Botswana
Botswana is home to 2.6m people (2025) and has an economy of $19.9bn (2025), the 8th largest in SADC. Output per person of $7,778 is above the regional median of $2,539. The economy grew -0.7% in 2025, and the IMF expects 4.4% in 2026. Inflation was 2.7% in 2025, below the regional median of 3.6%. 80.2% of people have electricity (2024).
Where Botswana stands out
- External debtForeign debt must be repaid in hard currency, so high levels put pressure on the exchange rate and on access to dollars for repatriating profits.Lowest of 14 in SADC. Select for the data card.Lowest of 14 in SADC
- Health spending paid out of pocketHigh shares mean thin insurance cover, cash-paying patients and room for medical schemes and pharmacies.Lowest of 16 in SADC. Select for the data card.Lowest of 16 in SADC
- Regulatory qualityThe closest single measure of how friendly the rules are to private investment.2nd highest of 16 in SADC. Select for the data card.2nd highest of 16 in SADC
What to watch
- Real GDP growthGrowth expands the market an investment sells into and eases debt burdens.Lowest of 16 in SADC. Select for the data card.Lowest of 16 in SADC
- Women in the lower house of parliamentRepresentation shapes policy priorities, and several SADC countries have legal targets or quotas to meet.Lowest of 16 in SADC. Select for the data card.Lowest of 16 in SADC
- Renewables share of electricityMatters for exporters facing carbon border taxes, for firms with net-zero targets and for green finance eligibility.2nd lowest of 16 in SADC. Select for the data card.2nd lowest of 16 in SADC
Botswana scores best on governance and weakest on unmet demand
Scores from 0 to 100 by rank within SADC, against the SADC median. 100 means best in the region on that pillar.
The IMF expects Botswana to grow 4.4% in 2026
Real GDP growth, per cent a year. Open bars are IMF forecasts.
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Farming employs 18% of workers but produces 2% of output
Share of jobs in each broad sector against its share of GDP, latest year. A sector with far more jobs than output has low productivity and room to grow.
Key figures
The bar under each figure places it among the 16 countries of SADC, lowest on the left. Hover for context; select for the data card.Botswana on the map
Its 10 districts and 25 sub-districts, shaded by population, power, water, transport and more; circles sized by value; or power lines, roads and masts on a street map.
How Botswana generates electricity
Share of electricity generation by source, latest year.
No electricity data for Botswana.
The history of the power mix is part of the Individual plan
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Trends against SADC
Botswana in olive, the regional median in grey, other countries faint.Ten years of history for every indicator is free with a Reader account
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Politics, parliament and elections
Compare all countriesThe President is head of state and government and is the leader of the party with a majority in the National Assembly. The October 2024 election ended 58 years of Botswana Democratic Party rule: the Umbrella for Democratic Change won a majority and Duma Boko became President, the first change of ruling party since independence in 1966.
- President
- Duma Boko (UDC), since 1 Nov 2024
- How the executive is chosen
- Elected by the National Assembly after each general election, in practice the leader of the majority party
- Term and limits
- Five years; a president may serve at most ten years in office
- Governing
- UDC
- In power since
- UDC, 2024 (2 years)The BDP governed from independence in 1966 until November 2024.
- Next national election
- 2029 (general)
- Electoral body
- Independent Electoral Commission (IEC)
UDC holds 36 of 69 seats
National Assembly, seats as of November 2024. FPTP; 5-year term
- UDC36
- EXO8
- BCP15
- BPF5
- BDP4
- Other opposition parties1
- How seats are filled
- 61 members are elected in single-member constituencies by first past the post. Six specially elected members nominated by the President and elected by the Assembly, plus the President and the Speaker ex officio.
- Powers
- Passes laws and the budget and elects the President; the President can dissolve it.
- Special majority
- Two thirds of all members are needed to amend entrenched provisions of the Constitution (some also need a referendum). The governing side does not have it.
- Elections
- Last 30 Oct 2024; next 2029
Ntlo ya Dikgosi (House of Chiefs): 35 members
Ntlo ya Dikgosi (House of Chiefs). Indirect; 5-year term
Seat make-up not recorded.
- How seats are filled
- Non-partisan traditional leaders; not directly elected. Eight hereditary chiefs of the principal tribes, 22 members chosen by regional electoral colleges and five appointed by the President.
- Powers
- Advisory only; it must be consulted on bills affecting tribal organisation, customary law and chieftaincy, but cannot block laws.
What the record shows
- Power has changed hands through the ballot box in 2024; UDC has governed since 2024.
- The largest party changed from BDP in 2014 to UDC in 2024, with 37.2% of the vote.
- The governing side holds 36 of 69 seats in the National Assembly; it would need 46 to change the Constitution without opposition votes.
- Turnout has stayed around 81% of registered voters.
- V-Dem's clean elections score is 80 out of 100, little changed from 84 in 2015.
The largest party won 37% of the parliamentary vote in 2024, against 55% in 1994
Every lower-house election since 1990: the largest party's share of the vote and of the seats, and turnout of registered voters. Open circles mark a change of government.
Every national election
| Date | Election | Result | Turnout | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 30 Oct 2024 | National Assembly | National Assembly, 2024UDC37.2%, 36 seatsBCP21.1%, 15 seatsBPF8.3%, 5 seatsUDC 37.2%, 36 seats; BCP 21.1%, 15 seats | 81.4% | Change of power |
| 23 Oct 2019 | Parliament | Parliament, 2019BDP52.7%, 38 seatsUDC35.9%, 15 seatsBDP 52.7%, 38 seats; UDC 35.9%, 15 seats | 83.1% | V-Dem |
| 24 Oct 2014 | Parliament | Parliament, 2014BDP46.5%, 37 seatsUDC30.0%, 17 seatsBCP20.4%, 3 seatsBDP 46.5%, 37 seats; UDC 30.0%, 17 seats | 84.8% | V-Dem |
| 16 Oct 2009 | Parliament | Parliament, 2009BDP53.3%, 45 seatsBNF21.9%, 6 seatsBCP19.1%, 4 seatsBDP 53.3%, 45 seats; BNF 21.9%, 6 seats | 76.7% | V-Dem |
| 30 Oct 2004 | Parliament | Parliament, 2004BDP51.7%, 44 seatsBNF26.1%, 12 seatsBCP16.6%, 1 seatsBDP 51.7%, 44 seats; BNF 26.1%, 12 seats | 76.2% | V-Dem |
| 16 Oct 1999 | Parliament | Parliament, 1999BDP57.0%, 33 seatsBNF26.0%, 6 seatsBCP12.0%, 1 seatsBDP 57.0%, 33 seats; BNF 26.0%, 6 seats | 77.1% | V-Dem |
Checked 30 Sept 2026. Not yet recorded: The party split of the six specially elected members is not recorded.
Election calendar
All electionsHover a vote for its result and what it means.
- 2029Botswana: General electionNo analysis written for this vote yet.Sources: WikipediaExpected
- 30 Oct 2024HeldGeneral electionWon by Duma BokoBotswana: General electionResult: The Umbrella for Democratic Change won a majority and Duma Boko became president, ending 58 years of Botswana Democratic Party rule.A peaceful first change of ruling party. The diamond slump, the De Beers agreement and fiscal pressure dominate the new government’s agenda.Sources: Wikipedia
Deals and projects
Every deal in Botswana- Botswana vows fiscal caution as it eyes a bigger De Beers stakeM&A · Announced · 14 Oct 2026
- Merger Notice No 34 2026 - The Square Mart ShopriteM&A · With the regulator · 8 Oct 2026
- Global Trade Idea - Costco Wholesale Corporation (COST US) - BUYM&A · Announced · 2 Oct 2026
- PRESS RELEASE Letshego launches landmark P800 million fully underwritten rights offer to strengthen its capital position and balCapital markets · Announced · 29 Sept 2026
Individual Every deal record with its parties, value, stage and sources.
dotzedw analysis on Botswana
All analysis- Post-Diamond Botswana: Opportunities for entrepreneurs & investors30 Jan 2025 · 9 min read · Members
- Southern Africa’s urgent need for low-cost housing explored20 Jan 2025 · 6 min read · Members
- How are national budget funds put to use in Southern Africa? (Part 1)11 Dec 2024 · 3 min read · Members