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

Updated on by Georank

The latest officially reported population of Botswana was 2,562,122 in 2025 vs 9,092,436 people in Switzerland in 2025. In 2026, based on the adjusted UN estimation, the current Botswana's population is 2,624,853 people compared to 9,155,878 in Switzerland.

Population statistics:

  • Switzerland's population is 3.49 times bigger than Botswana's.
  • Botswana is ranked the 142nd most populous country in the world, while Switzerland is the 99th.
  • 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 +1.51% per year vs +0.96% in Switzerland.
  • Since 2006, the population of Botswana has increased from 1.87M people to 2.62M (40% growth), while Switzerland has grown from 7.48M to 9.16M (22.3% growth).

Botswana vs Switzerland: population by year and forecast

Botswana
Factual

Projection
Switzerland
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Population
Botswana Switzerland
2100 3,870,704 9,273,514
2099 3,875,823 9,265,656
2098 3,881,867 9,259,266
2097 3,887,181 9,251,854
2096 3,892,081 9,248,107
2095 3,896,405 9,242,564
2094 3,900,671 9,238,163
2093 3,904,733 9,235,730
2092 3,908,682 9,233,129
2091 3,913,090 9,230,180
2090 3,915,896 9,228,148
2089 3,916,540 9,227,779
2088 3,916,700 9,229,133
2087 3,916,016 9,228,792
2086 3,915,493 9,230,530
2085 3,914,975 9,234,782
2084 3,913,555 9,239,056
2083 3,912,119 9,244,001
2082 3,910,185 9,249,813
2081 3,909,204 9,256,210
2080 3,907,447 9,262,647
2079 3,904,550 9,270,123
2078 3,900,021 9,276,881
2077 3,895,321 9,284,565
2076 3,889,723 9,289,534
2075 3,883,893 9,295,062
2074 3,878,255 9,305,809
2073 3,872,458 9,314,832
2072 3,864,865 9,322,610
2071 3,857,922 9,332,380
2070 3,850,437 9,343,357
2069 3,840,521 9,351,483
2068 3,830,034 9,359,919
2067 3,817,551 9,367,355
2066 3,804,918 9,379,120
2065 3,790,427 9,391,197
2064 3,775,157 9,402,175
2063 3,759,402 9,412,246
2062 3,741,936 9,423,109
2061 3,722,576 9,434,937
2060 3,702,465 9,443,858
2059 3,682,055 9,454,223
2058 3,658,810 9,462,577
2057 3,634,762 9,468,254
2056 3,611,096 9,475,514
2055 3,586,314 9,483,998
2054 3,561,446 9,491,408
2053 3,535,001 9,496,551
2052 3,507,213 9,496,579
2051 3,479,219 9,496,556
2050 3,450,807 9,494,698
2049 3,421,435 9,491,222
2048 3,391,019 9,484,200
2047 3,359,719 9,477,140
2046 3,327,520 9,471,007
2045 3,295,807 9,465,183
2044 3,264,444 9,458,151
2043 3,232,407 9,450,730
2042 3,200,743 9,440,733
2041 3,168,217 9,433,753
2040 3,135,241 9,422,510
2039 3,101,153 9,413,795
2038 3,067,014 9,404,803
2037 3,031,993 9,393,982
2036 2,996,265 9,382,127
2035 2,959,978 9,368,526
2034 2,922,807 9,351,603
2033 2,885,394 9,334,357
2032 2,846,703 9,315,617
2031 2,808,291 9,292,331
2030 2,767,933 9,267,380
2029 2,727,903 9,240,823
2028 2,686,412 9,209,567
2027 2,645,316 9,174,540
2026 2,603,241 9,136,169
2025 2,562,122 9,092,436
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 (2026–2100, retrieved 2026-07-08); World Bank | Health (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-07-08).

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 390,077 people (a 17.5% growth), while Switzerland's population increased by 782,540 people (a 9.35% growth).

Botswana was ranked 145th most populous country in 2006 and is 142nd in 2026. Switzerland was ranked 96th in 2006 and ranked 99th now.

The UN's World Population Prospects forecasts that in 24 years (in 2050) Botswana's population will grow by 31.5% to 3,450,807 people with a rank change from 142nd to 137th. The population of Switzerland will increase by 3.7% to 9,494,698 people and rank change from 99th to 102nd.

Botswana is projected to reach its peak in 2088 at 3.92M people compared to the peak of 9.5M 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 1.63% 0.96%
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 (2026–2100, retrieved 2026-07-08); World Bank | Health (1961–2025, retrieved 2026-07-08).

GeoRank.org/population/botswana/switzerland | CC BY

In 2025, the population of Botswana grew by 1.63%, while Switzerland's population grew by 0.96%.

Live population counters

Botswana Switzerland
Current population
2624853
9155878
Population rank 142/197 99/197
Percent of world population 0.03% 0.11%
One net population change
12.9 minutes
6.07 minutes
One birth every
8.56 minutes
6.71 minutes
One death every
36.3 minutes
7.3 minutes
Daily growth/decline +112 +238
Annual growth/decline +40,983 +86,854
Annual growth/decline rate +1.63% +0.96%
Population growth rate rank 65/197 101/197
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 46,951 -5,778 6,304 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 2026-07-08).

GeoRank.org/population/botswana/switzerland | CC BY

Over the last 10 years, 83.3% of the population change in Botswana is from natural causes (a gain of 443,278 people) and 16.7% is from migration (a loss of 89,178 people). In Switzerland 21.1% is from natural causes (a gain of 150,368 people) and 78.9% is from migration (a gain of 562,122 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 452K
Geneva 209K
Basel 176K
Bern 146K
Lausanne 145K
Winterthur 120K
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 (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-07-08); United Nations | World Population Prospects (1960–2026, retrieved 2026-07-08); U.S. Census Bureau (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-07-08); Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) (2000–2019, retrieved 2026-07-08).

GeoRank.org/population/botswana/switzerland | CC BY

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Data sources:

  1. World Bank | Health (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-07-08)
  2. United Nations | World Population Prospects (1960–2100, retrieved 2026-07-08)
  3. U.S. Census Bureau (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-07-08)
  4. Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) (2000–2019, retrieved 2026-07-08)
  5. Wikidata (2026, retrieved 2026-07-08)

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