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

Updated on by Georank team

The latest officially reported population of Botswana was 2,521,139 in 2024 vs 68,560,157 people in Tanzania in 2024. In 2026, based on the adjusted UN estimation, the current Botswana's population is 2,615,162 people compared to 73,145,892 in Tanzania.

Population statistics:

  • Tanzania's population is 28 times bigger than Botswana's.
  • Botswana is ranked the 142nd most populous country in the world, while Tanzania is the 20th.
  • The countries together account for 0.91% of the world: 0.03% for Botswana vs 0.88% for Tanzania.
  • For the last 10 years, Botswana has had an average growth rate of +1.5% per year vs +3.13% in Tanzania.
  • Since 2006, the population of Botswana has increased from 1.87M people to 2.62M (39.5% growth), while Tanzania has grown from 40.3M to 73.1M (81.5% growth).

Botswana vs Tanzania: population by year and forecast

Botswana
Factual

Projection
Tanzania
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Population
Botswana Tanzania
2100 3,871,504 265,496,854
2099 3,876,625 263,162,785
2098 3,882,670 260,809,535
2097 3,887,985 258,412,520
2096 3,892,886 255,996,677
2095 3,897,211 253,567,416
2094 3,901,478 251,119,386
2093 3,905,541 248,628,881
2092 3,909,490 246,107,108
2091 3,913,899 243,557,182
2090 3,916,706 241,002,065
2089 3,917,351 238,416,591
2088 3,917,510 235,797,530
2087 3,916,826 233,167,455
2086 3,916,303 230,496,041
2085 3,915,785 227,800,292
2084 3,914,364 225,111,530
2083 3,912,929 222,421,279
2082 3,910,994 219,718,263
2081 3,910,013 216,995,478
2080 3,908,255 214,255,926
2079 3,905,358 211,486,253
2078 3,900,828 208,708,063
2077 3,896,126 205,918,120
2076 3,890,528 203,106,125
2075 3,884,696 200,297,474
2074 3,879,057 197,468,017
2073 3,873,259 194,642,633
2072 3,865,665 191,824,103
2071 3,858,720 188,992,017
2070 3,851,234 186,152,377
2069 3,841,316 183,311,218
2068 3,830,826 180,475,586
2067 3,818,341 177,639,469
2066 3,805,705 174,803,090
2065 3,791,211 171,913,445
2064 3,775,938 169,064,549
2063 3,760,179 166,217,933
2062 3,742,710 163,370,044
2061 3,723,346 160,537,159
2060 3,703,231 157,722,273
2059 3,682,816 154,920,005
2058 3,659,567 152,120,539
2057 3,635,514 149,325,489
2056 3,611,843 146,519,472
2055 3,587,056 143,736,540
2054 3,562,182 140,983,905
2053 3,535,732 138,262,668
2052 3,507,938 135,553,723
2051 3,479,939 132,851,383
2050 3,451,521 130,157,751
2049 3,422,143 127,495,278
2048 3,391,720 124,821,109
2047 3,360,414 122,158,290
2046 3,328,208 119,522,516
2045 3,296,489 116,914,785
2044 3,265,120 114,329,740
2043 3,233,076 111,776,234
2042 3,201,405 109,241,835
2041 3,168,873 106,748,632
2040 3,135,889 104,272,418
2039 3,101,794 101,814,304
2038 3,067,648 99,380,232
2037 3,032,620 96,983,729
2036 2,996,884 94,601,865
2035 2,960,590 92,257,269
2034 2,923,411 89,929,444
2033 2,885,991 87,654,982
2032 2,847,292 85,409,993
2031 2,808,872 83,180,507
2030 2,768,505 80,997,163
2029 2,728,467 78,838,461
2028 2,686,968 76,730,649
2027 2,645,863 74,647,063
2026 2,603,779 72,589,279
2025 2,562,651 70,552,589
2024 2,521,139 68,560,157
2023 2,480,244 66,617,606
2022 2,439,892 64,711,821
2021 2,401,441 62,830,412
2020 2,365,894 60,972,798
2019 2,332,083 59,174,891
2018 2,299,141 57,437,145
2017 2,266,747 55,652,890
2016 2,234,776 53,824,013
2015 2,203,273 52,020,962
2014 2,172,044 50,351,512
2013 2,140,682 48,824,128
2012 2,108,617 47,374,260
2011 2,073,535 46,029,367
2010 2,033,111 44,758,488
2009 1,990,673 43,633,982
2008 1,949,970 42,570,728
2007 1,911,201 41,435,512
2006 1,874,516 40,294,902
2005 1,839,877 39,182,076
2004 1,807,146 38,109,668
2003 1,775,736 37,089,555
2002 1,744,763 36,121,304
2001 1,712,254 35,198,299
2000 1,677,382 34,260,139
1999 1,641,997 33,300,330
1998 1,606,899 32,420,458
1997 1,571,691 31,578,089
1996 1,535,914 30,945,762
1995 1,498,836 30,383,497
1994 1,460,023 29,442,356
1993 1,420,115 28,332,692
1992 1,380,033 27,457,588
1991 1,341,756 26,780,436
1990 1,305,696 26,110,207
1989 1,270,274 25,438,759
1988 1,235,476 24,769,686
1987 1,199,167 24,030,378
1986 1,160,650 23,258,959
1985 1,121,945 22,501,693
1984 1,083,660 21,779,066
1983 1,046,137 21,079,874
1982 1,009,269 20,398,571
1981 969,996 19,784,703
1980 937,485 19,189,769
1979 901,742 18,592,038
1978 849,239 17,976,566
1977 799,574 17,352,929
1976 758,508 16,736,211
1975 720,380 16,138,361
1974 685,448 15,561,630
1973 652,408 15,010,101
1972 622,407 14,479,308
1971 600,481 13,971,451
1970 590,334 13,492,677
1969 587,066 13,036,700
1968 583,966 12,602,076
1967 580,933 12,200,109
1966 577,866 11,827,459
1965 574,664 11,470,728
1964 566,266 11,127,826
1963 552,966 10,799,528
1962 540,186 10,487,756
1961 527,942 10,187,886
1960 516,165 9,901,419

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/tanzania | CC BY

From 2006 to 2016, the population of Botswana increased by 360,260 people (a 19.2% growth), while Tanzania gained 13,529,111 people (a 33.6% growth).

For the next 10 years, from 2016 to 2026, Botswana gained 380,386 people (a 17% growth), while Tanzania's population increased by 19,321,879 people (a 35.9% growth).

Botswana was ranked 145th most populous country in 2006 and is 142nd in 2026. Tanzania was ranked 30th in 2006 and ranked 20th 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 Tanzania will increase by 77.9% to 130,157,751 people and rank change from 20th to 15th.

Botswana is projected to reach its peak in 2088 at 3.92M people compared to the peak of 265M people in 2100 for Tanzania.

Population growth rate by year

Botswana
Factual

Projection
Tanzania
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Growth rate
Botswana Tanzania
2100 -0.13% 0.89%
2099 -0.16% 0.9%
2098 -0.14% 0.93%
2097 -0.13% 0.94%
2096 -0.11% 0.96%
2095 -0.11% 0.97%
2094 -0.1% 1%
2093 -0.1% 1.02%
2092 -0.11% 1.05%
2091 -0.07% 1.06%
2090 -0.02% 1.08%
2089 -0.004% 1.11%
2088 0.02% 1.13%
2087 0.01% 1.16%
2086 0.01% 1.18%
2085 0.04% 1.19%
2084 0.04% 1.21%
2083 0.05% 1.23%
2082 0.03% 1.25%
2081 0.04% 1.28%
2080 0.07% 1.31%
2079 0.12% 1.33%
2078 0.12% 1.35%
2077 0.14% 1.38%
2076 0.15% 1.4%
2075 0.15% 1.43%
2074 0.15% 1.45%
2073 0.2% 1.47%
2072 0.18% 1.5%
2071 0.19% 1.53%
2070 0.26% 1.55%
2069 0.27% 1.57%
2068 0.33% 1.6%
2067 0.33% 1.62%
2066 0.38% 1.68%
2065 0.4% 1.69%
2064 0.42% 1.71%
2063 0.47% 1.74%
2062 0.52% 1.76%
2061 0.54% 1.78%
2060 0.55% 1.81%
2059 0.64% 1.84%
2058 0.66% 1.87%
2057 0.66% 1.92%
2056 0.69% 1.94%
2055 0.7% 1.95%
2054 0.75% 1.97%
2053 0.79% 2%
2052 0.8% 2.03%
2051 0.82% 2.07%
2050 0.86% 2.09%
2049 0.9% 2.14%
2048 0.93% 2.18%
2047 0.97% 2.21%
2046 0.96% 2.23%
2045 0.96% 2.26%
2044 0.99% 2.28%
2043 0.99% 2.32%
2042 1.03% 2.34%
2041 1.05% 2.37%
2040 1.1% 2.41%
2039 1.11% 2.45%
2038 1.16% 2.47%
2037 1.19% 2.52%
2036 1.23% 2.54%
2035 1.27% 2.59%
2034 1.3% 2.59%
2033 1.36% 2.63%
2032 1.37% 2.68%
2031 1.46% 2.7%
2030 1.47% 2.74%
2029 1.54% 2.75%
2028 1.55% 2.79%
2027 1.62% 2.83%
2026 1.6% 2.89%
2025 1.65% 2.91%
2024 1.65% 2.92%
2023 1.65% 2.95%
2022 1.6% 2.99%
2021 1.5% 3.05%
2020 1.45% 3.04%
2019 1.43% 3.03%
2018 1.43% 3.21%
2017 1.43% 3.4%
2016 1.43% 3.47%
2015 1.44% 3.32%
2014 1.47% 3.13%
2013 1.52% 3.06%
2012 1.69% 2.92%
2011 1.99% 2.84%
2010 2.13% 2.58%
2009 2.09% 2.5%
2008 2.03% 2.74%
2007 1.96% 2.83%
2006 1.88% 2.84%
2005 1.81% 2.81%
2004 1.77% 2.75%
2003 1.78% 2.68%
2002 1.9% 2.62%
2001 2.08% 2.74%
2000 2.15% 2.88%
1999 2.18% 2.71%
1998 2.24% 2.67%
1997 2.33% 2.04%
1996 2.47% 1.85%
1995 2.66% 3.2%
1994 2.81% 3.92%
1993 2.9% 3.19%
1992 2.85% 2.53%
1991 2.76% 2.57%
1990 2.79% 2.64%
1989 2.82% 2.7%
1988 3.03% 3.08%
1987 3.32% 3.32%
1986 3.45% 3.37%
1985 3.53% 3.32%
1984 3.59% 3.32%
1983 3.65% 3.34%
1982 4.05% 3.1%
1981 3.47% 3.1%
1980 3.96% 3.21%
1979 6.18% 3.42%
1978 6.21% 3.59%
1977 5.41% 3.68%
1976 5.29% 3.7%
1975 5.1% 3.71%
1974 5.06% 3.67%
1973 4.82% 3.67%
1972 3.65% 3.63%
1971 1.72% 3.55%
1970 0.56% 3.5%
1969 0.53% 3.45%
1968 0.52% 3.29%
1967 0.53% 3.15%
1966 0.56% 3.11%
1965 1.48% 3.08%
1964 2.41% 3.04%
1963 2.37% 2.97%
1962 2.32% 2.94%
1961 2.28% 2.89%

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/tanzania | CC BY

In 2024, the population of Botswana grew by 1.65%, while Tanzania's population grew by 2.92%.

Live population counters

Botswana Tanzania
Current population
2615162
73145892
Population rank 142/197 20/197
Percent of world population 0.03% 0.88%
One net population change
12.9 minutes
16.2 seconds
One birth every
8.58 minutes
13.4 seconds
One death every
37 minutes
1.36 minutes
Daily growth/decline +112 +5,322
Annual growth/decline +40,895 +1,942,551
Annual growth/decline rate +1.65% +2.92%
Population growth rate rank 66/197 18/197
One migration net change every
1.55 hours
41.4 minutes
Annual migration change -5,665 -12,730
Net migration rank 120/196 139/196
Foreign-born residents 116,402 462,371
Foreign-born residents rank 126/195 83/195
Foreign-born share of population 4.6% 0.7%
Foreign-born share rank 96/195 167/195

Natural population change vs migration

Botswana
Natural

Migration
Tanzania
Natural

Migration
1x
Year Population change
Botswana Tanzania
Natural Migration Natural Migration
2025 - -5,665 - -12,730
2024 - -5,778 - -29,865
2023 47,098 -6,487 1,960,623 -39,388
2022 47,400 -7,306 1,927,960 -37,557
2021 40,894 -4,083 1,880,137 -7,704
2020 45,610 -11,330 1,861,377 -18,587
2019 45,110 -11,770 1,816,669 -63,602
2018 44,171 -11,623 1,777,852 -55,444
2017 43,154 -10,916 1,726,909 119,142
2016 41,993 -10,286 1,659,502 152,194
2015 40,897 -9,599 1,592,882 201,495
2014 40,046 -8,893 1,565,630 -21,083
2013 39,404 -7,836 1,509,008 1,241
2012 39,202 -6,636 1,439,325 -49,875
2011 38,613 -1,019 1,384,886 -84,546
2010 38,101 5,151 1,363,477 -122,020
2009 36,671 4,960 1,332,015 -324,478
2008 35,433 4,343 1,303,728 -184,816
2007 33,832 3,926 1,278,285 -126,793
2006 31,340 4,270 1,257,927 -128,231
2005 29,385 4,283 1,224,165 -128,251
2004 27,481 4,314 1,175,379 -126,490
2003 26,545 4,488 1,118,435 -127,101
2002 26,163 4,747 1,063,195 -118,047
2001 26,112 7,991 1,026,242 -125,375
2000 25,850 9,798 985,185 -9,701
1999 25,358 9,762 948,659 -4,489
1998 25,397 9,685 920,806 -105,184
1997 25,738 9,597 882,544 -13,400
1996 26,847 9,368 868,524 -473,007
1995 28,478 9,464 838,980 -109,971
1994 30,664 9,023 803,953 349,348
1993 31,691 8,441 778,044 288,004
1992 31,995 8,026 767,961 -83,825
1991 32,219 4,311 762,011 -91,851
1990 33,015 2,580 750,825 -80,529
1989 33,756 1,495 743,854 -71,268
1988 34,564 -215 736,551 -71,012
1987 35,647 2,624 718,580 94,498
1986 36,203 2,558 705,677 24,101
1985 35,966 2,683 697,867 86,864
1984 35,530 2,393 687,435 -26,938
1983 35,142 1,980 679,720 58,161
1982 34,859 1,751 662,627 -37,883
1981 34,327 7,610 645,496 -42,485
1980 33,934 -10,849 629,444 -42,588
1979 32,486 15,918 613,388 -4,792
1978 30,596 26,015 595,024 27,307
1977 29,009 13,708 574,938 49,997
1976 27,497 11,914 553,617 54,875
1975 25,762 11,086 533,906 53,290
1974 24,160 8,854 515,152 51,127
1973 22,449 10,615 488,429 48,363
1972 21,004 5,937 467,305 57,489
1971 19,926 -3,016 449,014 41,900
1970 19,438 -16,054 427,988 38,635
1969 19,024 -15,870 408,322 37,006
1968 18,725 -15,681 389,467 34,455
1967 18,463 -15,438 374,763 5,265
1966 18,250 -15,140 360,229 5,049
1965 18,045 -14,753 343,456 4,742
1964 17,634 -4,126 328,527 9,090
1963 17,084 -4,000 314,644 4,333
1962 16,507 -4,028 300,663 3,916
1961 16,185 -4,168 286,839 8,338
1960 15,861 -4,331 275,814 1,946

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

GeoRank.org/population/botswana/tanzania | 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 Tanzania 98.7% is from natural causes (a gain of 17,769,541 people) and 1.27% is from migration (a gain of 229,466 people).

As of 2024, 116,402 residents or 4.6% of the population were not native-born in Botswana, compared to 462,371 people or 0.7% in Tanzania.

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
Tanzania
City Population
Dar es Salaam 4.72M
Zanzibar 710K
Mwanza 706K
Mbeya 542K
Arusha 416K
Tanga 221K
Dodoma 214K
Morogoro 207K
Moshi 145K
Stone Town 18K

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/tanzania | 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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