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Economy of Botswana vs Bulgaria compared: GDP & Debt

Updated on by Georank

Botswana has a GDP of $19.9B compared to $131B for Bulgaria, ranking 135/197 and 63/197 by economy size, respectively.

Botswana has $7.7B in government debt (38.6% of GDP), compared to $35.4B (27.1% of GDP) in Bulgaria.

Botswana vs Bulgaria GDP by year

Botswana
Bulgaria
1x
Year GDP, current $
Botswana Bulgaria
2025 $19,928,479,839 $130,777,235,530
2024 $19,286,251,068 $113,349,149,167
2023 $19,413,614,555 $102,204,457,335
2022 $20,321,150,599 $90,510,784,778
2021 $18,750,182,236 $84,378,926,047
2020 $14,960,251,608 $70,490,478,088
2019 $16,725,908,149 $68,511,235,459
2018 $17,031,943,186 $66,100,606,677
2017 $16,105,155,857 $59,170,671,046
2016 $15,082,637,184 $53,932,152,154
2015 $13,530,748,845 $50,768,512,173
2014 $15,470,088,501 $57,083,817,240
2013 $14,271,738,933 $55,822,115,861
2012 $13,907,464,500 $54,299,825,600
2011 $15,110,643,612 $57,684,243,980
2010 $12,637,273,429 $50,691,645,231
2009 $10,118,459,242 $52,026,461,290
2008 $10,730,829,116 $54,483,464,293
2007 $10,567,270,656 $44,433,521,725
2006 $9,919,158,482 $34,382,295,487
2005 $9,918,907,108 $29,870,182,425
2004 $8,957,467,707 $26,159,078,743
2003 $7,511,582,173 $21,146,038,619
2002 $5,438,863,983 $16,403,880,783
2001 $5,489,608,300 $14,184,170,319
2000 $5,788,329,609 $13,246,669,554
1999 $5,484,263,347 $13,637,793,854
1998 $4,790,481,509 $15,031,821,788
1997 $5,020,265,627 $11,316,706,412
1996 $4,847,757,218 $12,295,588,924
1995 $4,730,599,122 $18,992,388,645
1994 $4,259,259,604 $9,709,230,161
1993 $4,160,129,175 $10,832,041,595
1992 $4,146,464,587 $8,602,874,120
1991 $3,942,876,703 $7,628,764,750
1990 $3,790,636,324 $20,726,605,649
1989 $3,083,822,112 $21,746,286,447
1988 $2,644,554,159 $23,003,003,708
1987 $1,965,226,890 $28,428,718,531
1986 $1,392,602,164 $20,261,546,635
1985 $1,114,783,343 $17,562,270,447
1984 $1,240,822,167 $17,410,894,971
1983 $1,172,230,397 $16,959,180,922
1982 $1,014,945,696 $19,803,624,625
1981 $1,073,812,830 $20,055,685,481
1980 $1,060,889,704 $20,039,544,133
1979 $819,870,259 -
1978 $590,407,374 -
1977 $451,624,780 -
1976 $372,025,093 -
1975 $355,168,572 -
1974 $306,044,208 -
1973 $244,124,164 -
1972 $164,460,915 -
1971 $127,448,614 -
1970 $96,243,234 -
1969 $77,361,547 -
1968 $66,248,441 -
1967 $58,642,354 -
1966 $51,465,655 -
1965 $45,788,696 -
1964 $41,616,348 -
1963 $38,091,843 -
1962 $35,644,957 -
1961 $32,902,613 -
1960 $30,411,414 -

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

GeoRank.org/economy/botswana/bulgaria | CC BY

GDP per capita in Botswana vs Bulgaria by year

Botswana
GDP per capita

GDP per capita, PPP
Bulgaria
GDP per capita

GDP per capita, PPP
1x
Year Current $
Botswana Bulgaria
GDP per capita GDP per capita, PPP GDP per capita GDP per capita, PPP
2025 $7,778 - $20,328 -
2024 $7,650 $20,538 $17,597 $41,969
2023 $7,827 $21,012 $15,854 $38,829
2022 $8,329 $19,977 $14,000 $36,320
2021 $7,808 $17,961 $12,967 $30,959
2020 $6,323 $15,292 $10,761 $27,352
2019 $7,172 $15,960 $10,354 $26,766
2018 $7,408 $15,786 $9,850 $23,998
2017 $7,105 $15,701 $8,697 $22,317
2016 $6,749 $16,228 $7,823 $20,746
2015 $6,141 $14,144 $7,269 $18,896
2014 $7,122 $15,003 $8,070 $17,991
2013 $6,667 $13,621 $7,796 $16,894
2012 $6,596 $12,737 $7,432 $16,327
2011 $7,287 $13,635 $7,850 $15,747
2010 $6,216 $12,753 $6,854 $14,954
2009 $5,083 $11,686 $6,989 $14,188
2008 $5,503 $13,810 $7,272 $14,347
2007 $5,529 $13,389 $5,889 $12,822
2006 $5,292 $12,563 $4,523 $11,406
2005 $5,391 $11,458 $3,900 $10,291
2004 $4,957 $10,818 $3,390 $9,200
2003 $4,230 $10,439 $2,720 $8,416
2002 $3,117 $9,958 $2,093 $7,786
2001 $3,206 $9,420 $1,771 $6,960
2000 $3,451 $9,380 $1,621 $6,424
1999 $3,340 $9,188 $1,661 $5,808
1998 $2,981 $8,441 $1,821 $6,178
1997 $3,194 $8,497 $1,361 $5,751
1996 $3,156 $7,890 $1,470 $6,849
1995 $3,156 $7,503 $2,259 $7,743
1994 $2,917 $7,049 $1,150 $7,338
1993 $2,929 $6,847 $1,279 $7,032
1992 $3,005 $6,753 $1,007 $6,917
1991 $2,939 $6,598 $884 $7,215
1990 $2,903 $6,104 $2,377 $7,548
1989 $2,428 - $2,450 -
1988 $2,141 - $2,561 -
1987 $1,639 - $3,169 -
1986 $1,200 - $2,262 -
1985 $994 - $1,960 -
1984 $1,145 - $1,943 -
1983 $1,121 - $1,897 -
1982 $1,006 - $2,221 -
1981 $1,107 - $2,256 -
1980 $1,132 - $2,261 -
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 (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-07-08).

GeoRank.org/economy/botswana/bulgaria | CC BY

Botswana's GDP per capita is $7,778, ranking 100/197, compared to $20,328 in Bulgaria, ranking 58/197. Adjusted for purchasing power (GDP per capita PPP), Botswana ranks 95th at $20,538, while Bulgaria ranks 54th at $41,969.

Economic indicators

Botswana Bulgaria
Gross domestic product
$19.9B
2025
$131B
2025
GDP rank
135/197
2025
63/197
2025
GDP growth
-0.73%
2024-2025
3.1%
2024-2025
GDP per capita
$7,778
2025
$20,328
2025
GDP per capita rank
100/197
2025
58/197
2025
GDP per capita, PPP
$20,538
2024
$41,969
2024
GDP per capita PPP rank
95/197
2024
54/197
2024
Government debt
$7.7B
2025
$35.4B
2025
Debt-to-GDP ratio
38.6%
2025
27.1%
2025
Government debt per person
$3,005
2025
$5,507
2025
Government debt per person rank
106/185
2025
79/185
2025
Average annual personal income after taxes
$5,441
2026
$16,126
2026
Market capitalization of domestic companies
$4.28B
2025
$11.2B
2025
Number of billionaires n/a
2
2026
Income share by richest 10%
42.9%
2015
31.1%
2023
Income share by poorest 10%
1.4%
2015
2.1%
2023
Government expenditure, % of GDP
35%
2025
38.9%
2025
Consumer prices inflation
2.66%
2024-2025
3.5%
2024-2025
Central bank interest rate
5.5%
2026
1.81%
2025
Unemployment rate
24.4%
2024
3.5%
2025
Population
2624853
6390149

Spending and national debt comparison by year

Botswana
Spending

Debt
Bulgaria
Spending

Debt
1x
Year % of GDP
Botswana Bulgaria
Government spending Government debt Government spending Government debt
2025 35% 38.6% 38.9% 27.1%
2024 33.7% 33.2% 36.3% 23.8%
2023 32.4% 22.5% 37.5% 22.9%
2022 29.1% 21% 37.6% 22.5%
2021 31.4% 22.3% 38.5% 23.9%
2020 36.5% 23.5% 37.7% 22.7%
2019 36.9% 21.5% 36.1% 18.4%
2018 35.6% 19.6% 34.4% 20.1%
2017 34.7% 19.6% 32% 22.9%
2016 34.1% 22.3% 32.7% 27%
2015 37.8% 24.5% 37.3% 25.4%
2014 36.5% 23.9% 37.1% 26.3%
2013 33.5% 23.8% 35.5% 17.2%
2012 37.1% 26.4% 32.5% 16.5%
2011 37.2% 27.9% 32% 14.3%
2010 42.6% 26.5% 34.6% 14.1%
2009 52.1% 22.4% 33.8% 14.5%
2008 48.1% 7.79% 33.5% 14.7%
2007 37.1% 5.93% 33.1% 17.6%
2006 33.1% 6.14% 32.5% 22.6%
2005 33.8% 7.46% 34% 28.5%
2004 39.8% 10.7% 34.6% 37.8%
2003 42.7% 7.08% 35.8% 45.4%
2002 45.1% 8.37% 35.1% 53.4%
2001 42.1% 7.48% 36.5% 67.1%
2000 38.8% 8.16% 37.1% 73.3%
1999 40.1% 9.31% 36.2% 78.7%
1998 41.8% 11.3% 30.6% 67.3%
1997 39% - 32.9% 88.4%
1996 36.1% - 44% 113.8%
1995 36.1% - 45.4% 72%
1994 37.6% - - -
1993 42% - - -
1992 42.3% - - -
1991 41.1% - - -
1990 38.9% - - -

Data sources: International Monetary Fund (IMF) | Fiscal Monitor (1990–2025, retrieved 2026-07-08); International Monetary Fund (IMF) | Public Finances in Modern History (1995–1997, retrieved 2026-07-08).

GeoRank.org/economy/botswana/bulgaria | CC BY

In 2025, Botswana's government spending was $6.98B, accounting for 35% of its GDP, while Bulgaria spent $50.8B, or 38.9% of GDP.

Debt-to-GDP ratio is 38.6% in Botswana and 27.1% in Bulgaria, ranking 137/185 and 164/185, respectively.

Government deficit by year

Deficit/surplus
Botswana

Bulgaria
1x
Year Deficit/surplus, % of GDP
Botswana Bulgaria
2025 -7.42% -3.01%
2024 -7.26% -3.01%
2023 -4.16% -3.04%
2022 0.04% -0.8%
2021 -2.33% -2.8%
2020 -10.9% -2.92%
2019 -8.53% -0.96%
2018 -5.03% 0.12%
2017 -1.14% 0.82%
2016 0.71% 1.54%
2015 -4.82% -2.77%
2014 3.9% -3.65%
2013 5.84% -1.75%
2012 0.89% -0.43%
2011 -0.12% -1.83%
2010 -7.95% -3.77%
2009 -13.8% -0.86%
2008 -7.61% 2.73%
2007 5.73% 3.09%
2006 13.3% 3.22%
2005 10.3% 2.19%
2004 1.35% 1.59%
2003 -0.18% 0.003%
2002 -3.94% -0.61%
2001 -2.91% -0.58%
2000 8.73% -0.6%
1999 5.95% 0.15%
1998 - 1.08%
1997 - 0.83%
1996 - -10.1%
1995 - -7.98%
1994 - -
1993 - -
1992 - -
1991 - -
1990 - -
1989 - -
1988 - -
1987 - -
1986 - -
1985 - -
1984 - -
1983 - -
1982 - -
1981 - -
1980 - -
1979 - -
1978 - -
1977 - -
1976 - -
1975 - -
1974 - -
1973 - -
1972 - -
1971 - -
1970 - -
1969 - -
1968 - -
1967 - -
1966 - -
1965 - -
1964 - -
1963 - -
1962 - -
1961 - -
1960 - -
1959 - -
1958 - -
1957 - -
1956 - -
1955 - -
1954 - -
1953 - -
1952 - -
1951 - -
1950 - -
1949 - -
1948 - -
1947 - -
1946 - -
1945 - -
1944 - 0%
1943 - 0%
1942 - -0.3%
1941 - 3.96%
1940 - 0.75%
1939 - 0.72%
1938 - 1%
1937 - 1.41%
1936 - 1.17%
1935 - 1.34%
1934 - -0.12%
1933 - -0.56%
1932 - -2.14%
1931 - -3.07%
1930 - -5.48%
1929 - -6.67%
1928 - -1.09%
1927 - -0.02%
1926 - -0.25%
1925 - -0.97%
1924 - 1.26%

Data sources: International Monetary Fund (IMF) | Fiscal Monitor (1998–2025, retrieved 2026-07-08); International Monetary Fund (IMF) | Public Finances in Modern History (1924–1997, retrieved 2026-07-08).

GeoRank.org/economy/botswana/bulgaria | CC BY

In 2025, Botswana's government deficit, the difference between spending and revenue, was $1.48B, equivalent to 7.42% of GDP. This compares to Bulgaria's deficit of $3.94B, or 3.01% of GDP.

Over the past 27 years, Botswana recorded a fiscal deficit in 16 of those years, while Bulgaria ran a deficit in 17 years. On average, Botswana posted an annual deficit equal to 1.16% of GDP, compared to deficit of 0.66% of GDP for Bulgaria.

Inflation comparison by year

Inflation
Botswana

Bulgaria
1x
Year Consumer prices inflation
Botswana Bulgaria
2025 2.66% 3.5%
2024 2.82% 2.6%
2023 5.07% 8.6%
2022 11.7% 13%
2021 7.24% 2.8%
2020 1.89% 1.2%
2019 2.77% 2.5%
2018 3.24% 2.6%
2017 3.31% 1.2%
2016 2.81% -1.3%
2015 3.06% -1.1%
2014 4.4% -1.6%
2013 5.88% 0.4%
2012 7.54% 2.4%
2011 8.46% 3.4%
2010 6.95% 3%
2009 8.03% 2.5%
2008 12.7% 12%
2007 7.08% 7.6%
2006 11.6% 7.4%
2005 8.61% 6%
2004 6.95% 6.1%
2003 9.19% 2.3%
2002 8.03% 5.8%
2001 6.56% 7.4%
2000 8.6% 10.3%
1999 7.75% 2.6%
1998 6.66% 18.7%
1997 8.72% 1,061%

Data sources: International Monetary Fund (IMF) | World Economic Outlook (1997–2025, retrieved 2026-07-08); World Bank | Economy & Growth (1997–2025, retrieved 2026-07-08).

GeoRank.org/economy/botswana/bulgaria | CC BY

Over the past 29 years, Botswana has recorded an average annual inflation rate of 6.56%, compared with 41.1% in Bulgaria. In 2025, inflation was 2.66% in Botswana and 3.5% in Bulgaria.

Top exports between countries

Botswana
Export category Export value
Machinery & equipment $28K
Miscellaneous $9K
Precious metals & jewellery $3K
Bulgaria
Export category Export value
Wood & paper products $1.12M
Machinery & equipment $171K
Chemicals & pharma $36K
Processed food, beverages & tobacco $4K
Textiles & consumer goods $3K
Raw materials & minerals $2K
Metals $1K

Balance of trade

Botswana Bulgaria
Current account balance
-$821M
2024
-$7.64B
2025
Current account balance ranking
113/190
2024
170/190
2025
Current account balance, % of GDP
-4.26%
2024
-5.84%
2025
Goods imports
$6.86B
2024
$58.5B
2025
Goods exports
$4.66B
2024
$47.9B
2025
Service imports
$1.29B
2024
$9.42B
2025
Service exports
$935M
2024
$18.6B
2025
Imports of goods and services, % of GDP
37.5%
2025
51.8%
2025
Exports of goods and services, % of GDP
32%
2025
50.7%
2025

Economic freedom indices

The indices of economic freedom below are issued by the Heritage Foundation. Higher scores indicate stronger economic health.

Botswana Bulgaria
Economic freedom 67.7 68.9
Economic freedom ranking 53/197 44/197
Property rights 71.7 75.8
Government integrity 59.6 48.4
Judicial effectiveness 70.2 58.5
Tax burden 87.1 89.1
Government spending 69.8 58.4
Fiscal health 72.4 90.4
Business freedom 61.5 78.2
Labor freedom 60.7 62.4
Monetary freedom 72 75.8
Trade freedom 77 79.4
Investment freedom 50 60
Financial freedom 60 50

Economic freedom comparison by year

Botswana
Bulgaria
1x
Year Economic freedom index
Botswana Bulgaria
2026 67.7 68.9
2025 69.9 68.8
2024 68 68.5
2023 64.9 69.3
2022 64.8 71
2021 67.6 70.4
2020 69.6 70.2
2019 69.5 69
2018 69.9 68.3
2017 70.1 67.9
2016 71.1 65.9
2015 69.8 66.8
2014 72 65.7
2013 70.6 65
2012 69.6 64.7
2011 68.8 64.9
2010 70.3 62.3
2009 69.7 64.6
2008 68.2 63.7
2007 68.1 62.7
2006 68.8 64.1
2005 69.3 62.3
2004 69.9 59.2
2003 68.6 57
2002 66.2 57.1
2001 66.8 51.9
2000 65.8 47.3
1999 62.9 46.2
1998 62.8 45.7
1997 59.1 47.6
1996 61.6 48.6
1995 56.8 50

Data sources: The Heritage Foundation | Economic Freedom Index (1995–2026, retrieved 2026-07-08).

GeoRank.org/economy/botswana/bulgaria | CC BY

The Economic Freedom Index for Botswana is 67.7, ranking 53/197, compared to 68.9 for Bulgaria, ranking 44/197. The chart above displays a comparison of annual changes in economic freedom indexes.

Other economic metrics

Botswana Bulgaria
Services, % of GDP
64.6%
2025
63.3%
2025
Industry, % of GDP
27.9%
2025
21.2%
2025
Agriculture, forestry, and fishing, % of GDP
1.78%
2025
2.47%
2025
GNI, Atlas method
$18.9B
2025
$114B
2025
GNI per capita, PPP
$19,960
2025
$42,170
2025
Total reserves including gold
$3.46B
2024
$47.1B
2025
Total reserves ranking
117/177
2024
51/177
2025
Net foreign direct investment
-$464M
2024
-$3.37B
2025
Net inflows of foreign direct investment
$467M
2024
$3.05B
2024
Net outflows of foreign direct investment
$3.02M
2024
$1.21B
2024
Servicing debt to the IMF, % of GNI
1.45%
2024
6.8%
2024
Poverty at national poverty lines
16.1%
2015
21.7%
2023
Gross capital formation, % of GDP
29.2%
2025
21.7%
2025

GDP per capita map

1x

Data sources: World Bank | Economy & Growth (1985–2025, retrieved 2026-07-08); U.S. Census Bureau (1985–2025, retrieved 2026-07-08).

GeoRank.org/economy/botswana/bulgaria | CC BY

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Data sources:

  1. World Bank | Economy & Growth (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-07-08)
  2. International Monetary Fund (IMF) | Fiscal Monitor (1990–2025, retrieved 2026-07-08)
  3. The Heritage Foundation | Economic Freedom Index (1995–2026, retrieved 2026-07-08)
  4. International Monetary Fund (IMF) | Public Finances in Modern History (1924–1997, retrieved 2026-07-08)
  5. U.S. Census Bureau (1985–2025, retrieved 2026-07-08)
  6. TradeMap (2022–2025, retrieved 2026-07-08)
  7. United Nations | World Population Prospects (2026, retrieved 2026-07-08)
  8. LivingCost (2026, retrieved 2026-07-08)

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.