Military expenditure in Botswana

Botswana: Military expenditure was 2.8% in 2024. ▼ Falling

Latest (2024)
2.8%
Change on year
up 15.4%
World rank
37th
of 164 countries
All-time high
4.9%
in 1993
All-time low
1.4%
in 1977
Years of data
48
1977–2024

Military expenditure in Botswana, 1977–2024

12345197720002024

Source: SIPRI Military Expenditure Database, Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI). Measured in % of GDP.

Analysis

The most recent figure for military expenditure in Botswana is 2.8%, measured in 2024.

Compared with earlier readings it is up 15.4% on the previous year and up 28.1% over ten years.

Over the whole period, military expenditure in Botswana peaked at 4.9% in 1993 and was at its lowest, 1.4%, in 1977.

That places Botswana 37th out of 164 countries with data for 2024, putting it in the top quarter.

The long-run direction has been consistently falling across the 48 years of available data.

Military expenditure in Botswana, year by year

Annual values for Military expenditure (% of GDP) in Botswana, 1977 to 2024.
Year % of GDP Change
1977 1.4%
1978 2.9% +111.9%
1979 3.5% +21.8%
1980 3.2% -8.4%
1981 3.0% -7.1%
1982 2.7% -9.5%
1983 2.3% -13.7%
1984 2.4% +4.8%
1985 2.2% -10.4%
1986 2.7% +21.9%
1987 4.8% +80.0%
1988 4.9% +2.2%
1989 3.6% -27.2%
1990 4.4% +24.5%
1991 4.6% +3.6%
1992 4.5% -2.6%
1993 4.9% +10.1%
1994 4.0% -18.8%
1995 3.5% -12.5%
1996 2.9% -17.3%
1997 3.2% +10.3%
1998 3.8% +18.2%
1999 3.1% -18.2%
2000 3.2% +3.2%
2001 3.8% +20.1%
2002 4.1% +7.3%
2003 4.0% -2.5%
2004 3.5% -12.5%
2005 2.9% -18.5%
2006 2.8% -3.6%
2007 2.9% +5.3%
2008 3.1% +6.8%
2009 3.3% +5.3%
2010 2.8% -15.4%
2011 2.4% -12.9%
2012 2.3% -2.5%
2013 2.1% -8.4%
2014 2.2% +3.0%
2015 2.8% +27.7%
2016 3.4% +20.7%
2017 3.2% -4.8%
2018 2.9% -10.0%
2019 3.1% +5.3%
2020 3.3% +8.2%
2021 3.0% -8.7%
2022 2.5% -17.3%
2023 2.5% -2.4%
2024 2.8% +15.4%

Averages by decade

DecadeAverage LowestHighest Years
1970s 2.6% 1.4% 3.5% 3
1980s 3.2% 2.2% 4.9% 10
1990s 3.9% 2.9% 4.9% 10
2000s 3.4% 2.8% 4.1% 10
2010s 2.7% 2.1% 3.4% 10
2020s 2.8% 2.5% 3.3% 5

Countries ranked near Botswana

  1. 34 Cuba 2.9% compare
  2. 35 Uzbekistan 2.9% compare
  3. 36 Singapore 2.8% compare
  4. 38 Namibia 2.7% compare
  5. 39 Pakistan 2.7% compare
  6. 40 Timor-Leste 2.7% compare

See the full ranking of 209 places →

More public sector data for Botswana

All data for Botswana →

Frequently asked questions

What is military expenditure in Botswana?
Military expenditure in Botswana was 2.8% 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 4.9% in 1993.
What is the lowest military expenditure recorded in Botswana?
The lowest recorded value was 1.4% in 1977.
How does Botswana rank for military expenditure?
Botswana ranks 37th out of 164 countries with data for 2024.
Is military expenditure rising or falling in Botswana?
Over the last ten years it is up 28.1%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
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 (% of GDP). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.

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Military expenditure in Botswana. Statizoid, drawing on SIPRI Military Expenditure Database, Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI). Retrieved 29 August 2026, from https://public-sector.statizoid.com/stat/military-expenditure-percent-of-gdp/botswana/

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About this data

Indicator
Military expenditure (% of GDP)
Unit
% of GDP
Source
SIPRI Military Expenditure Database, Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI)
Licence
CC BY 4.0 (World Bank Open Data)
Coverage
209 places, 10,533 data points, 1960–2024
Last refreshed

Military expenditure by country as percentage of gross domestic product