Economy Overview
Botswana has maintained one of the world's highest growth rates since independence in 1966. Through fiscal discipline and sound management, Botswana has transformed itself from one of the poorest countries in the world to a middle-income country with a per capita GDP of $6,600 in 2000. Diamond mining has fueled much of Botswana's economic expansion and currently accounts for more than one-third of GDP and for three-fourths of export earnings. Tourism, subsistence farming, and cattle raising are other key sectors. The government must deal with high rates of unemployment and poverty. Unemployment officially is 19%, but unofficial estimates place it closer to 40%. HIV/AIDS infection rates are the highest in the world and threaten Botswana's impressive economic gains.
Agriculture Products
sorghum, corn, millet, pulses, groundnuts (peanuts), beans, cowpeas, sunflower seed; livestock
Industries
diamonds, copper, nickel, coal, salt, soda ash, potash; livestock processing
Industrial Production Growth Rate
6.2% (2000 est.)
Labor Force
235,000 formal sector employees (1995)
Electricity production
610 million kWh (1999)
Electricity production by source
Fossil fuel: 100%
Hydro: 0%
Nuclear: 0%
Other: 0% (1999)
Electricity Consumption
1.517 billion kWh (1999)
Electricity Exports
0 kWh (1999)
Electricity Imports
950 million kWh (1999)
Unemployment Rate
40% (2000 est.)
Population Below Poverty Line
47% (2000 est.)
Household Income or Consumption by Percentage Share
Lowest 10%: NA%
Highest 10%: NA%
Budget
Revenues: $1.6 billion
Expenditures: $1.8 billion, including capital expenditures of $560 million (FY96)
Commercial Bank Prime Lending Rate
Market Value of Publicly Traded Shares
Reserves of Foreign Exchange and Gold
Debt External
$455 million (2000)
Stock of Direct Foreign Investment at Home
Stock of Direct Foreign Investment Abroad
Exchange Rates
pulas per US dollar - 5.4585 (January 2001), 5.1018 (2000), 4.6244 (1999), 4.2259 (1998), 3.6508 (1997), 3.3242 (1996)
