Economy - overview:
Botswana has maintained one of the world's highest economic growth rates since independence in 1966. Diamond mining has fueled much of the expansion and currently accounts for more than one-third of GDP, 70-80% of export earnings, and about one-third of the government's revenues. Tourism, financial services, subsistence farming, and cattle raising are other key sectors. Through fiscal discipline and sound management, Botswana transformed itself from one of the poorest countries in the world to a middle-income country with a per capita GDP of $17,700 in 2015. Two major investment services rank Botswana as the best credit risk in Africa.Botswana's heavy reliance on a single luxury export was a critical factor in the sharp economic contraction of 2009, with the industrial sector shrinking by 30%, after the global crisis reduced demand for Botswana's diamonds. According to official government statistics, unemployment reached 17.8% in 2009, but unofficial estimates run much higher. A major international diamond company signed a 10-year deal with Botswana in 2012 to move its rough stone sorting and trading division from London to Gaborone by the end of 2013. The move has supported the development of Botswana's nascent downstream diamond industry.The economy recovered in 2010, but GDP growth in 2015 reached only a modest 2.3%, in part, because of the continued weak global demand for Botswana’s diamonds. Water and power shortages also obstructed Botswana’s economic growth. In October 2015 President Ian KHAMA announced a stimulus plan to boost the economy that will use some of Botswana’s foreign exchange reserves on projects in agricultural production, construction, manufacturing, and tourism development.The prevalence of HIV/AIDS is second highest in the world and threatens Botswana's impressive economic gains. An expected leveling off in diamond production within the next 10-15 years also overshadows long-term prospects.

GDP (purchasing power parity):
$37.16 billion (2015 est.) $36.22 billion (2014 est.) $34.69 billion (2013 est.)
note: data are in 2015 US dollars
country comparison to the world: 117
[see also: GDP country ranks ]

GDP (official exchange rate):
$13.09 billion (2015 est.)
[see also: GDP (official exchange rate) country ranks ]

GDP - real growth rate:
2.6% (2015 est.) 4.4% (2014 est.) 9.3% (2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 115
[see also: GDP - real growth rate country ranks ]

GDP - per capita (PPP):
$17,700 (2015 est.) $17,200 (2014 est.) $16,500 (2013 est.)
note: data are in 2015 US dollars
country comparison to the world: 96
[see also: GDP - per capita country ranks ]

Gross national saving:
35.6% of GDP (2015 est.) 47.6% of GDP (2014 est.) 42.3% of GDP (2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 5
[see also: Gross national saving country ranks ]

GDP - composition, by end use:
household consumption: 48.2%
[see also: GDP - composition, by end use - household consumption country ranks ]
government consumption: 16.8%
[see also: GDP - composition, by end use - government consumption country ranks ]
investment in fixed capital: 31%
[see also: GDP - composition, by end use - investment in fixed capital country ranks ]
investment in inventories: -1.6%
[see also: GDP - composition, by end use - investment in inventories country ranks ]
exports of goods and services: 60.7%
[see also: GDP - composition, by end use - exports of goods and services country ranks ]
imports of goods and services: -55.1% (2015 est.)
[see also: GDP - composition, by end use - imports of goods and services country ranks ]

GDP - composition, by sector of origin:
agriculture: 1.8%
[see also: GDP - composition, by sector of origin - agriculture country ranks ]
industry: 32.9%
[see also: GDP - composition, by sector of origin - industry country ranks ]
services: 65.3% (2015 est.)
[see also: GDP - composition, by sector of origin - services country ranks ]

Agriculture - products:
livestock, sorghum, maize, millet, beans, sunflowers, groundnuts

Industries:
diamonds, copper, nickel, salt, soda ash, potash, coal, iron ore, silver; livestock processing; textiles

Industrial production growth rate:
-1.2% (2015 est.)
country comparison to the world: 173
[see also: Industrial production growth rate country ranks ]

Labor force:
1.155 million (2015 est.)
country comparison to the world: 140
[see also: Labor force country ranks ]

Labor force - by occupation:
agriculture: NA%
[see also: Labor force - by occupation - agriculture country ranks ]
industry: NA%
[see also: Labor force - by occupation - industry country ranks ]
services: NA%
[see also: Labor force - by occupation - services country ranks ]

Unemployment rate:
17.8% (2009 est.) 7.5% (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 163
[see also: Unemployment rate country ranks ]

Population below poverty line:
30.3% (2003 est.)
[see also: Population below poverty line country ranks ]

Household income or consumption by percentage share:
lowest 10%: NA%
[see also: Household income or consumption by percentage share - lowest 10% country ranks ]
highest 10%: NA%
[see also: Household income or consumption by percentage share - highest 10% country ranks ]

Distribution of family income - Gini index:
63 (1993)
country comparison to the world: 2
[see also: Distribution of family income - Gini index country ranks ]

Budget:
revenues: $5.078 billion
[see also: Budget revenues country ranks ]
expenditures: $5.55 billion (2015 est.)
[see also: Budget expenditures country ranks ]

Taxes and other revenues:
38.8% of GDP (2015 est.)
country comparison to the world: 46
[see also: Taxes and other revenues country ranks ]

Budget surplus (+) or deficit (-):
-3.6% of GDP (2015 est.)
country comparison to the world: 135
[see also: Budget surplus (+) or deficit (-) country ranks ]

Public debt:
17% of GDP (2015 est.) 15.5% of GDP (2014 est.)
country comparison to the world: 156
[see also: Public debt country ranks ]

Fiscal year:
1 April - 31 March

Inflation rate (consumer prices):
4% (2015 est.) 3.9% (2014 est.)
country comparison to the world: 155
[see also: Inflation rate (consumer prices) country ranks ]

Central bank discount rate:
7.5% (31 December 2014) 7.5% (31 December 2013)
country comparison to the world: 42
[see also: Central bank discount rate country ranks ]

Commercial bank prime lending rate:
7.5% (31 December 2015 est.) 9% (31 December 2014 est.)
country comparison to the world: 115
[see also: Commercial bank prime lending rate country ranks ]

Stock of narrow money:
$1.569 billion (31 December 2015 est.) $1.388 billion (31 December 2014 est.)
country comparison to the world: 137
[see also: Stock of narrow money country ranks ]

Stock of broad money:
$8.293 billion (31 December 2013 est.) $7.635 billion (31 December 2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 112
[see also: Stock of broad money country ranks ]

Stock of domestic credit:
$1.634 billion (31 December 2015 est.) $1.272 billion (31 December 2014 est.)
country comparison to the world: 146
[see also: Stock of domestic credit country ranks ]

Market value of publicly traded shares:
$4.588 billion (31 December 2012 est.) $4.107 billion (31 December 2011) $4.076 billion (31 December 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 87
[see also: Market value of publicly traded shares country ranks ]

Current account balance:
$363 million (2015 est.) $2.45 billion (2014 est.)
country comparison to the world: 44
[see also: Current account balance country ranks ]

Exports:
$6.66 billion (2015 est.) $8.516 billion (2014 est.)
country comparison to the world: 102
[see also: Exports country ranks ]

Exports - commodities:
diamonds, copper, nickel, soda ash, meat, textiles

Imports:
$7.331 billion (2015 est.) $7.989 billion (2014 est.)
country comparison to the world: 110
[see also: Imports country ranks ]

Imports - commodities:
foodstuffs, machinery, electrical goods, transport equipment, textiles, fuel and petroleum products, wood and paper products, metal and metal products

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold:
$7.99 billion (31 December 2015 est.) $8.323 billion (31 December 2014 est.)
country comparison to the world: 80
[see also: Reserves of foreign exchange and gold country ranks ]

Debt - external:
$2.256 billion (31 December 2014 est.) $2.43 billion (31 December 2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 149
[see also: Debt - external country ranks ]

Exchange rates:
pulas (BWP) per US dollar - 10.04 (2015 est.) 8.98 (2014 est.) 8.98 (2013 est.) 7.62 (2012 est.) 6.84 (2011 est.)