The major producer of national statistics in Botswana is the Statistics Botswana (SB), formerly Central Statistics Office (CSO). Key economic data published by the SB include national accounts, employment, prices, trade, agricultural production, etc. National surveys are regularly undertaken, including the Population and Housing Census, the Household Income and Expenditure Survey and the Labour Force Survey. The SB also monitors progress towards meeting the objective of Vision 2016 and the United Nation’s millennium development goals.
Useful sources of international comparative data which cover Botswana include:
- International Monetary Fund (IMF): the monthly International Financial Statistics provides a comprehensive monthly update
- United Nations Development Programme (UNDP): the annual Human Development Report contains an extensive statistical section featuring the UNDP’s Human Development Index. In addtion, the local UNDP office in Botswana has produced a range of relevant publication.
- World Bank: as well as the comparative economic and social statistics included in the annual World Development Report, the Bank also produces the Doing Business survey, also on an annul basis. The survey, which covers the large majority of countries, ranks countries according to a range of factors that affect environment in which businesses operate.
- World Economic Forum (WEF): the WEF produces a range of indices ranking countries according to their economic competitiveness. As well as the Global Competitive Index, other indices cover both regions (including Africa) and sectors (such as information technology and tourism).
(Note: these comparative data are compiled in accordance with the methodologies of the agencies concerned, and may not always be consistent with similar data produced by the national authorities. Users are advised to be on the lookout for such discrepancies and to follow up as necessary to ensure that that the most relevant and accurate data are being used.)