Imports of goods and services in Botswana
Botswana: Imports of goods and services was -19.0% in 2025. ◆ Volatile
Imports of goods and services in Botswana, 1976–2025
Source: Country official statistics, National Statistical Offices (NSOs). Measured in annual % growth.
Analysis
In 2025, imports of goods and services in Botswana stood at -19.0%.
The figure is down 215.9% on the previous year and down 425.5% over ten years.
Over the whole period, imports of goods and services in Botswana peaked at 39.7% in 2008 and was at its lowest, -20.9%, in 2016.
Botswana ranks 176th of 178 countries on this measure, in the bottom quarter.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Imports of goods and services in Botswana, year by year
| Year | annual % growth | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1976 | 11.2% | — |
| 1977 | 9.8% | -12.0% |
| 1978 | 14.5% | +47.6% |
| 1979 | 12.3% | -15.2% |
| 1980 | 6.4% | -47.7% |
| 1981 | 4.8% | -25.2% |
| 1982 | -0.5% | -111.0% |
| 1983 | -0.6% | +23.0% |
| 1984 | 10.5% | -1712.5% |
| 1985 | 7.6% | -27.2% |
| 1986 | 2.0% | -73.9% |
| 1987 | 13.5% | +577.7% |
| 1988 | 25.2% | +86.7% |
| 1989 | 22.7% | -9.6% |
| 1990 | 10.5% | -53.9% |
| 1991 | -5.6% | -153.7% |
| 1992 | -13.8% | +144.5% |
| 1993 | -2.8% | -79.9% |
| 1994 | 5.1% | -285.1% |
| 1995 | 13.1% | +156.4% |
| 1996 | -4.9% | -137.6% |
| 1997 | 34.9% | -807.0% |
| 1998 | 15.0% | -57.1% |
| 1999 | -3.6% | -124.0% |
| 2000 | -1.9% | -46.0% |
| 2001 | -1.5% | -21.2% |
| 2002 | 2.0% | -231.1% |
| 2003 | -7.3% | -464.8% |
| 2004 | 17.6% | -341.3% |
| 2005 | -4.9% | -128.0% |
| 2006 | 0.0% | -100.9% |
| 2007 | 32.4% | +73283.5% |
| 2008 | 39.7% | +22.5% |
| 2009 | -8.6% | -121.6% |
| 2010 | 11.0% | -228.5% |
| 2011 | 11.1% | +0.8% |
| 2012 | 25.3% | +127.4% |
| 2013 | 14.3% | -43.4% |
| 2014 | -1.3% | -109.2% |
| 2015 | 5.8% | -542.2% |
| 2016 | -20.9% | -458.5% |
| 2017 | -12.9% | -38.1% |
| 2018 | 15.9% | -222.9% |
| 2019 | 11.6% | -27.3% |
| 2020 | 6.3% | -45.3% |
| 2021 | 4.6% | -27.6% |
| 2022 | -18.7% | -508.8% |
| 2023 | -8.1% | -56.8% |
| 2024 | 16.4% | -302.5% |
| 2025 | -19.0% | -215.9% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1970s | 12.0% | 9.8% | 14.5% | 4 |
| 1980s | 9.2% | -0.6% | 25.2% | 10 |
| 1990s | 4.8% | -13.8% | 34.9% | 10 |
| 2000s | 6.7% | -8.6% | 39.7% | 10 |
| 2010s | 6.0% | -20.9% | 25.3% | 10 |
| 2020s | -3.1% | -19.0% | 16.4% | 6 |
Countries ranked near Botswana
- 173 Iran, Islamic Republic of -13.5% compare
- 174 Brunei Darussalam -13.8% compare
- 175 Venezuela, Bolivarian Republic of -16.9% compare
- 177 Armenia -23.7% compare
- 178 South Sudan -41.0% 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)
- Final consumption expenditure (constant 2015 US$), per capita 5,454 constant 2015 US$ per person (2025)
- Gross national expenditure (current US$), annual growth rate -2.88 % change on previous year (2025)
- Gross national expenditure (current US$), per unit of GDP 1.06 current US$ per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Gross national expenditure (current US$), per capita 8,277 current US$ per person (2025)
- Gross national expenditure (current LCU), annual growth rate -3.31 % change on previous year (2025)
- Gross national expenditure (current LCU), per unit of GDP 14.37 current LCU per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Gross national expenditure (current LCU), per capita 111,759 current LCU per person (2025)
- Gross national expenditure (constant 2015 US$), annual growth rate 6.17 % change on previous year (2024)
Frequently asked questions
- What is imports of goods and services in Botswana?
- Imports of goods and services in Botswana was -19.0% in 2025, according to Country official statistics, National Statistical Offices (NSOs).
- What is the highest imports of goods and services recorded in Botswana?
- The highest recorded value was 39.7% in 2008.
- What is the lowest imports of goods and services recorded in Botswana?
- The lowest recorded value was -20.9% in 2016.
- How does Botswana rank for imports of goods and services?
- Botswana ranks 176th out of 178 countries with data for 2025.
- Is imports of goods and services rising or falling in Botswana?
- Over the last ten years it is down 425.5%. 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 Offices (NSOs), published as part of Imports of goods and services (annual % growth). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Imports of goods includes change in the economic ownership of goods from non-residents to residents of the compiling economy, irrespective of physical movement of goods across national borders. Imports of services includes services provided by non-residents to residents. This indicator denotes the percentage change over each previous year of the constant price (base year 2015) series in United States dollars.