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

Updated on by Georank team

The latest officially reported population of Botswana was 2,521,139 in 2024 vs 71,668,011 people in Thailand in 2024. In 2026, based on the adjusted UN estimation, the current Botswana's population is 2,615,162 people compared to 71,571,743 in Thailand.

Population statistics:

  • Thailand's population is 27.4 times bigger than Botswana's.
  • Botswana is ranked the 142nd most populous country in the world, while Thailand is the 21st.
  • The countries together account for 0.9% of the world: 0.03% for Botswana vs 0.86% for Thailand.
  • For the last 10 years, Botswana has had an average growth rate of +1.5% per year vs +0.23% in Thailand.
  • Since 2006, the population of Botswana has increased from 1.87M people to 2.62M (39.5% growth), while Thailand has grown from 66.6M to 71.6M (7.52% growth).

Botswana vs Thailand: population by year and forecast

Botswana
Factual

Projection
Thailand
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Population
Botswana Thailand
2100 3,871,504 45,712,111
2099 3,876,625 46,056,854
2098 3,882,670 46,406,925
2097 3,887,985 46,761,683
2096 3,892,886 47,122,446
2095 3,897,211 47,487,866
2094 3,901,478 47,857,414
2093 3,905,541 48,230,566
2092 3,909,490 48,609,149
2091 3,913,899 48,988,448
2090 3,916,706 49,372,024
2089 3,917,351 49,760,635
2088 3,917,510 50,146,313
2087 3,916,826 50,536,233
2086 3,916,303 50,929,394
2085 3,915,785 51,326,092
2084 3,914,364 51,728,619
2083 3,912,929 52,131,789
2082 3,910,994 52,537,598
2081 3,910,013 52,942,608
2080 3,908,255 53,352,029
2079 3,905,358 53,766,821
2078 3,900,828 54,181,891
2077 3,896,126 54,599,508
2076 3,890,528 55,019,721
2075 3,884,696 55,442,571
2074 3,879,057 55,872,412
2073 3,873,259 56,304,891
2072 3,865,665 56,739,842
2071 3,858,720 57,177,118
2070 3,851,234 57,621,370
2069 3,841,316 58,066,637
2068 3,830,826 58,516,959
2067 3,818,341 58,967,738
2066 3,805,705 59,418,676
2065 3,791,211 59,878,082
2064 3,775,938 60,336,709
2063 3,760,179 60,797,201
2062 3,742,710 61,262,000
2061 3,723,346 61,724,999
2060 3,703,231 62,192,387
2059 3,682,816 62,656,203
2058 3,659,567 63,118,413
2057 3,635,514 63,577,864
2056 3,611,843 64,032,675
2055 3,587,056 64,478,337
2054 3,562,182 64,917,436
2053 3,535,732 65,343,383
2052 3,507,938 65,763,356
2051 3,479,939 66,167,939
2050 3,451,521 66,558,274
2049 3,422,143 66,936,876
2048 3,391,720 67,296,897
2047 3,360,414 67,641,907
2046 3,328,208 67,972,603
2045 3,296,489 68,287,399
2044 3,265,120 68,585,177
2043 3,233,076 68,870,333
2042 3,201,405 69,139,548
2041 3,168,873 69,396,419
2040 3,135,889 69,632,464
2039 3,101,794 69,854,146
2038 3,067,648 70,062,543
2037 3,032,620 70,256,027
2036 2,996,884 70,435,348
2035 2,960,590 70,604,705
2034 2,923,411 70,756,791
2033 2,885,991 70,897,217
2032 2,847,292 71,025,384
2031 2,808,872 71,140,609
2030 2,768,505 71,247,320
2029 2,728,467 71,342,891
2028 2,686,968 71,428,869
2027 2,645,863 71,505,168
2026 2,603,779 71,571,743
2025 2,562,651 71,625,629
2024 2,521,139 71,668,011
2023 2,480,244 71,702,435
2022 2,439,892 71,735,329
2021 2,401,441 71,727,332
2020 2,365,894 71,641,484
2019 2,332,083 71,522,271
2018 2,299,141 71,376,079
2017 2,266,747 71,160,187
2016 2,234,776 70,859,841
2015 2,203,273 70,540,795
2014 2,172,044 70,216,367
2013 2,140,682 69,845,114
2012 2,108,617 69,436,098
2011 2,073,535 69,007,208
2010 2,033,111 68,579,447
2009 1,990,673 68,121,080
2008 1,949,970 67,619,830
2007 1,911,201 67,102,394
2006 1,874,516 66,567,687
2005 1,839,877 66,017,420
2004 1,807,146 65,452,047
2003 1,775,736 64,868,166
2002 1,744,763 64,266,437
2001 1,712,254 63,651,141
2000 1,677,382 63,007,815
1999 1,641,997 62,299,043
1998 1,606,899 61,522,630
1997 1,571,691 60,724,584
1996 1,535,914 59,920,064
1995 1,498,836 59,098,232
1994 1,460,023 58,260,854
1993 1,420,115 57,408,198
1992 1,380,033 56,528,834
1991 1,341,756 55,637,434
1990 1,305,696 54,738,329
1989 1,270,274 53,848,956
1988 1,235,476 52,969,595
1987 1,199,167 52,074,105
1986 1,160,650 51,177,834
1985 1,121,945 50,270,753
1984 1,083,660 49,351,708
1983 1,046,137 48,423,309
1982 1,009,269 47,494,577
1981 969,996 46,575,855
1980 937,485 45,650,022
1979 901,742 44,718,434
1978 849,239 43,788,976
1977 799,574 42,843,974
1976 758,508 41,896,504
1975 720,380 40,940,005
1974 685,448 39,952,891
1973 652,408 38,947,787
1972 622,407 37,933,929
1971 600,481 36,937,387
1970 590,334 35,954,408
1969 587,066 34,973,782
1968 583,966 34,002,560
1967 580,933 33,037,801
1966 577,866 32,086,071
1965 574,664 31,149,337
1964 566,266 30,232,141
1963 552,966 29,342,322
1962 540,186 28,481,040
1961 527,942 27,650,334
1960 516,165 26,851,747

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/thailand | CC BY

From 2006 to 2016, the population of Botswana increased by 360,260 people (a 19.2% growth), while Thailand gained 4,292,154 people (a 6.45% growth).

For the next 10 years, from 2016 to 2026, Botswana gained 380,386 people (a 17% growth), while Thailand's population increased by 711,902 people (a 1% growth).

Botswana was ranked 145th most populous country in 2006 and is 142nd in 2026. Thailand was ranked 19th in 2006 and ranked 21st 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 Thailand will decrease by 7% to 66,558,274 people and rank change from 21st to 31st.

Botswana is projected to reach its peak in 2088 at 3.92M people, while Thailand's population already peaked in 2022 at 71.7M people and is projected to decrease to 45.7M people by 2100.

Population growth rate by year

Botswana
Factual

Projection
Thailand
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Growth rate
Botswana Thailand
2100 -0.13% -0.75%
2099 -0.16% -0.75%
2098 -0.14% -0.76%
2097 -0.13% -0.77%
2096 -0.11% -0.77%
2095 -0.11% -0.77%
2094 -0.1% -0.77%
2093 -0.1% -0.78%
2092 -0.11% -0.77%
2091 -0.07% -0.78%
2090 -0.02% -0.78%
2089 -0.004% -0.77%
2088 0.02% -0.77%
2087 0.01% -0.77%
2086 0.01% -0.77%
2085 0.04% -0.78%
2084 0.04% -0.77%
2083 0.05% -0.77%
2082 0.03% -0.76%
2081 0.04% -0.77%
2080 0.07% -0.77%
2079 0.12% -0.77%
2078 0.12% -0.76%
2077 0.14% -0.76%
2076 0.15% -0.76%
2075 0.15% -0.77%
2074 0.15% -0.77%
2073 0.2% -0.77%
2072 0.18% -0.76%
2071 0.19% -0.77%
2070 0.26% -0.77%
2069 0.27% -0.77%
2068 0.33% -0.76%
2067 0.33% -0.76%
2066 0.38% -0.77%
2065 0.4% -0.76%
2064 0.42% -0.76%
2063 0.47% -0.76%
2062 0.52% -0.75%
2061 0.54% -0.75%
2060 0.55% -0.74%
2059 0.64% -0.73%
2058 0.66% -0.72%
2057 0.66% -0.71%
2056 0.69% -0.69%
2055 0.7% -0.68%
2054 0.75% -0.65%
2053 0.79% -0.64%
2052 0.8% -0.61%
2051 0.82% -0.59%
2050 0.86% -0.57%
2049 0.9% -0.53%
2048 0.93% -0.51%
2047 0.97% -0.49%
2046 0.96% -0.46%
2045 0.96% -0.43%
2044 0.99% -0.41%
2043 0.99% -0.39%
2042 1.03% -0.37%
2041 1.05% -0.34%
2040 1.1% -0.32%
2039 1.11% -0.3%
2038 1.16% -0.28%
2037 1.19% -0.25%
2036 1.23% -0.24%
2035 1.27% -0.21%
2034 1.3% -0.2%
2033 1.36% -0.18%
2032 1.37% -0.16%
2031 1.46% -0.15%
2030 1.47% -0.13%
2029 1.54% -0.12%
2028 1.55% -0.11%
2027 1.62% -0.09%
2026 1.6% -0.08%
2025 1.65% -0.06%
2024 1.65% -0.05%
2023 1.65% -0.05%
2022 1.6% 0.01%
2021 1.5% 0.12%
2020 1.45% 0.17%
2019 1.43% 0.2%
2018 1.43% 0.3%
2017 1.43% 0.42%
2016 1.43% 0.45%
2015 1.44% 0.46%
2014 1.47% 0.53%
2013 1.52% 0.59%
2012 1.69% 0.62%
2011 1.99% 0.62%
2010 2.13% 0.67%
2009 2.09% 0.74%
2008 2.03% 0.77%
2007 1.96% 0.8%
2006 1.88% 0.83%
2005 1.81% 0.86%
2004 1.77% 0.9%
2003 1.78% 0.94%
2002 1.9% 0.97%
2001 2.08% 1.02%
2000 2.15% 1.14%
1999 2.18% 1.26%
1998 2.24% 1.31%
1997 2.33% 1.34%
1996 2.47% 1.39%
1995 2.66% 1.44%
1994 2.81% 1.49%
1993 2.9% 1.56%
1992 2.85% 1.6%
1991 2.76% 1.64%
1990 2.79% 1.65%
1989 2.82% 1.66%
1988 3.03% 1.72%
1987 3.32% 1.75%
1986 3.45% 1.8%
1985 3.53% 1.86%
1984 3.59% 1.92%
1983 3.65% 1.96%
1982 4.05% 1.97%
1981 3.47% 2.03%
1980 3.96% 2.08%
1979 6.18% 2.12%
1978 6.21% 2.21%
1977 5.41% 2.26%
1976 5.29% 2.34%
1975 5.1% 2.47%
1974 5.06% 2.58%
1973 4.82% 2.67%
1972 3.65% 2.7%
1971 1.72% 2.73%
1970 0.56% 2.8%
1969 0.53% 2.86%
1968 0.52% 2.92%
1967 0.53% 2.97%
1966 0.56% 3.01%
1965 1.48% 3.03%
1964 2.41% 3.03%
1963 2.37% 3.02%
1962 2.32% 3%
1961 2.28% 2.97%

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/thailand | CC BY

In 2024, the population of Botswana grew by 1.65%, while Thailand's population declined by 0.05%.

Live population counters

Botswana Thailand
Current population
2615162
71571743
Population rank 142/197 21/197
Percent of world population 0.03% 0.86%
One net population change
12.9 minutes
15.3 minutes
One birth every
8.58 minutes
53.3 seconds
One death every
37 minutes
49.5 seconds
Daily growth/decline +112 -94
Annual growth/decline +40,895 -34,424
Annual growth/decline rate +1.65% -0.05%
Population growth rate rank 66/197 168/197
One migration net change every
1.55 hours
19.2 minutes
Annual migration change -5,665 +27,509
Net migration rank 120/196 30/196
Foreign-born residents 116,402 3,179,399
Foreign-born residents rank 126/195 21/195
Foreign-born share of population 4.6% 4.4%
Foreign-born share rank 96/195 100/195

Natural population change vs migration

Botswana
Natural

Migration
Thailand
Natural

Migration
1x
Year Population change
Botswana Thailand
Natural Migration Natural Migration
2025 - -5,665 - 27,509
2024 - -5,778 - 23,321
2023 47,098 -6,487 -46,105 19,648
2022 47,400 -7,306 -61,046 21,683
2021 40,894 -4,083 57,382 -2,093
2020 45,610 -11,330 84,107 32,277
2019 45,110 -11,770 116,867 5,221
2018 44,171 -11,623 159,383 10,984
2017 43,154 -10,916 194,695 66,805
2016 41,993 -10,286 226,255 112,978
2015 40,897 -9,599 266,362 32,500
2014 40,046 -8,893 294,628 55,358
2013 39,404 -7,836 325,059 67,452
2012 39,202 -6,636 351,485 74,033
2011 38,613 -1,019 365,670 66,607
2010 38,101 5,151 370,466 52,791
2009 36,671 4,960 382,636 110,883
2008 35,433 4,343 401,730 107,333
2007 33,832 3,926 425,362 100,486
2006 31,340 4,270 441,211 102,362
2005 29,385 4,283 456,378 100,542
2004 27,481 4,314 466,542 107,199
2003 26,545 4,488 488,003 105,917
2002 26,163 4,747 504,299 105,215
2001 26,112 7,991 524,230 96,817
2000 25,850 9,798 543,884 121,640
1999 25,358 9,762 578,073 173,924
1998 25,397 9,685 617,318 183,471
1997 25,738 9,597 644,834 150,411
1996 26,847 9,368 661,397 152,397
1995 28,478 9,464 682,703 147,226
1994 30,664 9,023 712,589 132,271
1993 31,691 8,441 737,696 122,746
1992 31,995 8,026 754,999 143,318
1991 32,219 4,311 760,508 124,034
1990 33,015 2,580 760,808 152,916
1989 33,756 1,495 774,563 90,497
1988 34,564 -215 765,252 128,469
1987 35,647 2,624 774,498 122,791
1986 36,203 2,558 783,430 111,820
1985 35,966 2,683 776,935 141,963
1984 35,530 2,393 779,856 139,345
1983 35,142 1,980 794,239 143,393
1982 34,859 1,751 817,951 101,885
1981 34,327 7,610 839,297 78,337
1980 33,934 -10,849 845,575 88,478
1979 32,486 15,918 843,434 85,693
1978 30,596 26,015 847,799 82,011
1977 29,009 13,708 871,232 88,937
1976 27,497 11,914 894,072 40,656
1975 25,762 11,086 911,980 66,306
1974 24,160 8,854 923,151 72,801
1973 22,449 10,615 933,540 80,704
1972 21,004 5,937 940,420 73,082
1971 19,926 -3,016 936,215 43,400
1970 19,438 -16,054 937,116 49,221
1969 19,024 -15,870 948,314 26,551
1968 18,725 -15,681 953,806 13,718
1967 18,463 -15,438 944,980 17,005
1966 18,250 -15,140 929,469 12,016
1965 18,045 -14,753 909,000 22,995
1964 17,634 -4,126 885,137 17,249
1963 17,084 -4,000 860,728 16,494
1962 16,507 -4,028 828,741 16,605
1961 16,185 -4,168 801,140 14,968
1960 15,861 -4,331 774,190 6,886

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

GeoRank.org/population/botswana/thailand | 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 Thailand 78.4% is from natural causes (a gain of 1,292,528 people) and 21.6% is from migration (a gain of 355,361 people).

As of 2024, 116,402 residents or 4.6% of the population were not native-born in Botswana, compared to 3,179,399 people or 4.4% in Thailand.

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
Thailand
City Population
Bangkok 5.68M
Chiang Mai 1.2M
Nonthaburi 256K
Pak Kret 190K
Hat Yai 159K
Nakhon Ratchasima 134K
Chaophraya Surasak 133K
Surat Thani 131K
Udon Thani 130K
Klaeng 130K

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/thailand | 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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