Foreign direct investment, net inflows as share of GDP in Botswana
Botswana: Foreign direct investment, net inflows as share of GDP was 2.4% in 2024. ◆ Volatile
Foreign direct investment, net inflows as share of GDP in Botswana, 1974–2024
Source: IMF International Financial Statistics and Balance of Payments; World Bank International Debt Statistics and GDP estimates; and OECD GDP estimates (2026) – processed by Our World in Data. Measured in % of GDP.
Analysis
The most recent figure for foreign direct investment, net inflows as share of gdp in Botswana is 2.4%, measured in 2024.
That represents a change of down 36.6% on the previous year and down 27.2% over ten years.
Over the whole period, foreign direct investment, net inflows as share of gdp in Botswana peaked at 15.6% in 1979 and was at its lowest, -10.8%, in 1975.
That places Botswana 85th out of 198 countries with data for 2024, putting it in the middle of the range.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Foreign direct investment, net inflows as share of GDP in Botswana, year by year
| Year | % of GDP | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1974 | 0.0% | — |
| 1975 | -10.8% | -47208.1% |
| 1976 | 3.0% | -128.1% |
| 1977 | 2.7% | -10.6% |
| 1978 | 6.9% | +155.2% |
| 1979 | 15.6% | +125.6% |
| 1980 | 10.5% | -32.6% |
| 1981 | 8.2% | -21.7% |
| 1982 | 2.1% | -74.8% |
| 1983 | 2.0% | -2.2% |
| 1984 | 5.0% | +146.8% |
| 1985 | 4.8% | -4.0% |
| 1986 | 5.1% | +5.1% |
| 1987 | 5.8% | +14.3% |
| 1988 | 1.5% | -73.9% |
| 1989 | 1.4% | -9.4% |
| 1990 | 2.5% | +84.9% |
| 1991 | -0.2% | -108.2% |
| 1992 | -0.0% | -81.9% |
| 1993 | -6.9% | +18184.7% |
| 1994 | -0.3% | -95.2% |
| 1995 | 1.5% | -547.9% |
| 1996 | 1.5% | -1.4% |
| 1997 | 2.0% | +35.8% |
| 1998 | 2.0% | -0.2% |
| 1999 | 0.7% | -66.4% |
| 2000 | 1.0% | +47.7% |
| 2001 | 0.6% | -43.4% |
| 2002 | 7.5% | +1242.2% |
| 2003 | 5.6% | -25.8% |
| 2004 | 4.4% | -21.6% |
| 2005 | 4.2% | -2.8% |
| 2006 | 4.9% | +15.7% |
| 2007 | 4.7% | -4.6% |
| 2008 | 4.9% | +3.7% |
| 2009 | 2.1% | -57.5% |
| 2010 | 1.7% | -16.2% |
| 2011 | 1.9% | +12.3% |
| 2012 | 1.1% | -45.9% |
| 2013 | 0.5% | -55.2% |
| 2014 | 3.3% | +607.9% |
| 2015 | 2.8% | -16.0% |
| 2016 | 0.9% | -66.2% |
| 2017 | 1.6% | +71.2% |
| 2018 | 1.7% | +3.8% |
| 2019 | 0.6% | -66.7% |
| 2020 | 0.2% | -62.0% |
| 2021 | -1.7% | -900.7% |
| 2022 | 3.5% | -305.2% |
| 2023 | 3.8% | +9.4% |
| 2024 | 2.4% | -36.6% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1970s | 2.9% | -10.8% | 15.6% | 6 |
| 1980s | 4.6% | 1.4% | 10.5% | 10 |
| 1990s | 0.3% | -6.9% | 2.5% | 10 |
| 2000s | 4.0% | 0.6% | 7.5% | 10 |
| 2010s | 1.6% | 0.5% | 3.3% | 10 |
| 2020s | 1.6% | -1.7% | 3.8% | 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)
- Services, value added (current US$), annual growth rate 5.15 % change on previous year (2025)
- Services, value added (current US$), per unit of GDP 0.6463 current US$ per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Services, value added (current US$), per capita 5,027 current US$ per person (2025)
- Services, value added (current LCU), annual growth rate 4.68 % change on previous year (2025)
- Services, value added (current LCU), per unit of GDP 8.73 current LCU per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Services, value added (current LCU), per capita 67,872 current LCU per person (2025)
- Services, value added (constant 2015 US$), annual growth rate 2.83 % change on previous year (2025)
- Services, value added (constant 2015 US$), per unit of GDP 0.5994 constant 2015 US$ per US$ of GDP (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is foreign direct investment, net inflows as share of gdp in Botswana?
- Foreign direct investment, net inflows as share of gdp in Botswana was 2.4% in 2024, according to IMF International Financial Statistics and Balance of Payments; World Bank International Debt Statistics and GDP estimates; and OECD GDP estimates (2026) – processed by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest foreign direct investment, net inflows as share of gdp recorded in Botswana?
- The highest recorded value was 15.6% in 1979.
- What is the lowest foreign direct investment, net inflows as share of gdp recorded in Botswana?
- The lowest recorded value was -10.8% in 1975.
- How does Botswana rank for foreign direct investment, net inflows as share of gdp?
- Botswana ranks 85th out of 198 countries with data for 2024.
- Is foreign direct investment, net inflows as share of gdp rising or falling in Botswana?
- Over the last ten years it is down 27.2%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Botswana data come from?
- The figures come from IMF International Financial Statistics and Balance of Payments; World Bank International Debt Statistics and GDP estimates; and OECD GDP estimates (2026) – processed by Our World in Data, published as part of Foreign direct investment, net inflows as share of GDP. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Net inflows of foreign direct investment from foreign investors to the reporting economy.