External debt stocks in Botswana
Botswana: External debt stocks was 11.9% in 2024. ◆ Volatile
External debt stocks in Botswana, 1970–2024
Source: International Debt Statistics, World Bank (WB). Measured in % of GNI.
Analysis
The most recent figure for external debt stocks in Botswana is 11.9%, measured in 2024.
That represents a change of up 6.1% on the previous year and down 28.2% over ten years.
Over the whole period, external debt stocks in Botswana peaked at 47.0% in 1973 and was at its lowest, 3.9%, in 2006.
That places Botswana 116th out of 121 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.
External debt stocks in Botswana, year by year
| Year | % of GNI | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1970 | 17.2% | — |
| 1971 | 25.4% | +47.1% |
| 1972 | 45.5% | +79.2% |
| 1973 | 47.0% | +3.4% |
| 1974 | 43.3% | -7.9% |
| 1975 | 41.7% | -3.8% |
| 1976 | 44.7% | +7.3% |
| 1977 | 41.1% | -8.1% |
| 1978 | 21.3% | -48.3% |
| 1979 | 15.9% | -25.4% |
| 1980 | 13.4% | -15.7% |
| 1981 | 14.4% | +7.3% |
| 1982 | 19.6% | +36.7% |
| 1983 | 20.1% | +2.6% |
| 1984 | 23.7% | +17.6% |
| 1985 | 33.9% | +43.3% |
| 1986 | 31.7% | -6.5% |
| 1987 | 31.4% | -1.0% |
| 1988 | 21.6% | -31.3% |
| 1989 | 19.5% | -9.6% |
| 1990 | 15.0% | -23.1% |
| 1991 | 15.3% | +1.9% |
| 1992 | 14.2% | -6.9% |
| 1993 | 14.9% | +4.7% |
| 1994 | 17.4% | +16.4% |
| 1995 | 15.3% | -12.1% |
| 1996 | 13.6% | -10.7% |
| 1997 | 11.8% | -13.6% |
| 1998 | 10.8% | -8.1% |
| 1999 | 9.8% | -9.9% |
| 2000 | 8.3% | -14.8% |
| 2001 | 7.5% | -10.1% |
| 2002 | 10.4% | +38.6% |
| 2003 | 7.6% | -27.0% |
| 2004 | 6.4% | -14.8% |
| 2005 | 5.1% | -21.4% |
| 2006 | 3.9% | -23.2% |
| 2007 | 4.2% | +7.0% |
| 2008 | 4.4% | +5.5% |
| 2009 | 16.4% | +272.5% |
| 2010 | 14.9% | -9.2% |
| 2011 | 16.0% | +7.2% |
| 2012 | 17.8% | +11.4% |
| 2013 | 17.5% | -1.8% |
| 2014 | 16.6% | -4.9% |
| 2015 | 17.0% | +2.4% |
| 2016 | 15.4% | -9.5% |
| 2017 | 11.8% | -23.6% |
| 2018 | 11.5% | -2.3% |
| 2019 | 9.3% | -18.8% |
| 2020 | 10.7% | +14.8% |
| 2021 | 10.6% | -0.6% |
| 2022 | 9.8% | -7.5% |
| 2023 | 11.2% | +14.2% |
| 2024 | 11.9% | +6.1% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1970s | 34.3% | 15.9% | 47.0% | 10 |
| 1980s | 22.9% | 13.4% | 33.9% | 10 |
| 1990s | 13.8% | 9.8% | 17.4% | 10 |
| 2000s | 7.4% | 3.9% | 16.4% | 10 |
| 2010s | 14.8% | 9.3% | 17.8% | 10 |
| 2020s | 10.9% | 9.8% | 11.9% | 5 |
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)
- Gross value added at basic prices (GVA) (current US$), annual growth 3.27 % change on previous year (2025)
- Gross value added at basic prices (GVA) (current US$), per unit of GDP 0.9429 current US$ per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Gross value added at basic prices (GVA) (current US$), per capita 7,334 current US$ per person (2025)
- Gross value added at basic prices (GVA) (current LCU), annual growth 2.8 % change on previous year (2025)
- Gross value added at basic prices (GVA) (current LCU), per unit of GDP 12.73 current LCU per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Gross value added at basic prices (GVA) (current LCU), per capita 99,027 current LCU per person (2025)
- Gross value added at basic prices (GVA) (constant 2015 US$), annual -0.8348 % change on previous year (2025)
- Gross value added at basic prices (GVA) (constant 2015 US$), per unit 0.8363 constant 2015 US$ per US$ of GDP (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is external debt stocks in Botswana?
- External debt stocks in Botswana was 11.9% in 2024, according to International Debt Statistics, World Bank (WB).
- What is the highest external debt stocks recorded in Botswana?
- The highest recorded value was 47.0% in 1973.
- What is the lowest external debt stocks recorded in Botswana?
- The lowest recorded value was 3.9% in 2006.
- How does Botswana rank for external debt stocks?
- Botswana ranks 116th out of 121 countries with data for 2024.
- Is external debt stocks rising or falling in Botswana?
- Over the last ten years it is down 28.2%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Botswana data come from?
- The figures come from International Debt Statistics, World Bank (WB), published as part of External debt stocks (% of GNI). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
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About this data
Total external debt stocks to gross national income. Total external debt is debt owed to nonresidents repayable in currency, goods, or services. Total external debt is the sum of public, publicly guaranteed, and private nonguaranteed long-term debt, use of IMF credit, and short-term debt. Short-term debt includes all debt having an original maturity of one year or less and interest in arrears on long-term debt. GNI (formerly GNP) is the sum of value added by all resident producers plus any product taxes (less subsidies) not included in the valuation of output plus net receipts of primary income (compensation of employees and property income) from abroad.