Government spending vs. GDP in Botswana
Botswana: Government spending vs. GDP was 5.98 billion constant 2015 US$ in 2025. ◆ Volatile
Latest (2025)
5.98 billion constant 2015 US$
Change on year
up 0.4%
World rank
88th
of 166 countries
All-time high
5.98 billion constant 2015 US$
in 2025
All-time low
246.01 million constant 2015 US$
in 1975
Years of data
51
1975–2025
Government spending vs. GDP in Botswana, 1975–2025
Source: National statistical organizations and central banks, OECD national accounts, and World Bank staff estimates (2026) – processed by Our World in Data. Measured in constant 2015 US$.
Analysis
In 2025, government spending vs. gdp in Botswana stood at 5.98 billion constant 2015 US$. That is the highest value across all 51 years on record.
The figure is up 0.4% on the previous year and up 39.6% over ten years.
Over the whole period, government spending vs. gdp in Botswana peaked at 5.98 billion constant 2015 US$ in 2025 and was at its lowest, 246.01 million constant 2015 US$, in 1975.
That places Botswana 88th out of 166 countries with data for 2025, putting it in the middle of the range.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Government spending vs. GDP in Botswana, year by year
| Year | constant 2015 US$ | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1975 | 246.01 million constant 2015 US$ | — |
| 1976 | 296.34 million constant 2015 US$ | +20.5% |
| 1977 | 336.31 million constant 2015 US$ | +13.5% |
| 1978 | 343.40 million constant 2015 US$ | +2.1% |
| 1979 | 366.26 million constant 2015 US$ | +6.7% |
| 1980 | 427.81 million constant 2015 US$ | +16.8% |
| 1981 | 488.21 million constant 2015 US$ | +14.1% |
| 1982 | 545.72 million constant 2015 US$ | +11.8% |
| 1983 | 606.58 million constant 2015 US$ | +11.2% |
| 1984 | 691.92 million constant 2015 US$ | +14.1% |
| 1985 | 777.80 million constant 2015 US$ | +12.4% |
| 1986 | 899.05 million constant 2015 US$ | +15.6% |
| 1987 | 1.16 billion constant 2015 US$ | +28.6% |
| 1988 | 1.36 billion constant 2015 US$ | +17.3% |
| 1989 | 1.48 billion constant 2015 US$ | +8.8% |
| 1990 | 1.58 billion constant 2015 US$ | +7.1% |
| 1991 | 1.63 billion constant 2015 US$ | +3.0% |
| 1992 | 1.81 billion constant 2015 US$ | +10.9% |
| 1993 | 1.99 billion constant 2015 US$ | +9.9% |
| 1994 | 2.09 billion constant 2015 US$ | +5.0% |
| 1995 | 2.18 billion constant 2015 US$ | +4.2% |
| 1996 | 2.20 billion constant 2015 US$ | +1.2% |
| 1997 | 2.42 billion constant 2015 US$ | +9.9% |
| 1998 | 2.58 billion constant 2015 US$ | +6.6% |
| 1999 | 2.63 billion constant 2015 US$ | +2.0% |
| 2000 | 2.65 billion constant 2015 US$ | +0.6% |
| 2001 | 2.61 billion constant 2015 US$ | -1.4% |
| 2002 | 2.74 billion constant 2015 US$ | +5.2% |
| 2003 | 2.78 billion constant 2015 US$ | +1.2% |
| 2004 | 2.98 billion constant 2015 US$ | +7.2% |
| 2005 | 2.79 billion constant 2015 US$ | -6.3% |
| 2006 | 2.68 billion constant 2015 US$ | -4.0% |
| 2007 | 2.91 billion constant 2015 US$ | +8.5% |
| 2008 | 3.17 billion constant 2015 US$ | +9.1% |
| 2009 | 3.46 billion constant 2015 US$ | +9.1% |
| 2010 | 3.41 billion constant 2015 US$ | -1.6% |
| 2011 | 3.68 billion constant 2015 US$ | +8.0% |
| 2012 | 3.93 billion constant 2015 US$ | +7.0% |
| 2013 | 4.17 billion constant 2015 US$ | +6.0% |
| 2014 | 4.30 billion constant 2015 US$ | +3.2% |
| 2015 | 4.28 billion constant 2015 US$ | -0.5% |
| 2016 | 4.46 billion constant 2015 US$ | +4.2% |
| 2017 | 4.31 billion constant 2015 US$ | -3.4% |
| 2018 | 4.40 billion constant 2015 US$ | +2.2% |
| 2019 | 4.86 billion constant 2015 US$ | +10.3% |
| 2020 | 5.06 billion constant 2015 US$ | +4.1% |
| 2021 | 5.26 billion constant 2015 US$ | +4.0% |
| 2022 | 5.41 billion constant 2015 US$ | +2.8% |
| 2023 | 5.68 billion constant 2015 US$ | +5.1% |
| 2024 | 5.95 billion constant 2015 US$ | +4.8% |
| 2025 | 5.98 billion constant 2015 US$ | +0.4% |
Botswana compared with similar countries
- Botswana's 5.98 billion constant 2015 US$ is below the median for upper middle income countries, which is 9.30 billion constant 2015 US$, 64% of the median. (45 countries reporting)
- Botswana's 5.98 billion constant 2015 US$ is above the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 2.05 billion constant 2015 US$, 2.9× the median. (42 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1970s | 317.66 million constant 2015 US$ | 246.01 million constant 2015 US$ | 366.26 million constant 2015 US$ | 5 |
| 1980s | 842.60 million constant 2015 US$ | 427.81 million constant 2015 US$ | 1.48 billion constant 2015 US$ | 10 |
| 1990s | 2.11 billion constant 2015 US$ | 1.58 billion constant 2015 US$ | 2.63 billion constant 2015 US$ | 10 |
| 2000s | 2.88 billion constant 2015 US$ | 2.61 billion constant 2015 US$ | 3.46 billion constant 2015 US$ | 10 |
| 2010s | 4.18 billion constant 2015 US$ | 3.41 billion constant 2015 US$ | 4.86 billion constant 2015 US$ | 10 |
| 2020s | 5.55 billion constant 2015 US$ | 5.06 billion constant 2015 US$ | 5.98 billion constant 2015 US$ | 6 |
Countries ranked near Botswana
- 85 Bolivia 7.03 billion constant 2015 US$ compare
- 86 Bahrain 6.74 billion constant 2015 US$ compare
- 87 Latvia 6.47 billion constant 2015 US$ compare
- 89 Mozambique 5.84 billion constant 2015 US$ compare
- 90 Iceland 5.47 billion constant 2015 US$ compare
- 91 Estonia 5.46 billion constant 2015 US$ 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$), annual growth rate -27.34 % change on previous year (2024)
Frequently asked questions
- What is government spending vs. gdp in Botswana?
- Government spending vs. gdp in Botswana was 5.98 billion constant 2015 US$ 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 government spending vs. gdp recorded in Botswana?
- The highest recorded value was 5.98 billion constant 2015 US$ in 2025.
- What is the lowest government spending vs. gdp recorded in Botswana?
- The lowest recorded value was 246.01 million constant 2015 US$ in 1975.
- How does Botswana rank for government spending vs. gdp?
- Botswana ranks 88th out of 166 countries with data for 2025.
- Is government spending vs. gdp rising or falling in Botswana?
- Over the last ten years it is up 39.6%. 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 Government spending vs. GDP. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
CSV · JSON — 51 observations, free to reuse under CC BY 4.0 (Our World in Data).
About this data
General government final consumption expenditure includes all government current expenditures for purchases of goods and services (including compensation of employees). Both measures are expressed in constant 2015 US$.