 9,410,763
2042 3,201,405 9,400,808
2041 3,168,873 9,393,857
2040 3,135,889 9,382,662
2039 3,101,794 9,373,984
2038 3,067,648 9,365,030
2037 3,032,620 9,354,254
2036 2,996,884 9,342,450
2035 2,960,590 9,328,907
2034 2,923,411 9,312,054
2033 2,885,991 9,294,881
2032 2,847,292 9,276,221
2031 2,808,872 9,253,034
2030 2,768,505 9,228,188
2029 2,728,467 9,201,743
2028 2,686,968 9,170,620
2027 2,645,863 9,135,740
2026 2,603,779 9,097,532
2025 2,562,651 9,053,983
2024 2,521,139 9,005,582
2023 2,480,244 8,888,822
2022 2,439,892 8,777,088
2021 2,401,441 8,704,546
2020 2,365,894 8,638,167
2019 2,332,083 8,575,280
2018 2,299,141 8,514,329
2017 2,266,747 8,451,840
2016 2,234,776 8,373,338
2015 2,203,273 8,282,396
2014 2,172,044 8,188,649
2013 2,140,682 8,089,346
2012 2,108,617 7,996,861
2011 2,073,535 7,912,398
2010 2,033,111 7,824,909
2009 1,990,673 7,743,831
2008 1,949,970 7,647,675
2007 1,911,201 7,551,117
2006 1,874,516 7,483,934
2005 1,839,877 7,437,115
2004 1,807,146 7,389,625
2003 1,775,736 7,339,001
2002 1,744,763 7,284,753
2001 1,712,254 7,229,854
2000 1,677,382 7,184,250
1999 1,641,997 7,143,991
1998 1,606,899 7,110,001
1997 1,571,691 7,088,906
1996 1,535,914 7,071,850
1995 1,498,836 7,040,687
1994 1,460,023 6,993,795
1993 1,420,115 6,938,265
1992 1,380,033 6,875,364
1991 1,341,756 6,799,978
1990 1,305,696 6,715,519
1989 1,270,274 6,646,912
1988 1,235,476 6,593,386
1987 1,199,167 6,545,106
1986 1,160,650 6,504,124
1985 1,121,945 6,470,365
1984 1,083,660 6,441,865
1983 1,046,137 6,418,773
1982 1,009,269 6,391,309
1981 969,996 6,354,074
1980 937,485 6,319,408
1979 901,742 6,294,365
1978 849,239 6,281,738
1977 799,574 6,281,174
1976 758,508 6,302,504
1975 720,380 6,338,632
1974 685,448 6,341,405
1973 652,408 6,307,347
1972 622,407 6,260,956
1971 600,481 6,213,399
1970 590,334 6,180,877
1969 587,066 6,136,387
1968 583,966 6,067,714
1967 580,933 5,991,785
1966 577,866 5,918,002
1965 574,664 5,856,472
1964 566,266 5,789,228
1963 552,966 5,694,247
1962 540,186 5,573,815
1961 527,942 5,434,294
1960 516,165 5,327,827

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/switzerland | CC BY

From 2006 to 2016, the population of Botswana increased by 360,260 people (a 19.2% growth), while Switzerland gained 889,404 people (a 11.9% growth).

For the next 10 years, from 2016 to 2026, Botswana gained 380,386 people (a 17% growth), while Switzerland's population increased by 734,528 people (a 8.77% growth).

Botswana was ranked 145th most populous country in 2006 and is 142nd in 2026. Switzerland was ranked 96th 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 32% to 3,451,521 people with a rank change from 142nd to 137th. The population of Switzerland will increase by 3.81% to 9,454,544 people and rank change from 100th to 103rd.

Botswana is projected to reach its peak in 2088 at 3.92M people compared to the peak of 9.46M people in 2052 for Switzerland.

Population growth rate by year

Botswana
Factual

Projection
Switzerland
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Growth rate
Botswana Switzerland
2100 -0.13% 0.08%
2099 -0.16% 0.07%
2098 -0.14% 0.08%
2097 -0.13% 0.04%
2096 -0.11% 0.06%
2095 -0.11% 0.05%
2094 -0.1% 0.03%
2093 -0.1% 0.03%
2092 -0.11% 0.03%
2091 -0.07% 0.02%
2090 -0.02% 0.004%
2089 -0.004% -0.01%
2088 0.02% 0.004%
2087 0.01% -0.02%
2086 0.01% -0.05%
2085 0.04% -0.05%
2084 0.04% -0.05%
2083 0.05% -0.06%
2082 0.03% -0.07%
2081 0.04% -0.07%
2080 0.07% -0.08%
2079 0.12% -0.07%
2078 0.12% -0.08%
2077 0.14% -0.05%
2076 0.15% -0.06%
2075 0.15% -0.12%
2074 0.15% -0.1%
2073 0.2% -0.08%
2072 0.18% -0.1%
2071 0.19% -0.12%
2070 0.26% -0.09%
2069 0.27% -0.09%
2068 0.33% -0.08%
2067 0.33% -0.13%
2066 0.38% -0.13%
2065 0.4% -0.12%
2064 0.42% -0.11%
2063 0.47% -0.12%
2062 0.52% -0.13%
2061 0.54% -0.09%
2060 0.55% -0.11%
2059 0.64% -0.09%
2058 0.66% -0.06%
2057 0.66% -0.08%
2056 0.69% -0.09%
2055 0.7% -0.08%
2054 0.75% -0.05%
2053 0.79% -0%
2052 0.8% 0%
2051 0.82% 0.02%
2050 0.86% 0.04%
2049 0.9% 0.07%
2048 0.93% 0.07%
2047 0.97% 0.06%
2046 0.96% 0.06%
2045 0.96% 0.07%
2044 0.99% 0.08%
2043 0.99% 0.11%
2042 1.03% 0.07%
2041 1.05% 0.12%
2040 1.1% 0.09%
2039 1.11% 0.1%
2038 1.16% 0.12%
2037 1.19% 0.13%
2036 1.23% 0.15%
2035 1.27% 0.18%
2034 1.3% 0.18%
2033 1.36% 0.2%
2032 1.37% 0.25%
2031 1.46% 0.27%
2030 1.47% 0.29%
2029 1.54% 0.34%
2028 1.55% 0.38%
2027 1.62% 0.42%
2026 1.6% 0.48%
2025 1.65% 0.54%
2024 1.65% 1.31%
2023 1.65% 1.27%
2022 1.6% 0.83%
2021 1.5% 0.77%
2020 1.45% 0.73%
2019 1.43% 0.72%
2018 1.43% 0.74%
2017 1.43% 0.94%
2016 1.43% 1.1%
2015 1.44% 1.14%
2014 1.47% 1.23%
2013 1.52% 1.16%
2012 1.69% 1.07%
2011 1.99% 1.12%
2010 2.13% 1.05%
2009 2.09% 1.26%
2008 2.03% 1.28%
2007 1.96% 0.9%
2006 1.88% 0.63%
2005 1.81% 0.64%
2004 1.77% 0.69%
2003 1.78% 0.74%
2002 1.9% 0.76%
2001 2.08% 0.63%
2000 2.15% 0.56%
1999 2.18% 0.48%
1998 2.24% 0.3%
1997 2.33% 0.24%
1996 2.47% 0.44%
1995 2.66% 0.67%
1994 2.81% 0.8%
1993 2.9% 0.91%
1992 2.85% 1.11%
1991 2.76% 1.26%
1990 2.79% 1.03%
1989 2.82% 0.81%
1988 3.03% 0.74%
1987 3.32% 0.63%
1986 3.45% 0.52%
1985 3.53% 0.44%
1984 3.59% 0.36%
1983 3.65% 0.43%
1982 4.05% 0.59%
1981 3.47% 0.55%
1980 3.96% 0.4%
1979 6.18% 0.2%
1978 6.21% 0.009%
1977 5.41% -0.34%
1976 5.29% -0.57%
1975 5.1% -0.04%
1974 5.06% 0.54%
1973 4.82% 0.74%
1972 3.65% 0.77%
1971 1.72% 0.53%
1970 0.56% 0.73%
1969 0.53% 1.13%
1968 0.52% 1.27%
1967 0.53% 1.25%
1966 0.56% 1.05%
1965 1.48% 1.16%
1964 2.41% 1.67%
1963 2.37% 2.16%
1962 2.32% 2.57%
1961 2.28% 2%

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/switzerland | CC BY

In 2024, the population of Botswana grew by 1.65%, while Switzerland's population grew by 1.31%.

Live population counters

Botswana Switzerland
Current population
2615162
9107866
Population rank 142/197 100/197
Percent of world population 0.03% 0.11%
One net population change
12.9 minutes
4.5 minutes
One birth every
8.58 minutes
6.57 minutes
One death every
37 minutes
7.3 minutes
Daily growth/decline +112 +320
Annual growth/decline +40,895 +116,760
Annual growth/decline rate +1.65% +1.31%
Population growth rate rank 66/197 81/197
One migration net change every
1.55 hours
14.1 minutes
Annual migration change -5,665 +37,253
Net migration rank 120/196 25/196
Foreign-born residents 116,402 2,773,840
Foreign-born residents rank 126/195 27/195
Foreign-born share of population 4.6% 31.1%
Foreign-born share rank 96/195 17/195

Natural population change vs migration

Botswana
Natural

Migration
Switzerland
Natural

Migration
1x
Year Population change
Botswana Switzerland
Natural Migration Natural Migration
2025 - -5,665 - 37,253
2024 - -5,778 - 40,099
2023 47,098 -6,487 8,000 45,098
2022 47,400 -7,306 7,899 96,424
2021 40,894 -4,083 18,279 50,665
2020 45,610 -11,330 9,502 55,523
2019 45,110 -11,770 18,008 44,517
2018 44,171 -11,623 20,434 41,253
2017 43,154 -10,916 20,284 45,658
2016 41,993 -10,286 22,608 71,009
2015 40,897 -9,599 19,050 71,876
2014 40,046 -8,893 21,290 78,122
2013 39,404 -7,836 17,797 83,823
2012 39,202 -6,636 18,393 67,840
2011 38,613 -1,019 18,990 67,194
2010 38,101 5,151 17,997 76,388
2009 36,671 4,960 15,487 69,324
2008 35,433 4,343 15,295 94,430
2007 33,832 3,926 13,592 72,475
2006 31,340 4,270 12,723 37,308
2005 29,385 4,283 11,899 33,203
2004 27,481 4,314 13,302 39,484
2003 26,545 4,488 8,807 42,567
2002 26,163 4,747 10,199 49,650
2001 26,112 7,991 10,845 35,420
2000 25,850 9,798 15,806 24,463
1999 25,358 9,762 16,431 25,599
1998 25,397 9,685 16,353 11,325
1997 25,738 9,597 17,722 -1,939
1996 26,847 9,368 19,801 -131
1995 28,478 9,464 19,010 25,343
1994 30,664 9,023 20,982 30,274
1993 31,691 8,441 21,509 40,267
1992 31,995 8,026 24,064 42,014
1991 32,219 4,311 23,800 69,738
1990 33,015 2,580 20,146 58,428
1989 33,756 1,495 19,941 34,432
1988 34,564 -215 21,099 34,602
1987 35,647 2,624 15,708 27,081
1986 36,203 2,558 16,261 23,242
1985 35,966 2,683 14,882 14,402
1984 35,530 2,393 16,105 12,532
1983 35,142 1,980 12,837 5,663
1982 34,859 1,751 15,339 21,929
1981 34,327 7,610 13,979 24,229
1980 33,934 -10,849 14,535 17,841
1979 32,486 15,918 14,477 4,262
1978 30,596 26,015 13,820 -6,552
1977 29,009 13,708 16,959 -22,516
1976 27,497 11,914 17,017 -54,255
1975 25,762 11,086 22,820 -58,187
1974 24,160 8,854 27,902 2,008
1973 22,449 10,615 30,906 8,158
1972 21,004 5,937 35,061 19,991
1971 19,926 -3,016 38,523 2,636
1970 19,438 -16,054 42,648 -18,326
1969 19,024 -15,870 44,182 20,754
1968 18,725 -15,681 47,328 25,828
1967 18,463 -15,438 52,128 27,697
1966 18,250 -15,140 53,854 14,979
1965 18,045 -14,753 56,222 -1,351
1964 17,634 -4,126 59,050 21,455
1963 17,084 -4,000 52,956 58,415
1962 16,507 -4,028 49,050 82,798
1961 16,185 -4,168 48,365 101,278
1960 15,861 -4,331 42,090 22,313

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

GeoRank.org/population/botswana/switzerland | 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 Switzerland 21.6% is from natural causes (a gain of 165,354 people) and 78.4% is from migration (a gain of 600,145 people).

As of 2024, 116,402 residents or 4.6% of the population were not native-born in Botswana, compared to 2,773,840 people or 31.1% in Switzerland.

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
Switzerland
City Population
Zurich 449K
Geneva 209K
Basel 176K
Bern 146K
Lausanne 145K
Winterthur 110K
Lucerne 86.2K
St. Gallen 78.9K
Lugano 63.5K
Biel/Bienne 55.9K

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/switzerland | 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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