Central government spending as share of GDP in Botswana
Botswana: Central government spending as share of GDP was 26.5% in 2024. ▼ Falling
Central government spending as share of GDP in Botswana, 1990–2024
Source: International Monetary Fund (IMF), OECD, and World Bank (2026) – processed by Our World in Data. Measured in % of GDP.
Analysis
Botswana recorded 26.5% for central government spending as share of gdp in 2024.
Compared with earlier readings it is up 11.0% on the previous year and down 8.9% over ten years.
Over the whole period, central government spending as share of gdp in Botswana peaked at 39.2% in 2009 and was at its lowest, 23.9%, in 2023.
That places Botswana 77th out of 157 countries with data for 2024, putting it in the middle of the range.
The long-run direction has been consistently falling across the 26 years of available data.
Central government spending as share of GDP in Botswana, year by year
| Year | % of GDP | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1990 | 26.7% | — |
| 1991 | 27.8% | +4.3% |
| 1992 | 30.5% | +9.5% |
| 1993 | 32.6% | +7.0% |
| 1994 | 29.1% | -10.9% |
| 1995 | 30.6% | +5.3% |
| 1996 | 29.0% | -5.4% |
| 2006 | 29.3% | +1.3% |
| 2007 | 31.1% | +6.2% |
| 2008 | 35.8% | +14.8% |
| 2009 | 39.2% | +9.6% |
| 2010 | 33.5% | -14.4% |
| 2011 | 29.8% | -11.1% |
| 2012 | 31.5% | +5.8% |
| 2013 | 29.5% | -6.5% |
| 2014 | 29.1% | -1.2% |
| 2015 | 31.2% | +7.2% |
| 2016 | 26.8% | -14.3% |
| 2017 | 28.2% | +5.1% |
| 2018 | 29.1% | +3.2% |
| 2019 | 28.8% | -0.9% |
| 2020 | 33.9% | +17.6% |
| 2021 | 28.4% | -16.2% |
| 2022 | 25.1% | -11.6% |
| 2023 | 23.9% | -4.8% |
| 2024 | 26.5% | +11.0% |
Botswana compared with similar countries
- Botswana's 26.5% is above the median for upper middle income countries, which is 25.9%, 1.0× the median. (47 countries reporting)
- Botswana's 26.5% is above the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 16.5%, 1.6× the median. (36 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 29.5% | 26.7% | 32.6% | 7 |
| 2000s | 33.9% | 29.3% | 39.2% | 4 |
| 2010s | 29.7% | 26.8% | 33.5% | 10 |
| 2020s | 27.6% | 23.9% | 33.9% | 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)
- 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 central government spending as share of gdp in Botswana?
- Central government spending as share of gdp in Botswana was 26.5% in 2024, according to International Monetary Fund (IMF), OECD, and World Bank (2026) – processed by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest central government spending as share of gdp recorded in Botswana?
- The highest recorded value was 39.2% in 2009.
- What is the lowest central government spending as share of gdp recorded in Botswana?
- The lowest recorded value was 23.9% in 2023.
- How does Botswana rank for central government spending as share of gdp?
- Botswana ranks 77th out of 157 countries with data for 2024.
- Is central government spending as share of gdp rising or falling in Botswana?
- Over the last ten years it is down 8.9%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this Botswana data come from?
- The figures come from International Monetary Fund (IMF), OECD, and World Bank (2026) – processed by Our World in Data, published as part of Central government spending as share of GDP. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
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About this data
Central government expense (cash payments for operating activities of the government in providing goods and services), as share of GDP. It excludes capital investment, such as infrastructure or equipment.