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 97/197 by GDP per capita ($7,696). The top export category is precious metals & jewellery, while the top import is machinery & equipment.
Main facts and rankings
Botswana
|
Rank | |
|---|---|---|
| Population |
2615162
|
142/197 |
| GDP |
$19.4B
2024 |
133/197 |
| 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 |
| Land area | 218,816 sq mi | 47/197 |
| Population density | 11.9 ppl/mi² | 190/197 |
| Fertility rate | 2.73 | 63/196 |
| Median age | 24.2 years | 136/196 |
| Life expectancy | 69.6 years | 141/197 |
Botswana trends dashboard: time-series charts
| Year | GDP |
|---|---|
| 2024 | $19,402,063,513 |
| 2023 | $19,411,266,967 |
| 2022 | $20,321,150,599 |
| 2021 | $18,750,182,236 |
| 2020 | $14,960,251,608 |
| 2019 | $16,725,908,149 |
| 2018 | $17,031,943,186 |
| 2017 | $16,105,155,857 |
| 2016 | $15,082,637,184 |
| 2015 | $13,530,748,845 |
| 2014 | $15,470,088,501 |
| 2013 | $14,271,738,933 |
| 2012 | $13,907,464,500 |
| 2011 | $15,110,643,612 |
| 2010 | $12,637,273,429 |
| 2009 | $10,118,459,242 |
| 2008 | $10,730,829,116 |
| 2007 | $10,567,270,656 |
| 2006 | $9,919,158,482 |
| 2005 | $9,918,907,108 |
| 2004 | $8,957,467,707 |
| 2003 | $7,511,582,173 |
| 2002 | $5,438,863,983 |
| 2001 | $5,489,608,300 |
| 2000 | $5,788,329,609 |
| 1999 | $5,484,263,347 |
| 1998 | $4,790,481,509 |
| 1997 | $5,020,265,627 |
| 1996 | $4,847,757,218 |
| 1995 | $4,730,599,122 |
| 1994 | $4,259,259,604 |
| 1993 | $4,160,129,175 |
| 1992 | $4,146,464,587 |
| 1991 | $3,942,876,703 |
| 1990 | $3,790,636,324 |
| 1989 | $3,083,822,112 |
| 1988 | $2,644,554,159 |
| 1987 | $1,965,226,890 |
| 1986 | $1,392,602,164 |
| 1985 | $1,114,783,343 |
| 1984 | $1,240,822,167 |
| 1983 | $1,172,230,397 |
| 1982 | $1,014,945,696 |
| 1981 | $1,073,812,830 |
| 1980 | $1,060,889,704 |
| 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 (1960–2024, retrieved 2026-04-06).
GeoRank.org/facts/botswana | CC BY 
| Year | GDP per capita |
|---|---|
| 2024 | $7,696 |
| 2023 | $7,826 |
| 2022 | $8,329 |
| 2021 | $7,808 |
| 2020 | $6,323 |
| 2019 | $7,172 |
| 2018 | $7,408 |
| 2017 | $7,105 |
| 2016 | $6,749 |
| 2015 | $6,141 |
| 2014 | $7,122 |
| 2013 | $6,667 |
| 2012 | $6,596 |
| 2011 | $7,287 |
| 2010 | $6,216 |
| 2009 | $5,083 |
| 2008 | $5,503 |
| 2007 | $5,529 |
| 2006 | $5,292 |
| 2005 | $5,391 |
| 2004 | $4,957 |
| 2003 | $4,230 |
| 2002 | $3,117 |
| 2001 | $3,206 |
| 2000 | $3,451 |
| 1999 | $3,340 |
| 1998 | $2,981 |
| 1997 | $3,194 |
| 1996 | $3,156 |
| 1995 | $3,156 |
| 1994 | $2,917 |
| 1993 | $2,929 |
| 1992 | $3,005 |
| 1991 | $2,939 |
| 1990 | $2,903 |
| 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/facts/botswana | CC BY
Botswana's life expectancy calculator
| Year | Life expectancy, years |
|---|---|
| 2026 | 69.6 |
| 2025 | 69.4 |
| 2024 | 69.3 |
| 2023 | 69.2 |
| 2022 | 68.7 |
| 2021 | 63.3 |
| 2020 | 67.6 |
| 2019 | 67.2 |
| 2018 | 66.4 |
| 2017 | 65.4 |
| 2016 | 64.3 |
| 2015 | 63.2 |
| 2014 | 62.2 |
| 2013 | 61.2 |
| 2012 | 60.4 |
| 2011 | 59.7 |
| 2010 | 59.1 |
| 2009 | 58.3 |
| 2008 | 57.7 |
| 2007 | 56.7 |
| 2006 | 55.1 |
| 2005 | 54.4 |
| 2004 | 53.6 |
| 2003 | 52.9 |
| 2002 | 52.4 |
| 2001 | 52.2 |
| 2000 | 52.3 |
| 1999 | 52.5 |
| 1998 | 53 |
| 1997 | 53.6 |
| 1996 | 54.3 |
| 1995 | 54.7 |
| 1994 | 56 |
| 1993 | 57.3 |
| 1992 | 58.2 |
| 1991 | 58.9 |
| 1990 | 60.1 |
| 1989 | 61.2 |
| 1988 | 61.7 |
| 1987 | 62.8 |
| 1986 | 63.4 |
| 1985 | 63.6 |
| 1984 | 63.7 |
| 1983 | 63.6 |
| 1982 | 63.4 |
| 1981 | 63 |
| 1980 | 62.5 |
| 1979 | 62 |
| 1978 | 61.5 |
| 1977 | 60.9 |
| 1976 | 60.2 |
| 1975 | 59.5 |
| 1974 | 58.9 |
| 1973 | 58.3 |
| 1972 | 57.7 |
| 1971 | 57.1 |
| 1970 | 56.4 |
| 1969 | 55.9 |
| 1968 | 55.4 |
| 1967 | 54.9 |
| 1966 | 54.4 |
| 1965 | 53.9 |
| 1964 | 53.4 |
| 1963 | 52.8 |
| 1962 | 52.3 |
| 1961 | 51.8 |
| 1960 | 51.2 |
| 1959 | 50.7 |
| 1958 | 50.1 |
| 1957 | 49.5 |
| 1956 | 49 |
| 1955 | 48.5 |
| 1954 | 48 |
| 1953 | 47.5 |
| 1952 | 47 |
| 1951 | 46.6 |
| 1950 | 46.2 |
Data sources: United Nations | World Population Prospects (1950–2026, retrieved 2026-03-10).
GeoRank.org/facts/botswana | CC BY
Botswana's population clock and projection
| Year | Population |
|---|---|
| 2024 | 2,521,139 |
| 2023 | 2,480,244 |
| 2022 | 2,439,892 |
| 2021 | 2,401,441 |
| 2020 | 2,365,894 |
| 2019 | 2,332,083 |
| 2018 | 2,299,141 |
| 2017 | 2,266,747 |
| 2016 | 2,234,776 |
| 2015 | 2,203,273 |
| 2014 | 2,172,044 |
| 2013 | 2,140,682 |
| 2012 | 2,108,617 |
| 2011 | 2,073,535 |
| 2010 | 2,033,111 |
| 2009 | 1,990,673 |
| 2008 | 1,949,970 |
| 2007 | 1,911,201 |
| 2006 | 1,874,516 |
| 2005 | 1,839,877 |
| 2004 | 1,807,146 |
| 2003 | 1,775,736 |
| 2002 | 1,744,763 |
| 2001 | 1,712,254 |
| 2000 | 1,677,382 |
| 1999 | 1,641,997 |
| 1998 | 1,606,899 |
| 1997 | 1,571,691 |
| 1996 | 1,535,914 |
| 1995 | 1,498,836 |
| 1994 | 1,460,023 |
| 1993 | 1,420,115 |
| 1992 | 1,380,033 |
| 1991 | 1,341,756 |
| 1990 | 1,305,696 |
| 1989 | 1,270,274 |
| 1988 | 1,235,476 |
| 1987 | 1,199,167 |
| 1986 | 1,160,650 |
| 1985 | 1,121,945 |
| 1984 | 1,083,660 |
| 1983 | 1,046,137 |
| 1982 | 1,009,269 |
| 1981 | 969,996 |
| 1980 | 937,485 |
| 1979 | 901,742 |
| 1978 | 849,239 |
| 1977 | 799,574 |
| 1976 | 758,508 |
| 1975 | 720,380 |
| 1974 | 685,448 |
| 1973 | 652,408 |
| 1972 | 622,407 |
| 1971 | 600,481 |
| 1970 | 590,334 |
| 1969 | 587,066 |
| 1968 | 583,966 |
| 1967 | 580,933 |
| 1966 | 577,866 |
| 1965 | 574,664 |
| 1964 | 566,266 |
| 1963 | 552,966 |
| 1962 | 540,186 |
| 1961 | 527,942 |
| 1960 | 516,165 |
Data sources: World Bank | Health (1960–2024, retrieved 2026-04-06).
GeoRank.org/facts/botswana | CC BY
Botswana's birth and fertility rates
| Year | Fertility rate |
|---|---|
| 2023 | 2.73 |
| 2022 | 2.79 |
| 2021 | 2.83 |
| 2020 | 2.86 |
| 2019 | 2.91 |
| 2018 | 2.94 |
| 2017 | 2.97 |
| 2016 | 2.99 |
| 2015 | 3.01 |
| 2014 | 3.03 |
| 2013 | 3.05 |
| 2012 | 3.07 |
| 2011 | 3.1 |
| 2010 | 3.14 |
| 2009 | 3.13 |
| 2008 | 3.13 |
| 2007 | 3.13 |
| 2006 | 3.11 |
| 2005 | 3.08 |
| 2004 | 3.06 |
| 2003 | 3.11 |
| 2002 | 3.18 |
| 2001 | 3.25 |
| 2000 | 3.29 |
| 1999 | 3.31 |
| 1998 | 3.36 |
| 1997 | 3.43 |
| 1996 | 3.57 |
| 1995 | 3.79 |
| 1994 | 4.02 |
| 1993 | 4.15 |
| 1992 | 4.26 |
| 1991 | 4.37 |
| 1990 | 4.51 |
| 1989 | 4.67 |
| 1988 | 4.88 |
| 1987 | 5.1 |
| 1986 | 5.33 |
| 1985 | 5.48 |
| 1984 | 5.63 |
| 1983 | 5.79 |
| 1982 | 5.97 |
| 1981 | 6.16 |
| 1980 | 6.29 |
| 1979 | 6.4 |
| 1978 | 6.48 |
| 1977 | 6.54 |
| 1976 | 6.6 |
| 1975 | 6.61 |
| 1974 | 6.61 |
| 1973 | 6.59 |
| 1972 | 6.56 |
| 1971 | 6.54 |
| 1970 | 6.55 |
| 1969 | 6.56 |
| 1968 | 6.58 |
| 1967 | 6.6 |
| 1966 | 6.61 |
| 1965 | 6.6 |
| 1964 | 6.61 |
| 1963 | 6.58 |
| 1962 | 6.54 |
| 1961 | 6.56 |
| 1960 | 6.6 |
Data sources: World Bank | Health (1960–2023, retrieved 2026-04-06).
GeoRank.org/facts/botswana | CC BY
| Year | Median age, years |
|---|---|
| 2024 | 24.2 |
| 2023 | 23.9 |
| 2022 | 23.6 |
| 2021 | 23.4 |
| 2020 | 23.3 |
| 2019 | 23.1 |
| 2018 | 22.9 |
| 2017 | 22.8 |
| 2016 | 22.7 |
| 2015 | 22.7 |
| 2014 | 22.7 |
| 2013 | 22.7 |
| 2012 | 22.8 |
| 2011 | 22.7 |
| 2010 | 22.5 |
| 2009 | 22.2 |
| 2008 | 22 |
| 2007 | 21.7 |
| 2006 | 21.5 |
| 2005 | 21.2 |
| 2004 | 20.9 |
| 2003 | 20.6 |
| 2002 | 20.3 |
| 2001 | 20 |
| 2000 | 19.7 |
| 1999 | 19.4 |
| 1998 | 19.1 |
| 1997 | 18.8 |
| 1996 | 18.6 |
| 1995 | 18.3 |
| 1994 | 18 |
| 1993 | 17.8 |
| 1992 | 17.6 |
| 1991 | 17.4 |
| 1990 | 17.3 |
| 1989 | 17.1 |
| 1988 | 17 |
| 1987 | 16.9 |
| 1986 | 16.9 |
| 1985 | 16.8 |
| 1984 | 16.8 |
| 1983 | 16.8 |
| 1982 | 16.8 |
| 1981 | 16.8 |
| 1980 | 16.8 |
| 1979 | 16.9 |
| 1978 | 16.6 |
| 1977 | 16.4 |
| 1976 | 16.2 |
| 1975 | 16 |
| 1974 | 15.8 |
| 1973 | 15.6 |
| 1972 | 15.4 |
| 1971 | 15.3 |
| 1970 | 15.4 |
| 1969 | 15.6 |
| 1968 | 15.7 |
| 1967 | 15.9 |
| 1966 | 16.2 |
| 1965 | 16.4 |
| 1964 | 16.6 |
| 1963 | 16.8 |
| 1962 | 17.1 |
| 1961 | 17.4 |
| 1960 | 17.7 |
Data sources: World Bank | Health (1960–2024, retrieved 2026-04-06).
GeoRank.org/facts/botswana | CC BY
Botswana vs. World: Interactive Maps
Use the buttons below to toggle between world maps that display different statistics comparing Botswana with other countries.
Botswana: National Statistics
Finance
|
Botswana
|
Rank | |
|---|---|---|
| GNI, Atlas method |
$19.5B
2024 |
125/194 |
| Government expenditure, % of GDP |
33.8%
2024 |
73/195 |
| Education expenditure, % of GDP |
8.06%
2020 |
7/193 |
| Military expenditure, % of GDP |
2.83%
2024 |
37/163 |
| Armed forces personnel |
9,000
2020 |
136/174 |
| Deficit/surplus, % of GDP |
-7.82%
2024 |
170/188 |
| Unemployment rate |
24.4%
2024 |
8/196 |
| Services, % of GDP |
63.5%
2024 |
56/191 |
| Industry, % of GDP |
29.4%
2024 |
59/194 |
| Economic freedom index |
67.7
2026 |
53/197 |
| 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 |
148/191 |
| 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 |
90/177 |
| GDP PPP per kg equivalent of energy use |
$17.1
2022 |
52/173 |
| Carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions |
6.9 megatons
2024 |
126/187 |
| CO2 emissions per capita |
2.74 tons
2024 |
90/187 |
| 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 |
142/197 |
| Annual migration change |
-5,665
2025 |
120/196 |
| Urban population |
67.5%
2024 |
84/195 |
| Male:Female ratio |
49.8:50.2
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 |
50.1
2026 |
93/197 |
| Corruption Perceptions Index |
58
2025 |
50/197 |
| Higher education index |
52
2026 |
90/183 |
| Homicides per 100K people |
10.5
2021 |
38/197 |
| Road traffic mortality per 100K people |
26.4
2019 |
44/197 |
| Visa free countries |
83
2025 |
115/195 |
| 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 |
$490
2023 |
94/192 |
| Out-of-pocket health expenditure per capita |
$20.9
2023 |
158/192 |
| Life expectancy |
69.6 years
2026 |
141/197 |
| Foreign aid share of health expenditure |
6.53%
2023 |
68/181 |
| Physicians per 1,000 people |
0.38
2023 |
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 |
39.6
2023 |
43/192 |
| Obesity rate |
18.6%
2022 |
117/189 |
| Diabetes prevalence |
4.6%
2024 |
175/195 |
| Air quality index |
39
2026 |
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%
2026 |
47/197 |
| Land area per capita |
86,792 sq mi
2024 |
8/197 |
| Agricultural land area |
99,854 sq mi
2026 |
43/194 |
| Forest area |
57,528 sq mi
2026 |
44/196 |
| Roads length |
19,727 mi
2017 |
82/176 |
Compare Botswana with other countries
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Data sources:
- World Bank | Health (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-04-06)
- United Nations | World Population Prospects (1950–2026, retrieved 2026-03-10)
- U.S. Census Bureau (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-02-08)
- Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) (2000–2019, retrieved 2026-02-20)
- International Monetary Fund (IMF) | Fiscal Monitor (2024, retrieved 2026-02-20)
- LivingCost (2026, retrieved 2025-10-14)
- Wikidata (2013, retrieved 2026-02-08)
- World Obesity Federation (2022, retrieved 2026-02-08)
- Passport Index (2025, retrieved 2026-02-08)
- Transparency International (2025, retrieved 2026-02-10)
- The Heritage Foundation | Economic Freedom Index (2026, retrieved 2026-03-09)
- EduRank (2026, retrieved 2025-10-13)
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