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

Updated on by Georank

The latest officially reported population of Botswana was 2,562,122 in 2025 vs 21,913,874 people in Zambia in 2025. In 2026, based on the adjusted UN estimation, the current Botswana's population is 2,624,853 people compared to 22,844,606 in Zambia.

Population statistics:

  • Zambia's population is 8.7 times bigger than Botswana's.
  • Botswana is ranked the 142nd most populous country in the world, while Zambia is the 62nd.
  • The countries together account for 0.31% of the world: 0.03% for Botswana vs 0.27% for Zambia.
  • For the last 10 years, Botswana has had an average growth rate of +1.51% per year vs +2.96% in Zambia.
  • Since 2006, the population of Botswana has increased from 1.87M people to 2.62M (40% growth), while Zambia has grown from 12.1M to 22.8M (88.3% growth).

Botswana vs Zambia: population by year and forecast

Botswana
Factual

Projection
Zambia
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Population
Botswana Zambia
2100 3,870,704 65,204,593
2099 3,875,823 64,858,778
2098 3,881,867 64,503,193
2097 3,887,181 64,136,110
2096 3,892,081 63,764,760
2095 3,896,405 63,380,692
2094 3,900,671 62,980,254
2093 3,904,733 62,578,008
2092 3,908,682 62,163,693
2091 3,913,090 61,738,437
2090 3,915,896 61,309,330
2089 3,916,540 60,868,166
2088 3,916,700 60,422,781
2087 3,916,016 59,958,303
2086 3,915,493 59,487,524
2085 3,914,975 59,011,423
2084 3,913,555 58,524,337
2083 3,912,119 58,029,088
2082 3,910,185 57,527,347
2081 3,909,204 57,016,267
2080 3,907,447 56,495,299
2079 3,904,550 55,972,223
2078 3,900,021 55,438,864
2077 3,895,321 54,895,964
2076 3,889,723 54,350,375
2075 3,883,893 53,796,265
2074 3,878,255 53,236,297
2073 3,872,458 52,666,980
2072 3,864,865 52,090,884
2071 3,857,922 51,509,551
2070 3,850,437 50,921,590
2069 3,840,521 50,324,793
2068 3,830,034 49,727,689
2067 3,817,551 49,125,817
2066 3,804,918 48,520,891
2065 3,790,427 47,909,160
2064 3,775,157 47,290,430
2063 3,759,402 46,668,252
2062 3,741,936 46,039,755
2061 3,722,576 45,407,718
2060 3,702,465 44,768,534
2059 3,682,055 44,128,619
2058 3,658,810 43,485,891
2057 3,634,762 42,843,489
2056 3,611,096 42,198,591
2055 3,586,314 41,550,105
2054 3,561,446 40,898,440
2053 3,535,001 40,247,706
2052 3,507,213 39,596,094
2051 3,479,219 38,942,292
2050 3,450,807 38,287,070
2049 3,421,435 37,626,787
2048 3,391,019 36,964,032
2047 3,359,719 36,302,603
2046 3,327,520 35,638,852
2045 3,295,807 34,974,927
2044 3,264,444 34,310,227
2043 3,232,407 33,645,797
2042 3,200,743 32,984,164
2041 3,168,217 32,323,084
2040 3,135,241 31,658,029
2039 3,101,153 30,995,204
2038 3,067,014 30,329,691
2037 3,031,993 29,662,721
2036 2,996,265 28,994,556
2035 2,959,978 28,327,922
2034 2,922,807 27,665,749
2033 2,885,394 27,006,658
2032 2,846,703 26,351,393
2031 2,808,291 25,697,754
2030 2,767,933 25,050,285
2029 2,727,903 24,409,600
2028 2,686,412 23,776,128
2027 2,645,316 23,146,922
2026 2,603,241 22,525,308
2025 2,562,122 21,913,874
2024 2,521,139 21,314,956
2023 2,480,244 20,723,965
2022 2,439,892 20,152,938
2021 2,401,441 19,603,607
2020 2,365,894 19,059,395
2019 2,332,083 18,513,839
2018 2,299,141 17,973,569
2017 2,266,747 17,441,320
2016 2,234,776 16,914,423
2015 2,203,273 16,399,089
2014 2,172,044 15,895,315
2013 2,140,682 15,398,997
2012 2,108,617 14,913,629
2011 2,073,535 14,437,796
2010 2,033,111 13,965,594
2009 1,990,673 13,490,389
2008 1,949,970 13,021,324
2007 1,911,201 12,565,085
2006 1,874,516 12,129,553
2005 1,839,877 11,718,819
2004 1,807,146 11,338,198
2003 1,775,736 10,983,595
2002 1,744,763 10,647,949
2001 1,712,254 10,325,185
2000 1,677,382 10,017,631
1999 1,641,997 9,740,005
1998 1,606,899 9,482,408
1997 1,571,691 9,237,063
1996 1,535,914 9,004,053
1995 1,498,836 8,785,763
1994 1,460,023 8,576,269
1993 1,420,115 8,373,921
1992 1,380,033 8,176,680
1991 1,341,756 7,981,650
1990 1,305,696 7,786,169
1989 1,270,274 7,589,216
1988 1,235,476 7,391,440
1987 1,199,167 7,191,282
1986 1,160,650 6,986,471
1985 1,121,945 6,780,953
1984 1,083,660 6,580,490
1983 1,046,137 6,381,038
1982 1,009,269 6,178,637
1981 969,996 5,983,289
1980 937,485 5,802,833
1979 901,742 5,631,728
1978 849,239 5,465,374
1977 799,574 5,302,480
1976 758,508 5,143,842
1975 720,380 4,990,086
1974 685,448 4,842,746
1973 652,408 4,702,693
1972 622,407 4,569,309
1971 600,481 4,442,525
1970 590,334 4,321,718
1969 587,066 4,197,116
1968 583,966 4,065,593
1967 580,933 3,936,343
1966 577,866 3,812,003
1965 574,664 3,692,086
1964 566,266 3,577,017
1963 552,966 3,465,907
1962 540,186 3,358,099
1961 527,942 3,254,086
1960 516,165 3,153,729

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/zambia | CC BY

From 2006 to 2016, the population of Botswana increased by 360,260 people (a 19.2% growth), while Zambia gained 4,784,870 people (a 39.4% growth).

For the next 10 years, from 2016 to 2026, Botswana gained 390,077 people (a 17.5% growth), while Zambia's population increased by 5,930,183 people (a 35.1% growth).

Botswana was ranked 145th most populous country in 2006 and is 142nd in 2026. Zambia was ranked 71st in 2006 and ranked 62nd 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 Zambia will increase by 67.6% to 38,287,070 people and rank change from 62nd to 54th.

Botswana is projected to reach its peak in 2088 at 3.92M people compared to the peak of 65.2M people in 2100 for Zambia.

Population growth rate by year

Botswana
Factual

Projection
Zambia
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Growth rate
Botswana Zambia
2100 -0.13% 0.53%
2099 -0.16% 0.55%
2098 -0.14% 0.57%
2097 -0.13% 0.58%
2096 -0.11% 0.61%
2095 -0.11% 0.64%
2094 -0.1% 0.64%
2093 -0.1% 0.67%
2092 -0.11% 0.69%
2091 -0.07% 0.7%
2090 -0.02% 0.72%
2089 -0.004% 0.74%
2088 0.02% 0.77%
2087 0.01% 0.79%
2086 0.01% 0.81%
2085 0.04% 0.83%
2084 0.04% 0.85%
2083 0.05% 0.87%
2082 0.03% 0.9%
2081 0.04% 0.92%
2080 0.07% 0.93%
2079 0.12% 0.96%
2078 0.12% 0.99%
2077 0.14% 1%
2076 0.15% 1.03%
2075 0.15% 1.05%
2074 0.15% 1.08%
2073 0.2% 1.11%
2072 0.18% 1.13%
2071 0.19% 1.15%
2070 0.26% 1.19%
2069 0.27% 1.2%
2068 0.33% 1.23%
2067 0.33% 1.25%
2066 0.38% 1.28%
2065 0.4% 1.31%
2064 0.42% 1.33%
2063 0.47% 1.37%
2062 0.52% 1.39%
2061 0.54% 1.43%
2060 0.55% 1.45%
2059 0.64% 1.48%
2058 0.66% 1.5%
2057 0.66% 1.53%
2056 0.69% 1.56%
2055 0.7% 1.59%
2054 0.75% 1.62%
2053 0.79% 1.65%
2052 0.8% 1.68%
2051 0.82% 1.71%
2050 0.86% 1.75%
2049 0.9% 1.79%
2048 0.93% 1.82%
2047 0.97% 1.86%
2046 0.96% 1.9%
2045 0.96% 1.94%
2044 0.99% 1.97%
2043 0.99% 2.01%
2042 1.03% 2.05%
2041 1.05% 2.1%
2040 1.1% 2.14%
2039 1.11% 2.19%
2038 1.16% 2.25%
2037 1.19% 2.3%
2036 1.23% 2.35%
2035 1.27% 2.39%
2034 1.3% 2.44%
2033 1.36% 2.49%
2032 1.37% 2.54%
2031 1.46% 2.58%
2030 1.47% 2.62%
2029 1.54% 2.66%
2028 1.55% 2.72%
2027 1.62% 2.76%
2026 1.6% 2.79%
2025 1.63% 2.81%
2024 1.65% 2.85%
2023 1.65% 2.83%
2022 1.6% 2.8%
2021 1.5% 2.86%
2020 1.45% 2.95%
2019 1.43% 3.01%
2018 1.43% 3.05%
2017 1.43% 3.12%
2016 1.43% 3.14%
2015 1.44% 3.17%
2014 1.47% 3.22%
2013 1.52% 3.25%
2012 1.69% 3.3%
2011 1.99% 3.38%
2010 2.13% 3.52%
2009 2.09% 3.6%
2008 2.03% 3.63%
2007 1.96% 3.59%
2006 1.88% 3.5%
2005 1.81% 3.36%
2004 1.77% 3.23%
2003 1.78% 3.15%
2002 1.9% 3.13%
2001 2.08% 3.07%
2000 2.15% 2.85%
1999 2.18% 2.72%
1998 2.24% 2.66%
1997 2.33% 2.59%
1996 2.47% 2.48%
1995 2.66% 2.44%
1994 2.81% 2.42%
1993 2.9% 2.41%
1992 2.85% 2.44%
1991 2.76% 2.51%
1990 2.79% 2.6%
1989 2.82% 2.68%
1988 3.03% 2.78%
1987 3.32% 2.93%
1986 3.45% 3.03%
1985 3.53% 3.05%
1984 3.59% 3.13%
1983 3.65% 3.28%
1982 4.05% 3.26%
1981 3.47% 3.11%
1980 3.96% 3.04%
1979 6.18% 3.04%
1978 6.21% 3.07%
1977 5.41% 3.08%
1976 5.29% 3.08%
1975 5.1% 3.04%
1974 5.06% 2.98%
1973 4.82% 2.92%
1972 3.65% 2.85%
1971 1.72% 2.8%
1970 0.56% 2.97%
1969 0.53% 3.24%
1968 0.52% 3.28%
1967 0.53% 3.26%
1966 0.56% 3.25%
1965 1.48% 3.22%
1964 2.41% 3.21%
1963 2.37% 3.21%
1962 2.32% 3.2%
1961 2.28% 3.18%

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/zambia | CC BY

In 2025, the population of Botswana grew by 1.63%, while Zambia's population grew by 2.81%.

Live population counters

Botswana Zambia
Current population
2624853
22844606
Population rank 142/197 62/197
Percent of world population 0.03% 0.27%
One net population change
12.9 minutes
52.8 seconds
One birth every
8.56 minutes
45.2 seconds
One death every
36.3 minutes
4.77 minutes
Daily growth/decline +112 +1,641
Annual growth/decline +40,983 +598,918
Annual growth/decline rate +1.63% +2.81%
Population growth rate rank 65/197 19/197
One migration net change every
1.55 hours
1.34 hours
Annual migration change -5,665 +6,562
Net migration rank 120/196 47/196
Foreign-born residents 116,402 249,205
Foreign-born residents rank 126/195 105/195
Foreign-born share of population 4.6% 1.2%
Foreign-born share rank 96/195 150/195

Natural population change vs migration

Botswana
Natural

Migration
Zambia
Natural

Migration
1x
Year Population change
Botswana Zambia
Natural Migration Natural Migration
2025 - -5,665 - 6,562
2024 46,951 -5,778 587,419 7,381
2023 47,098 -6,487 577,660 9,521
2022 47,400 -7,306 563,456 -8,566
2021 40,894 -4,083 535,629 8,143
2020 45,610 -11,330 536,484 8,156
2019 45,110 -11,770 528,089 18,385
2018 44,171 -11,623 515,644 18,431
2017 43,154 -10,916 504,630 25,789
2016 41,993 -10,286 497,521 25,860
2015 40,897 -9,599 491,021 16,261
2014 40,046 -8,893 483,663 16,574
2013 39,404 -7,836 476,846 15,542
2012 39,202 -6,636 469,406 8,958
2011 38,613 -1,019 459,743 13,569
2010 38,101 5,151 448,337 22,761
2009 36,671 4,960 434,458 44,867
2008 35,433 4,343 419,560 39,249
2007 33,832 3,926 403,729 49,945
2006 31,340 4,270 387,891 29,517
2005 29,385 4,283 368,756 35,316
2004 27,481 4,314 349,352 7,819
2003 26,545 4,488 331,189 20,845
2002 26,163 4,747 316,041 3,206
2001 26,112 7,991 302,682 23,582
2000 25,850 9,798 293,186 -4,338
1999 25,358 9,762 283,297 -16,888
1998 25,397 9,685 275,568 -26,796
1997 25,738 9,597 268,198 -26,276
1996 26,847 9,368 262,468 -38,358
1995 28,478 9,464 257,897 -45,423
1994 30,664 9,023 252,023 -45,504
1993 31,691 8,441 245,917 -47,739
1992 31,995 8,026 239,953 -43,656
1991 32,219 4,311 237,957 -44,203
1990 33,015 2,580 235,835 -38,619
1989 33,756 1,495 233,429 -36,736
1988 34,564 -215 230,118 -31,270
1987 35,647 2,624 227,813 -26,338
1986 36,203 2,558 224,768 -16,610
1985 35,966 2,683 221,351 -18,474
1984 35,530 2,393 216,695 -18,652
1983 35,142 1,980 212,712 -11,849
1982 34,859 1,751 207,621 -3,676
1981 34,327 7,610 202,822 -16,072
1980 33,934 -10,849 198,817 -24,664
1979 32,486 15,918 197,578 -29,515
1978 30,596 26,015 194,933 -30,284
1977 29,009 13,708 191,557 -30,423
1976 27,497 11,914 186,762 -30,612
1975 25,762 11,086 182,258 -30,886
1974 24,160 8,854 174,484 -31,178
1973 22,449 10,615 168,258 -31,472
1972 21,004 5,937 161,648 -31,672
1971 19,926 -3,016 155,249 -31,651
1970 19,438 -16,054 149,380 -31,370
1969 19,024 -15,870 142,660 -11,469
1968 18,725 -15,681 137,315 -5,447
1967 18,463 -15,438 131,938 -5,298
1966 18,250 -15,140 127,164 -5,129
1965 18,045 -14,753 122,814 -5,023
1964 17,634 -4,126 117,197 -4,851
1963 17,084 -4,000 114,555 -4,676
1962 16,507 -4,028 110,173 -4,428
1961 16,185 -4,168 106,318 -4,043
1960 15,861 -4,331 102,335 -3,898

Data sources: World Bank | Health (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-07-08).

GeoRank.org/population/botswana/zambia | 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 Zambia 97.6% is from natural causes (a gain of 5,337,553 people) and 2.37% is from migration (a gain of 129,361 people).

As of 2024, 116,402 residents or 4.6% of the population were not native-born in Botswana, compared to 249,205 people or 1.2% in Zambia.

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
Zambia
City Population
Lusaka 2.47M
Kitwe 625K
Ndola 528K
Chingola 255K
Mufulira 182K
Livingstone 177K
Kasama 158K
Kapiri Mposhi 65.2K
Choma 51.8K
Mansa 45.4K

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/zambia | 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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