Country profile · Sub-Saharan Africa · UMC
🇧🇼 Botswana
Upper middle income. Capital Gaborone. Mid-pack GDP/cap (UMC · MID) across 41 World Bank / WHO / ILO measures.
- 2.5 million
- Population
- $19.3 billion
- GDP
- $7,650
- GDP / capita
- 69.3 years
- Life expectancy
Mid-pack GDP/cap · MID
Botswana ranks 134th of 217 by total GDP and 158th for life expectancy - a upper middle income economy in Sub-Saharan Africa.
- #134
- World GDP rank (of 217)
- $7,650
- GDP per capita
- #158
- Life-expectancy rank
- #143
- Population rank
Botswana sits in the middle third of GDP/cap (#113 of 214) as a UMC economy with MID longevity.
Botswana vs all countries by total GDP
Where this economy's World Bank total GDP sits among every country with a positive observation (inventory signal, not a virtue ranking)
$19,286,251,068 134th of 214 higher than 80 of 214 countries
Countries banded by World Bank total GDP (current US$)
Each bar is a $0.001K-wide band; taller bars hold more countries. The dashed line + filled bar mark this entry. Hover or tap any bar for its full count and share, and where it sits relative to this entry.
Source World Bank, GDP (current US$) · 2026-08-14
Botswana on the global income map
Botswana (BWA) mid GDP/cap pack - GDP per capita × life expectancy vs largest peers; gold rings = OECD.
- Botswana: GDP per capita $7,650 (2024), life expectancy 69.3 years (2024), upper-middle income.
- India: GDP per capita $2,695 (2024), life expectancy 72.2 years (2024), lower-middle income.
- China: GDP per capita $13,303 (2024), life expectancy 78.0 years (2024), upper-middle income.
- United States: GDP per capita $84,534 (2024), life expectancy 78.9 years (2024), high income, OECD member.
- Indonesia: GDP per capita $4,925 (2024), life expectancy 71.3 years (2024), upper-middle income.
- Pakistan: GDP per capita $1,479 (2024), life expectancy 67.8 years (2024), lower-middle income.
- Nigeria: GDP per capita $1,084 (2024), life expectancy 54.6 years (2024), low income.
- Brazil: GDP per capita $10,311 (2024), life expectancy 76.0 years (2024), upper-middle income.
- Bangladesh: GDP per capita $2,593 (2024), life expectancy 74.9 years (2024), lower-middle income.
- Russian Federation: GDP per capita $14,889 (2024), life expectancy 73.4 years (2024), high income.
- Ethiopia: GDP per capita $1,134 (2024), life expectancy 67.6 years (2024), low income.
- Mexico: GDP per capita $14,186 (2024), life expectancy 75.3 years (2024), high income, OECD member.
- Japan: GDP per capita $32,487 (2024), life expectancy 84.0 years (2024), high income, OECD member.
- Egypt, Arab Rep.: GDP per capita $3,338 (2024), life expectancy 71.8 years (2024), lower-middle income.
- Philippines: GDP per capita $3,985 (2024), life expectancy 69.9 years (2024), lower-middle income.
- Congo, Dem. Rep.: GDP per capita $693 (2024), life expectancy 62.1 years (2024), low income.
- Viet Nam: GDP per capita $4,717 (2024), life expectancy 74.7 years (2024), upper-middle income.
- Iran, Islamic Rep.: GDP per capita $5,190 (2024), life expectancy 77.9 years (2024), upper-middle income.
- Turkiye: GDP per capita $15,893 (2024), life expectancy 77.4 years (2024), high income, OECD member.
- Germany: GDP per capita $56,104 (2024), life expectancy 80.8 years (2024), high income, OECD member.
- Thailand: GDP per capita $7,387 (2024), life expectancy 76.6 years (2024), upper-middle income.
- United Kingdom: GDP per capita $53,246 (2024), life expectancy 81.4 years (2024), high income, OECD member.
- Tanzania: GDP per capita $1,193 (2024), life expectancy 67.2 years (2024), lower-middle income.
- France: GDP per capita $46,103 (2024), life expectancy 83.0 years (2024), high income, OECD member.
- South Africa: GDP per capita $6,267 (2024), life expectancy 66.3 years (2024), upper-middle income.
- Italy: GDP per capita $40,385 (2024), life expectancy 84.0 years (2024), high income, OECD member.
- Kenya: GDP per capita $2,133 (2024), life expectancy 63.8 years (2024), lower-middle income.
- Myanmar: GDP per capita $1,359 (2024), life expectancy 67.1 years (2024), lower-middle income.
- Colombia: GDP per capita $7,951 (2024), life expectancy 77.9 years (2024), upper-middle income, OECD member.
- Korea, Rep.: GDP per capita $36,239 (2024), life expectancy 83.6 years (2024), high income, OECD member.
- Sudan: GDP per capita $985 (2024), life expectancy 66.5 years (2024), low income.
Overview
Botswana has a population of 2.5 million, making it the 143rd-most populous country out of 217 tracked in Sub-Saharan Africa.
Its economy totals $19.3 billion - ranked 134th globally by total GDP. GDP per capita stands at $7,650, placing it in the Upper middle income category.
Life expectancy at birth is 69.3 years (ranked 158th globally), reflecting overall health outcomes as measured by the World Bank.
The capital is Gaborone.
👥 Demographics
💰 Economy
🏥 Health
📚 Education
🌍 Environment
🏗️ Infrastructure
⚖️ Social
🌐 Livability Score
One composite verdict from 5 of 5 World Bank series (life expectancy, under-5 mortality, electricity access, clean-water access, homicide rate), each benchmarked against every country tracking that series. A missing series never silently drags the score down: its weight redistributes across the series Botswana does report.
- Life expectancy: 6.8 of 27
- Under-5 mortality: 5.8 of 27
- Access to electricity: 4.0 of 27
- Access to clean water: 7.4 of 27
- Safety (homicide rate): 3.3 of 27
All indicators for Botswana
41 latest observations from World Bank WDI, WHO GHO, and ILO ILOSTAT (vintage through 2026-08-14). Values match the topic cards above; this table is the machine-readable export view analysts expect on a country profile.
| Topic | Indicator | Value | Year |
|---|---|---|---|
| Demographics | Population | 2.5 million | 2024 |
| Demographics | Population Ages 0-14 | 32.1% | 2024 |
| Demographics | Population Ages 65+ | 4.0% | 2024 |
| Demographics | Population Density | 4.4/km² | 2023 |
| Demographics | Urban Population | 67.5% | 2024 |
| Economy | Foreign Direct Investment | $467.3 million | 2024 |
| Economy | GDP (Current USD) | $19.3 billion | 2024 |
| Economy | GDP Growth Rate | -2.8% | 2024 |
| Economy | GDP Per Capita (Current USD) | $7,649.817 | 2024 |
| Economy | Government Debt (% of GDP) | 19.7% | 2023 |
| Economy | Inflation (Consumer Prices) | 2.8% | 2024 |
| Economy | Trade (% of GDP) | 69.4% | 2024 |
| Economy | Unemployment Rate | 23.8% | 2024 |
| Health | Health Expenditure (% of GDP) | 6.3% | 2023 |
| Health | Infant Mortality Rate | 32.1 per 1,000 | 2024 |
| Health | Life Expectancy at Birth | 69.3 years | 2024 |
| Health | Maternal Mortality Ratio | 155 | 2023 |
| Health | Physicians (per 1,000 people) | 0.4 per 1,000 | 2023 |
| Health | Stunting Prevalence (under 5) | 28.9 | 2007 |
| Health | Under-5 Mortality Rate | 33.3 per 1,000 | 2024 |
| Education | Education Expenditure (% of GDP) | 8.1% | 2020 |
| Education | Literacy Rate (Adult) | 81.2 | 2003 |
| Education | School Enrollment (Primary) | 109.3 | 2022 |
| Education | School Enrollment (Secondary) | 70.6 | 2021 |
| Education | School Enrollment (Tertiary) | 21.4 | 2024 |
| Education | Youth Literacy Rate | 94.0 | 2003 |
| Environment | CO2 Emissions Per Capita | 2.7 | 2024 |
| Environment | Electric Power Consumption | 1,641 kWh | 2023 |
| Environment | Forest Area | 26.3 | 2023 |
| Environment | Freshwater Withdrawal | 8.9 | 2022 |
| Environment | Renewable Energy Consumption | 27.4% | 2021 |
| Infrastructure | Access to Clean Water | 63.3% | 2024 |
| Infrastructure | Access to Electricity | 76.0% | 2023 |
| Infrastructure | Internet Users | 57.5% | 2024 |
| Infrastructure | Mobile Subscriptions | 164.0 | 2024 |
| Social | Female Labor Participation | 63.5 | 2024 |
| Social | GINI Index | 54.9 | 2015 |
| Social | Intentional Homicides | 11.4 | 2021 |
| Social | Male Labor Participation | 73.8 | 2024 |
| Social | Net Migration | -5,778 | 2024 |
| Social | Poverty (< $2.15/day) | 21.4% | 2015 |
🫀 Disease Burden
Botswana's standout GHO cell is maternal mortality at 155 per 100,000 births (fleet midpoint 47) - that ratio, not the shared ischaemic-heart card, is what this profile is for. Summary metrics use 2021 data; cause-specific cards show their own observation year.
Non-communicable Diseases
Injuries & External Causes
Sources: WHO Global Health Observatory. NCD mortality rate: 2021. Rates are age-standardized per 100,000 population. Premature NCD risk covers cardiovascular disease, cancer, diabetes, and chronic respiratory disease.
Compare Botswana with near GDP/cap peers
Side-by-side pages for the closest ABS GDP/cap neighbours - not a full-roster dropdown.
Read with Botswana
Nearest GDP/cap peers and LE poles for Botswana (UMC · MID), replacing the old fixed guide and region clone strip.
UMC MID
Belize · UMC
Belize GDP/cap $7,681 is higher by $31 than Botswana; LE stamp LONG vs MID.
Marshall Islands · UMC
Marshall Islands GDP/cap $7,590 is lower by $60 than Botswana; LE stamp MID vs MID.
Moldova · UMC
Moldova GDP/cap $7,579 is lower by $71 than Botswana; LE stamp LONG vs MID.
Jamaica · UMC
Jamaica GDP/cap $7,754 is higher by $104 than Botswana; LE stamp LONG vs MID.
Sub-Saharan Africa WDI roster
Botswana stamps UMC · MID inside Sub-Saharan Africa - open the region roster after the ABS peers.
GDP/cap leaderboard (#113)
Botswana ranks #113 of 214 on NY.GDP.PCAP.CD under the UMC Atlas band.
What the data says about Botswana
Botswana is classified as an upper-middle-income economy, a tier where statistical capacity, and therefore data completeness, varies more widely than in high-income countries, so a missing or older data point on this profile usually reflects reporting lag rather than an absence of the underlying activity. Output and income figures are reported at market exchange rates in current dollars, which means currency depreciation or appreciation can shift the headline numbers for a small economy like this one even when the real economy is barely moving. Because these economies are also the ones most likely to shift income tier within a decade, the trend over several years usually tells a more useful story than any single year's value.
Botswana sits in the middle third of GDP/cap (#113 of 214) as a UMC economy with MID longevity.
Botswana holds 2.5 million people and $19.3 billion GDP (134th) at $7,650 per person - mid GDP/cap band, UMC, LE 69.3 years (158th, MID). 41 WDI/WHO/ILO cells fill the topic blocks.
Nearest ABS GDP/cap peer: Belize at $7,681 (Δ $31). Open that profile or the GDP/cap leaderboard before treating any single year as destiny.
What to do with Botswana's numbers
Botswana is classified UMC with MID. Use that context before comparing any single figure to another country.
- Compare Botswana directly against any other country, side by side, on the indicators that matter to you. Compare countries
- See exactly where Botswana ranks among all 217 tracked countries on a specific indicator, not just the ones shown here. Indicator rank finder
- Learn the common mistakes people make citing country statistics before you quote a number from this page. Reading country profiles
Figures above are sourced from World Bank, WHO, and ILO (OECD where applicable) as cited below; always verify against the primary source before citing a specific number.
Frequently Asked Questions
Where does the data for Botswana come from?
Data for Botswana is sourced from the World Bank Open Data catalog, WHO Global Health Observatory, and ILO ILOSTAT (for average wages and working hours). These are official, publicly available datasets.
How current is the data for Botswana?
Years are per-indicator on Botswana - typically 2020-2024, with GHO cause cards older than the WDI GDP vintage. Methodology names the cadence per source.
Can I compare Botswana with other countries?
Start with the nearest GDP/cap peer (Belize, Δ $31), then the GDP/cap leaderboard. Incomplete compare URLs 404 rather than dumping you on a hub.
What does GDP per capita tell us about Botswana?
Botswana's total output divided by its population, in current US dollars - an approximate read on average economic productivity per person. See our methodology page for the PPP-adjustment caveats.
How does Botswana's life expectancy compare to the global average?
69.3 years, ranking 158th of 217 countries tracked - against a global average near 73 years.
Does PlainCountries cover visa or travel information for Botswana?
No - PlainCountries covers development and health indicators only. For immigration policy or flight routes, consult the relevant national authority or the ICAO/IATA route registries directly.
Data sources
Botswana's figures are rendered directly from World Bank, WHO, and ILO data, no number is typed in by an editor. See our editorial standards & corrections policy, the methodology behind these numbers, or report a data error. Data current as of 2026-08-14. Primary sources: World Bank Open Data, WHO Global Health Observatory and ILO ILOSTAT.