Skip to content

Botswana economy ranking: GDP & GDP per capita, debt

Updated on by Georank team

Botswana ranked 133/197 by economy size with a GDP of $19.4B and 97/197 by GDP per capita at $7,696. Botswana has $5.82B in government debt, with a debt-to-GDP ratio of 30%.

In 2024, Botswana made up 0.02% of the world's economy, compared to 0.002% in 1960.

Botswana GDP & GDP growth by year

GDP, current $
Real growth
1x
Year GDP GDP growth
2024 $19,402,063,513 -2.99%
2023 $19,411,266,967 3.21%
2022 $20,321,150,599 5.49%
2021 $18,750,182,236 11.9%
2020 $14,960,251,608 -8.73%
2019 $16,725,908,149 3.03%
2018 $17,031,943,186 4.19%
2017 $16,105,155,857 4.11%
2016 $15,082,637,184 7.2%
2015 $13,530,748,845 -4.85%
2014 $15,470,088,501 5.7%
2013 $14,271,738,933 11.1%
2012 $13,907,464,500 -0.17%
2011 $15,110,643,612 6.84%
2010 $12,637,273,429 10.1%
2009 $10,118,459,242 -14.1%
2008 $10,730,829,116 3.25%
2007 $10,567,270,656 5.79%
2006 $9,919,158,482 8.36%
2005 $9,918,907,108 4.56%
2004 $8,957,467,707 2.71%
2003 $7,511,582,173 4.63%
2002 $5,438,863,983 6.07%
2001 $5,489,608,300 0.25%
2000 $5,788,329,609 1.99%
1999 $5,484,263,347 9.67%
1998 $4,790,481,509 0.44%
1997 $5,020,265,627 8.33%
1996 $4,847,757,218 5.83%
1995 $4,730,599,122 7.03%
1994 $4,259,259,604 3.63%
1993 $4,160,129,175 1.92%
1992 $4,146,464,587 2.92%
1991 $3,942,876,703 7.46%
1990 $3,790,636,324 6.77%
1989 $3,083,822,112 13.1%
1988 $2,644,554,159 19.4%
1987 $1,965,226,890 11.9%
1986 $1,392,602,164 8.17%
1985 $1,114,783,343 7.13%
1984 $1,240,822,167 8.55%
1983 $1,172,230,397 13.1%
1982 $1,014,945,696 12.2%
1981 $1,073,812,830 9.06%
1980 $1,060,889,704 12%
1979 $819,870,259 12.1%
1978 $590,407,374 14.3%
1977 $451,624,780 12%
1976 $372,025,093 10.6%
1975 $355,168,572 8.45%
1974 $306,044,208 8.8%
1973 $244,124,164 21.3%
1972 $164,460,915 26.4%
1971 $127,448,614 25.8%
1970 $96,243,234 17.1%
1969 $77,361,547 15.1%
1968 $66,248,441 10.6%
1967 $58,642,354 5.92%
1966 $51,465,655 6.34%
1965 $45,788,696 5.81%
1964 $41,616,348 6.83%
1963 $38,091,843 5.92%
1962 $35,644,957 6.67%
1961 $32,902,613 6.34%
1960 $30,411,414 -

Data sources: World Bank | Economy & Growth (1960–2024, retrieved 2026-04-06).

GeoRank.org/economy/botswana | CC BY

Botswana GDP per capita by year

GDP per capita
GDP per capita, PPP
1x
Year Current $
GDP per capita GDP per capita, PPP
2024 $7,696 $20,538
2023 $7,826 $21,012
2022 $8,329 $19,977
2021 $7,808 $17,961
2020 $6,323 $15,292
2019 $7,172 $15,960
2018 $7,408 $15,786
2017 $7,105 $15,701
2016 $6,749 $16,228
2015 $6,141 $14,144
2014 $7,122 $15,003
2013 $6,667 $13,621
2012 $6,596 $12,737
2011 $7,287 $13,635
2010 $6,216 $12,753
2009 $5,083 $11,686
2008 $5,503 $13,810
2007 $5,529 $13,389
2006 $5,292 $12,563
2005 $5,391 $11,458
2004 $4,957 $10,818
2003 $4,230 $10,439
2002 $3,117 $9,958
2001 $3,206 $9,420
2000 $3,451 $9,380
1999 $3,340 $9,188
1998 $2,981 $8,441
1997 $3,194 $8,497
1996 $3,156 $7,890
1995 $3,156 $7,503
1994 $2,917 $7,049
1993 $2,929 $6,847
1992 $3,005 $6,753
1991 $2,939 $6,598
1990 $2,903 $6,104
1989 $2,428 -
1988 $2,141 -
1987 $1,639 -
1986 $1,200 -
1985 $994 -
1984 $1,145 -
1983 $1,121 -
1982 $1,006 -
1981 $1,107 -
1980 $1,132 -
1979 $909 -
1978 $695 -
1977 $565 -
1976 $490 -
1975 $493 -
1974 $446 -
1973 $374 -
1972 $264.2 -
1971 $212.2 -
1970 $163 -
1969 $131.8 -
1968 $113.4 -
1967 $100.9 -
1966 $89.1 -
1965 $79.7 -
1964 $73.5 -
1963 $68.9 -
1962 $66 -
1961 $62.3 -
1960 $58.9 -

Data sources: World Bank | Economy & Growth (1960–2024, retrieved 2026-04-06).

GeoRank.org/economy/botswana | CC BY

Botswana has a GDP per capita of $7,696, ranking 97/197, a GDP per capita based on purchasing power parity (PPP) of $20,538, ranking 95/197, and a median annual after tax income of $5,271, ranking 113/197.

Botswana GDP rankings by year

GDP
GDP per capita
GDP per capita, PPP
1x
Year Rank
GDP GDP per capita GDP per capita, PPP
2024 129 91 88
2023 126 91 86
2022 117 85 85
2021 120 85 84
2020 125 90 86
2019 122 88 90
2018 120 88 83
2017 121 86 83
2016 120 86 80
2015 126 91 87
2014 125 91 83
2013 127 94 88
2012 126 90 88
2011 123 85 84
2010 124 88 86
2009 127 92 90
2008 126 91 76
2007 119 87 74
2006 116 80 74
2005 108 70 73
2004 106 69 71
2003 109 72 69
2002 116 76 67
2001 115 76 69
2000 111 76 65
1999 111 75 64
1998 114 77 66
1997 112 77 62
1996 112 73 63
1995 110 72 64
1994 105 69 63
1993 106 68 63
1992 105 66 67
1991 108 62 70
1990 110 62 73
1989 104 64 -
1988 108 69 -
1987 114 76 -
1986 117 81 -
1985 116 88 -
1984 112 84 -
1983 111 88 -
1982 119 92 -
1981 119 87 -
1980 116 86 -
1979 113 84 -
1978 118 87 -
1977 120 93 -
1976 121 98 -
1975 121 93 -
1974 118 93 -
1973 119 96 -
1972 120 99 -
1971 121 105 -
1970 121 116 -
1969 113 101 -
1968 114 103 -
1967 114 104 -
1966 112 108 -
1965 112 110 -
1964 109 107 -
1963 109 108 -
1962 109 108 -
1961 107 106 -
1960 105 104 -

Data sources: World Bank | Economy & Growth (1960–2024, retrieved 2026-04-06).

GeoRank.org/economy/botswana | CC BY

Compared with 2000, in 2024 Botswana is ranked 129th out of 182 by GDP (down from 111th), 91st by GDP per capita (down from 76th), and 88th by GDP per capita PPP (down from 65th).

Economic indicators

Botswana Rank
Gross domestic product
$19.4B
2024
133/197
GDP growth
-2.99%
2023-2024
189/194
GDP per capita
$7,696
2024
97/197
GDP per capita, PPP
$20,538
2024
95/197
Government debt
$5.82B
2024
142/185
Debt-to-GDP ratio
30%
2024
158/185
Government debt per person
$2,310
2024
114/185
Average annual personal income after taxes
$5,271
2026
113/197
Listed domestic companies
23
2023
87/103
Market capitalization of domestic companies
$3.59B
2023
85/100
Income share by richest 10%
42.9%
2015
3/169
Income share by poorest 10%
1.4%
2015
159/169
Government expenditure, % of GDP
33.8%
2024
73/195
Consumer prices inflation
2.82%
2023-2024
113/195
Central bank interest rate
1.9%
2024
96/106
Unemployment rate
24.4%
2024
8/196
Population
2615162
142/197

Government spending, deficit, and debt by year

Spending
Debt
Deficit/surplus
1x
Year % of GDP
Government spending Government debt Government deficit/surplus
2024 33.8% 30% -7.82%
2023 32.4% 22.5% -4.25%
2022 29.5% 21.3% -0.006%
2021 33% 23.4% -2.46%
2020 38.5% 24.8% -11.5%
2019 36.4% 21.3% -8.43%
2018 35.9% 19.8% -5.07%
2017 35% 19.8% -1.16%
2016 34.2% 22.4% 0.72%
2015 39.7% 25.7% -5.06%
2014 36.4% 23.9% 3.88%
2013 34.8% 24.7% 6.07%
2012 38.3% 27.3% 0.92%
2011 37.4% 28.1% -0.12%
2010 44.7% 27.9% -8.36%
2009 54.5% 23.5% -14.4%
2008 48% 7.77% -7.59%
2007 38.3% 6.12% 5.92%
2006 34.1% 6.32% 13.7%
2005 35% 7.74% 10.7%
2004 42% 11.3% 1.42%
2003 44% 7.29% -0.18%
2002 46% 8.55% -4.02%
2001 42.9% 7.61% -2.96%
2000 39.8% 8.37% 8.95%
1999 41.7% 9.68% 6.18%
1998 44.3% 12% -
1997 40% - -
1996 37.2% - -
1995 38.1% - -
1994 39.2% - -
1993 44.2% - -
1992 43.4% - -
1991 42.3% - -
1990 40.5% - -

Data sources: International Monetary Fund (IMF) | Fiscal Monitor (1990–2024, retrieved 2026-02-20).

GeoRank.org/economy/botswana | CC BY

This chart shows Botswana's government spending, budget balance, and debt over time, each expressed as a share of GDP.

Over the past 26 years, Botswana recorded a fiscal deficit in 16 of them, with an average annual deficit equal to 0.96% of GDP. In 2024, government spending reached $6.55B (33.8% of GDP), with a deficit of 7.82%.

The national debt reached $5.82B, ranking 142nd out of 185 countries by total size, with a debt-to-GDP ratio of 30%, ranking 158th.

Inflation rate by year

1x
Year Inflation
2024 2.82%
2023 5.07%
2022 11.7%
2021 7.24%
2020 1.89%
2019 2.77%
2018 3.24%
2017 3.31%
2016 2.81%
2015 3.06%
2014 4.4%
2013 5.88%
2012 7.54%
2011 8.46%
2010 6.95%
2009 8.03%
2008 12.7%
2007 7.08%
2006 11.6%
2005 8.61%
2004 6.95%
2003 9.19%
2002 8.03%
2001 6.56%
2000 8.6%
1999 7.75%
1998 6.66%
1997 8.72%
1996 10.1%
1995 10.5%
1994 10.5%
1993 14.3%
1992 16.2%
1991 11.8%
1990 11.4%
1989 11.6%
1988 8.35%
1987 9.8%
1986 10%
1985 8.09%
1984 8.58%
1983 10.5%
1982 11.1%
1981 16.4%
1980 13.6%
1979 11.7%
1978 9.04%
1977 13.2%
1976 11.7%
1975 12%

Data sources: World Bank | Economy & Growth (1975–2024, retrieved 2026-04-06).

GeoRank.org/economy/botswana | CC BY

Over the past 20 years, Botswana has had an average annual inflation rate of 6.25%. In 2024, inflation was 2.82%. The bar chart above shows consumer price inflation by year.

Balance of trade

Botswana Rank
Current account balance
-$821M
2024
118/190
Current account balance, % of GDP
-4.23%
2024
132/190
Goods imports
$6.86B
2024
124/189
Goods exports
$4.66B
2024
122/189
Service imports
$1.29B
2024
138/189
Service exports
$935M
2024
136/189
Imports of goods and services, % of GDP
43.7%
2024
89/181
Exports of goods and services, % of GDP
27.4%
2024
124/193

Botswana top 10 trading partners

Botswana's biggest trading partner accounting for 44.4% of all exports and imports is South Africa, with a trade balance between the two of -$3.66B: Botswana exports $599M worth of goods and services to South Africa and imports $4.26B.

Below is the list of the top 10 trade partners of Botswana.

Rank Country Trade value Share of total trade Export to Import from Top export to Top import from
1 South Africa $4.86B 44.4% $599M $4.26B Machinery & equipment Machinery & equipment
2 Namibia $1.12B 10.3% $130M $992M Precious metals & jewellery Precious metals & jewellery
3 UAE $1.1B 10.1% $1.05B $47.2M Precious metals & jewellery Precious metals & jewellery
4 India $709M 6.48% $531M $178M Precious metals & jewellery Precious metals & jewellery
5 China $654M 5.98% $342M $312M Raw materials & minerals Machinery & equipment
6 Belgium $447M 4.09% $417M $30.2M Precious metals & jewellery Precious metals & jewellery
7 Australia $384M 3.51% $356M $28.2M Raw materials & minerals Machinery & equipment
8 Canada $215M 1.96% $575K $214M Precious metals & jewellery Precious metals & jewellery
9 Mozambique $156M 1.43% $3.49M $153M Processed food, beverages & tobacco Raw materials & minerals
10 Zimbabwe $143M 1.31% $89.9M $53M Textiles & consumer goods Raw materials & minerals

Top 10 exports

Botswana Rank
Precious metals & jewellery $2.51B 42/190
Raw materials & minerals $880M 109/193
Transport & tourism services $450M 138/188
Machinery & equipment $257M 108/193
Business & finance services $105M 126/188
Animal & marine products $78M 112/192
Chemicals & pharma $64.6M 121/193
Textiles & consumer goods $55.9M 128/193
Metals $46.6M 133/192
IT & IP services $24.3M 139/183

Top 10 imports

Botswana Rank
Machinery & equipment $1.69B 129/193
Raw materials & minerals $1.48B 128/193
Precious metals & jewellery $1.3B 37/193
Processed food, beverages & tobacco $684M 122/193
Chemicals & pharma $612M 125/193
Transport & tourism services $498M 146/188
Textiles & consumer goods $371M 131/193
Metals $350M 133/193
Raw agricultural goods $321M 125/193
Business & finance services $216M 137/188

Economic freedom indices

Botswana Rank
Economic freedom 67.7 53/197
Property rights 71.7 48/182
Government integrity 59.6 50/182
Judicial effectiveness 70.2 48/182
Tax burden 87.1 48/182
Government spending 69.8 103/180
Fiscal health 72.4 97/181
Business freedom 61.5 103/182
Labor freedom 60.7 45/182
Monetary freedom 72 117/180
Trade freedom 77 64/181
Investment freedom 50 103/181
Financial freedom 60 39/181

Economic freedom by year

1x
Year Index
Economic freedom Judicial effectiveness Tax burden Government spending Fiscal health
2026 67.7 70.2 87.1 69.8 72.4
2025 69.9 70.5 84.9 70.8 90.4
2024 68 69.3 86.7 68.7 68.4
2023 64.9 58.6 87.3 61.1 19.2
2022 64.8 70.1 87.4 59.8 19.2
2021 67.6 50.8 87.4 68.2 74.8
2020 69.6 45.2 87 69.1 97.5
2019 69.5 45.7 82.7 65.9 94.6
2018 69.9 54.7 76.1 63.4 98.2
2017 70.1 54 77.1 61.2 99.4
2016 71.1 - 79.1 68.4 -
2015 69.8 - 79.5 61.9 -
2014 72 - 81 69.8 -
2013 70.6 - 79.5 65.1 -
2012 69.6 - 78.3 53.7 -
2011 68.8 - 78.4 51.5 -
2010 70.3 - 74.1 67.1 -
2009 69.7 - 75.1 70.6 -
2008 68.2 - 76.4 61.8 -
2007 68.1 - 73.9 56.2 -
2006 68.8 - 73.9 50.5 -
2005 69.3 - 75.6 45 -
2004 69.9 - 75.9 54.6 -
2003 68.6 - 69.4 46.8 -
2002 66.2 - 73.1 44.5 -
2001 66.8 - 80.4 61.1 -
2000 65.8 - 77.8 54.4 -
1999 62.9 - 80.3 59.4 -
1998 62.8 - 76.6 63 -
1997 59.1 - 75.9 46.6 -
1996 61.6 - 63.5 46.6 -
1995 56.8 - 53.7 55.1 -

Data sources: The Heritage Foundation | Economic Freedom Index (1995–2026, retrieved 2026-03-09).

GeoRank.org/economy/botswana | CC BY

Botswana is ranked 47/174 for economic freedom with a score of 67.7, compared to 31/162 and a score of 68.8 in 2006.

Other economic metrics

Botswana Rank
Services, % of GDP
63.5%
2024
56/191
Industry, % of GDP
29.4%
2024
59/194
Agriculture, forestry, and fishing, % of GDP
1.71%
2024
155/193
GNI, Atlas method
$19.5B
2024
125/194
GNI per capita, PPP
$20,570
2024
90/191
Total reserves including gold
$3.46B
2024
113/177
Net foreign direct investment
-$464M
2024
99/189
Net inflows of foreign direct investment
$467M
2024
117/193
Net outflows of foreign direct investment
$3.02M
2024
126/193
Servicing debt to the IMF, % of GNI
1.42%
2024
104/121
Poverty at national poverty lines
16.1%
2015
122/176
Gross capital formation, % of GDP
36%
2024
12/178

Compare Botswana vs other countries

GDP per capita map

1x

Data sources: World Bank | Economy & Growth (1985–2024, retrieved 2026-04-06); U.S. Census Bureau (1985–2024, retrieved 2026-02-08).

GeoRank.org/economy/botswana | CC BY

Help us show the world through your eyes

Share a photo of your city and help others discover what it looks like to live there. Your contribution makes our data come alive.

Data sources:

  1. World Bank | Economy & Growth (1960–2024, retrieved 2026-04-06)
  2. The Heritage Foundation | Economic Freedom Index (1995–2026, retrieved 2026-03-09)
  3. International Monetary Fund (IMF) | Fiscal Monitor (1990–2024, retrieved 2026-02-20)
  4. U.S. Census Bureau (1985–2024, retrieved 2026-02-08)
  5. TradeMap (2022–2024, retrieved 2026-02-08)
  6. United Nations | World Population Prospects (2026, retrieved 2026-03-10)
  7. LivingCost (2026, retrieved 2025-10-14)

Creative Commons Attribution (CC BY) — you’re free to copy, share, remix, adapt, and use even commercially as long as you give appropriate credit and clearly indicate if you made changes. Other sources may be subject to different license terms.

The current account balance is the sum of net trade in goods and services, net earnings from cross-border investments, and net transfer payments. It reflects a country's economic transactions with the rest of the world and is a fundamental component of the balance of payments. A surplus indicates that a country exports more than it imports, while a deficit shows the opposite.

Gross National Income (GNI) measures a country's total income. It encompasses income earned by residents, businesses, and foreign sources, defined as employee compensation and investment profits. GNI adds product taxes not included elsewhere and subtracts subsidies. It accounts for income from residents working abroad but excludes earnings from foreigners within the country.

A negative value for Net Foreign Direct Investment indicates a country is a net receiver of investments, as foreign inflows exceed outflows after Balance of Payments adjustments. A positive value indicates a net provider, with outflows exceeding inflows. Inflows are credits (increasing foreign claims on domestic assets), while outflows are debits (increasing domestic assets abroad).

Foreign direct investment (FDI, net inflows) shows how much capital foreign investors bring into a country after accounting for any funds that flow back in the opposite direction. It represents the net value of overseas companies establishing, expanding, or financing businesses in the reporting country. A positive number means more capital entered the country than was withdrawn, while a negative number means foreign investors pulled out more than they invested.

Foreign direct investment (FDI, net outflows) shows how much capital residents of a country invest abroad after accounting for any funds that flow back in the opposite direction. It represents the net value of domestic companies establishing, expanding, or financing businesses in other countries. A positive number means more capital was invested abroad than withdrawn, while a negative number means residents pulled back more than they invested.

Principal and interest payments to the IMF in currency, goods, or services on long-term debt expressed as a share of GNI.

Formerly gross domestic investment, gross capital formation measures the share of a country’s economic output invested in fixed assets, including buildings, machinery, and infrastructure. It indicates how much of the economy is devoted to building productive capacity.