Military expenditure in Botswana
Botswana: Military expenditure was 7.70 billion current LCU in 2024. ◆ Volatile
Latest (2024)
7.70 billion current LCU
Change on year
up 18.8%
World rank
107th
of 168 countries
All-time high
7.70 billion current LCU
in 2024
All-time low
4.76 million current LCU
in 1977
Years of data
48
1977–2024
Military expenditure in Botswana, 1977–2024
Source: SIPRI Military Expenditure Database, Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI). Measured in current LCU.
Analysis
Botswana recorded 7.70 billion current LCU for military expenditure in 2024. That is the highest value across all 48 years on record.
That represents a change of up 18.8% on the previous year and up 147.6% over ten years.
Over the whole period, military expenditure in Botswana peaked at 7.70 billion current LCU in 2024 and was at its lowest, 4.76 million current LCU, in 1977.
That places Botswana 107th out of 168 countries with data for 2024, putting it in the middle of the range.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Military expenditure in Botswana, year by year
| Year | current LCU | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1977 | 4.76 million current LCU | — |
| 1978 | 11.85 million current LCU | +149.0% |
| 1979 | 19.85 million current LCU | +67.5% |
| 1980 | 24.75 million current LCU | +24.7% |
| 1981 | 26.07 million current LCU | +5.4% |
| 1982 | 24.25 million current LCU | -7.0% |
| 1983 | 26.82 million current LCU | +10.6% |
| 1984 | 33.90 million current LCU | +26.4% |
| 1985 | 39.95 million current LCU | +17.8% |
| 1986 | 64.47 million current LCU | +61.4% |
| 1987 | 123.95 million current LCU | +92.2% |
| 1988 | 171.43 million current LCU | +38.3% |
| 1989 | 207.13 million current LCU | +20.8% |
| 1990 | 290.70 million current LCU | +40.3% |
| 1991 | 348.25 million current LCU | +19.8% |
| 1992 | 375.50 million current LCU | +7.8% |
| 1993 | 449.89 million current LCU | +19.8% |
| 1994 | 457.56 million current LCU | +1.7% |
| 1995 | 459.84 million current LCU | +0.5% |
| 1996 | 467.25 million current LCU | +1.6% |
| 1997 | 585.98 million current LCU | +25.4% |
| 1998 | 765.10 million current LCU | +30.6% |
| 1999 | 784.20 million current LCU | +2.5% |
| 2000 | 942.40 million current LCU | +20.2% |
| 2001 | 1.23 billion current LCU | +30.4% |
| 2002 | 1.41 billion current LCU | +15.1% |
| 2003 | 1.49 billion current LCU | +5.3% |
| 2004 | 1.47 billion current LCU | -1.1% |
| 2005 | 1.45 billion current LCU | -1.6% |
| 2006 | 1.59 billion current LCU | +9.8% |
| 2007 | 1.88 billion current LCU | +18.1% |
| 2008 | 2.27 billion current LCU | +20.6% |
| 2009 | 2.36 billion current LCU | +4.1% |
| 2010 | 2.37 billion current LCU | +0.3% |
| 2011 | 2.48 billion current LCU | +4.9% |
| 2012 | 2.49 billion current LCU | +0.2% |
| 2013 | 2.57 billion current LCU | +3.3% |
| 2014 | 3.11 billion current LCU | +20.8% |
| 2015 | 3.89 billion current LCU | +25.0% |
| 2016 | 5.61 billion current LCU | +44.3% |
| 2017 | 5.41 billion current LCU | -3.5% |
| 2018 | 5.08 billion current LCU | -6.1% |
| 2019 | 5.53 billion current LCU | +8.9% |
| 2020 | 5.70 billion current LCU | +3.1% |
| 2021 | 5.95 billion current LCU | +4.3% |
| 2022 | 6.34 billion current LCU | +6.6% |
| 2023 | 6.48 billion current LCU | +2.2% |
| 2024 | 7.70 billion current LCU | +18.8% |
Botswana compared with similar countries
- Botswana's 7.70 billion current LCU is below the median for upper middle income countries, which is 50.91 billion current LCU, 15% of the median. (48 countries reporting)
- Botswana's 7.70 billion current LCU is below the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 114.43 billion current LCU, 7% of the median. (46 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Military expenditure 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1978 | +149.0% | 4.76 million current LCU | 11.85 million current LCU |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1970s | 12.15 million current LCU | 4.76 million current LCU | 19.85 million current LCU | 3 |
| 1980s | 74.27 million current LCU | 24.25 million current LCU | 207.13 million current LCU | 10 |
| 1990s | 498.43 million current LCU | 290.70 million current LCU | 784.20 million current LCU | 10 |
| 2000s | 1.61 billion current LCU | 942.40 million current LCU | 2.36 billion current LCU | 10 |
| 2010s | 3.85 billion current LCU | 2.37 billion current LCU | 5.61 billion current LCU | 10 |
| 2020s | 6.43 billion current LCU | 5.70 billion current LCU | 7.70 billion current LCU | 5 |
Countries ranked near Botswana
More public sector data for Botswana
- Democracy, 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)
- Elected parliament, 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)
- Democracy 6 (2025)
- Chief executive of the government is elected 1 (2025)
- Elected parliament 1 (2025)
- Men's universal right to vote 1 (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is military expenditure in Botswana?
- Military expenditure in Botswana was 7.70 billion current LCU in 2024, according to SIPRI Military Expenditure Database, Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI).
- What is the highest military expenditure recorded in Botswana?
- The highest recorded value was 7.70 billion current LCU in 2024.
- What is the lowest military expenditure recorded in Botswana?
- The lowest recorded value was 4.76 million current LCU in 1977.
- How does Botswana rank for military expenditure?
- Botswana ranks 107th out of 168 countries with data for 2024.
- Is military expenditure rising or falling in Botswana?
- Over the last ten years it is up 147.6%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Botswana data come from?
- The figures come from SIPRI Military Expenditure Database, Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI), published as part of Military expenditure (current LCU). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
CSV · JSON — 48 observations, free to reuse under CC BY 4.0 (World Bank Open Data).
About this data
Military expenditure in local currency at current prices (by calendar year)