Military expenditure (% of GDP) in Botswana
Botswana: Military expenditure (% of GDP) was 3.1% in 2025. ▼ Falling
Military expenditure in Botswana, 1977–2025
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 3.1%, measured in 2025.
Compared with earlier readings it is up 16.1% on the previous year and up 10.0% 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 33rd out of 167 countries with data for 2025, putting it in the top quarter.
The long-run direction has been consistently falling across the 49 years of available data.
Military expenditure (% of GDP) in Botswana, year by year
| 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 | 1.8% | -28.4% |
| 2024 | 2.7% | +48.5% |
| 2025 | 3.1% | +16.1% |
Botswana compared with similar countries
- Botswana's 3.1% is above the median for upper middle income countries, which is 1.4%, 2.2× the median. (48 countries reporting)
- Botswana's 3.1% is above the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 1.3%, 2.4× the median. (46 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Military expenditure (% of GDP) 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 | +111.9% | 1.4% | 2.9% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | 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 | 2.7% | 1.8% | 3.3% | 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 3.1% 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 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 33rd out of 167 countries with data for 2025.
- Is military expenditure rising or falling in Botswana?
- Over the last ten years it is up 10.0%. 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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About this data
Military expenditure by country as percentage of gross domestic product