Countries Botswana
Botswana

Botswana

Africa GEC: BC ISO: BW

Key Economic Indicators

GDP (PPP)
$51.78 billion
GDP Per Capita
$20,538
GDP Growth Rate
-2.99%
Inflation Rate
2.82%
Unemployment
24.48%
GDP (Nominal)
$19.401 billion (2024 est.)
Public Debt
<b>note:</b> central government debt as a % of GDP
Current Account
$-821,137,482

Economic Overview

good economic governance and financial management; diamond-driven growth model declining; rapid poverty reductions; high unemployment, particularly among youth; COVID-19 sharply contracted the economy and recovery is slow; public sector wages have posed fiscal challenges

All Economic Data

Agricultural products
root vegetables, beef, vegetables, sorghum, maize, game meat, milk, watermelons, goat milk, sunflower seeds (2023)
note: <b>note:</b> top ten agricultural products based on tonnage
Budget
Expenditures: $6.296 billion (2024 est.)
Note: <b>note:</b> central government revenues and expenses (excluding grants/extrabudgetary units/social security funds) converted to US dollars at average official exchange rate for year indicated
Revenues: $5.474 billion (2024 est.)
Currency
code: BWP
name: Botswana pula (BWP) [P]
Current account balance
$-821,137,482
Current account balance 2021: -$314.583 million (2021 est.)
Current account balance 2022: -$232.122 million (2022 est.)
Current account balance 2023: -$116.727 million (2023 est.)
Note: <b>note:</b> balance of payments - net trade and primary/secondary income in current dollars
Debt - external
$2.32 billion
Debt - external 2023: $1.761 billion (2023 est.)
Note: <b>note:</b> present value of external debt in current US dollars
Exchange rates
Currency: pulas (BWP) per US dollar -
Exchange rates 2020: 11.456 (2020 est.)
Exchange rates 2021: 11.087 (2021 est.)
Exchange rates 2022: 12.369 (2022 est.)
Exchange rates 2023: 13.596 (2023 est.)
Exchange rates 2024: 13.563 (2024 est.)
Exports
$5.32 billion
Exports 2021: $7.861 billion (2021 est.)
Exports 2022: $8.914 billion (2022 est.)
Exports 2023: $6.398 billion (2023 est.)
Note: <b>note:</b> balance of payments - exports of goods and services in current dollars
Exports - commodities
diamonds, copper ore, insulated wire, carbonates, cattle (2023)
note: <b>note:</b> top five export commodities based on value in dollars
Exports - partners
UAE 27%, India 17%, Belgium 16%, South Africa 8%, USA 7% (2023)
note: <b>note:</b> top five export partners based on percentage share of exports
Foreign direct investment
net inflows: $467.27 million
GDP - composition, by end use
Exports of goods and services: 26% (2024 est.)
Government consumption: 32.1% (2024 est.)
Household consumption: 45.3% (2024 est.)
Imports of goods and services: -40.9% (2024 est.)
Investment in fixed capital: 28.5% (2024 est.)
Investment in inventories: 7.7% (2024 est.)
Note: <b>note:</b> figures may not total 100% due to rounding or gaps in data collection
GDP - composition, by sector of origin
Agriculture: 1.7% (2024 est.)
Industry: 29.4% (2024 est.)
Note: <b>note:</b> figures may not total 100% due to non-allocated consumption not captured in sector-reported data
Services: 63.5% (2024 est.)
GDP (official exchange rate)
$19.401 billion (2024 est.)
note: <b>note:</b> data in current dollars at official exchange rate
GDP per capita (nominal)
$7,696
Gini Index coefficient - distribution of family income
53.3 (2015)
Gini Index coefficient - distribution of family income 2015: 54.9 (2015 est.)
Note: <b>note:</b> index (0-100) of income distribution; higher values represent greater inequality
GNI (gross national income)
$19.43 billion
GNI per capita
$7,750
Gross domestic investment
36 % of GDP
Household income or consumption by percentage share
Highest 10%: 42.9% (2015 est.)
Lowest 10%: 1.4% (2015 est.)
Note: <b>note:</b> % share of income accruing to lowest and highest 10% of population
Imports
$8.48 billion
Imports 2021: $9.25 billion (2021 est.)
Imports 2022: $8.826 billion (2022 est.)
Imports 2023: $7.228 billion (2023 est.)
Note: <b>note:</b> balance of payments - imports of goods and services in current dollars
Imports - commodities
refined petroleum, diamonds, cars, flavored water, electricity (2023)
note: <b>note:</b> top five import commodities based on value in dollars
Imports - partners
South Africa 65%, Namibia 8%, Canada 5%, China 3%, India 3% (2023)
note: <b>note:</b> top five import partners based on percentage share of imports
Industrial production growth rate
-13.5% (2024 est.)
note: <b>note:</b> annual % change in industrial value added based on constant local currency
Industries
diamonds, copper, nickel, salt, soda ash, potash, coal, iron ore, silver; beef processing; textiles
Inflation rate (consumer prices)
2.82%
Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2022: 11.7% (2022 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2023: 5.1% (2023 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2024: 2.8% (2024 est.)
Note: <b>note:</b> annual % change based on consumer prices
Labor force
1.173 million (2024 est.)
note: <b>note:</b> number of people ages 15 or older who are employed or seeking work
total: 1.2 million persons
Labor force - by occupation
agriculture: 18.03%
industry: 15.77%
services: 66.2%
Population below poverty line
16.1% (2015 est.)
note: <b>note:</b> % of population with income below national poverty line
Public debt
Note: <b>note:</b> central government debt as a % of GDP
Public debt 2020: 19.6% of GDP (2020 est.)
Real GDP (purchasing power parity)
$51.78 billion
Note: <b>note:</b> data in 2021 dollars
Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2022: $45.498 billion (2022 est.)
Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2023: $46.957 billion (2023 est.)
Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2024: $45.553 billion (2024 est.)
Real GDP growth rate
-2.99%
Note: <b>note:</b> annual GDP % growth based on constant local currency
Real GDP growth rate 2022: 5.5% (2022 est.)
Real GDP growth rate 2023: 3.2% (2023 est.)
Real GDP growth rate 2024: -3% (2024 est.)
Real GDP per capita
$20,538
Note: <b>note:</b> data in 2021 dollars
Real GDP per capita 2022: $18,600 (2022 est.)
Real GDP per capita 2023: $18,900 (2023 est.)
Real GDP per capita 2024: $18,100 (2024 est.)
Remittances
$128.3 million
Note: <b>note:</b> personal transfers and compensation between resident and non-resident individuals/households/entities
Remittances 2021: 0.3% of GDP (2021 est.)
Remittances 2022: 0.3% of GDP (2022 est.)
Remittances 2023: 0.4% of GDP (2023 est.)
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold
$3.46 billion
Note: <b>note:</b> holdings of gold (year-end prices)/foreign exchange/special drawing rights in current dollars
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2022: $4.279 billion (2022 est.)
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2023: $4.756 billion (2023 est.)
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2024: $3.456 billion (2024 est.)
Revenue (excl grants)
28 % of GDP
Tax revenue
22 % of GDP
Taxes and other revenues
19.6% (of GDP) (2022 est.)
note: <b>note:</b> central government tax revenue as a % of GDP
Unemployment rate
24.48%
Note: <b>note:</b> % of labor force seeking employment
Unemployment rate 2022: 23.7% (2022 est.)
Unemployment rate 2023: 23.4% (2023 est.)
Unemployment rate 2024: 23.2% (2024 est.)
Youth unemployment rate (ages 15-24)
Female: 48.6% (2024 est.)
Male: 39.8% (2024 est.)
Note: <b>note:</b> % of labor force ages 15-24 seeking employment
Total: 43.9% (2024 est.)
Map of Botswana

Economic Rankings

Unemployment Rate #4
Gini Index #7
Inflation Rate #56
GDP Growth Rate #75
GDP per Capita #91
External Debt #101
Reserves #106
Exports #120
Imports #126
GDP (PPP) #130
GDP (Nominal) #130

Quick Facts

Industries
diamonds, copper, nickel, salt, soda ash, potash, coal, iron ore, silver; beef processing; textiles
Agricultural products
root vegetables, beef, vegetables, sorghum, maize, game meat, milk, watermelons, goat milk, sunflower seeds (2023)
Labor force
1.173 million (2024 est.)
Exports - partners
UAE 27%, India 17%, Belgium 16%, South Africa 8%, USA 7% (2023)
Imports - partners
South Africa 65%, Namibia 8%, Canada 5%, China 3%, India 3% (2023)
Exchange rates
pulas (BWP) per US dollar -

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