Annual growth of GDP per capita in Botswana
Botswana: Annual growth of GDP per capita was -2.3% in 2025. ◆ Volatile
Latest (2025)
-2.3%
Change on year
up 46.7%
World rank
201st
of 212 countries
All-time high
23.7%
in 1971
All-time low
-15.9%
in 2009
Years of data
65
1961–2025
Annual growth of GDP per capita in Botswana, 1961–2025
Source: National statistical organizations and central banks, OECD national accounts, and World Bank staff estimates (2026) – processed by Our World in Data. Measured in annual %.
Analysis
In 2025, annual growth of gdp per capita in Botswana stood at -2.3%.
The figure is up 46.7% on the previous year and up 62.6% over ten years.
Over the whole period, annual growth of gdp per capita in Botswana peaked at 23.7% in 1971 and was at its lowest, -15.9%, in 2009.
That places Botswana 201st out of 212 countries with data for 2025, putting it in the bottom quarter.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Annual growth of GDP per capita in Botswana, year by year
| Year | annual % | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1961 | 4.0% | — |
| 1962 | 4.2% | +7.0% |
| 1963 | 3.5% | -18.3% |
| 1964 | 4.3% | +24.5% |
| 1965 | 4.3% | -1.3% |
| 1966 | 5.8% | +34.8% |
| 1967 | 5.4% | -6.8% |
| 1968 | 10.0% | +86.2% |
| 1969 | 14.5% | +45.3% |
| 1970 | 16.5% | +13.5% |
| 1971 | 23.7% | +43.9% |
| 1972 | 21.9% | -7.5% |
| 1973 | 15.7% | -28.2% |
| 1974 | 3.6% | -77.4% |
| 1975 | 3.2% | -10.3% |
| 1976 | 5.1% | +59.5% |
| 1977 | 6.3% | +23.1% |
| 1978 | 7.6% | +22.2% |
| 1979 | 5.6% | -26.5% |
| 1980 | 7.7% | +37.3% |
| 1981 | 5.4% | -29.9% |
| 1982 | 7.8% | +44.2% |
| 1983 | 9.2% | +17.4% |
| 1984 | 4.8% | -47.7% |
| 1985 | 3.5% | -27.5% |
| 1986 | 4.6% | +31.6% |
| 1987 | 8.3% | +81.5% |
| 1988 | 15.9% | +92.3% |
| 1989 | 10.0% | -37.5% |
| 1990 | 3.9% | -61.1% |
| 1991 | 4.6% | +17.9% |
| 1992 | 0.1% | -98.6% |
| 1993 | -1.0% | -1635.9% |
| 1994 | 0.8% | -182.8% |
| 1995 | 4.3% | +435.5% |
| 1996 | 3.3% | -23.1% |
| 1997 | 5.9% | +78.9% |
| 1998 | -1.8% | -130.0% |
| 1999 | 7.3% | -516.8% |
| 2000 | -0.2% | -102.2% |
| 2001 | -1.8% | +993.7% |
| 2002 | 4.1% | -328.5% |
| 2003 | 2.8% | -31.6% |
| 2004 | 0.9% | -67.1% |
| 2005 | 2.7% | +192.9% |
| 2006 | 6.4% | +135.9% |
| 2007 | 3.8% | -40.9% |
| 2008 | 1.2% | -68.1% |
| 2009 | -15.9% | -1425.8% |
| 2010 | 7.8% | -149.2% |
| 2011 | 4.8% | -39.2% |
| 2012 | -1.8% | -138.5% |
| 2013 | 9.4% | -615.3% |
| 2014 | 4.2% | -55.8% |
| 2015 | -6.2% | -248.6% |
| 2016 | 5.7% | -191.8% |
| 2017 | 2.6% | -53.5% |
| 2018 | 2.7% | +2.8% |
| 2019 | 1.6% | -42.1% |
| 2020 | -10.0% | -736.5% |
| 2021 | 10.3% | -202.3% |
| 2022 | 3.8% | -62.7% |
| 2023 | 1.5% | -60.0% |
| 2024 | -4.4% | -385.0% |
| 2025 | -2.3% | -46.7% |
Botswana compared with similar countries
- Botswana's -2.3% is below the median for upper middle income countries, which is 3.1%. (58 countries reporting)
- Botswana's -2.3% is below the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 2.5%. (48 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Annual growth of GDP per capita 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1993 | -1635.9% | 0.1% | -1.0% |
| 2009 | -1425.8% | 1.2% | -15.9% |
| 2001 | -993.7% | -0.2% | -1.8% |
| 2020 | -736.5% | 1.6% | -10.0% |
| 2013 | +615.3% | -1.8% | 9.4% |
| 1999 | +516.8% | -1.8% | 7.3% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1960s | 6.2% | 3.5% | 14.5% | 9 |
| 1970s | 10.9% | 3.2% | 23.7% | 10 |
| 1980s | 7.7% | 3.5% | 15.9% | 10 |
| 1990s | 2.7% | -1.8% | 7.3% | 10 |
| 2000s | 0.4% | -15.9% | 6.4% | 10 |
| 2010s | 3.1% | -6.2% | 9.4% | 10 |
| 2020s | -0.2% | -10.0% | 10.3% | 6 |
Countries ranked near Botswana
- 198 Liechtenstein -1.9% compare
- 199 Isle of Man -2.1% compare
- 200 Yemen -2.2% compare
- 202 Myanmar -2.6% compare
- 203 Bolivia -2.9% compare
- 204 Mozambique -3.3% compare
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 annual growth of gdp per capita in Botswana?
- Annual growth of gdp per capita in Botswana was -2.3% in 2025, according to National statistical organizations and central banks, OECD national accounts, and World Bank staff estimates (2026) – processed by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest annual growth of gdp per capita recorded in Botswana?
- The highest recorded value was 23.7% in 1971.
- What is the lowest annual growth of gdp per capita recorded in Botswana?
- The lowest recorded value was -15.9% in 2009.
- How does Botswana rank for annual growth of gdp per capita?
- Botswana ranks 201st out of 212 countries with data for 2025.
- Is annual growth of gdp per capita rising or falling in Botswana?
- Over the last ten years it is up 62.6%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Botswana data come from?
- The figures come from National statistical organizations and central banks, OECD national accounts, and World Bank staff estimates (2026) – processed by Our World in Data, published as part of Annual growth of GDP per capita. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
This data is adjusted for inflation.