Botswana vs Papua New Guinea: Urban and rural population
Botswana
1.74 million
in 2025
Papua New Guinea
1.70 million
in 2025
Botswana rank
139th
Papua New Guinea rank
140th
Urban and rural population over time
- Botswana
- Papua New Guinea
How they compare
Botswana currently reports 1.74 million against 1.70 million in Papua New Guinea, a difference of 42,760.
The two have swapped places 1 time across 76 shared years of data; in 1950 it was Papua New Guinea ahead.
Botswana ranks 139th and Papua New Guinea ranks 140th of 236 countries.
Across the 8 decades both report, Botswana averaged higher in 4 and Papua New Guinea in 4.
Head to head by decade
| Decade | Botswana | Papua New Guinea | Difference | Ahead |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1950s | 12,801 | 38,950 | 26,149 | Papua New Guinea |
| 1960s | 25,329 | 125,873 | 100,544 | Papua New Guinea |
| 1970s | 86,128 | 345,176 | 259,048 | Papua New Guinea |
| 1980s | 294,889 | 487,222 | 192,332 | Papua New Guinea |
| 1990s | 723,082 | 658,796 | 64,286 | Botswana |
| 2000s | 1.06 million | 843,997 | 217,869 | Botswana |
| 2010s | 1.42 million | 1.15 million | 275,618 | Botswana |
| 2020s | 1.65 million | 1.54 million | 110,975 | Botswana |
Averages of every year both report within each decade.
Frequently asked questions
- Which has higher urban and rural population, Botswana or Papua New Guinea?
- Botswana, at 1.74 million against 1.70 million in Papua New Guinea as of 2025.
- What is the difference in urban and rural population between Botswana and Papua New Guinea?
- 42,760, with Botswana ahead.
- How many years of comparable data are there for Botswana and Papua New Guinea?
- 76 years are reported by both, from 1950 to 2025.
- How do Botswana and Papua New Guinea rank globally for urban and rural population?
- Botswana ranks 139th and Papua New Guinea ranks 140th of 236 countries.
- Where does this data come from?
- Our World in Data, published as Urban and rural population. Statizoid refreshes it automatically from the source and publishes the full history for both places.