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

Updated on by Georank

The latest officially reported population of Botswana was 2,562,122 in 2025 vs 25,620,427 people in Syria in 2025. In 2026, based on the adjusted UN estimation, the current Botswana's population is 2,624,853 people compared to 26,956,472 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 +1.51% per year vs +2.19% in Syria.
  • Since 2006, the population of Botswana has increased from 1.87M people to 2.62M (40% growth), while Syria has grown from 19.6M to 27M (37.3% growth).

Botswana vs Syria: population by year and forecast

Botswana
Factual

Projection
Syria
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Population
Botswana Syria
2100 3,870,704 44,500,028
2099 3,875,823 44,570,009
2098 3,881,867 44,629,837
2097 3,887,181 44,692,566
2096 3,892,081 44,747,012
2095 3,896,405 44,774,686
2094 3,900,671 44,824,294
2093 3,904,733 44,853,295
2092 3,908,682 44,882,700
2091 3,913,090 44,895,349
2090 3,915,896 44,926,869
2089 3,916,540 44,925,891
2088 3,916,700 44,920,667
2087 3,916,016 44,928,298
2086 3,915,493 44,947,658
2085 3,914,975 44,913,669
2084 3,913,555 44,878,845
2083 3,912,119 44,850,592
2082 3,910,185 44,790,014
2081 3,909,204 44,723,244
2080 3,907,447 44,624,321
2079 3,904,550 44,567,127
2078 3,900,021 44,529,618
2077 3,895,321 44,484,155
2076 3,889,723 44,400,339
2075 3,883,893 44,306,882
2074 3,878,255 44,209,517
2073 3,872,458 44,102,028
2072 3,864,865 43,965,642
2071 3,857,922 43,821,617
2070 3,850,437 43,678,154
2069 3,840,521 43,530,683
2068 3,830,034 43,348,487
2067 3,817,551 43,154,741
2066 3,804,918 42,944,885
2065 3,790,427 42,695,249
2064 3,775,157 42,445,036
2063 3,759,402 42,198,056
2062 3,741,936 41,949,014
2061 3,722,576 41,695,586
2060 3,702,465 41,410,547
2059 3,682,055 41,097,942
2058 3,658,810 40,815,606
2057 3,634,762 40,534,091
2056 3,611,096 40,224,053
2055 3,586,314 39,918,930
2054 3,561,446 39,584,624
2053 3,535,001 39,242,144
2052 3,507,213 38,940,206
2051 3,479,219 38,629,604
2050 3,450,807 38,307,069
2049 3,421,435 37,986,965
2048 3,391,019 37,682,780
2047 3,359,719 37,391,752
2046 3,327,520 37,081,479
2045 3,295,807 36,744,441
2044 3,264,444 36,428,225
2043 3,232,407 36,090,851
2042 3,200,743 35,729,021
2041 3,168,217 35,352,033
2040 3,135,241 34,947,817
2039 3,101,153 34,533,772
2038 3,067,014 34,091,760
2037 3,031,993 33,612,993
2036 2,996,265 33,134,445
2035 2,959,978 32,608,669
2034 2,922,807 32,062,309
2033 2,885,394 31,477,500
2032 2,846,703 30,883,996
2031 2,808,291 30,248,264
2030 2,767,933 29,592,787
2029 2,727,903 28,871,638
2028 2,686,412 28,141,821
2027 2,645,316 27,355,002
2026 2,603,241 26,535,554
2025 2,562,122 25,620,427
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 (2026–2100, retrieved 2026-07-08); World Bank | Health (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-07-08).

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 390,077 people (a 17.5% growth), while Syria's population increased by 7,762,638 people (a 40.4% 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 31.5% to 3,450,807 people with a rank change from 142nd to 137th. The population of Syria will increase by 42.1% to 38,307,069 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 44.9M 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 1.63% 3.84%
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 (2026–2100, retrieved 2026-07-08); World Bank | Health (1961–2025, retrieved 2026-07-08).

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

In 2025, the population of Botswana grew by 1.63%, while Syria's population grew by 3.84%.

Live population counters

Botswana Syria
Current population
2624853
26956472
Population rank 142/197 56/197
Percent of world population 0.03% 0.32%
One net population change
12.9 minutes
33.4 seconds
One birth every
8.56 minutes
55.2 seconds
One death every
36.3 minutes
4.32 minutes
Daily growth/decline +112 +2,596
Annual growth/decline +40,983 +947,667
Annual growth/decline rate +1.63% +3.84%
Population growth rate rank 65/197 5/197
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 46,951 -5,778 449,784 546,494
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 2026-07-08).

GeoRank.org/population/botswana/syria | 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 Syria 58% is from natural causes (a gain of 3,164,289 people) and 42% is from migration (a gain of 2,295,242 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 (1960–2025, 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/syria | 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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