Trade & investment · Sub-Saharan Africa · Upper-middle income
Botswana: trade and investment
Exports is 32.0% (2025), 105th of 184 in the world and 18th of 43 in Sub-Saharan Africa. Imports is 37.5% (2025), 110th of 184 in the world and 15th of 43 in Sub-Saharan Africa. Trade openness is 69.5% (2025), 114th of 184 in the world and 16th of 43 in Sub-Saharan Africa.
13 indicators
Trade & investment: Botswana in detail
Latest reported value, world rank and rank within Sub-Saharan Africa; values around 2000, 2010, 2020; group and world columns are World Bank aggregates.
| Indicator | Latest | World rank | In region | ~2000 | ~2010 | ~2020 | 10-year change | Region | Income group | World | Since 2000 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| ExportsExports of goods and services, % of GDP | 32.0%2025 | 105/184 | 18/43 | 51.8% | 42.1% | 31.3% | −21.1 ppsince 2015 | 27.9% | 25.9% | 29.5% | |
| ImportsImports of goods and services, % of GDP | 37.5%2025 | 110/184 | 15/43 | 40.1% | 52.5% | 49.1% | −22.3 ppsince 2015 | 27.9% | 23.8% | 28.5% | |
| Trade opennessTrade, % of GDP | 69.5%2025 | 114/184 | 16/43 | 91.9% | 94.6% | 80.3% | −43.4 ppsince 2015 | 55.7% | 48.9% | 68.5% | |
| Current accountCurrent account balance, % of GDP | 2.9%2025 | 50/185 | 6/42 | 9.4% | -5.9% | -9.8% | +0.7 ppsince 2015 | — | — | — | |
| Merchandise exportsMerchandise exports, current US$ | $5.1bn2025 | 123/206 | 20/48 | $2.7bn | $4.7bn | $4.3bn | −19%since 2015 | $487bn | $7.7tn | $26.4tn | |
| High-tech exportsHigh-technology exports, % of manufactured exports | 0.5%2023 | 156/170 | 34/39 | · | · | 0.4% | +0.1 ppsince 2013 | 6.0% | 23.2% | 24.7% | |
| Fuel exportsFuel exports, % of merchandise exports | 0.7%2023 | 128/172 | 25/39 | 0.1% | 0.2% | 0.4% | ±0.0 ppsince 2013 | 40.9% | 5.2% | 9.5% | |
| Food exportsFood exports, % of merchandise exports | 1.9%2023 | 156/172 | 34/39 | 2.8% | 5.2% | 1.9% | −0.5 ppsince 2013 | 14.6% | 9.0% | 9.0% | |
| Average tariffApplied tariff rate, weighted mean, all products | 3.2%2022 | 106/184 | 41/45 | 1.6%2001 | 0.8% | 0.8% | −0.7 ppsince 2012 | — | — | — | |
| FDI inflowsForeign direct investment, net inflows, % of GDP | -3.3%2025 | 193/197 | 46/46 | 1.0% | 1.7% | 0.2% | −6.1 ppsince 2015 | 2.1% | 1.1% | 1.4% | |
| RemittancesPersonal remittances received, % of GDP | 0.8%2025 | 124/178 | 34/41 | 0.3% | 0.2% | 0.3% | +0.6 ppsince 2015 | 3.1% | 1.0% | 0.8% | |
| Tourist arrivalsInternational tourist arrivals | 1.8m2018 | 73/196 | 5/42 | 1.3m | 2.3m2008 | 1.8m2018 | −22%since 2008 | 56.0m | 573m | 2.4bn | |
| Tourism receiptsInternational tourism receipts, current US$ | $217m2020 | 124/177 | 15/40 | $227m | $440m | $217m | −51%since 2010 | $34.9bn | — | $1.9tn |
Source: World Bank, World Development Indicators (CC BY 4.0)“·” — no value reported within two years of that date. World rank counts countries with a recent value.
neighbours
Botswana and its neighbours
Countries sharing a land border with Botswana. Latest values since 2005; the highest in each row is marked.
| Indicator | Botswana | South Africa | Zambia | Zimbabwe | Namibia |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Exports | 32.0%2025 | 31.4%2025 | 35.0%2024 | 18.1%2024 | 44.7%2025 |
| Imports | 37.5%2025 | 29.5%2025 | 27.6%2024 | 23.4%2024 | 63.9%2025 |
| Trade openness | 69.5%2025 | 60.9%2025 | 62.5%2024 | 41.5%2024 | 108.6%2025 |
| Current account | 2.9%2025 | -0.4%2025 | -5.5%2025 | 1.2%2024 | -13.4%2024 |
| Merchandise exports | $5.1bn2025 | $116bn2025 | $13.3bn2025 | $9.7bn2025 | $7.0bn2025 |
| High-tech exports | 0.5%2023 | 5.7%2024 | 1.5%2024 | 2.8%2024 | 0.1%2024 |
| Fuel exports | 0.7%2023 | 8.2%2025 | 2.7%2024 | 2.9%2024 | 1.3%2024 |
| Food exports | 1.9%2023 | 12.8%2025 | 8.7%2024 | 21.6%2024 | 28.0%2024 |
| Average tariff | 3.2%2022 | 4.7%2022 | 4.1%2022 | 11.4%2021 | 3.6%2022 |