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Population in Botswana compared to the United States: Trends, Charts, Rankings

Updated on by Georank team

The latest officially reported population of Botswana was 2,521,139 in 2024 vs 341,784,857 people in the United States in 2025. In 2026, based on the adjusted UN estimation, the current Botswana's population is 2,615,162 people compared to 344,023,146 in the United States.

Population statistics:

  • The United States' population is 131.5 times bigger than Botswana's.
  • Botswana is ranked the 142nd most populous country in the world, while the United States is the 3rd.
  • The countries together account for 4.18% of the world: 0.03% for Botswana vs 4.15% for the United States.
  • For the last 10 years, Botswana has had an average growth rate of +1.5% per year vs +0.65% in the United States.
  • Since 2006, the population of Botswana has increased from 1.87M people to 2.62M (39.5% growth), while the United States has grown from 298M to 344M (15.3% growth).

Botswana vs United States: population by year and forecast

Botswana
Factual

Projection
United States
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Population
Botswana United States
2100 3,871,504 415,429,771
2099 3,876,625 414,829,167
2098 3,882,670 414,231,720
2097 3,887,985 413,576,381
2096 3,892,886 412,927,393
2095 3,897,211 412,225,379
2094 3,901,478 411,498,749
2093 3,905,541 410,785,729
2092 3,909,490 410,051,921
2091 3,913,899 409,320,183
2090 3,916,706 408,613,732
2089 3,917,351 407,885,645
2088 3,917,510 407,129,733
2087 3,916,826 406,421,298
2086 3,916,303 405,715,343
2085 3,915,785 405,059,379
2084 3,914,364 404,343,130
2083 3,912,929 403,612,785
2082 3,910,994 402,871,293
2081 3,910,013 402,054,554
2080 3,908,255 401,319,194
2079 3,905,358 400,554,914
2078 3,900,828 399,737,968
2077 3,896,126 398,906,565
2076 3,890,528 398,035,750
2075 3,884,696 397,109,170
2074 3,879,057 396,226,412
2073 3,873,259 395,307,725
2072 3,865,665 394,393,561
2071 3,858,720 393,415,363
2070 3,851,234 392,469,727
2069 3,841,316 391,479,981
2068 3,830,826 390,517,695
2067 3,818,341 389,543,856
2066 3,805,705 388,597,719
2065 3,791,211 387,685,327
2064 3,775,938 386,805,026
2063 3,760,179 385,911,917
2062 3,742,710 385,032,627
2061 3,723,346 384,170,837
2060 3,703,231 383,361,269
2059 3,682,816 382,542,030
2058 3,659,567 381,704,804
2057 3,635,514 380,907,023
2056 3,611,843 380,159,777
2055 3,587,056 379,430,756
2054 3,562,182 378,682,851
2053 3,535,732 377,878,421
2052 3,507,938 377,073,303
2051 3,479,939 376,229,840
2050 3,451,521 375,373,155
2049 3,422,143 374,493,150
2048 3,391,720 373,590,762
2047 3,360,414 372,626,259
2046 3,328,208 371,644,809
2045 3,296,489 370,602,914
2044 3,265,120 369,518,897
2043 3,233,076 368,375,680
2042 3,201,405 367,158,772
2041 3,168,873 365,937,822
2040 3,135,889 364,671,837
2039 3,101,794 363,367,337
2038 3,067,648 361,997,023
2037 3,032,620 360,606,236
2036 2,996,884 359,193,245
2035 2,960,590 357,750,686
2034 2,923,411 356,266,726
2033 2,885,991 354,775,032
2032 2,847,292 353,259,037
2031 2,808,872 351,721,511
2030 2,768,505 350,155,042
2029 2,728,467 348,564,667
2028 2,686,968 346,906,294
2027 2,645,863 345,257,605
2026 2,603,779 343,565,426
2025 2,562,651 341,784,857
2024 2,521,139 340,110,988
2023 2,480,244 334,914,895
2022 2,439,892 333,271,411
2021 2,401,441 331,893,745
2020 2,365,894 331,526,933
2019 2,332,083 328,329,953
2018 2,299,141 326,838,199
2017 2,266,747 325,122,128
2016 2,234,776 323,071,755
2015 2,203,273 320,738,994
2014 2,172,044 318,386,329
2013 2,140,682 316,059,947
2012 2,108,617 313,877,662
2011 2,073,535 311,583,481
2010 2,033,111 309,327,143
2009 1,990,673 306,771,529
2008 1,949,970 304,093,966
2007 1,911,201 301,231,207
2006 1,874,516 298,379,912
2005 1,839,877 295,516,599
2004 1,807,146 292,805,298
2003 1,775,736 290,107,933
2002 1,744,763 287,625,193
2001 1,712,254 284,968,955
2000 1,677,382 282,162,411
1999 1,641,997 279,294,713
1998 1,606,899 276,115,288
1997 1,571,691 272,911,760
1996 1,535,914 269,667,391
1995 1,498,836 266,557,091
1994 1,460,023 263,435,673
1993 1,420,115 260,255,352
1992 1,380,033 256,894,189
1991 1,341,756 253,492,503
1990 1,305,696 250,131,894
1989 1,270,274 246,819,222
1988 1,235,476 244,499,004
1987 1,199,167 242,288,936
1986 1,160,650 240,132,831
1985 1,121,945 237,923,734
1984 1,083,660 235,824,908
1983 1,046,137 233,792,014
1982 1,009,269 231,664,432
1981 969,996 229,465,744
1980 937,485 226,542,250
1979 901,742 225,055,487
1978 849,239 222,584,545
1977 799,574 220,239,425
1976 758,508 218,035,164
1975 720,380 215,973,199
1974 685,448 213,853,928
1973 652,408 211,908,788
1972 622,407 209,896,021
1971 600,481 207,660,677
1970 590,334 205,052,174
1969 587,066 202,676,946
1968 583,966 200,706,052
1967 580,933 198,712,056
1966 577,866 196,560,338
1965 574,664 194,302,963
1964 566,266 191,888,791
1963 552,966 189,241,798
1962 540,186 186,537,737
1961 527,942 183,691,481
1960 516,165 180,671,158

Data sources: United Nations | World Population Prospects (2025–2100, retrieved 2026-03-10); U.S. Census Bureau (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-02-08); World Bank | Health (1960–2024, retrieved 2026-04-06).

GeoRank.org/population/botswana/united-states | CC BY

From 2006 to 2016, the population of Botswana increased by 360,260 people (a 19.2% growth), while the United States gained 24,691,843 people (a 8.28% growth).

For the next 10 years, from 2016 to 2026, Botswana gained 380,386 people (a 17% growth), while the United States' population increased by 20,951,391 people (a 6.49% growth).

Botswana was ranked 145th most populous country in 2006 and is 142nd in 2026. The United States was ranked 3rd in 2006 and still ranked 3rd 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 the United States will increase by 9.11% to 375,373,155 people and will still be ranked 3rd.

Botswana is projected to reach its peak in 2088 at 3.92M people compared to the peak of 415M people in 2100 for the United States.

Population growth rate by year

Botswana
Factual

Projection
United States
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Growth rate
Botswana United States
2100 -0.13% 0.14%
2099 -0.16% 0.14%
2098 -0.14% 0.16%
2097 -0.13% 0.16%
2096 -0.11% 0.17%
2095 -0.11% 0.18%
2094 -0.1% 0.17%
2093 -0.1% 0.18%
2092 -0.11% 0.18%
2091 -0.07% 0.17%
2090 -0.02% 0.18%
2089 -0.004% 0.19%
2088 0.02% 0.17%
2087 0.01% 0.17%
2086 0.01% 0.16%
2085 0.04% 0.18%
2084 0.04% 0.18%
2083 0.05% 0.18%
2082 0.03% 0.2%
2081 0.04% 0.18%
2080 0.07% 0.19%
2079 0.12% 0.2%
2078 0.12% 0.21%
2077 0.14% 0.22%
2076 0.15% 0.23%
2075 0.15% 0.22%
2074 0.15% 0.23%
2073 0.2% 0.23%
2072 0.18% 0.25%
2071 0.19% 0.24%
2070 0.26% 0.25%
2069 0.27% 0.25%
2068 0.33% 0.25%
2067 0.33% 0.24%
2066 0.38% 0.24%
2065 0.4% 0.23%
2064 0.42% 0.23%
2063 0.47% 0.23%
2062 0.52% 0.22%
2061 0.54% 0.21%
2060 0.55% 0.21%
2059 0.64% 0.22%
2058 0.66% 0.21%
2057 0.66% 0.2%
2056 0.69% 0.19%
2055 0.7% 0.2%
2054 0.75% 0.21%
2053 0.79% 0.21%
2052 0.8% 0.22%
2051 0.82% 0.23%
2050 0.86% 0.23%
2049 0.9% 0.24%
2048 0.93% 0.26%
2047 0.97% 0.26%
2046 0.96% 0.28%
2045 0.96% 0.29%
2044 0.99% 0.31%
2043 0.99% 0.33%
2042 1.03% 0.33%
2041 1.05% 0.35%
2040 1.1% 0.36%
2039 1.11% 0.38%
2038 1.16% 0.39%
2037 1.19% 0.39%
2036 1.23% 0.4%
2035 1.27% 0.42%
2034 1.3% 0.42%
2033 1.36% 0.43%
2032 1.37% 0.44%
2031 1.46% 0.45%
2030 1.47% 0.46%
2029 1.54% 0.48%
2028 1.55% 0.48%
2027 1.62% 0.49%
2026 1.6% 0.52%
2025 1.65% 0.49%
2024 1.65% 1.55%
2023 1.65% 0.49%
2022 1.6% 0.42%
2021 1.5% 0.11%
2020 1.45% 0.97%
2019 1.43% 0.46%
2018 1.43% 0.53%
2017 1.43% 0.63%
2016 1.43% 0.73%
2015 1.44% 0.74%
2014 1.47% 0.74%
2013 1.52% 0.7%
2012 1.69% 0.74%
2011 1.99% 0.73%
2010 2.13% 0.83%
2009 2.09% 0.88%
2008 2.03% 0.95%
2007 1.96% 0.96%
2006 1.88% 0.97%
2005 1.81% 0.93%
2004 1.77% 0.93%
2003 1.78% 0.86%
2002 1.9% 0.93%
2001 2.08% 0.99%
2000 2.15% 1.03%
1999 2.18% 1.15%
1998 2.24% 1.17%
1997 2.33% 1.2%
1996 2.47% 1.17%
1995 2.66% 1.18%
1994 2.81% 1.22%
1993 2.9% 1.31%
1992 2.85% 1.34%
1991 2.76% 1.34%
1990 2.79% 1.34%
1989 2.82% 0.95%
1988 3.03% 0.91%
1987 3.32% 0.9%
1986 3.45% 0.93%
1985 3.53% 0.89%
1984 3.59% 0.87%
1983 3.65% 0.92%
1982 4.05% 0.96%
1981 3.47% 1.29%
1980 3.96% 0.66%
1979 6.18% 1.11%
1978 6.21% 1.06%
1977 5.41% 1.01%
1976 5.29% 0.95%
1975 5.1% 0.99%
1974 5.06% 0.92%
1973 4.82% 0.96%
1972 3.65% 1.08%
1971 1.72% 1.27%
1970 0.56% 1.17%
1969 0.53% 0.98%
1968 0.52% 1%
1967 0.53% 1.09%
1966 0.56% 1.16%
1965 1.48% 1.26%
1964 2.41% 1.4%
1963 2.37% 1.45%
1962 2.32% 1.55%
1961 2.28% 1.67%
1960 - 1.6%

Data sources: United Nations | World Population Prospects (2025–2100, retrieved 2026-03-10); U.S. Census Bureau (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-02-08); World Bank | Health (1961–2024, retrieved 2026-04-06).

GeoRank.org/population/botswana/united-states | CC BY

In 2025, the population of Botswana grew by 1.65%, while the United States' population grew by 0.49%.

Live population counters

Botswana United States
Current population
2615162
344023146
Population rank 142/197 3/197
Percent of world population 0.03% 4.15%
One net population change
12.9 minutes
18.9 seconds
One birth every
8.58 minutes
8.8 seconds
One death every
37 minutes
10.2 seconds
Daily growth/decline +112 +4,586
Annual growth/decline +40,895 +1,673,869
Annual growth/decline rate +1.65% +0.49%
Population growth rate rank 66/197 134/197
One migration net change every
1.55 hours
25.7 seconds
Annual migration change -5,665 +1,230,663
Net migration rank 120/196 2/196
Foreign-born residents 116,402 52,375,047
Foreign-born residents rank 126/195 1/195
Foreign-born share of population 4.6% 15.2%
Foreign-born share rank 96/195 41/195

Natural population change vs migration

Botswana
Natural

Migration
United States
Natural

Migration
1x
Year Population change
Botswana United States
Natural Migration Natural Migration
2025 - -5,665 - 1,230,663
2024 - -5,778 - 1,286,132
2023 47,098 -6,487 502,372 1,322,668
2022 47,400 -7,306 399,926 1,319,009
2021 40,894 -4,083 199,137 674,787
2020 45,610 -11,330 208,862 329,769
2019 45,110 -11,770 887,476 1,774,500
2018 44,171 -11,623 955,022 1,764,961
2017 43,154 -10,916 1,028,037 1,864,738
2016 41,993 -10,286 1,197,627 1,889,129
2015 40,897 -9,599 1,270,126 1,722,127
2014 40,046 -8,893 1,357,281 1,672,598
2013 39,404 -7,836 1,322,711 1,663,885
2012 39,202 -6,636 1,411,822 1,632,007
2011 38,613 -1,019 1,441,697 1,624,033
2010 38,101 5,151 1,548,182 1,594,453
2009 36,671 4,960 1,717,920 1,387,306
2008 35,433 4,343 1,794,154 1,416,841
2007 33,832 3,926 1,897,757 1,371,353
2006 31,340 4,270 1,849,955 1,347,750
2005 29,385 4,283 1,684,445 1,369,224
2004 27,481 4,314 1,698,271 1,313,467
2003 26,545 4,488 1,653,615 1,331,376
2002 26,163 4,747 1,581,938 1,336,518
2001 26,112 7,991 1,595,826 1,312,455
2000 25,850 9,798 1,664,758 1,248,392
1999 25,358 9,762 1,564,050 1,156,311
1998 25,397 9,685 1,573,857 1,225,134
1997 25,738 9,597 1,501,014 1,116,922
1996 26,847 9,368 1,510,137 1,141,648
1995 28,478 9,464 1,546,031 1,173,016
1994 30,664 9,023 1,633,302 1,179,309
1993 31,691 8,441 1,717,685 1,228,478
1992 31,995 8,026 1,875,328 1,304,880
1991 32,219 4,311 1,926,543 1,202,426
1990 33,015 2,580 2,026,068 1,084,720
1989 33,756 1,495 1,875,826 400,998
1988 34,564 -215 1,735,943 460,778
1987 35,647 2,624 1,720,252 480,815
1986 36,203 2,558 1,656,917 493,082
1985 35,966 2,683 1,689,258 598,777
1984 35,530 2,393 1,627,192 622,793
1983 35,142 1,980 1,636,544 662,840
1982 34,859 1,751 1,714,317 600,149
1981 34,327 7,610 1,652,153 583,070
1980 33,934 -10,849 1,608,450 595,916
1979 32,486 15,918 1,597,894 503,559
1978 30,596 26,015 1,402,283 556,521
1977 29,009 13,708 1,431,556 577,060
1976 27,497 11,914 1,264,604 635,590
1975 25,762 11,086 1,252,644 655,078
1974 24,160 8,854 1,218,968 706,978
1973 22,449 10,615 1,165,499 783,163
1972 21,004 5,937 1,301,355 833,543
1971 19,926 -3,016 1,640,519 833,549
1970 19,438 -16,054 1,824,965 744,902
1969 19,024 -15,870 1,702,487 523,740
1968 18,725 -15,681 1,565,507 594,514
1967 18,463 -15,438 1,669,181 585,410
1966 18,250 -15,140 1,749,387 637,692
1965 18,045 -14,753 1,943,030 644,902
1964 17,634 -4,126 2,245,099 618,635
1963 17,084 -4,000 2,289,826 639,495
1962 16,507 -4,028 2,406,337 625,617
1961 16,185 -4,168 2,571,681 580,333
1960 15,861 -4,331 2,565,530 422,708

Data sources: World Bank | Health (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-04-06); U.S. Census Bureau (1960–2023, retrieved 2026-02-08).

GeoRank.org/population/botswana/united-states | 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 the United States 35.8% is from natural causes (a gain of 8,005,866 people) and 64.2% is from migration (a gain of 14,334,286 people).

As of 2024, 116,402 residents or 4.6% of the population were not native-born in Botswana, compared to 52,375,047 people or 15.2% in the United States.

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
United States
City Population
New York 8.8M
Los Angeles 3.9M
Chicago 2.75M
Houston 2.3M
Phoenix 1.61M
Philadelphia 1.6M
San Antonio 1.43M
San Diego 1.39M
Dallas 1.3M
San Jose 1.01M

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/united-states | 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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