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

Updated on by Georank team

The latest officially reported population of Botswana was 2,521,139 in 2024 vs 24,672,760 people in Syria in 2024. In 2026, based on the adjusted UN estimation, the current Botswana's population is 2,615,162 people compared to 26,829,400 in Syria.

Population statistics:

  • Syria's population is 10.3 times bigger than Botswana's.
  • Botswana is ranked the 142nd most populous country in the world, while Syria is the 56th.
  • The countries together account for 0.36% of the world: 0.03% for Botswana vs 0.32% for Syria.
  • For the last 10 years, Botswana has had an average growth rate of +1.5% per year vs +1.25% in Syria.
  • Since 2006, the population of Botswana has increased from 1.87M people to 2.62M (39.5% growth), while Syria has grown from 19.6M to 26.8M (36.6% growth).

Botswana vs Syria: population by year and forecast

Botswana
Factual

Projection
Syria
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Population
Botswana Syria
2100 3,871,504 44,620,090
2099 3,876,625 44,690,260
2098 3,882,670 44,750,249
2097 3,887,985 44,813,148
2096 3,892,886 44,867,740
2095 3,897,211 44,895,489
2094 3,901,478 44,945,231
2093 3,905,541 44,974,311
2092 3,909,490 45,003,795
2091 3,913,899 45,016,478
2090 3,916,706 45,048,083
2089 3,917,351 45,047,102
2088 3,917,510 45,041,864
2087 3,916,826 45,049,516
2086 3,916,303 45,068,928
2085 3,915,785 45,034,847
2084 3,914,364 44,999,929
2083 3,912,929 44,971,600
2082 3,910,994 44,910,859
2081 3,910,013 44,843,908
2080 3,908,255 44,744,718
2079 3,905,358 44,687,371
2078 3,900,828 44,649,760
2077 3,896,126 44,604,175
2076 3,890,528 44,520,132
2075 3,884,696 44,426,423
2074 3,879,057 44,328,795
2073 3,873,259 44,221,016
2072 3,865,665 44,084,262
2071 3,858,720 43,939,848
2070 3,851,234 43,795,999
2069 3,841,316 43,648,130
2068 3,830,826 43,465,442
2067 3,818,341 43,271,173
2066 3,805,705 43,060,752
2065 3,791,211 42,810,442
2064 3,775,938 42,559,554
2063 3,760,179 42,311,907
2062 3,742,710 42,062,193
2061 3,723,346 41,808,082
2060 3,703,231 41,522,274
2059 3,682,816 41,208,825
2058 3,659,567 40,925,728
2057 3,635,514 40,643,453
2056 3,611,843 40,332,578
2055 3,587,056 40,026,632
2054 3,562,182 39,691,425
2053 3,535,732 39,348,020
2052 3,507,938 39,045,268
2051 3,479,939 38,733,827
2050 3,451,521 38,410,423
2049 3,422,143 38,089,455
2048 3,391,720 37,784,449
2047 3,360,414 37,492,636
2046 3,328,208 37,181,526
2045 3,296,489 36,843,579
2044 3,265,120 36,526,509
2043 3,233,076 36,188,225
2042 3,201,405 35,825,419
2041 3,168,873 35,447,414
2040 3,135,889 35,042,107
2039 3,101,794 34,626,945
2038 3,067,648 34,183,740
2037 3,032,620 33,703,682
2036 2,996,884 33,223,843
2035 2,960,590 32,696,648
2034 2,923,411 32,148,814
2033 2,885,991 31,562,427
2032 2,847,292 30,967,322
2031 2,808,872 30,329,874
2030 2,768,505 29,672,629
2029 2,728,467 28,949,535
2028 2,686,968 28,217,748
2027 2,645,863 27,428,807
2026 2,603,779 26,607,148
2025 2,562,651 25,689,551
2024 2,521,139 24,672,760
2023 2,480,244 23,594,623
2022 2,439,892 22,462,173
2021 2,401,441 21,628,839
2020 2,365,894 21,049,429
2019 2,332,083 20,353,534
2018 2,299,141 19,577,845
2017 2,266,747 19,224,668
2016 2,234,776 19,193,834
2015 2,203,273 19,424,618
2014 2,172,044 20,273,659
2013 2,140,682 21,666,917
2012 2,108,617 22,759,763
2011 2,073,535 22,878,098
2010 2,033,111 22,482,421
2009 1,990,673 21,976,969
2008 1,949,970 21,636,564
2007 1,911,201 20,884,125
2006 1,874,516 19,637,022
2005 1,839,877 18,814,091
2004 1,807,146 18,336,875
2003 1,775,736 17,889,296
2002 1,744,763 17,468,332
2001 1,712,254 17,051,338
2000 1,677,382 16,637,888
1999 1,641,997 16,228,061
1998 1,606,899 15,820,413
1997 1,571,691 15,417,542
1996 1,535,914 15,018,104
1995 1,498,836 14,616,801
1994 1,460,023 14,208,583
1993 1,420,115 13,795,686
1992 1,380,033 13,385,571
1991 1,341,756 12,980,821
1990 1,305,696 12,579,208
1989 1,270,274 12,179,060
1988 1,235,476 11,782,264
1987 1,199,167 11,388,923
1986 1,160,650 11,002,844
1985 1,121,945 10,625,672
1984 1,083,660 10,258,398
1983 1,046,137 9,904,809
1982 1,009,269 9,572,511
1981 969,996 9,260,189
1980 937,485 8,957,663
1979 901,742 8,661,909
1978 849,239 8,372,759
1977 799,574 8,090,501
1976 758,508 7,817,320
1975 720,380 7,554,364
1974 685,448 7,302,160
1973 652,408 7,060,321
1972 622,407 6,826,024
1971 600,481 6,598,094
1970 590,334 6,380,609
1969 587,066 6,175,166
1968 583,966 5,978,742
1967 580,933 5,790,198
1966 577,866 5,609,047
1965 574,664 5,435,267
1964 566,266 5,269,087
1963 552,966 5,110,467
1962 540,186 4,959,340
1961 527,942 4,815,466
1960 516,165 4,673,500

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/syria | CC BY

From 2006 to 2016, the population of Botswana increased by 360,260 people (a 19.2% growth), while Syria lost 443,188 people (a 2.26% decline).

For the next 10 years, from 2016 to 2026, Botswana gained 380,386 people (a 17% growth), while Syria's population increased by 7,635,566 people (a 39.8% growth).

Botswana was ranked 145th most populous country in 2006 and is 142nd in 2026. Syria was ranked 58th in 2006 and ranked 56th 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 Syria will increase by 43.2% to 38,410,423 people and rank change from 56th to 53rd.

Botswana is projected to reach its peak in 2088 at 3.92M people compared to the peak of 45.1M people in 2086 for Syria.

Population growth rate by year

Botswana
Factual

Projection
Syria
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Growth rate
Botswana Syria
2100 -0.13% -0.16%
2099 -0.16% -0.13%
2098 -0.14% -0.14%
2097 -0.13% -0.12%
2096 -0.11% -0.06%
2095 -0.11% -0.11%
2094 -0.1% -0.06%
2093 -0.1% -0.07%
2092 -0.11% -0.03%
2091 -0.07% -0.07%
2090 -0.02% 0.002%
2089 -0.004% 0.01%
2088 0.02% -0.02%
2087 0.01% -0.04%
2086 0.01% 0.08%
2085 0.04% 0.08%
2084 0.04% 0.06%
2083 0.05% 0.14%
2082 0.03% 0.15%
2081 0.04% 0.22%
2080 0.07% 0.13%
2079 0.12% 0.08%
2078 0.12% 0.1%
2077 0.14% 0.19%
2076 0.15% 0.21%
2075 0.15% 0.22%
2074 0.15% 0.24%
2073 0.2% 0.31%
2072 0.18% 0.33%
2071 0.19% 0.33%
2070 0.26% 0.34%
2069 0.27% 0.42%
2068 0.33% 0.45%
2067 0.33% 0.49%
2066 0.38% 0.58%
2065 0.4% 0.59%
2064 0.42% 0.59%
2063 0.47% 0.59%
2062 0.52% 0.61%
2061 0.54% 0.69%
2060 0.55% 0.76%
2059 0.64% 0.69%
2058 0.66% 0.69%
2057 0.66% 0.77%
2056 0.69% 0.76%
2055 0.7% 0.84%
2054 0.75% 0.87%
2053 0.79% 0.78%
2052 0.8% 0.8%
2051 0.82% 0.84%
2050 0.86% 0.84%
2049 0.9% 0.81%
2048 0.93% 0.78%
2047 0.97% 0.84%
2046 0.96% 0.92%
2045 0.96% 0.87%
2044 0.99% 0.93%
2043 0.99% 1.01%
2042 1.03% 1.07%
2041 1.05% 1.16%
2040 1.1% 1.2%
2039 1.11% 1.3%
2038 1.16% 1.42%
2037 1.19% 1.44%
2036 1.23% 1.61%
2035 1.27% 1.7%
2034 1.3% 1.86%
2033 1.36% 1.92%
2032 1.37% 2.1%
2031 1.46% 2.21%
2030 1.47% 2.5%
2029 1.54% 2.59%
2028 1.55% 2.88%
2027 1.62% 3.09%
2026 1.6% 3.57%
2025 1.65% 4.12%
2024 1.65% 4.57%
2023 1.65% 5.04%
2022 1.6% 3.85%
2021 1.5% 2.75%
2020 1.45% 3.42%
2019 1.43% 3.96%
2018 1.43% 1.84%
2017 1.43% 0.16%
2016 1.43% -1.19%
2015 1.44% -4.19%
2014 1.47% -6.43%
2013 1.52% -4.8%
2012 1.69% -0.52%
2011 1.99% 1.76%
2010 2.13% 2.3%
2009 2.09% 1.57%
2008 2.03% 3.6%
2007 1.96% 6.35%
2006 1.88% 4.37%
2005 1.81% 2.6%
2004 1.77% 2.5%
2003 1.78% 2.41%
2002 1.9% 2.45%
2001 2.08% 2.48%
2000 2.15% 2.53%
1999 2.18% 2.58%
1998 2.24% 2.61%
1997 2.33% 2.66%
1996 2.47% 2.75%
1995 2.66% 2.87%
1994 2.81% 2.99%
1993 2.9% 3.06%
1992 2.85% 3.12%
1991 2.76% 3.19%
1990 2.79% 3.29%
1989 2.82% 3.37%
1988 3.03% 3.45%
1987 3.32% 3.51%
1986 3.45% 3.55%
1985 3.53% 3.58%
1984 3.59% 3.57%
1983 3.65% 3.47%
1982 4.05% 3.37%
1981 3.47% 3.38%
1980 3.96% 3.41%
1979 6.18% 3.45%
1978 6.21% 3.49%
1977 5.41% 3.49%
1976 5.29% 3.48%
1975 5.1% 3.45%
1974 5.06% 3.43%
1973 4.82% 3.43%
1972 3.65% 3.45%
1971 1.72% 3.41%
1970 0.56% 3.33%
1969 0.53% 3.29%
1968 0.52% 3.26%
1967 0.53% 3.23%
1966 0.56% 3.2%
1965 1.48% 3.15%
1964 2.41% 3.1%
1963 2.37% 3.05%
1962 2.32% 2.99%
1961 2.28% 3.04%

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/syria | CC BY

In 2024, the population of Botswana grew by 1.65%, while Syria's population grew by 4.57%.

Live population counters

Botswana Syria
Current population
2615162
26829400
Population rank 142/197 56/197
Percent of world population 0.03% 0.32%
One net population change
12.9 minutes
29.3 seconds
One birth every
8.58 minutes
1.01 minutes
One death every
37 minutes
4.42 minutes
Daily growth/decline +112 +2,954
Annual growth/decline +40,895 +1,078,137
Annual growth/decline rate +1.65% +4.57%
Population growth rate rank 66/197 6/197
One migration net change every
1.55 hours
1.25 minutes
Annual migration change -5,665 +421,693
Net migration rank 120/196 3/196
Foreign-born residents 116,402 896,042
Foreign-born residents rank 126/195 64/195
Foreign-born share of population 4.6% 3.6%
Foreign-born share rank 96/195 110/195

Natural population change vs migration

Botswana
Natural

Migration
Syria
Natural

Migration
1x
Year Population change
Botswana Syria
Natural Migration Natural Migration
2025 - -5,665 - 421,693
2024 - -5,778 - 546,494
2023 47,098 -6,487 402,713 757,309
2022 47,400 -7,306 369,750 735,142
2021 40,894 -4,083 350,560 211,220
2020 45,610 -11,330 327,992 269,050
2019 45,110 -11,770 293,762 500,985
2018 44,171 -11,623 242,530 514,102
2017 43,154 -10,916 237,214 -287,501
2016 41,993 -10,286 236,007 -124,063
2015 40,897 -9,599 253,977 -827,496
2014 40,046 -8,893 333,116 -1,457,679
2013 39,404 -7,836 419,341 -2,081,303
2012 39,202 -6,636 475,520 -999,267
2011 38,613 -1,019 543,950 -256,888
2010 38,101 5,151 558,666 -54,359
2009 36,671 4,960 559,314 -52,703
2008 35,433 4,343 576,593 -402,393
2007 33,832 3,926 529,162 801,514
2006 31,340 4,270 480,616 682,911
2005 29,385 4,283 468,960 13,382
2004 27,481 4,314 461,209 10,881
2003 26,545 4,488 457,000 -33,920
2002 26,163 4,747 453,967 -35,096
2001 26,112 7,991 451,503 -36,383
2000 25,850 9,798 446,211 -34,425
1999 25,358 9,762 439,261 -31,394
1998 25,397 9,685 433,447 -26,025
1997 25,738 9,597 429,887 -31,571
1996 26,847 9,368 430,765 -30,197
1995 28,478 9,464 430,172 -28,122
1994 30,664 9,023 426,996 -12,630
1993 31,691 8,441 420,244 -8,828
1992 31,995 8,026 412,878 -4,063
1991 32,219 4,311 410,830 -10,154
1990 33,015 2,580 409,177 -6,620
1989 33,756 1,495 406,111 -8,379
1988 34,564 -215 404,285 -8,426
1987 35,647 2,624 399,159 -8,335
1986 36,203 2,558 390,821 -9,485
1985 35,966 2,683 379,231 -6,221
1984 35,530 2,393 366,768 -5,245
1983 35,142 1,980 355,375 -9,729
1982 34,859 1,751 319,664 -721
1981 34,327 7,610 330,237 -24,536
1980 33,934 -10,849 332,464 -33,114
1979 32,486 15,918 324,943 -32,793
1978 30,596 26,015 316,724 -30,567
1977 29,009 13,708 306,630 -28,275
1976 27,497 11,914 294,267 -26,268
1975 25,762 11,086 282,299 -24,389
1974 24,160 8,854 270,735 -24,242
1973 22,449 10,615 254,687 -17,502
1972 21,004 5,937 249,027 -17,610
1971 19,926 -3,016 239,610 -15,167
1970 19,438 -16,054 230,117 -19,594
1969 19,024 -15,870 219,114 -18,749
1968 18,725 -15,681 209,454 -16,968
1967 18,463 -15,438 199,223 -14,618
1966 18,250 -15,140 191,122 -13,434
1965 18,045 -14,753 182,560 -12,704
1964 17,634 -4,126 174,549 -12,044
1963 17,084 -4,000 166,555 -11,817
1962 16,507 -4,028 159,155 -11,641
1961 16,185 -4,168 151,485 -11,237
1960 15,861 -4,331 143,687 0

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

GeoRank.org/population/botswana/syria | 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 Syria 91.3% is from natural causes (a gain of 3,047,621 people) and 8.72% is from migration (a gain of 291,069 people).

As of 2024, 116,402 residents or 4.6% of the population were not native-born in Botswana, compared to 896,042 people or 3.6% in Syria.

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
Syria
City Population
Damascus 2.69M
Aleppo 2M
Homs 775K
Latakia 709K
Hama 697K
Raqqa 300K
Deir ez-Zor 272K
Al-Hasakah 188K
Qamishli 184K
Idlib 165K

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/syria | 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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