Government debt, % of GDP (2025)
34.0 %
Owed abroad by the government, US$ billion (2024)
1.9
Largest creditor: African Development Bank, % of foreign public debt
48.7 %
Source: World Bank, International Debt Statistics. Last checked 24 October 2026.
View the data as a table
| Period | Botswana | Middle African country |
|---|---|---|
| 2010 | 26.5 | 32.1 |
| 2011 | 27.9 | 28.4 |
| 2012 | 26.4 | 26.4 |
| 2013 | 23.8 | 31.1 |
| 2014 | 23.9 | 36.4 |
| 2015 | 24.5 | 44.1 |
| 2016 | 22.3 | 45.9 |
| 2017 | 19.6 | 48.0 |
| 2018 | 19.6 | 49.2 |
| 2019 | 21.5 | 53.9 |
| 2020 | 23.5 | 56.7 |
| 2021 | 22.3 | 57.2 |
| 2022 | 20.0 | 59.5 |
| 2023 | 22.5 | 60.9 |
| 2024 | 30.5 | 56.8 |
| 2025 | 34.0 | 53.2 |
| 2026 | 40.3 (partial) | 52.5 (partial) |
| 2027 | 45.5 (partial) | 54.2 (partial) |
| 2028 | 49.9 (partial) | 53.0 (partial) |
| 2029 | 54.4 (partial) | 53.1 (partial) |
| 2030 | 59.1 (partial) | 51.7 (partial) |
| 2031 | 64.4 (partial) | 50.7 (partial) |
Source: International Monetary Fund, World Economic Outlook. Last checked 24 October 2026.
View the data as a table
| Part | Value | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Development banks and funds | 93.5 % | 94% |
| Other governments | 6.5 % | 7% |
Source: World Bank, International Debt Statistics. Last checked 24 October 2026.
View the data as a table
| Period | African Development Bank | World Bank-IBRD | OPEC Fund for International Development | Japan | Arab Bank for Economic Development in Africa (BADEA) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2010 | 1,088 | 6 | 23 | 49 | 10 |
| 2011 | 1,618 | 59 | 21 | 46 | 12 |
| 2012 | 1,639 | 97 | 25 | 36 | 11 |
| 2013 | 1,532 | 109 | 28 | 25 | 10 |
| 2014 | 1,528 | 133 | 27 | 18 | 16 |
| 2015 | 1,427 | 129 | 25 | 15 | 14 |
| 2016 | 1,329 | 157 | 22 | 26 | 13 |
| 2017 | 1,241 | 150 | 22 | 22 | 12 |
| 2018 | 1,142 | 173 | 20 | 29 | 13 |
| 2019 | 1,045 | 171 | 25 | 29 | 15 |
| 2020 | 987 | 193 | 22 | 30 | 14 |
| 2021 | 920 | 470 | 24 | 28 | 12 |
| 2022 | 947 | 521 | 36 | 25 | 11 |
| 2023 | 836 | 540 | 33 | 131 | 9 |
| 2024 | 901 | 678 | 137 | 117 | 8 |
Source: World Bank, International Debt Statistics. Last checked 24 October 2026.
Where Botswana ranks in Africa
- Government debt to GDP: 49th highest of 53.
- Total external debt in dollars: 37th largest of 49.
- Compare Botswana's debt with its neighbours on the data wall
More on Botswana
Method and sources
Debt to GDP is the IMF's general government gross debt, which covers domestic and foreign debt of every level of government. Debt owed abroad by the government and debt it guarantees. Excludes IMF credit and private debt that is not guaranteed. WLD is the total. Creditor names are the World Bank's. Figures checked 24 October 2026.
IMF government debt data · World Bank International Debt Statistics
Frequently asked questions
How much does Botswana owe?
Botswana government and the debt it guarantees owed $1.9 billion to foreign lenders in 2024, according to the World Bank's International Debt Statistics. Counting domestic debt too, government debt was 34% of GDP in 2025, according to the IMF.
Who is Botswana's largest creditor?
African Development Bank, owed $901 million in 2024, 48.7% of the government's foreign debt. Next: World Bank-IBRD (36.6%), OPEC Fund for International Development (7.4%) and Japan (6.3%).
How much does Botswana owe China?
The World Bank records no public debt owed by Botswana to China in 2024.
What is Botswana's debt to GDP ratio?
34% in 2025: general government gross debt as a share of GDP, from the IMF World Economic Outlook. That is the 49th highest of 53 African countries with a figure.