GDP growth (annual %) (UNESCO Institute) in Botswana
Botswana: GDP growth (annual %) (UNESCO Institute) was -3.0% in 2024. ◆ Volatile
GDP growth in Botswana, 1970–2024
Source: UNESCO Institute for Statistics. Measured in annual %.
Analysis
Botswana recorded -3.0% for gdp growth in 2024.
The figure is down 193.2% on the previous year and down 152.5% over ten years.
Over the whole period, gdp growth in Botswana peaked at 26.4% in 1972 and was at its lowest, -14.1%, in 2009.
That places Botswana 206th out of 212 countries with data for 2024, putting it in the bottom quarter.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
GDP growth (annual %) (UNESCO Institute) in Botswana, year by year
| Year | annual % | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1970 | 17.1% | — |
| 1971 | 25.8% | +50.8% |
| 1972 | 26.4% | +2.1% |
| 1973 | 21.3% | -19.2% |
| 1974 | 8.8% | -58.7% |
| 1975 | 8.4% | -4.0% |
| 1976 | 10.6% | +26.1% |
| 1977 | 12.0% | +12.8% |
| 1978 | 14.3% | +19.3% |
| 1979 | 12.1% | -15.2% |
| 1980 | 12.0% | -1.3% |
| 1981 | 9.1% | -24.4% |
| 1982 | 12.2% | +34.2% |
| 1983 | 13.1% | +8.1% |
| 1984 | 8.5% | -35.0% |
| 1985 | 7.1% | -16.6% |
| 1986 | 8.2% | +14.7% |
| 1987 | 11.9% | +45.4% |
| 1988 | 19.4% | +63.7% |
| 1989 | 13.1% | -32.9% |
| 1990 | 6.8% | -48.1% |
| 1991 | 7.5% | +10.1% |
| 1992 | 2.9% | -60.9% |
| 1993 | 1.9% | -34.3% |
| 1994 | 3.6% | +89.3% |
| 1995 | 7.0% | +93.8% |
| 1996 | 5.8% | -17.1% |
| 1997 | 8.3% | +42.8% |
| 1998 | 0.4% | -94.7% |
| 1999 | 9.7% | +2079.0% |
| 2000 | 2.0% | -79.4% |
| 2001 | 0.3% | -87.4% |
| 2002 | 6.1% | +2322.3% |
| 2003 | 4.6% | -23.8% |
| 2004 | 2.7% | -41.5% |
| 2005 | 4.6% | +68.4% |
| 2006 | 8.4% | +83.6% |
| 2007 | 5.8% | -30.7% |
| 2008 | 3.3% | -43.9% |
| 2009 | -14.1% | -534.9% |
| 2010 | 10.1% | -171.5% |
| 2011 | 6.8% | -32.4% |
| 2012 | -0.2% | -102.5% |
| 2013 | 11.1% | -6598.2% |
| 2014 | 5.7% | -48.7% |
| 2015 | -4.9% | -185.2% |
| 2016 | 7.2% | -248.5% |
| 2017 | 4.1% | -42.9% |
| 2018 | 4.2% | +1.8% |
| 2019 | 3.0% | -27.6% |
| 2020 | -8.7% | -387.9% |
| 2021 | 11.9% | -236.5% |
| 2022 | 5.5% | -54.0% |
| 2023 | 3.2% | -41.5% |
| 2024 | -3.0% | -193.2% |
Botswana compared with similar countries
- Botswana's -3.0% is below the median for upper middle income countries, which is 3.3%. (58 countries reporting)
- Botswana's -3.0% is below the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 4.1%. (48 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where GDP growth (annual %) (UNESCO Institute) in Botswana changed far more than this series normally does. A large move can be a real event or a change in how the figure was measured — the source note below says who published it.
| Year | Change | From | To |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2013 | +6598.2% | -0.2% | 11.1% |
| 2002 | +2322.3% | 0.3% | 6.1% |
| 1999 | +2079.0% | 0.4% | 9.7% |
| 2009 | -534.9% | 3.3% | -14.1% |
| 2020 | -387.9% | 3.0% | -8.7% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1970s | 15.7% | 8.4% | 26.4% | 10 |
| 1980s | 11.5% | 7.1% | 19.4% | 10 |
| 1990s | 5.4% | 0.4% | 9.7% | 10 |
| 2000s | 2.3% | -14.1% | 8.4% | 10 |
| 2010s | 4.7% | -4.9% | 11.1% | 10 |
| 2020s | 1.8% | -8.7% | 11.9% | 5 |
Countries ranked near Botswana
More population data for Botswana
- Population regions with projections, annual growth rate -0.1457 % change on previous year (2100)
- Urban and rural population 2050, annual growth rate 0.7791 % change on previous year (2050)
- Population long run with projections, annual growth rate -0.1457 % change on previous year (2100)
- Un population 2024 vs 2022, annual growth rate -0.0624 % change on previous year (2100)
- Africa's Development Dynamics (AfDD) Table 05 - Demographic estimates 3,679 Persons (2050)
- Africa's Development Dynamics (AfDD) Table 03 - Annual population 1.39 Percent per annum (2030)
- Projected population under age 5, annual growth rate -0.6864 % change on previous year (2100)
- Population growth rate -0.16 (2100)
- Population density 6.77 (2100)
- Projected population under age 5 208,485 (2100)
Frequently asked questions
- What is gdp growth in Botswana?
- Gdp growth in Botswana was -3.0% in 2024, according to UNESCO Institute for Statistics.
- What is the highest gdp growth recorded in Botswana?
- The highest recorded value was 26.4% in 1972.
- What is the lowest gdp growth recorded in Botswana?
- The lowest recorded value was -14.1% in 2009.
- How does Botswana rank for gdp growth?
- Botswana ranks 206th out of 212 countries with data for 2024.
- Is gdp growth rising or falling in Botswana?
- Over the last ten years it is down 152.5%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Botswana data come from?
- The figures come from UNESCO Institute for Statistics, published as part of GDP growth (annual %). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
CSV · JSON — 55 observations, free to reuse under CC BY-SA 3.0 IGO (UNESCO Institute for Statistics).
About this data
February 2026 Data Release