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Economy of Botswana vs Nicaragua compared: GDP & Debt

Updated on by Georank team

Botswana has a GDP of $19.4B compared to $19.7B for Nicaragua, ranking 133/197 and 131/197 by economy size, respectively.

Botswana has $5.82B in government debt (30% of GDP), compared to $7.71B (39.1% of GDP) in Nicaragua.

Botswana vs Nicaragua GDP by year

Botswana
Nicaragua
1x
Year GDP, current $
Botswana Nicaragua
2024 $19,402,063,513 $19,693,982,968
2023 $19,411,266,967 $17,805,842,284
2022 $20,321,150,599 $15,634,572,502
2021 $18,750,182,236 $14,209,020,362
2020 $14,960,251,608 $12,726,422,432
2019 $16,725,908,149 $12,699,023,614
2018 $17,031,943,186 $13,025,221,974
2017 $16,105,155,857 $13,785,893,007
2016 $15,082,637,184 $13,286,093,388
2015 $13,530,748,845 $12,756,696,261
2014 $15,470,088,501 $11,880,438,824
2013 $14,271,738,933 $10,982,988,249
2012 $13,907,464,500 $10,532,017,232
2011 $15,110,643,612 $9,774,329,333
2010 $12,637,273,429 $8,758,602,233
2009 $10,118,459,242 $8,298,702,489
2008 $10,730,829,116 $8,496,967,597
2007 $10,567,270,656 $7,423,375,015
2006 $9,919,158,482 $6,763,672,381
2005 $9,918,907,108 $6,321,324,279
2004 $8,957,467,707 $5,792,932,838
2003 $7,511,582,173 $5,322,228,351
2002 $5,438,863,983 $5,223,727,303
2001 $5,489,608,300 $5,351,752,034
2000 $5,788,329,609 $5,109,587,050
1999 $5,484,263,347 $4,856,026,259
1998 $4,790,481,509 $4,635,347,386
1997 $5,020,265,627 $4,389,973,490
1996 $4,847,757,218 $4,308,351,903
1995 $4,730,599,122 $4,140,470,000
1994 $4,259,259,604 $3,863,185,119
1993 $4,160,129,175 $1,756,454,248
1992 $4,146,464,587 $1,792,800,000
1991 $3,942,876,703 $1,488,804,124
1990 $3,790,636,324 $1,009,455,484
1989 $3,083,822,112 $1,013,184,756
1988 $2,644,554,159 $2,630,900,096
1987 $1,965,226,890 $3,851,200,118
1986 $1,392,602,164 $2,885,799,994
1985 $1,114,783,343 $2,683,699,935
1984 $1,240,822,167 $3,117,599,872
1983 $1,172,230,397 $2,753,100,058
1982 $1,014,945,696 $2,454,499,872
1981 $1,073,812,830 $2,474,700,227
1980 $1,060,889,704 $2,144,300,006
1979 $819,870,259 $1,567,599,982
1978 $590,407,374 $2,127,699,979
1977 $451,624,780 $2,226,999,874
1976 $372,025,093 $1,836,899,999
1975 $355,168,572 $1,581,599,959
1974 $306,044,208 $1,521,400,012
1973 $244,124,164 $1,092,900,015
1972 $164,460,915 $878,570,045
1971 $127,448,614 $828,569,953
1970 $96,243,234 $778,569,939
1969 $77,361,547 $750,000,003
1968 $66,248,441 $692,859,985
1967 $58,642,354 $657,140,011
1966 $51,465,655 $607,140,010
1965 $45,788,696 $564,290,020
1964 $41,616,348 $347,119,918
1963 $38,091,843 $297,324,163
1962 $35,644,957 $269,283,804
1961 $32,902,613 $244,144,237
1960 $30,411,414 $227,223,322

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

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

GDP per capita in Botswana vs Nicaragua by year

Botswana
GDP per capita

GDP per capita, PPP
Nicaragua
GDP per capita

GDP per capita, PPP
1x
Year Current $
Botswana Nicaragua
GDP per capita GDP per capita, PPP GDP per capita GDP per capita, PPP
2024 $7,696 $20,538 $2,848 $8,709
2023 $7,826 $21,012 $2,609 $8,320
2022 $8,329 $19,977 $2,323 $7,797
2021 $7,808 $17,961 $2,138 $7,119
2020 $6,323 $15,292 $1,938 $6,274
2019 $7,172 $15,960 $1,959 $5,981
2018 $7,408 $15,786 $2,035 $5,935
2017 $7,105 $15,701 $2,183 $6,225
2016 $6,749 $16,228 $2,132 $5,882
2015 $6,141 $14,144 $2,074 $5,449
2014 $7,122 $15,003 $1,958 $5,068
2013 $6,667 $13,621 $1,835 $4,711
2012 $6,596 $12,737 $1,785 $4,508
2011 $7,287 $13,635 $1,680 $4,325
2010 $6,216 $12,753 $1,527 $4,042
2009 $5,083 $11,686 $1,467 $3,880
2008 $5,503 $13,810 $1,524 $4,044
2007 $5,529 $13,389 $1,350 $3,891
2006 $5,292 $12,563 $1,248 $3,658
2005 $5,391 $11,458 $1,183 $3,456
2004 $4,957 $10,818 $1,099 $3,255
2003 $4,230 $10,439 $1,021 $3,046
2002 $3,117 $9,958 $1,014 $2,948
2001 $3,206 $9,420 $1,052 $2,917
2000 $3,451 $9,380 $1,017 $2,806
1999 $3,340 $9,188 $980 $2,672
1998 $2,981 $8,441 $949 $2,497
1997 $3,194 $8,497 $913 $2,418
1996 $3,156 $7,890 $911 $2,325
1995 $3,156 $7,503 $892 $2,187
1994 $2,917 $7,049 $849 $2,064
1993 $2,929 $6,847 $394 $1,998
1992 $3,005 $6,753 $411 $2,003
1991 $2,939 $6,598 $350 $1,995
1990 $2,903 $6,104 $242.5 $1,979
1989 $2,428 - $249.2 -
1988 $2,141 - $662 -
1987 $1,639 - $992 -
1986 $1,200 - $761 -
1985 $994 - $724 -
1984 $1,145 - $861 -
1983 $1,121 - $780 -
1982 $1,006 - $714 -
1981 $1,107 - $740 -
1980 $1,132 - $659 -
1979 $909 - $495 -
1978 $695 - $691 -
1977 $565 - $744 -
1976 $490 - $633 -
1975 $493 - $561 -
1974 $446 - $557 -
1973 $374 - $413 -
1972 $264.2 - $341 -
1971 $212.2 - $331 -
1970 $163 - $321 -
1969 $131.8 - $319 -
1968 $113.4 - $304 -
1967 $100.9 - $297.9 -
1966 $89.1 - $284 -
1965 $79.7 - $272.3 -
1964 $73.5 - $172.7 -
1963 $68.9 - $152.5 -
1962 $66 - $142.3 -
1961 $62.3 - $132.9 -
1960 $58.9 - $127.5 -

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

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

Botswana's GDP per capita is $7,696, ranking 97/197, compared to $2,848 in Nicaragua, ranking 141/197. Adjusted for purchasing power (GDP per capita PPP), Botswana ranks 95th at $20,538, while Nicaragua ranks 138th at $8,709.

Economic indicators

Botswana Nicaragua
Gross domestic product
$19.4B
2024
$19.7B
2024
GDP rank
133/197
2024
131/197
2024
GDP growth
-2.99%
2023-2024
3.59%
2023-2024
GDP per capita
$7,696
2024
$2,848
2024
GDP per capita rank
97/197
2024
141/197
2024
GDP per capita, PPP
$20,538
2024
$8,709
2024
GDP per capita PPP rank
95/197
2024
138/197
2024
Government debt
$5.82B
2024
$7.71B
2024
Debt-to-GDP ratio
30%
2024
39.1%
2024
Government debt per person
$2,310
2024
$1,115
2024
Government debt per person rank
114/185
2024
138/185
2024
Average annual personal income after taxes
$5,271
2026
$2,318
2026
Market capitalization of domestic companies
$3.59B
2023
n/a
Income share by richest 10%
42.9%
2015
37.2%
2014
Income share by poorest 10%
1.4%
2015
2%
2014
Government expenditure, % of GDP
33.8%
2024
27.1%
2024
Consumer prices inflation
2.82%
2023-2024
4.6%
2023-2024
Central bank interest rate
1.9%
2024
6%
2025
Unemployment rate
24.4%
2024
5.2%
2018
Population
2615162
7124343

Spending and national debt comparison by year

Botswana
Spending

Debt
Nicaragua
Spending

Debt
1x
Year % of GDP
Botswana Nicaragua
Government spending Government debt Government spending Government debt
2024 33.8% 30% 27.1% 39.1%
2023 32.4% 22.5% 26% 42.3%
2022 29.5% 21.3% 28.6% 45.9%
2021 33% 23.4% 30% 48.4%
2020 38.5% 24.8% 28.9% 49.2%
2019 36.4% 21.3% 27.7% 44.2%
2018 35.9% 19.8% 27.7% 39.1%
2017 35% 19.8% 27.3% 34.7%
2016 34.2% 22.4% 26.8% 30.9%
2015 39.7% 25.7% 25.4% 28.9%
2014 36.4% 23.9% 24.6% 28.7%
2013 34.8% 24.7% 24.2% 28.8%
2012 38.3% 27.3% 24.1% 27.9%
2011 37.4% 28.1% 23.5% 28.8%
2010 44.7% 27.9% 22.6% 30.3%
2009 54.5% 23.5% 22.7% 29.3%
2008 48% 7.77% 21.9% 26%
2007 38.3% 6.12% 21.5% 30.9%
2006 34.1% 6.32% 21.4% 51.2%
2005 35% 7.74% 21.3% 66.6%
2004 42% 11.3% 20.8% 84%
2003 44% 7.29% 20.9% 109.5%
2002 46% 8.55% 18.7% 110.4%
2001 42.9% 7.61% 19.2% 87.5%
2000 39.8% 8.37% 20.6% 95.2%
1999 41.7% 9.68% 22.1% 99.8%
1998 44.3% 12% 18.5% 86.5%
1997 40% - 17.9% 86.4%
1996 37.2% - 18% -
1995 38.1% - 17.7% -
1994 39.2% - 18.4% -
1993 44.2% - 18.4% -
1992 43.4% - 18.4% -
1991 42.3% - 16.8% -
1990 40.5% - 28.2% -
1989 - - - -
1988 - - 24.8% -
1987 - - - 266.6%
1986 - - 26.1% 159.2%
1985 - - 29.9% 218%
1984 - - 31.9% 198%
1983 - - 33.8% 211.6%
1982 - - 49.4% 159.1%
1981 - - 39.3% 149.1%
1980 - - 30.4% 152.1%
1979 - - 20.7% 116.3%
1978 - - 17.7% 76.9%
1977 - - 19.9% 62.7%
1976 - - 16.2% 59.5%
1975 - - 17.5% 57.8%
1974 - - 15.3% 40%
1973 - - 12.8% 32.9%
1972 - - 15.1% 30.2%
1971 - - 15.1% 31.6%
1970 - - 13.2% 35.4%
1969 - - 11.1% -
1968 - - 10.9% -
1967 - - 12.7% -
1966 - - 12.2% -
1965 - - 10.9% -
1964 - - 10.2% -
1963 - - 10.5% -
1962 - - 10.6% -
1961 - - 9.93% -
1960 - - 11.2% -

Data sources: International Monetary Fund (IMF) | Fiscal Monitor (1990–2024, retrieved 2026-02-20); International Monetary Fund (IMF) | Public Finances in Modern History (1960–1999, retrieved 2026-02-20).

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

In 2024, Botswana's government spending was $6.55B, accounting for 33.8% of its GDP, while Nicaragua spent $5.34B, or 27.1% of GDP.

Debt-to-GDP ratio is 30% in Botswana and 39.1% in Nicaragua, ranking 158/185 and 136/185, respectively.

Government deficit by year

Deficit/surplus
Botswana

Nicaragua
1x
Year Deficit/surplus, % of GDP
Botswana Nicaragua
2024 -7.82% 2.48%
2023 -4.25% 2.31%
2022 -0.006% 0.65%
2021 -2.46% -1.26%
2020 -11.5% -2.57%
2019 -8.43% -1.12%
2018 -5.07% -4.35%
2017 -1.16% -1.75%
2016 0.72% -1.92%
2015 -5.06% -1.64%
2014 3.88% -0.89%
2013 6.07% -0.3%
2012 0.92% 0.22%
2011 -0.12% 0.59%
2010 -8.36% 0.69%
2009 -14.4% -0.9%
2008 -7.59% 0.27%
2007 5.92% 1.88%
2006 13.7% 1.36%
2005 10.7% 1.72%
2004 1.42% 1.69%
2003 -0.18% 1.3%
2002 -4.02% 2.07%
2001 -2.96% 0.34%
2000 8.95% 2.15%
1999 6.18% -6.86%
1998 - -2.88%
1997 - -3.31%
1996 - -5%
1995 - -4.62%
1994 - -5.79%
1993 - -4.66%
1992 - -3.8%
1991 - -3.45%
1990 - -15.2%
1989 - -
1988 - -22.4%
1987 - -
1986 - -7.33%
1985 - -11.3%
1984 - -11.8%
1983 - -15.6%
1982 - -20.2%
1981 - -10.6%
1980 - -6.53%
1979 - -5.89%
1978 - -4.44%
1977 - -5.91%
1976 - -2.2%
1975 - -3.53%
1974 - -1.41%
1973 - 1.21%
1972 - -2.61%
1971 - -2.33%
1970 - -2.69%
1969 - -1.57%
1968 - -1.21%
1967 - -2.11%
1966 - -1.04%
1965 - 0.3%
1964 - 0.2%
1963 - 0.75%
1962 - -0.29%
1961 - 0.04%
1960 - -1.28%

Data sources: International Monetary Fund (IMF) | Fiscal Monitor (1999–2024, retrieved 2026-02-20); International Monetary Fund (IMF) | Public Finances in Modern History (1960–1999, retrieved 2026-02-20).

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

In 2024, Botswana's government deficit, the difference between spending and revenue, was $1.52B, equivalent to 7.82% of GDP. This compares to Nicaragua's surplus of $489M, or 2.48% of GDP.

Over the past 26 years, Botswana recorded a fiscal deficit in 16 of those years, while Nicaragua ran a deficit in 11 years. On average, Botswana posted an annual deficit equal to 0.96% of GDP, compared to deficit of 0.15% of GDP for Nicaragua.

Inflation comparison by year

Inflation
Botswana

Nicaragua
1x
Year Consumer prices inflation
Botswana Nicaragua
2024 2.82% 4.6%
2023 5.07% 8.4%
2022 11.7% 10.5%
2021 7.24% 4.9%
2020 1.89% 3.7%
2019 2.77% 5.4%
2018 3.24% 4.9%
2017 3.31% 3.9%
2016 2.81% 3.5%
2015 3.06% 4%
2014 4.4% 6%
2013 5.88% 7.1%
2012 7.54% 7.2%
2011 8.46% 8.1%
2010 6.95% 5.5%
2009 8.03% 3.7%
2008 12.7% 19.8%
2007 7.08% 11.1%
2006 11.6% 9.1%
2005 8.61% 9.6%
2004 6.95% 8.5%
2003 9.19% 5.3%
2002 8.03% 3.8%
2001 6.56% 7.4%
2000 8.6% 11.5%
1999 7.75% 11.2%
1998 6.66% 13%
1997 8.72% 9.2%

Data sources: International Monetary Fund (IMF) | World Economic Outlook (1997–2024, retrieved 2026-02-20); World Bank | Economy & Growth (1997–2024, retrieved 2026-04-06).

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

Over the past 28 years, Botswana has recorded an average annual inflation rate of 6.7%, compared with 7.53% in Nicaragua. In 2024, inflation was 2.82% in Botswana and 4.6% in Nicaragua.

Top exports between countries

Botswana
Export category Export value
Miscellaneous $1K
Nicaragua
Export category Export value

Balance of trade

Botswana Nicaragua
Current account balance
-$821M
2024
$818M
2024
Current account balance ranking
118/190
2024
55/190
2024
Current account balance, % of GDP
-4.23%
2024
+4.15%
2024
Goods imports
$6.86B
2024
$10.1B
2024
Goods exports
$4.66B
2024
$6.84B
2024
Service imports
$1.29B
2024
$1.31B
2024
Service exports
$935M
2024
$1.3B
2024
Imports of goods and services, % of GDP
43.7%
2024
58.1%
2024
Exports of goods and services, % of GDP
27.4%
2024
40.5%
2024

Economic freedom indices

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

Botswana Nicaragua
Economic freedom 67.7 53.6
Economic freedom ranking 53/197 139/197
Property rights 71.7 23.8
Government integrity 59.6 13.4
Judicial effectiveness 70.2 8.8
Tax burden 87.1 74.5
Government spending 69.8 77.7
Fiscal health 72.4 96.9
Business freedom 61.5 54.4
Labor freedom 60.7 47.3
Monetary freedom 72 69.4
Trade freedom 77 67
Investment freedom 50 60
Financial freedom 60 50

Economic freedom comparison by year

Botswana
Nicaragua
1x
Year Economic freedom index
Botswana Nicaragua
2026 67.7 53.6
2025 69.9 54
2024 68 53.4
2023 64.9 54.9
2022 64.8 54.8
2021 67.6 56.3
2020 69.6 57.2
2019 69.5 57.7
2018 69.9 58.9
2017 70.1 59.2
2016 71.1 58.6
2015 69.8 57.6
2014 72 58.4
2013 70.6 56.6
2012 69.6 57.9
2011 68.8 58.8
2010 70.3 58.3
2009 69.7 59.8
2008 68.2 60.8
2007 68.1 62.7
2006 68.8 63.8
2005 69.3 62.5
2004 69.9 61.4
2003 68.6 62.6
2002 66.2 61.1
2001 66.8 58
2000 65.8 56.9
1999 62.9 54
1998 62.8 53.8
1997 59.1 53.3
1996 61.6 54.1
1995 56.8 42.5

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

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

The Economic Freedom Index for Botswana is 67.7, ranking 53/197, compared to 53.6 for Nicaragua, ranking 139/197. The chart above displays a comparison of annual changes in economic freedom indexes.

Other economic metrics

Botswana Nicaragua
Services, % of GDP
63.5%
2024
46.8%
2024
Industry, % of GDP
29.4%
2024
27.6%
2024
Agriculture, forestry, and fishing, % of GDP
1.71%
2024
14.4%
2024
GNI, Atlas method
$19.5B
2024
$17.4B
2024
GNI per capita, PPP
$20,570
2024
$8,270
2024
Total reserves including gold
$3.46B
2024
$6.1B
2024
Total reserves ranking
113/177
2024
91/177
2024
Net foreign direct investment
-$464M
2024
-$1.28B
2024
Net inflows of foreign direct investment
$467M
2024
$1.35B
2024
Net outflows of foreign direct investment
$3.02M
2024
$73.8M
2024
Servicing debt to the IMF, % of GNI
1.42%
2024
9.74%
2024
Poverty at national poverty lines
16.1%
2015
24.9%
2016
Gross capital formation, % of GDP
36%
2024
24.7%
2024

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/nicaragua | CC BY

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Data sources:

  1. World Bank | Economy & Growth (1960–2024, retrieved 2026-04-06)
  2. International Monetary Fund (IMF) | Fiscal Monitor (1990–2024, retrieved 2026-02-20)
  3. International Monetary Fund (IMF) | Public Finances in Modern History (1960–1999, retrieved 2026-02-20)
  4. The Heritage Foundation | Economic Freedom Index (1995–2026, retrieved 2026-03-09)
  5. U.S. Census Bureau (1985–2024, retrieved 2026-02-08)
  6. United Nations | World Population Prospects (2026, retrieved 2026-03-10)
  7. LivingCost (2026, retrieved 2025-10-14)
  8. TradeMap (2020, retrieved 2026-02-08)

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.