Merchandise imports from low- and middle-income economies outside in Botswana
Botswana: Merchandise imports from low- and middle-income economies outside was 6.6% in 2023. ◆ Volatile
Merchandise imports from low- and middle-income economies outside in Botswana, 2000–2023
Source: Staff estimates, World Bank (WB). Measured in % of total merchandise imports.
Analysis
The most recent figure for merchandise imports from low- and middle-income economies outside in Botswana is 6.6%, measured in 2023.
Compared with earlier readings it is down 18.8% on the previous year and up 216.9% over ten years.
Over the whole period, merchandise imports from low- and middle-income economies outside in Botswana peaked at 11.2% in 2011 and was at its lowest, 0.8%, in 2001.
Botswana ranks 164th of 206 countries on this measure, in the bottom quarter.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Merchandise imports from low- and middle-income economies outside in Botswana, year by year
| Year | % of total merchandise imports | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2000 | 0.9% | — |
| 2001 | 0.8% | -0.3% |
| 2002 | 1.0% | +15.3% |
| 2003 | 1.1% | +17.1% |
| 2004 | 1.3% | +15.6% |
| 2005 | 2.2% | +68.7% |
| 2006 | 2.6% | +14.2% |
| 2007 | 3.0% | +17.0% |
| 2008 | 4.2% | +39.2% |
| 2009 | 4.3% | +2.5% |
| 2010 | 7.8% | +83.3% |
| 2011 | 11.2% | +42.8% |
| 2012 | 3.9% | -65.4% |
| 2013 | 2.1% | -45.8% |
| 2014 | 2.1% | +0.2% |
| 2015 | 2.4% | +13.0% |
| 2016 | 4.4% | +86.4% |
| 2017 | 5.0% | +13.0% |
| 2018 | 5.2% | +4.0% |
| 2019 | 6.1% | +18.1% |
| 2020 | 4.8% | -21.6% |
| 2021 | 8.1% | +68.9% |
| 2022 | 8.2% | +0.6% |
| 2023 | 6.6% | -18.8% |
Botswana compared with similar countries
- Botswana's 6.6% is below the median for upper middle income countries, which is 20.2%, 33% of the median. (59 countries reporting)
- Botswana's 6.6% is below the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 33.0%, 20% of the median. (48 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000s | 2.1% | 0.8% | 4.3% | 10 |
| 2010s | 5.0% | 2.1% | 11.2% | 10 |
| 2020s | 6.9% | 4.8% | 8.2% | 4 |
Countries ranked near Botswana
More private sector data for Botswana
- Merchandise trade 57.8% (2025)
- Food imports 16.2% (2023)
- Manufactures imports 61.8% (2023)
- Merchandise imports 6.39 billion current US$ (2025)
- Food exports 1.9% (2023)
- Manufactures exports 86.3% (2023)
- Merchandise exports 5.12 billion current US$ (2025)
- Merchandise exports (current US$), per capita 1,998 current US$ per person (2025)
- Merchandise exports (current US$), per unit of GDP 0.2569 current US$ per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Merchandise exports (current US$), annual growth rate 9.73 % change on previous year (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is merchandise imports from low- and middle-income economies outside in Botswana?
- Merchandise imports from low- and middle-income economies outside in Botswana was 6.6% in 2023, according to Staff estimates, World Bank (WB).
- What is the highest merchandise imports from low- and middle-income economies outside recorded in Botswana?
- The highest recorded value was 11.2% in 2011.
- What is the lowest merchandise imports from low- and middle-income economies outside recorded in Botswana?
- The lowest recorded value was 0.8% in 2001.
- How does Botswana rank for merchandise imports from low- and middle-income economies outside?
- Botswana ranks 164th out of 206 countries with data for 2023.
- Is merchandise imports from low- and middle-income economies outside rising or falling in Botswana?
- Over the last ten years it is up 216.9%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Botswana data come from?
- The figures come from Staff estimates, World Bank (WB), published as part of Merchandise imports from low- and middle-income economies outside region (% of total merchandise imports). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Merchandise imports from low- and middle-income economies outside region are the sum of merchandise imports by the reporting economy from other low- and middle-income economies in other World Bank regions according to the World Bank classification of economies. Data are expressed as a percentage of total merchandise imports by the economy. Data are computed only if at least half of the economies in the partner country group had non-missing data.