Military spending in Botswana
Botswana: Military spending was 639.15 million constant 2022 US$ in 2023. ◆ Volatile
Latest (2023)
639.15 million constant 2022 US$
Change on year
up 2.8%
World rank
101st
of 172 countries
All-time high
694.86 million constant 2022 US$
in 2019
All-time low
25.48 million constant 2022 US$
in 1977
Years of data
58
1966–2023
Military spending in Botswana, 1966–2023
Source: Barnum et al. – Global Military Spending Dataset (2025) – with minor processing by Our World in Data. Measured in constant 2022 US$.
Analysis
In 2023, military spending in Botswana stood at 639.15 million constant 2022 US$.
That represents a change of up 2.8% on the previous year and up 45.0% over ten years.
Over the whole period, military spending in Botswana peaked at 694.86 million constant 2022 US$ in 2019 and was at its lowest, 25.48 million constant 2022 US$, in 1977.
Botswana ranks 101st of 172 countries on this measure, in the middle of the range.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Military spending in Botswana, year by year
| Year | constant 2022 US$ | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1966 | 32.65 million constant 2022 US$ | — |
| 1967 | 32.43 million constant 2022 US$ | -0.7% |
| 1968 | 32.47 million constant 2022 US$ | +0.1% |
| 1969 | 31.31 million constant 2022 US$ | -3.6% |
| 1970 | 31.99 million constant 2022 US$ | +2.2% |
| 1971 | 31.70 million constant 2022 US$ | -0.9% |
| 1972 | 31.02 million constant 2022 US$ | -2.2% |
| 1973 | 29.38 million constant 2022 US$ | -5.3% |
| 1974 | 26.59 million constant 2022 US$ | -9.5% |
| 1975 | 25.74 million constant 2022 US$ | -3.2% |
| 1976 | 25.62 million constant 2022 US$ | -0.4% |
| 1977 | 25.48 million constant 2022 US$ | -0.5% |
| 1978 | 34.24 million constant 2022 US$ | +34.4% |
| 1979 | 55.18 million constant 2022 US$ | +61.2% |
| 1980 | 73.53 million constant 2022 US$ | +33.2% |
| 1981 | 66.56 million constant 2022 US$ | -9.5% |
| 1982 | 64.83 million constant 2022 US$ | -2.6% |
| 1983 | 62.79 million constant 2022 US$ | -3.1% |
| 1984 | 60.26 million constant 2022 US$ | -4.0% |
| 1985 | 63.75 million constant 2022 US$ | +5.8% |
| 1986 | 79.18 million constant 2022 US$ | +24.2% |
| 1987 | 120.90 million constant 2022 US$ | +52.7% |
| 1988 | 165.79 million constant 2022 US$ | +37.1% |
| 1989 | 203.44 million constant 2022 US$ | +22.7% |
| 1990 | 220.67 million constant 2022 US$ | +8.5% |
| 1991 | 232.77 million constant 2022 US$ | +5.5% |
| 1992 | 275.00 million constant 2022 US$ | +18.1% |
| 1993 | 302.92 million constant 2022 US$ | +10.2% |
| 1994 | 319.46 million constant 2022 US$ | +5.5% |
| 1995 | 331.26 million constant 2022 US$ | +3.7% |
| 1996 | 310.82 million constant 2022 US$ | -6.2% |
| 1997 | 337.11 million constant 2022 US$ | +8.5% |
| 1998 | 351.52 million constant 2022 US$ | +4.3% |
| 1999 | 353.27 million constant 2022 US$ | +0.5% |
| 2000 | 357.96 million constant 2022 US$ | +1.3% |
| 2001 | 359.75 million constant 2022 US$ | +0.5% |
| 2002 | 376.39 million constant 2022 US$ | +4.6% |
| 2003 | 419.50 million constant 2022 US$ | +11.5% |
| 2004 | 447.09 million constant 2022 US$ | +6.6% |
| 2005 | 411.10 million constant 2022 US$ | -8.0% |
| 2006 | 386.61 million constant 2022 US$ | -6.0% |
| 2007 | 390.45 million constant 2022 US$ | +1.0% |
| 2008 | 391.85 million constant 2022 US$ | +0.4% |
| 2009 | 454.92 million constant 2022 US$ | +16.1% |
| 2010 | 546.51 million constant 2022 US$ | +20.1% |
| 2011 | 509.07 million constant 2022 US$ | -6.9% |
| 2012 | 485.48 million constant 2022 US$ | -4.6% |
| 2013 | 440.85 million constant 2022 US$ | -9.2% |
| 2014 | 434.37 million constant 2022 US$ | -1.5% |
| 2015 | 484.52 million constant 2022 US$ | +11.5% |
| 2016 | 568.55 million constant 2022 US$ | +17.3% |
| 2017 | 622.53 million constant 2022 US$ | +9.5% |
| 2018 | 658.12 million constant 2022 US$ | +5.7% |
| 2019 | 694.86 million constant 2022 US$ | +5.6% |
| 2020 | 651.17 million constant 2022 US$ | -6.3% |
| 2021 | 662.48 million constant 2022 US$ | +1.7% |
| 2022 | 621.75 million constant 2022 US$ | -6.1% |
| 2023 | 639.15 million constant 2022 US$ | +2.8% |
Botswana compared with similar countries
- Botswana's 639.15 million constant 2022 US$ is below the median for upper middle income countries, which is 1.25 billion constant 2022 US$, 51% of the median. (49 countries reporting)
- Botswana's 639.15 million constant 2022 US$ is above the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 350.64 million constant 2022 US$, 1.8× the median. (46 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Military spending in Botswana changed far more than this series normally does. A large move can be a real event or a change in how the figure was measured — the source note below says who published it.
| Year | Change | From | To |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1979 | +61.2% | 34.24 million constant 2022 US$ | 55.18 million constant 2022 US$ |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1960s | 32.21 million constant 2022 US$ | 31.31 million constant 2022 US$ | 32.65 million constant 2022 US$ | 4 |
| 1970s | 31.69 million constant 2022 US$ | 25.48 million constant 2022 US$ | 55.18 million constant 2022 US$ | 10 |
| 1980s | 96.10 million constant 2022 US$ | 60.26 million constant 2022 US$ | 203.44 million constant 2022 US$ | 10 |
| 1990s | 303.48 million constant 2022 US$ | 220.67 million constant 2022 US$ | 353.27 million constant 2022 US$ | 10 |
| 2000s | 399.56 million constant 2022 US$ | 357.96 million constant 2022 US$ | 454.92 million constant 2022 US$ | 10 |
| 2010s | 544.49 million constant 2022 US$ | 434.37 million constant 2022 US$ | 694.86 million constant 2022 US$ | 10 |
| 2020s | 643.64 million constant 2022 US$ | 621.75 million constant 2022 US$ | 662.48 million constant 2022 US$ | 4 |
Countries ranked near Botswana
- 98 Cyprus 662.13 million constant 2022 US$ compare
- 99 Luxembourg 641.81 million constant 2022 US$ compare
- 100 Democratic Republic of Congo 640.30 million constant 2022 US$ compare
- 102 Turkmenistan 609.92 million constant 2022 US$ compare
- 103 Costa Rica 601.28 million constant 2022 US$ compare
- 104 Honduras 583.42 million constant 2022 US$ compare
More reference data data for Botswana
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Manure applied to Soils 0.0472 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Manure left on Pasture 1.37 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - IPCC Agriculture 1.42 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Crop Residues 0.0078 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Agricultural Soils 1.42 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Manure applied to Soils 0.1582 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Manure Management 0.0825 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Manure left on Pasture 6.97 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - IPCC Agriculture 7.25 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Crop Residues 0.0424 (2050)
Frequently asked questions
- What is military spending in Botswana?
- Military spending in Botswana was 639.15 million constant 2022 US$ in 2023, according to Barnum et al. – Global Military Spending Dataset (2025) – with minor processing by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest military spending recorded in Botswana?
- The highest recorded value was 694.86 million constant 2022 US$ in 2019.
- What is the lowest military spending recorded in Botswana?
- The lowest recorded value was 25.48 million constant 2022 US$ in 1977.
- How does Botswana rank for military spending?
- Botswana ranks 101st out of 172 countries with data for 2023.
- Is military spending rising or falling in Botswana?
- Over the last ten years it is up 45.0%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Botswana data come from?
- The figures come from Barnum et al. – Global Military Spending Dataset (2025) – with minor processing by Our World in Data, published as part of Military spending. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
CSV · JSON — 58 observations, free to reuse under CC BY 4.0 (Our World in Data).
About this data
This data is expressed in US dollars. It is adjusted for inflation but does not account for differences in the cost of living between countries.