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

Updated on by Georank

The latest officially reported population of Botswana was 2,562,122 in 2025 vs 70,545,865 people in Tanzania in 2025. In 2026, based on the adjusted UN estimation, the current Botswana's population is 2,624,853 people compared to 73,639,263 in Tanzania.

Population statistics:

  • Tanzania's population is 28.1 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 0.92% of the world: 0.03% for Botswana vs 0.89% for Tanzania.
  • For the last 10 years, Botswana has had an average growth rate of +1.51% per year vs +3.11% in Tanzania.
  • Since 2006, the population of Botswana has increased from 1.87M people to 2.62M (40% growth), while Tanzania has grown from 40.3M to 73.6M (82.8% growth).

Botswana vs Tanzania: population by year and forecast

Botswana
Factual

Projection
Tanzania
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Population
Botswana Tanzania
2100 3,870,704 265,471,550
2099 3,875,823 263,137,702
2098 3,881,867 260,784,676
2097 3,887,181 258,387,890
2096 3,892,081 255,972,277
2095 3,896,405 253,543,248
2094 3,900,671 251,095,452
2093 3,904,733 248,605,184
2092 3,908,682 246,083,651
2091 3,913,090 243,533,968
2090 3,915,896 240,979,094
2089 3,916,540 238,393,867
2088 3,916,700 235,775,056
2087 3,916,016 233,145,231
2086 3,915,493 230,474,072
2085 3,914,975 227,778,580
2084 3,913,555 225,090,075
2083 3,912,119 222,400,079
2082 3,910,185 219,697,321
2081 3,909,204 216,974,796
2080 3,907,447 214,235,505
2079 3,904,550 211,466,096
2078 3,900,021 208,688,171
2077 3,895,321 205,898,494
2076 3,889,723 203,086,766
2075 3,883,893 200,278,383
2074 3,878,255 197,449,196
2073 3,872,458 194,624,081
2072 3,864,865 191,805,820
2071 3,857,922 188,974,004
2070 3,850,437 186,134,634
2069 3,840,521 183,293,747
2068 3,830,034 180,458,385
2067 3,817,551 177,622,538
2066 3,804,918 174,786,430
2065 3,790,427 171,897,059
2064 3,775,157 169,048,435
2063 3,759,402 166,202,091
2062 3,741,936 163,354,473
2061 3,722,576 160,521,858
2060 3,702,465 157,707,240
2059 3,682,055 154,905,240
2058 3,658,810 152,106,040
2057 3,634,762 149,311,257
2056 3,611,096 146,505,507
2055 3,586,314 143,722,840
2054 3,561,446 140,970,467
2053 3,535,001 138,249,490
2052 3,507,213 135,540,803
2051 3,479,219 132,838,721
2050 3,450,807 130,145,345
2049 3,421,435 127,483,126
2048 3,391,019 124,809,212
2047 3,359,719 122,146,647
2046 3,327,520 119,511,124
2045 3,295,807 116,903,642
2044 3,264,444 114,318,843
2043 3,232,407 111,765,580
2042 3,200,743 109,231,423
2041 3,168,217 106,738,458
2040 3,135,241 104,262,479
2039 3,101,153 101,804,600
2038 3,067,014 99,370,760
2037 3,031,993 96,974,485
2036 2,996,265 94,592,848
2035 2,959,978 92,248,476
2034 2,922,807 89,920,872
2033 2,885,394 87,646,627
2032 2,846,703 85,401,853
2031 2,808,291 83,172,579
2030 2,767,933 80,989,443
2029 2,727,903 78,830,947
2028 2,686,412 76,723,335
2027 2,645,316 74,639,948
2026 2,603,241 72,582,361
2025 2,562,122 70,545,865
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 (2026–2100, retrieved 2026-07-08); World Bank | Health (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-07-08).

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 390,077 people (a 17.5% growth), while Tanzania's population increased by 19,815,250 people (a 36.8% 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 31.5% to 3,450,807 people with a rank change from 142nd to 137th. The population of Tanzania will increase by 76.7% to 130,145,345 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 1.63% 2.9%
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 (2026–2100, retrieved 2026-07-08); World Bank | Health (1961–2025, retrieved 2026-07-08).

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

In 2025, the population of Botswana grew by 1.63%, while Tanzania's population grew by 2.9%.

Live population counters

Botswana Tanzania
Current population
2624853
73639263
Population rank 142/197 20/197
Percent of world population 0.03% 0.89%
One net population change
12.9 minutes
15.9 seconds
One birth every
8.56 minutes
13.2 seconds
One death every
36.3 minutes
1.34 minutes
Daily growth/decline +112 +5,440
Annual growth/decline +40,983 +1,985,708
Annual growth/decline rate +1.63% +2.9%
Population growth rate rank 65/197 16/197
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 46,951 -5,778 1,993,730 -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 2026-07-08).

GeoRank.org/population/botswana/tanzania | 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 Tanzania 98.8% is from natural causes (a gain of 18,197,641 people) and 1.2% is from migration (a gain of 220,684 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
Morogoro 471K
Arusha 416K
Tanga 221K
Dodoma 214K
Moshi 145K

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/tanzania | 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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