Botswana has moved up four places in the latest global competitiveness rankings from the International Institute for Management Development (IMD) 2024 report, which evaluates country performances.
In this year's ranking, Botswana holds the 55th position out of 67 countries, compared to last year's 59th place out of 64 economies surveyed.
The 2024 edition, released in June, covers 67 global economies and includes three new additions: Ghana, Nigeria, and Puerto Rico.
Despite this progress, Botswana still faces significant challenges, including high unemployment rates, particularly among youth, climate change, frequent droughts, unreliable rainfall, income inequality, a small domestic market, and low economic diversification.
According to the IMD report, Botswana's rankings in the four main categories are as follows: 64th in economic performance (down from 62nd last year), 38th in government efficiency (down from 37th), 47th in business efficiency (up from 50th), and 57th in infrastructure (up from 61st).
In specific sub-categories, Botswana fell two places to 60th in domestic economy, dropped four places to 67th in international trade, and slipped two spots to 64th in prices, while maintaining its rank in employment.
However, Botswana improved in several areas: moving up one place to 16th in public finance, one spot to 41st in business legislation, and one position to 59th in societal framework. The countrys rank in tax policy edged down one place to 16th.
Botswana's most notable improvements were in the labour market category, where it rose 11 spots to 21st, and in productivity and efficiency, where it advanced seven places to 57th. The country fell four spots to 54th in management practices, and slipped one place to 59th in finance, but retained its 45th position in attitudes & values.
Additionally, Botswana saw progress in education, moving up five spots to 46th, and reached the second position in basic infrastructure, ranking 49th. It improved by one spot in scientific infrastructure and health and environment, ranking 62nd and 58th respectively, while it fell three places in technological infrastructure to 62nd.
