Military expenditure (current USD) in Botswana
Botswana: Military expenditure (current USD) was 614.35 million current USD in 2025. ◆ Volatile
Latest (2025)
614.35 million current USD
Change on year
up 18.3%
World rank
103rd
of 168 countries
All-time high
614.35 million current USD
in 2025
All-time low
5.65 million current USD
in 1977
Years of data
49
1977–2025
Military expenditure in Botswana, 1977–2025
Source: SIPRI Military Expenditure Database, Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI). Measured in current USD.
Analysis
The most recent figure for military expenditure in Botswana is 614.35 million current USD, measured in 2025. That is the highest value across all 49 years on record.
Compared with earlier readings it is up 18.3% on the previous year and up 60.1% over ten years.
Over the whole period, military expenditure in Botswana peaked at 614.35 million current USD in 2025 and was at its lowest, 5.65 million current USD, in 1977.
That places Botswana 103rd out of 168 countries with data for 2025, 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 (current USD) in Botswana, year by year
| Year | current USD | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1977 | 5.65 million current USD | — |
| 1978 | 14.31 million current USD | +153.2% |
| 1979 | 24.36 million current USD | +70.2% |
| 1980 | 31.84 million current USD | +30.7% |
| 1981 | 31.16 million current USD | -2.1% |
| 1982 | 23.55 million current USD | -24.4% |
| 1983 | 24.45 million current USD | +3.8% |
| 1984 | 26.11 million current USD | +6.8% |
| 1985 | 21.00 million current USD | -19.6% |
| 1986 | 34.31 million current USD | +63.4% |
| 1987 | 73.83 million current USD | +115.2% |
| 1988 | 93.75 million current USD | +27.0% |
| 1989 | 102.80 million current USD | +9.7% |
| 1990 | 156.25 million current USD | +52.0% |
| 1991 | 172.27 million current USD | +10.3% |
| 1992 | 177.99 million current USD | +3.3% |
| 1993 | 185.67 million current USD | +4.3% |
| 1994 | 170.43 million current USD | -8.2% |
| 1995 | 165.87 million current USD | -2.7% |
| 1996 | 140.56 million current USD | -15.3% |
| 1997 | 160.51 million current USD | +14.2% |
| 1998 | 181.05 million current USD | +12.8% |
| 1999 | 169.58 million current USD | -6.3% |
| 2000 | 184.72 million current USD | +8.9% |
| 2001 | 210.32 million current USD | +13.9% |
| 2002 | 223.55 million current USD | +6.3% |
| 2003 | 301.01 million current USD | +34.7% |
| 2004 | 314.04 million current USD | +4.3% |
| 2005 | 283.84 million current USD | -9.6% |
| 2006 | 272.93 million current USD | -3.8% |
| 2007 | 306.45 million current USD | +12.3% |
| 2008 | 332.40 million current USD | +8.5% |
| 2009 | 330.15 million current USD | -0.7% |
| 2010 | 348.67 million current USD | +5.6% |
| 2011 | 363.32 million current USD | +4.2% |
| 2012 | 326.87 million current USD | -10.0% |
| 2013 | 306.44 million current USD | -6.3% |
| 2014 | 346.28 million current USD | +13.0% |
| 2015 | 383.74 million current USD | +10.8% |
| 2016 | 514.46 million current USD | +34.1% |
| 2017 | 522.43 million current USD | +1.5% |
| 2018 | 498.09 million current USD | -4.7% |
| 2019 | 514.72 million current USD | +3.3% |
| 2020 | 499.03 million current USD | -3.0% |
| 2021 | 536.63 million current USD | +7.5% |
| 2022 | 512.73 million current USD | -4.5% |
| 2023 | 349.64 million current USD | -31.8% |
| 2024 | 519.37 million current USD | +48.5% |
| 2025 | 614.35 million current USD | +18.3% |
Botswana compared with similar countries
- Botswana's 614.35 million current USD is below the median for upper middle income countries, which is 1.48 billion current USD, 41% of the median. (48 countries reporting)
- Botswana's 614.35 million current USD is above the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 338.94 million current USD, 1.8× the median. (46 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Military expenditure (current USD) 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 | +153.2% | 5.65 million current USD | 14.31 million current USD |
| 1987 | +115.2% | 34.31 million current USD | 73.83 million current USD |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1970s | 14.77 million current USD | 5.65 million current USD | 24.36 million current USD | 3 |
| 1980s | 46.28 million current USD | 21.00 million current USD | 102.80 million current USD | 10 |
| 1990s | 168.02 million current USD | 140.56 million current USD | 185.67 million current USD | 10 |
| 2000s | 275.94 million current USD | 184.72 million current USD | 332.40 million current USD | 10 |
| 2010s | 412.50 million current USD | 306.44 million current USD | 522.43 million current USD | 10 |
| 2020s | 505.29 million current USD | 349.64 million current USD | 614.35 million current USD | 6 |
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 military expenditure in Botswana?
- Military expenditure in Botswana was 614.35 million current USD in 2025, 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 614.35 million current USD in 2025.
- What is the lowest military expenditure recorded in Botswana?
- The lowest recorded value was 5.65 million current USD in 1977.
- How does Botswana rank for military expenditure?
- Botswana ranks 103rd out of 168 countries with data for 2025.
- Is military expenditure rising or falling in Botswana?
- Over the last ten years it is up 60.1%. 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 USD). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
CSV · JSON — 49 observations, free to reuse under CC BY 4.0 (World Bank Open Data).
About this data
Military spending USD, in current prices (converted at the exchange rate for the given year)