Economy Overview
Botswana’s economy recovered from the 2008 global recession in 2010, but has only grown modestly since then, primarily due to the downturn in the global diamond market, though water and power shortages also played a role. The prevalence of HIV/AIDS is second highest in the world and threatens the country's impressive economic gains. In 2016, Botswana entered its fourth year of drought, detrimental to Botswana’s small, but vital agriculture sector, but diamond exports increased to their highest levels since 2013, buffering economic growth. As a result, the economy registered 2.9% growth in 2016.
Agriculture Products
livestock, sorghum, maize, millet, beans, sunflowers, groundnuts
Industries
diamonds, copper, nickel, salt, soda ash, potash, coal, iron ore, silver; beef processing; textiles
Industrial Production Growth Rate
1.3% (2016 est.)
Labor Force
1.187 million (2016 est.)
Labor Force by Occupation
Agriculture: NA%
Industry: NA%
Services: NA%
Unemployment Rate
17.8% (2009 est.)
Population Below Poverty Line
30.3% (2003 est.)
Household Income or Consumption by Percentage Share
Lowest 10%: NA%
Highest 10%: NA%
Distribution of Family Income Gini Index
63 (1993)
Budget
Revenues: $5.13 billion
Expenditures: $5.231 billion (2016 est.)
Public Debt
19.3% of GDP (2015 est.)
Central Bank Discount Rate
6% (31 December 2015)
Commercial Bank Prime Lending Rate
Stock of Narrow Money
$1.223 billion (31 December 2015 est.)
Stock of Broad Money
$5.958 billion (31 December 2015 est.)
Stock of Domestic Credit
$1.614 billion (31 December 2015 est.)
Market Value of Publicly Traded Shares
$4.076 billion (31 December 2010 est.)
Reserves of Foreign Exchange and Gold
$7.546 billion (31 December 2015 est.)
Debt External
$2.148 billion (31 December 2015 est.)
Stock of Direct Foreign Investment at Home
Stock of Direct Foreign Investment Abroad
Exchange Rates
7.62 (2012 est.)
