The Economy
Botswana is an upper middle income country with total Gross Domestic Product (GDP) of P91.212 billion in current prices, while per capita GDP is P51 973.20 (2008). The local currency, the Pula is made up of 100 units of thebe. The Pula is relatively stable and on average 1US$ is equivalent to P1, while about P12 buys 1British Pound. Inflation is also stable with challenges experienced in 2008 as a result of the high global food and fuel prices. Consequently, the average annual year-on-year inflation rate for 2008 was 12.6 percent.  Inflation has, however, been on a downward trend since the last quarter of 2008 and continuing in 2009, reaching 8.4 percent in May 2009.    

The economy has grown at an average annual growth rate of over 8 percent since Independence in 1966. The economy is dominated by a few sectors; mining on average contributes about 40 percent of GDP. Government also plays a significant role in the economy, contributing on average over 15 percent to total GDP. Botswana is a very open economy with exports representing a large proportion of GDP. The economy has no exchange controls and is a member of a number of regional and international organisations. These include the Southern African Development Community, Southern African customs Union, African Development Bank, the African Union, the International Monetary Fund, World Bank Group and the United Nations.

The Central Statistics Office (CSO) produces a number of statistics monthly and some quarterly, and publishes them on the CSO website. These include Statistics Update, and Stats Briefs. The CSO also provides a summary of statistics in “Botswana in Figures’. Sector specific statistics are also available at www.gov.cso.bw.