29.09.202609:50:41UTC+00Botswana GDP Growth Hits Near 5-Year High

Botswana’s economy expanded by 8.7% year-on-year in Q2 2026, its fastest growth since Q3 2021 and a sharp acceleration from 3.5% in the previous quarter. The upturn was driven primarily by an 81.7% surge in mining and quarrying, underpinned by robust performance in the diamond mining subsector. Diamond output soared 94.7%, supported by higher processing volumes at the Orapa and Jwaneng mines and improved recovered grades. Coal production increased by 27.8% and copper by 4.0%, while soda ash and salt output plunged 68.0% due to a planned maintenance shutdown at the Botash plant.

Growth was also broad-based across several non-mining sectors, with notable expansions in professional, scientific and technical activities (3.8%); accommodation and food services (3.4%); education (3.3%); and wholesale and retail trade (3.1%). In contrast, activity contracted sharply in agriculture, forestry and fishing (-23.0%), as well as among diamond traders (-27.9%).

On a quarterly basis, real GDP increased by 1.3% in Q2 2026, following a 9.2% expansion in the preceding quarter.