Value of imported goods as a share of GDP (International Monetary) in Botswana
Botswana: Value of imported goods as a share of GDP (International Monetary) was 32.9% in 2025. ▼ Falling
Value of imported goods as a share of GDP in Botswana, 2000–2025
Source: International Monetary Fund (2026); National statistical organizations and central banks, OECD national accounts, and World Bank staff estimates (2026) – with major processing by Our World in Data. Measured in %.
Analysis
The most recent figure for value of imported goods as a share of gdp in Botswana is 32.9%, measured in 2025.
The figure is down 2.1% on the previous year and down 44.6% over ten years.
Over the whole period, value of imported goods as a share of gdp in Botswana peaked at 74.0% in 2012 and was at its lowest, 30.3%, in 2023.
Botswana ranks 91st of 201 countries on this measure, in the middle of the range.
The long-run direction has been consistently falling across the 26 years of available data.
Value of imported goods as a share of GDP (International Monetary) in Botswana, year by year
| Year | % | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2000 | 35.8% | — |
| 2001 | 32.9% | -8.1% |
| 2002 | 61.5% | +86.9% |
| 2003 | 52.7% | -14.3% |
| 2004 | 36.1% | -31.5% |
| 2005 | 31.9% | -11.7% |
| 2006 | 30.8% | -3.4% |
| 2007 | 37.7% | +22.6% |
| 2008 | 48.6% | +28.7% |
| 2009 | 46.7% | -3.8% |
| 2010 | 40.3% | -13.8% |
| 2011 | 55.0% | +36.5% |
| 2012 | 74.0% | +34.6% |
| 2013 | 66.0% | -10.8% |
| 2014 | 59.1% | -10.4% |
| 2015 | 59.4% | +0.5% |
| 2016 | 40.5% | -31.9% |
| 2017 | 33.1% | -18.1% |
| 2018 | 36.1% | +9.1% |
| 2019 | 37.9% | +4.9% |
| 2020 | 40.2% | +6.0% |
| 2021 | 37.6% | -6.3% |
| 2022 | 36.4% | -3.1% |
| 2023 | 30.3% | -16.8% |
| 2024 | 33.6% | +10.9% |
| 2025 | 32.9% | -2.1% |
Botswana compared with similar countries
- Botswana's 32.9% is below the median for upper middle income countries, which is 38.0%, 87% of the median. (58 countries reporting)
- Botswana's 32.9% is above the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 26.0%, 1.3× the median. (47 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000s | 41.5% | 30.8% | 61.5% | 10 |
| 2010s | 50.1% | 33.1% | 74.0% | 10 |
| 2020s | 35.2% | 30.3% | 40.2% | 6 |
Countries ranked near Botswana
More economy & growth data for Botswana
- Real gdp growth, annual growth rate -193.2 % change on previous year (2024)
- 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)
- SDRs holdings, US dollar, annual growth rate 5.74 % change on previous year (2025)
- SDRs holdings, US dollar, per unit of GDP 0.0175 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
- SDRs holdings, US dollar, per capita 136.3 units per person (2025)
- SDRs holdings, SDR, annual growth rate 0.6918 % change on previous year (2025)
- SDRs holdings, SDR, per unit of GDP 0.0128 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
- SDRs holdings, SDR, per capita 99.52 units per person (2025)
- IMF holdings of currency, US dollar, annual growth rate 5.04 % change on previous year (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is value of imported goods as a share of gdp in Botswana?
- Value of imported goods as a share of gdp in Botswana was 32.9% in 2025, according to International Monetary Fund (2026); National statistical organizations and central banks, OECD national accounts, and World Bank staff estimates (2026) – with major processing by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest value of imported goods as a share of gdp recorded in Botswana?
- The highest recorded value was 74.0% in 2012.
- What is the lowest value of imported goods as a share of gdp recorded in Botswana?
- The lowest recorded value was 30.3% in 2023.
- How does Botswana rank for value of imported goods as a share of gdp?
- Botswana ranks 91st out of 201 countries with data for 2025.
- Is value of imported goods as a share of gdp rising or falling in Botswana?
- Over the last ten years it is down 44.6%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this Botswana data come from?
- The figures come from International Monetary Fund (2026); National statistical organizations and central banks, OECD national accounts, and World Bank staff estimates (2026) – with major processing by Our World in Data, published as part of Value of imported goods as a share of GDP. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Value of a country’s total goods imports, including freight and insurance costs, as a percentage of a country’s gross domestic product (GDP).