Botswana: economy

What is the inflation rate in Botswana?

Botswana's annual inflation rate was 7.8% in September 2026, down from 9.3% in August, according to Statistics Botswana. Transport contributed 4.0 percentage points of the total, followed by miscellaneous goods and services at 1.1 points.

The rate was 7.4% in cities and towns, 7.7% in urban villages and 8.6% in rural villages. Prices rose 0.1% in the month. The Bank of Botswana's medium-term objective is 3% to 6%, and its August 2026 policy statement projects inflation to average 7.9% in 2026 before easing to 4.9% in 2027, citing fuel prices and higher electricity tariffs. Statistics Botswana publishes the CPI every month.

Official sources: Statistics Botswana: Consumer Price Index, September 2026 (PDF) · Bank of Botswana: MPC press release, 27 August 2026 (PDF)

What is the Bank of Botswana interest rate?

The Bank of Botswana's Monetary Policy Rate (MoPR) is 5.5%, according to the press release of its Monetary Policy Committee of 27 August 2026, which kept the rate unchanged. The committee had raised the rate at its 30 April 2026 meeting.

The MoPR is the rate the bank uses to signal its policy stance. The committee meets about every two months. According to the MPC page, the remaining meetings in 2026 are on 29 October and 3 December. The August statement also gives the bank's inflation and growth projections behind the decision.

Official sources: Bank of Botswana: MPC press release, 27 August 2026 (PDF) · Bank of Botswana: Monetary Policy Committee

Is Botswana's economy growing?

Real GDP grew 8.7% in the second quarter of 2026 compared with a year earlier, according to Statistics Botswana, after a 5.2% contraction in the second quarter of 2025. Non-mining GDP fell 0.2%.

The rebound came from mining and quarrying, which Statistics Botswana attributes to improvements in diamond production. Agriculture shrank 23.0%, manufacturing 9.2% and construction 1.6%. Household consumption fell 7.3%. Over the twelve months to March 2026, growth was only 0.2%, according to the Bank of Botswana, which also cites the Ministry of Finance's projection of 3.1% growth for 2026. Quarterly figures are not seasonally adjusted and are revised as company data come in.

Official sources: Statistics Botswana: GDP, second quarter of 2026 (PDF) · Bank of Botswana: MPC press release, 27 August 2026 (PDF)

What is the pula exchange rate?

On 15 October 2026 one pula was worth US$0.0745, 1.2337 South African rand, €0.0665 and £0.0563, according to the Bank of Botswana's daily exchange rates.

The bank quotes rates per pula rather than per foreign currency unit. One US dollar is about 13.4 pula at the 15 October rate. Commercial banks set their own buying and selling rates around the central bank's figures. The bank publishes the rates for each business day on a separate page.

Official sources: Bank of Botswana: Exchange rates, 15 October 2026

What are Botswana's exports and imports?

Botswana imported goods worth P7,064.4 million and exported P5,160.6 million in July 2026, a trade deficit of P1,903.8 million, according to the key indicators of Statistics Botswana.

Monthly figures can swing widely from one month to the next. Statistics Botswana publishes International Merchandise Trade Statistics every month, with tables by product and trading partner, and has also released the figures for August 2026. Trade figures cover goods only. Services and investment income are not included.

Official sources: Statistics Botswana: key indicators

What is Botswana's GDP per capita?

Botswana's GDP per capita was US$7,778 in 2025, according to the World Bank, up from US$7,650 in 2024 but below US$8,329 in 2022.

The figure divides GDP in current US dollars by the population, which the World Bank puts at about 2.56 million. Because it is in US dollars, it moves with both output and the exchange rate. Statistics Botswana publishes GDP per capita in pula, both nominal and real, in table A2 of its quarterly GDP release.

Official sources: World Bank: GDP per capita, Botswana · Statistics Botswana: GDP, second quarter of 2026 (PDF)

Is Botswana's economy growing?

The latest figure from the World Bank, for 2025, is -0.7%. The peak was 11.9% in 2021 and the low -14.1% in 2009. Across Sub-Saharan Africa the middle value was 4.6%, and Botswana placed 45th highest of 46. Worldwide: 173rd of 180.

What is GDP per capita in Botswana?

According to the World Bank, GDP per person in Botswana was $7,778 in 2025. Its high point since 2005 was 2022, at $8,329; its low point was 2009, at $5,083. Across Sub-Saharan Africa the middle value was $1,351, and Botswana placed 4th highest of 46. World rank, highest first: 90th of 180.

How does Botswana's income per person compare after prices?

$20,698 in international dollars: that is GDP per person at purchasing power parity in Botswana for 2025, according to the World Bank. The peak was $21,029 in international dollars in 2023 and the low $11,458 in international dollars in 2005. Sub-Saharan Africa median: $4,425 in international dollars; Botswana is 4th highest of 46. World rank, highest first: 88th of 179.

What share of Botswana's economy is exports?

According to the World Bank, exports of goods and services in Botswana was 32.0% of GDP in 2025. The peak was 61.4% of GDP in 2013 and the low 27.1% of GDP in 2024. Across Sub-Saharan Africa the middle value was 26.1% of GDP, and Botswana placed 15th highest of 38. World rank, highest first: 75th of 133.

What is Botswana's current account balance?

The latest figure from the IMF, for 2025, is 2.9% of GDP. Since 2005 it has ranged from -9.8% of GDP (2020) to 19.7% of GDP (2006). Across Sub-Saharan Africa the middle value was -3.6% of GDP, and Botswana placed 4th highest of 20. Worldwide: 33rd of 132.

What is FDI in Botswana?

According to the IMF, net inflows of foreign direct investment in Botswana was -3.3% of GDP in 2025. It is the bottom of the series, which starts in 2005. It is 46th highest of 46 in Sub-Saharan Africa, where the median is 2.0% of GDP. Of 179 countries with 2025 data, 175th highest.

What are bank lending rates in Botswana?

The latest figure from the IMF, for 2024, is 6.3%. The peak was 16.5% in 2008 and the low 5.2% in 2021. Across Sub-Saharan Africa the middle value was 16.0%, and Botswana placed 23rd highest of 23. World rank, highest first: 71st of 89.