Central government debt, total (current LCU) in Botswana
Botswana: Central government debt, total (current LCU) was 52.12 billion current LCU in 2023. ◆ Volatile
Central government debt, total in Botswana, 1990–2023
Source: Government Finance Statistics Yearbook and data files, International Monetary Fund (IMF). Measured in current LCU.
Analysis
In 2023, central government debt, total in Botswana stood at 52.12 billion current LCU. That is the highest value across all 25 years on record.
The figure is up 13.1% on the previous year and up 128.7% over ten years.
Over the whole period, central government debt, total in Botswana peaked at 52.12 billion current LCU in 2023 and was at its lowest, 801.93 million current LCU, in 1990.
That places Botswana 56th out of 83 countries with data for 2023, putting it in the middle of the range.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Central government debt, total (current LCU) in Botswana, year by year
| Year | current LCU | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1990 | 801.93 million current LCU | — |
| 1991 | 965.80 million current LCU | +20.4% |
| 1992 | 1.10 billion current LCU | +13.5% |
| 1993 | 1.25 billion current LCU | +14.4% |
| 1994 | 1.38 billion current LCU | +9.8% |
| 1995 | 1.44 billion current LCU | +4.5% |
| 1996 | 1.80 billion current LCU | +24.9% |
| 2006 | 3.48 billion current LCU | +93.8% |
| 2007 | 3.86 billion current LCU | +10.7% |
| 2008 | 5.86 billion current LCU | +52.1% |
| 2009 | 13.94 billion current LCU | +137.7% |
| 2010 | 18.79 billion current LCU | +34.8% |
| 2011 | 21.78 billion current LCU | +15.9% |
| 2012 | 21.91 billion current LCU | +0.6% |
| 2013 | 22.79 billion current LCU | +4.0% |
| 2014 | 25.45 billion current LCU | +11.6% |
| 2015 | 26.16 billion current LCU | +2.8% |
| 2016 | 25.99 billion current LCU | -0.7% |
| 2017 | 24.46 billion current LCU | -5.9% |
| 2018 | 26.46 billion current LCU | +8.2% |
| 2019 | 29.13 billion current LCU | +10.1% |
| 2020 | 33.62 billion current LCU | +15.4% |
| 2021 | 40.96 billion current LCU | +21.8% |
| 2022 | 46.08 billion current LCU | +12.5% |
| 2023 | 52.12 billion current LCU | +13.1% |
Botswana compared with similar countries
- Botswana's 52.12 billion current LCU is below the median for upper middle income countries, which is 309.59 billion current LCU, 17% of the median. (33 countries reporting)
- Botswana's 52.12 billion current LCU is below the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 944.88 billion current LCU, 6% of the median. (14 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Central government debt, total (current LCU) in Botswana changed far more than this series normally does. A large move can be a real event or a change in how the figure was measured — the source note below says who published it.
| Year | Change | From | To |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2009 | +137.7% | 5.86 billion current LCU | 13.94 billion current LCU |
| 2006 | +93.8% | 1.80 billion current LCU | 3.48 billion current LCU |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 1.25 billion current LCU | 801.93 million current LCU | 1.80 billion current LCU | 7 |
| 2000s | 6.79 billion current LCU | 3.48 billion current LCU | 13.94 billion current LCU | 4 |
| 2010s | 24.29 billion current LCU | 18.79 billion current LCU | 29.13 billion current LCU | 10 |
| 2020s | 43.19 billion current LCU | 33.62 billion current LCU | 52.12 billion current LCU | 4 |
Countries ranked near Botswana
More public sector data for Botswana
- Democracy, annual growth rate 0 % change on previous year (2025)
- Chief executive of the government is elected, annual growth rate 0 % change on previous year (2025)
- Elected parliament, annual growth rate 0 % change on previous year (2025)
- Men's universal right to vote, annual growth rate 0 % change on previous year (2025)
- Universal right to vote, annual growth rate 0 % change on previous year (2025)
- Universal right to vote in practice, annual growth rate 0 % change on previous year (2025)
- Arms imports 11.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values (2024)
- Arms imports (SIPRI trend indicator values), per capita 4.36 SIPRI trend indicator values per person (2024)
- Arms imports (SIPRI trend indicator values), per unit of GDP 0.0006 SIPRI trend indicator values per US$ of GDP (2024)
- Arms imports (SIPRI trend indicator values), annual growth rate 1,000 % change on previous year (2024)
Frequently asked questions
- What is central government debt, total in Botswana?
- Central government debt, total in Botswana was 52.12 billion current LCU in 2023, according to Government Finance Statistics Yearbook and data files, International Monetary Fund (IMF).
- What is the highest central government debt, total recorded in Botswana?
- The highest recorded value was 52.12 billion current LCU in 2023.
- What is the lowest central government debt, total recorded in Botswana?
- The lowest recorded value was 801.93 million current LCU in 1990.
- How does Botswana rank for central government debt, total?
- Botswana ranks 56th out of 83 countries with data for 2023.
- Is central government debt, total rising or falling in Botswana?
- Over the last ten years it is up 128.7%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Botswana data come from?
- The figures come from Government Finance Statistics Yearbook and data files, International Monetary Fund (IMF), published as part of Central government debt, total (current LCU). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Debt is the entire stock of direct government fixed-term contractual obligations to others outstanding on a particular date. It includes domestic and foreign liabilities such as currency and money deposits, securities other than shares, and loans. It is the gross amount of government liabilities reduced by the amount of equity and financial derivatives held by the government. Because debt is a stock rather than a flow, it is measured as of a given date, usually the last day of the fiscal year. Central government is the part of general government that includes all administrative departments of the national executive, legislative, and judicial functions, other central agencies and those non-market producers controlled by the central government, whose competence extends normally over the whole economic territory. This indicator is expressed in current prices, meaning no adjustment has been made to account for price changes over time. This series is expressed in local currency units.