Most African countries shared Côte d’Ivoire’s
experience of decline. Botswana is a rare exception.
Between 1980 and 2000, Botswana’s economic
freedom and freedom to trade have been
the highest in Africa (see Table 4). Between 1980
and 2000, Botswana’s GDP per capita grew at an
average annual rate of 4.9 percent. Over the
same period, SSA GDP per capita contracted at
an average annual rate of 0.6 percent.100 Today
Botswana’s citizens enjoy one of Africa’s highest
standards of living. Their 2000 GDP per capita
in constant US (2000) dollars was $3,135. Only
oil-rich Gabon and market-friendly Mauritius
had higher incomes. In 2000, average GDP per
capita in SSA was US $504.101