Botswana
- Capital
- Gaborone
- Region
- Sub-Saharan Africa
- Income group
- Upper middle income
- Population
- 2.6 million (2025)
At a glance
- Prices in Botswana rose 2.7% in 2025, close to the middle of the range worldwide.
- Botswana's economy shrank 0.7% in 2025, slower than most economies.
- Output per person in Botswana was US$7,778 in 2025, close to the middle of the range worldwide.
- 24.5% of Botswana's labour force had no job in 2025, a higher share than in most countries.
- Botswana's central government owed 19.8% of GDP in 2023, less than in most countries with data.
- Botswana had 2.6 million people in 2025: about less than 0.1% of everyone on Earth, the 143rd largest population of 217 countries and territories.
- Botswana had a current account surplus of 2.9% of GDP in 2025, higher than in most countries.
Inflation
2025Consumer prices, change over the year (yearly average)
Since 2000
Show the numbers
| Year | Botswana | World median |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 2.7% | 3.0% |
| 2024 | 2.8% | 3.0% |
| 2023 | 5.1% | 5.7% |
| 2022 | 11.7% | 8.0% |
| 2021 | 7.2% | 3.5% |
| 2020 | 1.9% | 1.9% |
| 2019 | 2.8% | 2.2% |
| 2018 | 3.2% | 2.5% |
| 2017 | 3.3% | 2.3% |
| 2016 | 2.8% | 1.6% |
Economic growth
2025Real GDP, change over the year
Since 2000
Show the numbers
| Year | Botswana | World median |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | −0.7% | 3.4% |
| 2024 | −2.8% | 3.4% |
| 2023 | 3.2% | 3.2% |
| 2022 | 5.5% | 4.3% |
| 2021 | 11.9% | 5.1% |
| 2020 | −8.7% | −3.8% |
| 2019 | 3.0% | 2.8% |
| 2018 | 4.2% | 3.2% |
| 2017 | 4.1% | 3.3% |
| 2016 | 7.2% | 3.1% |
GDP per person
2025GDP divided by population, in US dollars at current prices
Since 2000
Show the numbers
| Year | Botswana | World median |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | US$7,778 | US$7,882 |
| 2024 | US$7,650 | US$7,853 |
| 2023 | US$7,827 | US$7,862 |
| 2022 | US$8,329 | US$7,656 |
| 2021 | US$7,808 | US$7,269 |
| 2020 | US$6,323 | US$6,433 |
| 2019 | US$7,172 | US$7,037 |
| 2018 | US$7,408 | US$6,978 |
| 2017 | US$7,105 | US$6,548 |
| 2016 | US$6,749 | US$5,982 |
Unemployment
2025Share of the labour force without a job (ILO modelled estimate)
Since 2000
Show the numbers
| Year | Botswana | World median |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 24.5% | 5.1% |
| 2024 | 23.8% | 5.1% |
| 2023 | 23.4% | 5.2% |
| 2022 | 23.6% | 5.3% |
| 2021 | 23.1% | 6.0% |
| 2020 | 21.0% | 6.4% |
| 2019 | 20.1% | 5.4% |
| 2018 | 19.7% | 5.4% |
| 2017 | 19.7% | 5.6% |
| 2016 | 19.3% | 5.9% |
Government debt
2023Central government debt, % of GDP
Since 2006
Show the numbers
| Year | Botswana | World median |
|---|---|---|
| 2023 | 19.8% | 60.7% |
| 2022 | 18.3% | 55.6% |
| 2021 | 19.7% | 58.8% |
| 2020 | 19.6% | 64.3% |
| 2019 | 16.2% | 49.2% |
| 2018 | 15.2% | 47.3% |
| 2017 | 14.7% | 51.2% |
| 2016 | 15.8% | 50.2% |
| 2015 | 19.1% | 49.4% |
| 2014 | 18.3% | 46.8% |
Population
2025Everyone living in the country, mid-year
Since 2000
Show the numbers
| Year | Botswana |
|---|---|
| 2025 | 2.6 million |
| 2024 | 2.5 million |
| 2023 | 2.5 million |
| 2022 | 2.4 million |
| 2021 | 2.4 million |
| 2020 | 2.4 million |
| 2019 | 2.3 million |
| 2018 | 2.3 million |
| 2017 | 2.3 million |
| 2016 | 2.2 million |
Current account balance, % of GDP
Since 2000
Show the numbers
| Year | Botswana | World median |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 2.9% | −0.8% |
| 2024 | −4.5% | −1.3% |
| 2023 | 1.5% | −1.2% |
| 2022 | −0.6% | −3.0% |
| 2021 | −1.8% | −2.4% |
| 2020 | −9.8% | −1.7% |
| 2019 | −6.9% | −2.1% |
| 2018 | 0.4% | −2.9% |
| 2017 | 5.6% | −2.1% |
| 2016 | 8.0% | −2.8% |
About these figures
All numbers are yearly. The world median is the middle value of all countries with a figure for the same year: half of them are above it and half below. Sparklines show Botswana since 2000 or since its first figure.
Source: World Bank, World Development Indicators (CC BY 4.0), updated 2026-10-08. Original sources: Inflation: International Monetary Fund, International Financial Statistics; Economic growth: national statistical offices and central banks, OECD national accounts, and World Bank staff estimates; GDP per person: national statistical offices and central banks, OECD national accounts, and World Bank staff estimates; Unemployment: International Labour Organization, ILO modelled estimates (ILOSTAT); Government debt: International Monetary Fund, Government Finance Statistics; Population: United Nations Population Division (World Population Prospects) and national statistical offices; Current account balance: International Monetary Fund, Balance of Payments Statistics, with World Bank and OECD data. Yearly figures; recent years are often revised. All sources and terms.