External balance on goods and services in Botswana
Botswana: External balance on goods and services was -14.74 billion current LCU in 2025. ◆ Volatile
Latest (2025)
-14.74 billion current LCU
Change on year
up 63.2%
World rank
119th
of 193 countries
All-time high
14.40 billion current LCU
in 2016
All-time low
-40.00 billion current LCU
in 2024
Years of data
66
1960–2025
External balance on goods and services in Botswana, 1960–2025
Source: Country official statistics, National Statistical Organizations and/or Central Banks. Measured in current LCU.
Analysis
Botswana recorded -14.74 billion current LCU for external balance on goods and services in 2025.
Compared with earlier readings it is up 63.2% on the previous year and down 60.0% over ten years.
Over the whole period, external balance on goods and services in Botswana peaked at 14.40 billion current LCU in 2016 and was at its lowest, -40.00 billion current LCU, in 2024.
That places Botswana 119th out of 193 countries with data for 2025, putting it in the middle of the range.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
External balance on goods and services in Botswana, year by year
| Year | current LCU | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1960 | -2.90 million current LCU | — |
| 1961 | -3.60 million current LCU | +24.1% |
| 1962 | -4.30 million current LCU | +19.4% |
| 1963 | -5.00 million current LCU | +16.3% |
| 1964 | -5.90 million current LCU | +18.0% |
| 1965 | -6.20 million current LCU | +5.1% |
| 1966 | -8.00 million current LCU | +29.0% |
| 1967 | -11.00 million current LCU | +37.5% |
| 1968 | -18.95 million current LCU | +72.3% |
| 1969 | -16.55 million current LCU | -12.7% |
| 1970 | -25.00 million current LCU | +51.1% |
| 1971 | -25.80 million current LCU | +3.2% |
| 1972 | -29.45 million current LCU | +14.1% |
| 1973 | -39.20 million current LCU | +33.1% |
| 1974 | -49.60 million current LCU | +26.5% |
| 1975 | -53.05 million current LCU | +7.0% |
| 1976 | -51.55 million current LCU | -2.8% |
| 1977 | -70.00 million current LCU | +35.8% |
| 1978 | -80.50 million current LCU | +15.0% |
| 1979 | -74.35 million current LCU | -7.6% |
| 1980 | -110.35 million current LCU | +48.4% |
| 1981 | -196.10 million current LCU | +77.7% |
| 1982 | -153.75 million current LCU | -21.6% |
| 1983 | -6.20 million current LCU | -96.0% |
| 1984 | 45.90 million current LCU | -840.3% |
| 1985 | 319.40 million current LCU | +595.9% |
| 1986 | 502.50 million current LCU | +57.3% |
| 1987 | 880.55 million current LCU | +75.2% |
| 1988 | 1.29 billion current LCU | +46.0% |
| 1989 | 813.25 million current LCU | -36.8% |
| 1990 | 371.20 million current LCU | -54.4% |
| 1991 | 518.15 million current LCU | +39.6% |
| 1992 | 578.05 million current LCU | +11.6% |
| 1993 | 804.75 million current LCU | +39.2% |
| 1994 | 853.50 million current LCU | +6.1% |
| 1995 | 928.20 million current LCU | +8.8% |
| 1996 | 2.69 billion current LCU | +190.0% |
| 1997 | 2.41 billion current LCU | -10.4% |
| 1998 | -660.50 million current LCU | -127.4% |
| 1999 | 2.91 billion current LCU | -540.2% |
| 2000 | 3.47 billion current LCU | +19.2% |
| 2001 | 3.14 billion current LCU | -9.4% |
| 2002 | 4.29 billion current LCU | +36.8% |
| 2003 | 4.39 billion current LCU | +2.3% |
| 2004 | 3.46 billion current LCU | -21.3% |
| 2005 | 8.80 billion current LCU | +154.4% |
| 2006 | 9.80 billion current LCU | +11.4% |
| 2007 | 9.38 billion current LCU | -4.3% |
| 2008 | -3.75 billion current LCU | -139.9% |
| 2009 | -12.17 billion current LCU | +224.9% |
| 2010 | -8.89 billion current LCU | -27.0% |
| 2011 | -10.84 billion current LCU | +22.0% |
| 2012 | -16.62 billion current LCU | +53.4% |
| 2013 | -3.62 billion current LCU | -78.2% |
| 2014 | 4.26 billion current LCU | -217.6% |
| 2015 | -9.21 billion current LCU | -316.1% |
| 2016 | 14.40 billion current LCU | -256.4% |
| 2017 | 6.53 billion current LCU | -54.7% |
| 2018 | 1.74 billion current LCU | -73.3% |
| 2019 | -16.04 billion current LCU | -1022.3% |
| 2020 | -30.55 billion current LCU | +90.4% |
| 2021 | -15.59 billion current LCU | -49.0% |
| 2022 | 2.23 billion current LCU | -114.3% |
| 2023 | -11.40 billion current LCU | -610.5% |
| 2024 | -40.00 billion current LCU | +250.9% |
| 2025 | -14.74 billion current LCU | -63.2% |
Botswana compared with similar countries
- Botswana's -14.74 billion current LCU is below the median for upper middle income countries, which is -2.10 billion current LCU, 7.0× the median. (53 countries reporting)
- Botswana's -14.74 billion current LCU is above the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is -68.31 billion current LCU, 22% of the median. (45 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where External balance on goods and services 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2019 | -1022.3% | 1.74 billion current LCU | -16.04 billion current LCU |
| 1984 | +840.3% | -6.20 million current LCU | 45.90 million current LCU |
| 1985 | +595.9% | 45.90 million current LCU | 319.40 million current LCU |
| 2023 | -610.5% | 2.23 billion current LCU | -11.40 billion current LCU |
| 1999 | +540.2% | -660.50 million current LCU | 2.91 billion current LCU |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1960s | -8.24 million current LCU | -18.95 million current LCU | -2.90 million current LCU | 10 |
| 1970s | -49.85 million current LCU | -80.50 million current LCU | -25.00 million current LCU | 10 |
| 1980s | 338.12 million current LCU | -196.10 million current LCU | 1.29 billion current LCU | 10 |
| 1990s | 1.14 billion current LCU | -660.50 million current LCU | 2.91 billion current LCU | 10 |
| 2000s | 3.08 billion current LCU | -12.17 billion current LCU | 9.80 billion current LCU | 10 |
| 2010s | -3.83 billion current LCU | -16.62 billion current LCU | 14.40 billion current LCU | 10 |
| 2020s | -18.34 billion current LCU | -40.00 billion current LCU | 2.23 billion current LCU | 6 |
Countries ranked near Botswana
More economy & growth data for Botswana
- Africa's Development Dynamics (AfDD) Table 04 - Annual real GDP 2.52 Percent per annum (2029)
- Africa's Development Dynamics (AfDD) Table 02 - Annual real GDP 3.98 Percent per annum (2029)
- Foreign direct investment, net outflows (BoP, current US$), gaps 3.02 million BoP, current US$ (2024)
- Foreign direct investment, net outflows (BoP, current US$), per unit 0.0002 BoP, current US$ per US$ of GDP (2024)
- Foreign direct investment, net outflows (BoP, current US$), per capita 1.2 BoP, current US$ per person (2024)
- Foreign direct investment, net inflows (BoP, current US$), gaps filled 467.27 million BoP, current US$ (2024)
- Foreign direct investment, net inflows (BoP, current US$), annual -36.99 % change on previous year (2024)
- Foreign direct investment, net inflows (BoP, current US$), per unit 0.0242 BoP, current US$ per US$ of GDP (2024)
- Foreign direct investment, net inflows (BoP, current US$), per capita 185.34 BoP, current US$ per person (2024)
- Total reserves (includes gold, current US$), annual growth rate -27.34 % change on previous year (2024)
Frequently asked questions
- What is external balance on goods and services in Botswana?
- External balance on goods and services in Botswana was -14.74 billion current LCU in 2025, according to Country official statistics, National Statistical Organizations and/or Central Banks.
- What is the highest external balance on goods and services recorded in Botswana?
- The highest recorded value was 14.40 billion current LCU in 2016.
- What is the lowest external balance on goods and services recorded in Botswana?
- The lowest recorded value was -40.00 billion current LCU in 2024.
- How does Botswana rank for external balance on goods and services?
- Botswana ranks 119th out of 193 countries with data for 2025.
- Is external balance on goods and services rising or falling in Botswana?
- Over the last ten years it is down 60.0%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Botswana data come from?
- The figures come from Country official statistics, National Statistical Organizations and/or Central Banks, published as part of External balance on goods and services (current LCU). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
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About this data
The balance of international trade in goods and services is the difference between the exports and imports of goods and services. This indicator is expressed in current prices, meaning no adjustment has been made to account for price changes over time. This series is expressed in local currency units.