Botswana is an upper-middle-income country with a population of 2.52M people. The capital and largest city is Gaborone, with 236K residents. Botswana shares land borders with South Africa, Namibia, Zimbabwe and Zambia.
Botswana ranks 133/197 by GDP ($19.4B) and 98/197 by GDP per capita ($7,695). The top export category is precious metals & jewellery, while the top import is machinery & equipment.
Main facts and rankings
Botswana
|
Rank | |
|---|---|---|
| Population |
2595266
|
143/197 |
| GDP |
$19.4B
2024 |
133/197 |
| GDP per capita |
$7,695
2024 |
98/197 |
| GDP per capita, PPP |
$20,538
2024 |
93/197 |
| Government debt |
$6.36B
2024 |
141/185 |
| Debt-to-GDP ratio |
43.8%
2025 |
122/185 |
| Government debt per person |
$2,523
2024 |
110/185 |
| Average annual personal income after taxes |
$4,596
2025 |
119/197 |
| Land area | 218,816 sq mi | 47/197 |
| Population density | 11.5 ppl/mi² | 190/197 |
| Fertility rate | 2.73 | 63/196 |
| Median age | 24.2 years | 136/196 |
| Life expectancy | 69.4 years | 141/197 |
Botswana trends dashboard: time-series charts
| Year | GDP |
|---|---|
| 1960 | $30,411,414 |
| 1961 | $32,902,613 |
| 1962 | $35,644,957 |
| 1963 | $38,091,843 |
| 1964 | $41,616,348 |
| 1965 | $45,788,696 |
| 1966 | $51,465,655 |
| 1967 | $58,642,354 |
| 1968 | $66,248,441 |
| 1969 | $77,361,547 |
| 1970 | $96,243,234 |
| 1971 | $127,448,614 |
| 1972 | $164,460,915 |
| 1973 | $244,124,164 |
| 1974 | $306,044,208 |
| 1975 | $355,168,572 |
| 1976 | $372,025,093 |
| 1977 | $451,624,780 |
| 1978 | $590,407,374 |
| 1979 | $819,870,259 |
| 1980 | $1,060,889,704 |
| 1981 | $1,073,812,830 |
| 1982 | $1,014,945,696 |
| 1983 | $1,172,230,397 |
| 1984 | $1,240,822,167 |
| 1985 | $1,114,783,343 |
| 1986 | $1,392,602,164 |
| 1987 | $1,965,226,890 |
| 1988 | $2,644,554,159 |
| 1989 | $3,083,822,112 |
| 1990 | $3,790,636,324 |
| 1991 | $3,942,876,703 |
| 1992 | $4,146,464,587 |
| 1993 | $4,160,129,175 |
| 1994 | $4,259,259,604 |
| 1995 | $4,730,599,122 |
| 1996 | $4,847,757,218 |
| 1997 | $5,020,265,627 |
| 1998 | $4,790,481,509 |
| 1999 | $5,484,263,347 |
| 2000 | $5,788,329,609 |
| 2001 | $5,489,608,300 |
| 2002 | $5,438,863,983 |
| 2003 | $7,511,582,173 |
| 2004 | $8,957,467,707 |
| 2005 | $9,918,907,108 |
| 2006 | $9,919,158,482 |
| 2007 | $10,567,270,656 |
| 2008 | $10,730,829,116 |
| 2009 | $10,118,459,242 |
| 2010 | $12,637,273,429 |
| 2011 | $15,110,643,612 |
| 2012 | $13,907,464,500 |
| 2013 | $14,271,738,933 |
| 2014 | $15,470,088,501 |
| 2015 | $13,530,748,845 |
| 2016 | $15,082,637,184 |
| 2017 | $16,105,155,857 |
| 2018 | $17,031,943,186 |
| 2019 | $16,725,908,149 |
| 2020 | $14,960,251,611 |
| 2021 | $18,750,182,235 |
| 2022 | $20,321,150,598 |
| 2023 | $19,411,266,967 |
| 2024 | $19,400,774,882 |
| Year | GDP per capita |
|---|---|
| 1960 | $58.9 |
| 1961 | $62.3 |
| 1962 | $66 |
| 1963 | $68.9 |
| 1964 | $73.5 |
| 1965 | $79.7 |
| 1966 | $89.1 |
| 1967 | $100.9 |
| 1968 | $113.4 |
| 1969 | $131.8 |
| 1970 | $163 |
| 1971 | $212.2 |
| 1972 | $264.2 |
| 1973 | $374 |
| 1974 | $446 |
| 1975 | $493 |
| 1976 | $490 |
| 1977 | $565 |
| 1978 | $695 |
| 1979 | $909 |
| 1980 | $1,132 |
| 1981 | $1,107 |
| 1982 | $1,006 |
| 1983 | $1,121 |
| 1984 | $1,145 |
| 1985 | $994 |
| 1986 | $1,200 |
| 1987 | $1,639 |
| 1988 | $2,141 |
| 1989 | $2,428 |
| 1990 | $2,903 |
| 1991 | $2,939 |
| 1992 | $3,005 |
| 1993 | $2,929 |
| 1994 | $2,917 |
| 1995 | $3,156 |
| 1996 | $3,156 |
| 1997 | $3,194 |
| 1998 | $2,981 |
| 1999 | $3,340 |
| 2000 | $3,451 |
| 2001 | $3,206 |
| 2002 | $3,117 |
| 2003 | $4,230 |
| 2004 | $4,957 |
| 2005 | $5,391 |
| 2006 | $5,292 |
| 2007 | $5,529 |
| 2008 | $5,503 |
| 2009 | $5,083 |
| 2010 | $6,216 |
| 2011 | $7,287 |
| 2012 | $6,596 |
| 2013 | $6,667 |
| 2014 | $7,122 |
| 2015 | $6,141 |
| 2016 | $6,749 |
| 2017 | $7,105 |
| 2018 | $7,408 |
| 2019 | $7,172 |
| 2020 | $6,323 |
| 2021 | $7,808 |
| 2022 | $8,329 |
| 2023 | $7,826 |
| 2024 | $7,695 |
Botswana's life expectancy calculator
| Year | Life expectancy, years |
|---|---|
| 1950 | 46.2 |
| 1951 | 46.6 |
| 1952 | 47 |
| 1953 | 47.5 |
| 1954 | 48 |
| 1955 | 48.5 |
| 1956 | 49 |
| 1957 | 49.5 |
| 1958 | 50.1 |
| 1959 | 50.7 |
| 1960 | 51.2 |
| 1961 | 51.8 |
| 1962 | 52.3 |
| 1963 | 52.8 |
| 1964 | 53.4 |
| 1965 | 53.9 |
| 1966 | 54.4 |
| 1967 | 54.9 |
| 1968 | 55.4 |
| 1969 | 55.9 |
| 1970 | 56.4 |
| 1971 | 57.1 |
| 1972 | 57.7 |
| 1973 | 58.3 |
| 1974 | 58.9 |
| 1975 | 59.5 |
| 1976 | 60.2 |
| 1977 | 60.9 |
| 1978 | 61.5 |
| 1979 | 62 |
| 1980 | 62.5 |
| 1981 | 63 |
| 1982 | 63.4 |
| 1983 | 63.6 |
| 1984 | 63.7 |
| 1985 | 63.6 |
| 1986 | 63.4 |
| 1987 | 62.8 |
| 1988 | 61.7 |
| 1989 | 61.2 |
| 1990 | 60.1 |
| 1991 | 58.9 |
| 1992 | 58.2 |
| 1993 | 57.3 |
| 1994 | 56 |
| 1995 | 54.7 |
| 1996 | 54.3 |
| 1997 | 53.6 |
| 1998 | 53 |
| 1999 | 52.5 |
| 2000 | 52.3 |
| 2001 | 52.2 |
| 2002 | 52.4 |
| 2003 | 52.9 |
| 2004 | 53.6 |
| 2005 | 54.4 |
| 2006 | 55.1 |
| 2007 | 56.7 |
| 2008 | 57.7 |
| 2009 | 58.3 |
| 2010 | 59.1 |
| 2011 | 59.7 |
| 2012 | 60.4 |
| 2013 | 61.2 |
| 2014 | 62.2 |
| 2015 | 63.2 |
| 2016 | 64.3 |
| 2017 | 65.4 |
| 2018 | 66.4 |
| 2019 | 67.2 |
| 2020 | 67.6 |
| 2021 | 63.3 |
| 2022 | 68.7 |
| 2023 | 69.2 |
| 2024 | 69.3 |
| 2025 | 69.4 |
Botswana's population clock and projection
| Year | Population |
|---|---|
| 1960 | 516,165 |
| 1961 | 527,942 |
| 1962 | 540,186 |
| 1963 | 552,966 |
| 1964 | 566,266 |
| 1965 | 574,664 |
| 1966 | 577,866 |
| 1967 | 580,933 |
| 1968 | 583,966 |
| 1969 | 587,066 |
| 1970 | 590,334 |
| 1971 | 600,481 |
| 1972 | 622,407 |
| 1973 | 652,408 |
| 1974 | 685,448 |
| 1975 | 720,380 |
| 1976 | 758,508 |
| 1977 | 799,574 |
| 1978 | 849,239 |
| 1979 | 901,742 |
| 1980 | 937,485 |
| 1981 | 969,996 |
| 1982 | 1,009,269 |
| 1983 | 1,046,137 |
| 1984 | 1,083,660 |
| 1985 | 1,121,945 |
| 1986 | 1,160,650 |
| 1987 | 1,199,167 |
| 1988 | 1,235,476 |
| 1989 | 1,270,274 |
| 1990 | 1,305,696 |
| 1991 | 1,341,756 |
| 1992 | 1,380,033 |
| 1993 | 1,420,115 |
| 1994 | 1,460,023 |
| 1995 | 1,498,836 |
| 1996 | 1,535,914 |
| 1997 | 1,571,691 |
| 1998 | 1,606,899 |
| 1999 | 1,641,997 |
| 2000 | 1,677,382 |
| 2001 | 1,712,254 |
| 2002 | 1,744,763 |
| 2003 | 1,775,736 |
| 2004 | 1,807,146 |
| 2005 | 1,839,877 |
| 2006 | 1,874,516 |
| 2007 | 1,911,201 |
| 2008 | 1,949,970 |
| 2009 | 1,990,673 |
| 2010 | 2,033,111 |
| 2011 | 2,073,535 |
| 2012 | 2,108,617 |
| 2013 | 2,140,682 |
| 2014 | 2,172,044 |
| 2015 | 2,203,273 |
| 2016 | 2,234,776 |
| 2017 | 2,266,747 |
| 2018 | 2,299,141 |
| 2019 | 2,332,083 |
| 2020 | 2,365,894 |
| 2021 | 2,401,441 |
| 2022 | 2,439,892 |
| 2023 | 2,480,244 |
| 2024 | 2,521,139 |
Botswana's birth and fertility rates
| Year | Fertility rate |
|---|---|
| 1960 | 6.6 |
| 1961 | 6.56 |
| 1962 | 6.54 |
| 1963 | 6.58 |
| 1964 | 6.61 |
| 1965 | 6.6 |
| 1966 | 6.61 |
| 1967 | 6.6 |
| 1968 | 6.58 |
| 1969 | 6.56 |
| 1970 | 6.55 |
| 1971 | 6.54 |
| 1972 | 6.56 |
| 1973 | 6.59 |
| 1974 | 6.61 |
| 1975 | 6.61 |
| 1976 | 6.6 |
| 1977 | 6.54 |
| 1978 | 6.48 |
| 1979 | 6.4 |
| 1980 | 6.29 |
| 1981 | 6.16 |
| 1982 | 5.97 |
| 1983 | 5.79 |
| 1984 | 5.63 |
| 1985 | 5.48 |
| 1986 | 5.33 |
| 1987 | 5.1 |
| 1988 | 4.88 |
| 1989 | 4.67 |
| 1990 | 4.51 |
| 1991 | 4.37 |
| 1992 | 4.26 |
| 1993 | 4.15 |
| 1994 | 4.02 |
| 1995 | 3.79 |
| 1996 | 3.57 |
| 1997 | 3.43 |
| 1998 | 3.36 |
| 1999 | 3.31 |
| 2000 | 3.29 |
| 2001 | 3.25 |
| 2002 | 3.18 |
| 2003 | 3.11 |
| 2004 | 3.06 |
| 2005 | 3.08 |
| 2006 | 3.11 |
| 2007 | 3.13 |
| 2008 | 3.13 |
| 2009 | 3.13 |
| 2010 | 3.14 |
| 2011 | 3.1 |
| 2012 | 3.07 |
| 2013 | 3.05 |
| 2014 | 3.03 |
| 2015 | 3.01 |
| 2016 | 2.99 |
| 2017 | 2.97 |
| 2018 | 2.94 |
| 2019 | 2.91 |
| 2020 | 2.86 |
| 2021 | 2.83 |
| 2022 | 2.79 |
| 2023 | 2.73 |
| Year | Median age, years |
|---|---|
| 1960 | 17.7 |
| 1961 | 17.4 |
| 1962 | 17.1 |
| 1963 | 16.8 |
| 1964 | 16.6 |
| 1965 | 16.4 |
| 1966 | 16.2 |
| 1967 | 15.9 |
| 1968 | 15.7 |
| 1969 | 15.6 |
| 1970 | 15.4 |
| 1971 | 15.3 |
| 1972 | 15.4 |
| 1973 | 15.6 |
| 1974 | 15.8 |
| 1975 | 16 |
| 1976 | 16.2 |
| 1977 | 16.4 |
| 1978 | 16.6 |
| 1979 | 16.9 |
| 1980 | 16.8 |
| 1981 | 16.8 |
| 1982 | 16.8 |
| 1983 | 16.8 |
| 1984 | 16.8 |
| 1985 | 16.8 |
| 1986 | 16.9 |
| 1987 | 16.9 |
| 1988 | 17 |
| 1989 | 17.1 |
| 1990 | 17.3 |
| 1991 | 17.4 |
| 1992 | 17.6 |
| 1993 | 17.8 |
| 1994 | 18 |
| 1995 | 18.3 |
| 1996 | 18.6 |
| 1997 | 18.8 |
| 1998 | 19.1 |
| 1999 | 19.4 |
| 2000 | 19.7 |
| 2001 | 20 |
| 2002 | 20.3 |
| 2003 | 20.6 |
| 2004 | 20.9 |
| 2005 | 21.2 |
| 2006 | 21.5 |
| 2007 | 21.7 |
| 2008 | 22 |
| 2009 | 22.2 |
| 2010 | 22.5 |
| 2011 | 22.7 |
| 2012 | 22.8 |
| 2013 | 22.7 |
| 2014 | 22.7 |
| 2015 | 22.7 |
| 2016 | 22.7 |
| 2017 | 22.8 |
| 2018 | 22.9 |
| 2019 | 23.1 |
| 2020 | 23.3 |
| 2021 | 23.4 |
| 2022 | 23.6 |
| 2023 | 23.9 |
| 2024 | 24.2 |
Botswana vs. World: Interactive Maps
Use the buttons below to toggle between world maps that display different statistics comparing Botswana with other countries.
GDP per capita
GDP
Life expectancy
Population
Population density
Fertility rate
Median age
Land area
Botswana: National Statistics
Finance
|
Botswana
|
Rank | |
|---|---|---|
| GNI, Atlas method |
$19.5B
2024 |
124/194 |
| Government expenditure, % of GDP |
34.9%
2025 |
73/195 |
| Education expenditure, % of GDP |
8.06%
2020 |
7/193 |
| Military expenditure, % of GDP |
2.53%
2023 |
45/163 |
| Armed forces personnel |
9,000
2020 |
136/174 |
| Deficit/surplus, % of GDP |
-11.2%
2025 |
182/188 |
| Unemployment rate |
24.4%
2024 |
8/196 |
| Services, % of GDP |
63.5%
2024 |
52/191 |
| Industry, % of GDP |
29.4%
2024 |
61/194 |
| Economic freedom index |
69.9
2025 |
36/197 |
| Income share by richest 10% |
42.9%
2015 |
3/169 |
| Income share by poorest 10% |
1.4%
2015 |
159/169 |
| Listed domestic companies |
23
2023 |
87/103 |
| Market capitalization of domestic companies |
$3.59B
2023 |
85/100 |
| Total reserves including gold |
$3.46B
2024 |
113/177 |
| Personal remittances received |
$128M
2024 |
145/190 |
| International tourist arrivals |
1,830,000
2018 |
67/188 |
| International tourism as share of exports |
4.56%
2020 |
97/184 |
| Banked people share |
61.4%
2024 |
91/158 |
Energy
|
Botswana
|
Rank | |
|---|---|---|
| Energy use, kg of oil equivalent per capita |
1,165 kg
2022 |
88/177 |
| GDP PPP per kg equivalent of energy use |
$17.1
2022 |
50/173 |
| Carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions |
7.42 megatons
2023 |
119/187 |
| CO2 emissions per capita |
2.99 tons
2023 |
86/187 |
| Fossil fuel energy use share |
66.7%
2022 |
82/176 |
| Renewable energy use share |
27.4%
2021 |
88/193 |
| Alternative and nuclear energy use share |
0.08%
2022 |
138/147 |
| Net energy imports use share |
23.7%
2022 |
75/144 |
| Electric power consumption per capita |
1,522 kWh
2022 |
92/147 |
| Renewable electricity output share |
0.25%
2021 |
185/192 |
| Hydroelectric share |
0%
2021 |
153/192 |
| Nuclear share |
0%
2021 |
51/192 |
| Electricity access |
76%
2023 |
152/195 |
Society
|
Botswana
|
Rank | |
|---|---|---|
| % of world population |
0.03%
2024 |
143/197 |
| Annual migration change |
-5,778
2024 |
125/196 |
| Urban population |
73.5%
2024 |
68/195 |
| Male:Female ratio |
50:50
2024 |
N/A |
| Average male height |
5.68 ft
2025 |
96/190 |
| Average female height |
5.32 ft
2025 |
68/190 |
| Quality of life index |
48.5
2025 |
94/197 |
| Corruption Perceptions Index |
57
2024 |
54/197 |
| Higher education index |
55
2025 |
85/183 |
| Homicides per 100K people |
10.5
2021 |
38/197 |
| Road traffic mortality per 100K people |
26.4
2019 |
44/197 |
| Visa free countries |
86
2025 |
116/195 |
| Adult literacy rate |
86.8%
2013 |
138/196 |
| English speaking |
38.4%
2023 |
76/197 |
| People using the Internet |
81.4%
2023 |
95/195 |
Health
|
Botswana
|
Rank | |
|---|---|---|
| Government health expenditure per capita |
$478
2022 |
88/191 |
| Out-of-pocket health expenditure per capita |
$21
2022 |
154/191 |
| Life expectancy |
69.4 years
2025 |
141/197 |
| Foreign aid share of health expenditure |
6.34%
2022 |
74/178 |
| Physicians per 1,000 people |
0.38
2022 |
146/193 |
| Age at first childbirth |
19 years
2017 |
134/137 |
| Maternal mortality per 100K births |
155
2023 |
47/193 |
| Mortality rate before reaching 5 years of age, per 1,000 live births |
39.6
2023 |
43/192 |
| Obesity rate |
18.6%
2022 |
117/189 |
| Diabetes prevalence |
4.6%
2024 |
175/195 |
| Air quality index |
39
2025 |
123/197 |
| Tobacco use prevalence |
18.7%
2022 |
90/164 |
| Pure alcohol consumption per capita |
7.27 liters
2020 |
58/186 |
Territory
|
Botswana
|
Rank | |
|---|---|---|
| % of world land |
0.38%
2025 |
47/197 |
| Land area per capita |
86,792 sq mi
2024 |
8/197 |
| Agricultural land area |
99,854 sq mi
2025 |
43/194 |
| Forest area |
57,528 sq mi
2025 |
44/196 |
| Roads length |
19,727 mi
2017 |
81/175 |
Compare Botswana with other countries
Relevant pages:
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Facts comparisons
