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

Updated on by Georank team

The latest officially reported population of Botswana was 2,521,139 in 2024 vs 16,634,373 people in Zimbabwe in 2024. In 2026, based on the adjusted UN estimation, the current Botswana's population is 2,615,162 people compared to 17,361,868 in Zimbabwe.

Population statistics:

  • Zimbabwe's population is 6.64 times bigger than Botswana's.
  • Botswana is ranked the 142nd most populous country in the world, while Zimbabwe is the 74th.
  • The countries together account for 0.24% of the world: 0.03% for Botswana vs 0.21% for Zimbabwe.
  • For the last 10 years, Botswana has had an average growth rate of +1.5% per year vs +1.57% in Zimbabwe.
  • Since 2006, the population of Botswana has increased from 1.87M people to 2.62M (39.5% growth), while Zimbabwe has grown from 12.6M to 17.4M (37.4% growth).

Botswana vs Zimbabwe: population by year and forecast

Botswana
Factual

Projection
Zimbabwe
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Population
Botswana Zimbabwe
2100 3,871,504 37,483,053
2099 3,876,625 37,412,398
2098 3,882,670 37,328,255
2097 3,887,985 37,235,542
2096 3,892,886 37,142,915
2095 3,897,211 37,032,129
2094 3,901,478 36,912,747
2093 3,905,541 36,810,893
2092 3,909,490 36,688,511
2091 3,913,899 36,567,262
2090 3,916,706 36,425,606
2089 3,917,351 36,280,973
2088 3,917,510 36,141,446
2087 3,916,826 35,977,638
2086 3,916,303 35,808,135
2085 3,915,785 35,637,092
2084 3,914,364 35,456,207
2083 3,912,929 35,268,035
2082 3,910,994 35,078,904
2081 3,910,013 34,873,129
2080 3,908,255 34,658,962
2079 3,905,358 34,439,720
2078 3,900,828 34,217,295
2077 3,896,126 33,982,909
2076 3,890,528 33,739,228
2075 3,884,696 33,495,867
2074 3,879,057 33,244,838
2073 3,873,259 32,978,488
2072 3,865,665 32,706,059
2071 3,858,720 32,445,747
2070 3,851,234 32,181,119
2069 3,841,316 31,906,793
2068 3,830,826 31,631,000
2067 3,818,341 31,345,338
2066 3,805,705 31,062,884
2065 3,791,211 30,766,830
2064 3,775,938 30,479,939
2063 3,760,179 30,176,104
2062 3,742,710 29,867,679
2061 3,723,346 29,557,068
2060 3,703,231 29,252,423
2059 3,682,816 28,945,088
2058 3,659,567 28,631,679
2057 3,635,514 28,307,305
2056 3,611,843 27,990,713
2055 3,587,056 27,658,887
2054 3,562,182 27,331,920
2053 3,535,732 26,986,935
2052 3,507,938 26,643,553
2051 3,479,939 26,287,592
2050 3,451,521 25,934,893
2049 3,422,143 25,585,239
2048 3,391,720 25,228,082
2047 3,360,414 24,874,649
2046 3,328,208 24,513,443
2045 3,296,489 24,147,637
2044 3,265,120 23,783,088
2043 3,233,076 23,401,965
2042 3,201,405 23,035,288
2041 3,168,873 22,647,950
2040 3,135,889 22,273,520
2039 3,101,794 21,902,980
2038 3,067,648 21,530,130
2037 3,032,620 21,159,664
2036 2,996,884 20,791,034
2035 2,960,590 20,413,656
2034 2,923,411 20,048,019
2033 2,885,991 19,676,339
2032 2,847,292 19,311,985
2031 2,808,872 18,959,300
2030 2,768,505 18,613,738
2029 2,728,467 18,270,049
2028 2,686,968 17,933,466
2027 2,645,863 17,600,984
2026 2,603,779 17,273,208
2025 2,562,651 16,949,303
2024 2,521,139 16,634,373
2023 2,480,244 16,340,822
2022 2,439,892 16,069,056
2021 2,401,441 15,797,210
2020 2,365,894 15,526,888
2019 2,332,083 15,271,368
2018 2,299,141 15,034,452
2017 2,266,747 14,812,482
2016 2,234,776 14,600,294
2015 2,203,273 14,399,013
2014 2,172,044 14,207,359
2013 2,140,682 14,013,808
2012 2,108,617 13,817,887
2011 2,073,535 13,595,424
2010 2,033,111 13,356,548
2009 1,990,673 13,142,790
2008 1,949,970 12,959,149
2007 1,911,201 12,804,058
2006 1,874,516 12,636,445
2005 1,839,877 12,483,432
2004 1,807,146 12,365,896
2003 1,775,736 12,232,323
2002 1,744,763 12,087,653
2001 1,712,254 11,971,901
2000 1,677,382 11,892,055
1999 1,641,997 11,783,458
1998 1,606,899 11,594,297
1997 1,571,691 11,369,827
1996 1,535,914 11,158,360
1995 1,498,836 10,974,599
1994 1,460,023 10,873,148
1993 1,420,115 10,860,288
1992 1,380,033 10,702,700
1991 1,341,756 10,404,816
1990 1,305,696 10,137,281
1989 1,270,274 9,864,798
1988 1,235,476 9,583,094
1987 1,199,167 9,284,644
1986 1,160,650 8,982,578
1985 1,121,945 8,686,813
1984 1,083,660 8,391,488
1983 1,046,137 8,098,404
1982 1,009,269 7,796,496
1981 969,996 7,498,635
1980 937,485 7,041,303
1979 901,742 6,647,556
1978 849,239 6,543,575
1977 799,574 6,449,512
1976 758,508 6,287,105
1975 720,380 6,098,658
1974 685,448 5,908,328
1973 652,408 5,720,404
1972 622,407 5,542,445
1971 600,481 5,374,712
1970 590,334 5,215,918
1969 587,066 5,058,181
1968 583,966 4,900,440
1967 580,933 4,748,307
1966 577,866 4,601,217
1965 574,664 4,458,462
1964 566,266 4,320,006
1963 552,966 4,185,877
1962 540,186 4,055,959
1961 527,942 3,930,401
1960 516,165 3,809,389

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/zimbabwe | CC BY

From 2006 to 2016, the population of Botswana increased by 360,260 people (a 19.2% growth), while Zimbabwe gained 1,963,849 people (a 15.5% growth).

For the next 10 years, from 2016 to 2026, Botswana gained 380,386 people (a 17% growth), while Zimbabwe's population increased by 2,761,574 people (a 18.9% growth).

Botswana was ranked 145th most populous country in 2006 and is 142nd in 2026. Zimbabwe was ranked 70th in 2006 and ranked 74th 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 Zimbabwe will increase by 49.4% to 25,934,893 people and rank change from 74th to 65th.

Botswana is projected to reach its peak in 2088 at 3.92M people compared to the peak of 37.5M people in 2100 for Zimbabwe.

Population growth rate by year

Botswana
Factual

Projection
Zimbabwe
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Growth rate
Botswana Zimbabwe
2100 -0.13% 0.19%
2099 -0.16% 0.23%
2098 -0.14% 0.25%
2097 -0.13% 0.25%
2096 -0.11% 0.3%
2095 -0.11% 0.32%
2094 -0.1% 0.28%
2093 -0.1% 0.33%
2092 -0.11% 0.33%
2091 -0.07% 0.39%
2090 -0.02% 0.4%
2089 -0.004% 0.39%
2088 0.02% 0.46%
2087 0.01% 0.47%
2086 0.01% 0.48%
2085 0.04% 0.51%
2084 0.04% 0.53%
2083 0.05% 0.54%
2082 0.03% 0.59%
2081 0.04% 0.62%
2080 0.07% 0.64%
2079 0.12% 0.65%
2078 0.12% 0.69%
2077 0.14% 0.72%
2076 0.15% 0.73%
2075 0.15% 0.76%
2074 0.15% 0.81%
2073 0.2% 0.83%
2072 0.18% 0.8%
2071 0.19% 0.82%
2070 0.26% 0.86%
2069 0.27% 0.87%
2068 0.33% 0.91%
2067 0.33% 0.91%
2066 0.38% 0.96%
2065 0.4% 0.94%
2064 0.42% 1.01%
2063 0.47% 1.03%
2062 0.52% 1.05%
2061 0.54% 1.04%
2060 0.55% 1.06%
2059 0.64% 1.09%
2058 0.66% 1.15%
2057 0.66% 1.13%
2056 0.69% 1.2%
2055 0.7% 1.2%
2054 0.75% 1.28%
2053 0.79% 1.29%
2052 0.8% 1.35%
2051 0.82% 1.36%
2050 0.86% 1.37%
2049 0.9% 1.42%
2048 0.93% 1.42%
2047 0.97% 1.47%
2046 0.96% 1.51%
2045 0.96% 1.53%
2044 0.99% 1.63%
2043 0.99% 1.59%
2042 1.03% 1.71%
2041 1.05% 1.68%
2040 1.1% 1.69%
2039 1.11% 1.73%
2038 1.16% 1.75%
2037 1.19% 1.77%
2036 1.23% 1.85%
2035 1.27% 1.82%
2034 1.3% 1.89%
2033 1.36% 1.89%
2032 1.37% 1.86%
2031 1.46% 1.86%
2030 1.47% 1.88%
2029 1.54% 1.88%
2028 1.55% 1.89%
2027 1.62% 1.9%
2026 1.6% 1.91%
2025 1.65% 1.89%
2024 1.65% 1.8%
2023 1.65% 1.69%
2022 1.6% 1.72%
2021 1.5% 1.74%
2020 1.45% 1.67%
2019 1.43% 1.58%
2018 1.43% 1.5%
2017 1.43% 1.45%
2016 1.43% 1.4%
2015 1.44% 1.35%
2014 1.47% 1.38%
2013 1.52% 1.42%
2012 1.69% 1.64%
2011 1.99% 1.79%
2010 2.13% 1.63%
2009 2.09% 1.42%
2008 2.03% 1.21%
2007 1.96% 1.33%
2006 1.88% 1.23%
2005 1.81% 0.95%
2004 1.77% 1.09%
2003 1.78% 1.2%
2002 1.9% 0.97%
2001 2.08% 0.67%
2000 2.15% 0.92%
1999 2.18% 1.63%
1998 2.24% 1.97%
1997 2.33% 1.9%
1996 2.47% 1.67%
1995 2.66% 0.93%
1994 2.81% 0.12%
1993 2.9% 1.47%
1992 2.85% 2.86%
1991 2.76% 2.64%
1990 2.79% 2.76%
1989 2.82% 2.94%
1988 3.03% 3.21%
1987 3.32% 3.36%
1986 3.45% 3.4%
1985 3.53% 3.52%
1984 3.59% 3.62%
1983 3.65% 3.87%
1982 4.05% 3.97%
1981 3.47% 6.49%
1980 3.96% 5.92%
1979 6.18% 1.59%
1978 6.21% 1.46%
1977 5.41% 2.58%
1976 5.29% 3.09%
1975 5.1% 3.22%
1974 5.06% 3.29%
1973 4.82% 3.21%
1972 3.65% 3.12%
1971 1.72% 3.04%
1970 0.56% 3.12%
1969 0.53% 3.22%
1968 0.52% 3.2%
1967 0.53% 3.2%
1966 0.56% 3.2%
1965 1.48% 3.2%
1964 2.41% 3.2%
1963 2.37% 3.2%
1962 2.32% 3.19%
1961 2.28% 3.18%

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/zimbabwe | CC BY

In 2024, the population of Botswana grew by 1.65%, while Zimbabwe's population grew by 1.8%.

Live population counters

Botswana Zimbabwe
Current population
2615162
17361868
Population rank 142/197 74/197
Percent of world population 0.03% 0.21%
One net population change
12.9 minutes
1.79 minutes
One birth every
8.58 minutes
1.06 minutes
One death every
37 minutes
4.22 minutes
Daily growth/decline +112 +804
Annual growth/decline +40,895 +293,551
Annual growth/decline rate +1.65% +1.8%
Population growth rate rank 66/197 60/197
One migration net change every
1.55 hours
9.66 minutes
Annual migration change -5,665 -54,555
Net migration rank 120/196 175/196
Foreign-born residents 116,402 429,108
Foreign-born residents rank 126/195 87/195
Foreign-born share of population 4.6% 2.6%
Foreign-born share rank 96/195 127/195

Natural population change vs migration

Botswana
Natural

Migration
Zimbabwe
Natural

Migration
1x
Year Population change
Botswana Zimbabwe
Natural Migration Natural Migration
2025 - -5,665 - -54,555
2024 - -5,778 - -60,528
2023 47,098 -6,487 372,505 -97,380
2022 47,400 -7,306 371,243 -102,828
2021 40,894 -4,083 349,908 -74,623
2020 45,610 -11,330 354,790 -89,440
2019 45,110 -11,770 348,798 -103,107
2018 44,171 -11,623 345,883 -117,758
2017 43,154 -10,916 344,035 -128,241
2016 41,993 -10,286 348,772 -140,181
2015 40,897 -9,599 356,203 -162,220
2014 40,046 -8,893 366,350 -177,029
2013 39,404 -7,836 374,757 -176,972
2012 39,202 -6,636 371,135 -177,061
2011 38,613 -1,019 359,572 -108,714
2010 38,101 5,151 335,570 -108,671
2009 36,671 4,960 309,316 -108,689
2008 35,433 4,343 280,527 -113,858
2007 33,832 3,926 261,805 -118,299
2006 31,340 4,270 248,963 -57,257
2005 29,385 4,283 248,545 -134,212
2004 27,481 4,314 248,307 -127,550
2003 26,545 4,488 243,057 -96,667
2002 26,163 4,747 244,170 -101,212
2001 26,112 7,991 227,909 -139,361
2000 25,850 9,798 236,343 -165,181
1999 25,358 9,762 232,393 -86,343
1998 25,397 9,685 225,614 6,645
1997 25,738 9,597 216,288 395
1996 26,847 9,368 205,269 978
1995 28,478 9,464 206,695 -45,428
1994 30,664 9,023 216,343 -174,723
1993 31,691 8,441 228,045 -243,947
1992 31,995 8,026 255,291 75,788
1991 32,219 4,311 260,943 3,749
1990 33,015 2,580 265,444 4,948
1989 33,756 1,495 270,838 3,736
1988 34,564 -215 277,498 11,327
1987 35,647 2,624 286,766 21,308
1986 36,203 2,558 289,894 6,154
1985 35,966 2,683 290,756 4,718
1984 35,530 2,393 290,052 5,124
1983 35,142 1,980 286,545 4,456
1982 34,859 1,751 279,934 32,899
1981 34,327 7,610 271,361 11,523
1980 33,934 -10,849 241,179 390,593
1979 32,486 15,918 223,657 -67,937
1978 30,596 26,015 222,979 -170,727
1977 29,009 13,708 225,139 -89,270
1976 27,497 11,914 221,419 -32,495
1975 25,762 11,086 216,947 -28,988
1974 24,160 8,854 208,806 -16,105
1973 22,449 10,615 201,885 -18,733
1972 21,004 5,937 193,725 -20,959
1971 19,926 -3,016 185,427 -22,719
1970 19,438 -16,054 178,979 -24,102
1969 19,024 -15,870 172,626 -12,028
1968 18,725 -15,681 166,865 -11,997
1967 18,463 -15,438 161,205 -11,814
1966 18,250 -15,140 156,014 -11,211
1965 18,045 -14,753 151,164 -10,465
1964 17,634 -4,126 145,848 -9,631
1963 17,084 -4,000 140,984 -8,936
1962 16,507 -4,028 136,317 -8,529
1961 16,185 -4,168 131,531 -8,204
1960 15,861 -4,331 126,959 -8,260

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

GeoRank.org/population/botswana/zimbabwe | 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 Zimbabwe 74.9% is from natural causes (a gain of 3,558,487 people) and 25.1% is from migration (a loss of 1,192,807 people).

As of 2024, 116,402 residents or 4.6% of the population were not native-born in Botswana, compared to 429,108 people or 2.6% in Zimbabwe.

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
Zimbabwe
City Population
Harare 2.15M
Masvingo 1.64M
Bulawayo 666K
Chitungwiza 371K
Mutare 225K
Gweru 141K
Kadoma 116K
Kwekwe 93.1K
Chinhoyi 56.8K
Marondera 52.3K

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/zimbabwe | 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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