Military spending in Botswana
Botswana: Military spending was 594.86 million constant 2024 US$ in 2025. ◆ Volatile
Latest (2025)
594.86 million constant 2024 US$
Change on year
up 14.5%
World rank
100th
of 162 countries
All-time high
597.36 million constant 2024 US$
in 2016
All-time low
16.09 million constant 2024 US$
in 1977
Years of data
49
1977–2025
Military spending in Botswana, 1977–2025
Source: Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (2026) – with minor processing by Our World in Data. Measured in constant 2024 US$.
Analysis
The most recent figure for military spending in Botswana is 594.86 million constant 2024 US$, measured in 2025.
The figure is up 14.5% on the previous year and up 39.8% over ten years.
Over the whole period, military spending in Botswana peaked at 597.36 million constant 2024 US$ in 2016 and was at its lowest, 16.09 million constant 2024 US$, in 1977.
Botswana ranks 100th of 162 countries on this measure, in the middle of the range.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Military spending in Botswana, year by year
| Year | constant 2024 US$ | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1977 | 16.09 million constant 2024 US$ | — |
| 1978 | 36.75 million constant 2024 US$ | +128.4% |
| 1979 | 55.11 million constant 2024 US$ | +49.9% |
| 1980 | 60.47 million constant 2024 US$ | +9.7% |
| 1981 | 54.72 million constant 2024 US$ | -9.5% |
| 1982 | 45.79 million constant 2024 US$ | -16.3% |
| 1983 | 45.85 million constant 2024 US$ | +0.1% |
| 1984 | 53.36 million constant 2024 US$ | +16.4% |
| 1985 | 58.18 million constant 2024 US$ | +9.0% |
| 1986 | 85.36 million constant 2024 US$ | +46.7% |
| 1987 | 149.44 million constant 2024 US$ | +75.1% |
| 1988 | 190.75 million constant 2024 US$ | +27.6% |
| 1989 | 206.57 million constant 2024 US$ | +8.3% |
| 1990 | 260.26 million constant 2024 US$ | +26.0% |
| 1991 | 278.96 million constant 2024 US$ | +7.2% |
| 1992 | 258.93 million constant 2024 US$ | -7.2% |
| 1993 | 271.34 million constant 2024 US$ | +4.8% |
| 1994 | 249.64 million constant 2024 US$ | -8.0% |
| 1995 | 227.02 million constant 2024 US$ | -9.1% |
| 1996 | 209.55 million constant 2024 US$ | -7.7% |
| 1997 | 241.72 million constant 2024 US$ | +15.4% |
| 1998 | 295.90 million constant 2024 US$ | +22.4% |
| 1999 | 281.48 million constant 2024 US$ | -4.9% |
| 2000 | 311.47 million constant 2024 US$ | +10.7% |
| 2001 | 381.04 million constant 2024 US$ | +22.3% |
| 2002 | 406.12 million constant 2024 US$ | +6.6% |
| 2003 | 391.77 million constant 2024 US$ | -3.5% |
| 2004 | 362.33 million constant 2024 US$ | -7.5% |
| 2005 | 328.35 million constant 2024 US$ | -9.4% |
| 2006 | 323.25 million constant 2024 US$ | -1.6% |
| 2007 | 356.50 million constant 2024 US$ | +10.3% |
| 2008 | 381.56 million constant 2024 US$ | +7.0% |
| 2009 | 367.68 million constant 2024 US$ | -3.6% |
| 2010 | 344.74 million constant 2024 US$ | -6.2% |
| 2011 | 333.38 million constant 2024 US$ | -3.3% |
| 2012 | 310.76 million constant 2024 US$ | -6.8% |
| 2013 | 303.30 million constant 2024 US$ | -2.4% |
| 2014 | 350.85 million constant 2024 US$ | +15.7% |
| 2015 | 425.58 million constant 2024 US$ | +21.3% |
| 2016 | 597.36 million constant 2024 US$ | +40.4% |
| 2017 | 558.21 million constant 2024 US$ | -6.6% |
| 2018 | 507.49 million constant 2024 US$ | -9.1% |
| 2019 | 537.74 million constant 2024 US$ | +6.0% |
| 2020 | 544.04 million constant 2024 US$ | +1.2% |
| 2021 | 529.02 million constant 2024 US$ | -2.8% |
| 2022 | 504.90 million constant 2024 US$ | -4.6% |
| 2023 | 360.38 million constant 2024 US$ | -28.6% |
| 2024 | 519.37 million constant 2024 US$ | +44.1% |
| 2025 | 594.86 million constant 2024 US$ | +14.5% |
Botswana compared with similar countries
- Botswana's 594.86 million constant 2024 US$ is below the median for upper middle income countries, which is 1.62 billion constant 2024 US$, 37% of the median. (46 countries reporting)
- Botswana's 594.86 million constant 2024 US$ is above the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 336.91 million constant 2024 US$, 1.8× the median. (45 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Military spending in Botswana changed far more than this series normally does. A large move can be a real event or a change in how the figure was measured — the source note below says who published it.
| Year | Change | From | To |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1978 | +128.4% | 16.09 million constant 2024 US$ | 36.75 million constant 2024 US$ |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1970s | 35.99 million constant 2024 US$ | 16.09 million constant 2024 US$ | 55.11 million constant 2024 US$ | 3 |
| 1980s | 95.05 million constant 2024 US$ | 45.79 million constant 2024 US$ | 206.57 million constant 2024 US$ | 10 |
| 1990s | 257.48 million constant 2024 US$ | 209.55 million constant 2024 US$ | 295.90 million constant 2024 US$ | 10 |
| 2000s | 361.01 million constant 2024 US$ | 311.47 million constant 2024 US$ | 406.12 million constant 2024 US$ | 10 |
| 2010s | 426.94 million constant 2024 US$ | 303.30 million constant 2024 US$ | 597.36 million constant 2024 US$ | 10 |
| 2020s | 508.76 million constant 2024 US$ | 360.38 million constant 2024 US$ | 594.86 million constant 2024 US$ | 6 |
Countries ranked near Botswana
- 97 Cyprus 631.51 million constant 2024 US$ compare
- 98 Guatemala 616.47 million constant 2024 US$ compare
- 99 Chad 598.32 million constant 2024 US$ compare
- 101 Guinea 586.16 million constant 2024 US$ compare
- 102 Honduras 581.80 million constant 2024 US$ compare
- 103 Cameroon 580.36 million constant 2024 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 594.86 million constant 2024 US$ in 2025, according to Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (2026) – with minor processing by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest military spending recorded in Botswana?
- The highest recorded value was 597.36 million constant 2024 US$ in 2016.
- What is the lowest military spending recorded in Botswana?
- The lowest recorded value was 16.09 million constant 2024 US$ in 1977.
- How does Botswana rank for military spending?
- Botswana ranks 100th out of 162 countries with data for 2025.
- Is military spending rising or falling in Botswana?
- Over the last ten years it is up 39.8%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Botswana data come from?
- The figures come from Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (2026) – 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 — 49 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.