Facts About : Botswana


  • Formerly the British protectorate of Bechuanaland, Botswana adopted its new name at independence in 1966. More than four decades of uninterrupted civilian leadership, progressive social policies, and significant capital investment have created one of the most stable economies in Africa. Mineral extraction, principally diamond mining, dominates economic activity, though tourism is a growing sector due to the country's conservation practices and extensive nature preserves. Botswana has one of the world's highest known rates of HIV/AIDS infection, but also one of Africa's most progressive and comprehensive programs for dealing with the disease.
  • Geography :: BOTSWANA

  • Southern Africa, north of South Africa
    22 00 S, 24 00 E
    Africa
    total: 581,730 sq km
    land: 566,730 sq km
    water: 15,000 sq km
    country comparison to the world: 48
    slightly smaller than Texas
    total: 4,347.15 km
    border countries (4): Namibia 1,544 km, South Africa 1,969 km, Zambia 0.15 km, Zimbabwe 834 km
    0 km (landlocked)
    none (landlocked)
    semiarid; warm winters and hot summers
    predominantly flat to gently rolling tableland; Kalahari Desert in southwest
    lowest point: junction of the Limpopo and Shashe Rivers 513 m
    highest point: Tsodilo Hills 1,489 m
    diamonds, copper, nickel, salt, soda ash, potash, coal, iron ore, silver
    agricultural land: 45.8%
    arable land 0.6%; permanent crops 0%; permanent pasture 45.2%
    forest: 19.8%
    other: 34.4% (2011 est.)
    14.39 sq km (2003)
    12.24 cu km (2011)
    total: 0.19 cu km/yr (42%/19%/39%)
    per capita: 107.3 cu m/yr (2005)
    periodic droughts; seasonal August winds blow from the west, carrying sand and dust across the country, which can obscure visibility
    overgrazing; desertification; limited freshwater resources
    party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Ozone Layer Protection, Wetlands
    signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements
    landlocked; population concentrated in eastern part of the country
  • People and Society :: BOTSWANA

  • noun: Motswana (singular), Batswana (plural)
    adjective: Motswana (singular), Batswana (plural)
    Tswana (or Setswana) 79%, Kalanga 11%, Basarwa 3%, other, including Kgalagadi and white 7%
    Setswana 78.2%, Kalanga 7.9%, Sekgalagadi 2.8%, English (official) 2.1%, Sesarwa 1.9%, Sempukushu 1.7%, other 5.1%, unspecified 0.2% (2001 est.)
    Christian 71.6%, Badimo 6%, other 1.4% (includes Baha'i, Hindu, Muslim), unspecified 0.4%, none 20.6% (2001 est.)
    2,182,719
    note: estimates for this country explicitly take into account the effects of excess mortality due to AIDS; this can result in lower life expectancy, higher infant mortality, higher death rates, lower population growth rates, and changes in the distribution of population by age and sex than would otherwise be expected (July 2015 est.)
    country comparison to the world: 145
    0-14 years: 32.66% (male 363,264/female 349,517)
    15-24 years: 21.49% (male 233,090/female 235,894)
    25-54 years: 37.31% (male 433,246/female 381,151)
    55-64 years: 4.48% (male 43,604/female 54,261)
    65 years and over: 4.06% (male 35,346/female 53,346) (2015 est.)
    population pyramid: 
    total dependency ratio: 55.3%
    youth dependency ratio: 49.7%
    elderly dependency ratio: 5.6%
    potential support ratio: 17.9% (2015 est.)
    total: 23.1 years
    male: 23.1 years
    female: 23 years (2015 est.)
    1.21% (2015 est.)
    country comparison to the world: 99
    20.96 births/1,000 population (2015 est.)
    country comparison to the world: 77
    13.39 deaths/1,000 population (2015 est.)
    country comparison to the world: 15
    4.56 migrant(s)/1,000 population
    note: there is an increasing flow of Zimbabweans into South Africa and Botswana in search of better economic opportunities (2015 est.)
    country comparison to the world: 28
    urban population: 57.4% of total population (2015)
    rate of urbanization: 1.29% annual rate of change (2010-15 est.)
    GABORONE (capital) 247,000 (2014)
    at birth: 1.03 male(s)/female
    0-14 years: 1.04 male(s)/female
    15-24 years: 0.99 male(s)/female
    25-54 years: 1.14 male(s)/female
    55-64 years: 0.8 male(s)/female
    65 years and over: 0.66 male(s)/female
    total population: 1.03 male(s)/female (2015 est.)
    total: 8.93 deaths/1,000 live births
    male: 9.26 deaths/1,000 live births
    female: 8.59 deaths/1,000 live births (2015 est.)
    country comparison to the world: 145
    total population: 54.18 years
    male: 55.97 years
    female: 52.33 years (2015 est.)
    country comparison to the world: 212
    2.33 children born/woman (2015 est.)
    country comparison to the world: 90
    52.8%
    note: percent of women aged 12-49 (2007/08)
    5.4% of GDP (2013)
    country comparison to the world: 132
    0.4 physicians/1,000 population (2009)
    1.8 beds/1,000 population (2010)
    improved:
    urban: 99.2% of population
    rural: 92.3% of population
    total: 96.2% of population
    unimproved:
    urban: 0.8% of population
    rural: 7.7% of population
    total: 3.8% of population (2015 est.)
    improved:
    urban: 78.5% of population
    rural: 43.1% of population
    total: 63.4% of population
    unimproved:
    urban: 21.5% of population
    rural: 56.9% of population
    total: 36.6% of population (2015 est.)
    25.16% (2014 est.)
    country comparison to the world: 2
    392,400 (2014 est.)
    country comparison to the world: 19
    5,100 (2014 est.)
    country comparison to the world: 30
    degree of risk: high
    food or waterborne diseases: bacterial diarrhea, hepatitis A, and typhoid fever
    vectorborne disease: malaria (2013)
    19.5% (2014)
    country comparison to the world: 128
    11.2% (2008)
    country comparison to the world: 66
    9.5% of GDP (2009)
    country comparison to the world: 5
    definition: age 15 and over can read and write
    total population: 88.5%
    male: 88%
    female: 88.9% (2015 est.)
    total: 12 years
    male: NA
    female: NA (2008)
    total number: 45,036
    percentage: 9%
    note: data represents children ages 7-17 (2006 est.)
  • Government :: BOTSWANA

  • conventional long form: Republic of Botswana
    conventional short form: Botswana
    local long form: Republic of Botswana
    local short form: Botswana
    former: Bechuanaland
    parliamentary republic
    name: Gaborone
    geographic coordinates: 24 38 S, 25 54 E
    time difference: UTC+2 (7 hours ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time)
    10 districts and 6 town councils*; Central, Chobe, Francistown*, Gaborone*, Ghanzi, Jwaneng*, Kgalagadi, Kgatleng, Kweneng, Lobatse*, North East, North West, Selebi-Phikwe*, South East, Southern, Sowa Town*
    30 September 1966 (from the UK)
    Independence Day (Botswana Day), 30 September (1966)
    previous 1960 (preindependence); latest adopted March 1965, effective 30 September 1966; amended several times, last in 2006 (2006)
    mixed legal system of civil law influenced by the Roman-Dutch model and also customary and common law
    accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction with reservations; accepts ICCt jurisdiction
    birthright citizenship: no, unless at least one parent was a citizen of Botswana
    dual citizenship recognized: no
    residency requirement for naturalization: 10 years
    18 years of age; universal
    chief of state: President Seretse Khama Ian KHAMA (since 1 April 2008); Vice President Ponatshego KEDIKILWE (since 2 August 2012); note - the president is both chief of state and head of government
    head of government: President Seretse Khama Ian KHAMA (since 1 April 2008); Vice President Ponatshego KEDIKILWE (since 2 August 2012)
    cabinet: Cabinet appointed by the president
    elections/appointments: president indirectly elected by the National Assembly for a 5-year term (eligible for a second term); election last held on 20 October 2009 (next to be held in October 2014); vice president appointed by the president
    election results: Seretse Khama Ian KHAMA elected president; percent of National Assembly vote - NA
    description: unicameral Parliament consists of the National Assembly (63 seats; 57 members directly elected in single-seat constituencies by simple majority vote, 4 nominated by the president and indirectly elected by simple majority vote by the rest of the National Assembly, and 2 ex-officio members - the president and attorney general; elected members serve 5-year terms); note - the House of Chiefs (Ntlo ya Dikgosi), an advisory body to the National Assembly, consists of 35 members - 8 hereditary chiefs from Botswana's principal tribes, 22 indirectly elected by the chiefs, and 5 appointed by the president; the House of Chiefs consults on issues including powers of chiefs, customary courts, customary law, tribal property, and constitutional amendments
    elections: National Assembly elections last held on 24 October 2014 (next to be held in October 2019)
    election results: percent of vote by party - BDP 46.5%, UDC 30.0%, BCP 20.4%, independent 3.1%; seats by party - BDP 37, UDC 17, BCP 3
    highest court(s): Court of Appeal, High Court (each consists of a chief justice and a number of other judges as prescribed by the Parliament)
    judge selection and term of office: Court of Appeal and High Court chief justices appointed by the president and other judges appointed by the president upon the advice of the Judicial Service Commission; all judges appointed to serve until age 70
    subordinate courts: Industrial Court (with circuits scheduled monthly in the capital city and in 3 districts); Magistrates Courts (1 in each district); Customary Court of Appeal; Paramount Chief's Court/Urban Customary Court; Senior Chief's Representative Court; Chief's Representative’s Court; Headman's Court
    Botswana Alliance Movement or BAM [Ephraim Lepetu SETSHWAELO]
    Botswana Congress Party or BCP [Dumelang SALESHANDO]
    Botswana Democratic Party or BDP [Ian KHAMA]
    Botswana Movement for Democracy or BMD [Ndaba GAOLATLHE]
    Botswana National Front or BNF [Duma BOKO]
    Botswana Peoples Party or BPP [Motlatsi MOLAPISI]
    Umbrella for Democratic Change or UDC [Duma BOKO] (includes BMD, BPP, and BNF)
    First People of the Kalahari (Bushman organization)
    Pitso Ya Ba Tswana
    Society for the Promotion of Ikalanga Language (Kalanga elites)
    other: diamond mining companies
    ACP, AfDB, AU, C, CD, FAO, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICCt, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU, ISO, ITSO, ITU, ITUC (NGOs), MIGA, NAM, OPCW, SACU, SADC, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UNWTO, UPU, WCO, WFTU (NGOs), WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO
    chief of mission: Ambassador David John NEWMAN (since 3 August 2015)
    chancery: 1531-1533 New Hampshire Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20036
    telephone: [1] (202) 244-4990
    FAX: [1] (202) 244-4164
    chief of mission: Ambassador Earl R. MILLER (since 30 January 2015)
    embassy: Embassy Drive, Government Enclave (off Khama Crescent), Gaborone
    mailing address: Embassy Enclave, P. O. Box 90, Gaborone
    telephone: [267] 395-3982
    FAX: [267] 318-0232
    light blue with a horizontal white-edged black stripe in the center; the blue symbolizes water in the form of rain, while the black and white bands represent racial harmony
    zebra; national colors: blue, white, black
    name: "Fatshe leno la rona" (Our Land)
    lyrics/music: Kgalemang Tumedisco MOTSETE
    note: adopted 1966
     
  • Economy :: BOTSWANA

  • Botswana's diamond dependent economy has maintained one of the world's highest economic growth rates since independence in 1966. However, economic growth was negative in 2009, with the industrial sector shrinking by 30%, after the global crisis reduced demand for Botswana's diamonds. Although the economy recovered in 2010-12, GDP growth slowed in 2012-14. Through fiscal discipline and sound management, Botswana transformed itself from one of the poorest countries in the world to a middle-income country with a per capita GDP of $16,600 in 2014. Two major investment services rank Botswana as the best credit risk in Africa. Diamond mining has fueled much of the expansion and currently accounts for more than one-third of GDP, 70-80% of export earnings, and about one-third of the government's revenues. Botswana's heavy reliance on a single luxury export was a critical factor in the sharp economic contraction of 2009. Tourism, financial services, subsistence farming, and cattle raising are other key sectors. According to official government statistics, unemployment reached 17.8% in 2009, but unofficial estimates run much higher. The prevalence of HIV/AIDS is second highest in the world and threatens Botswana's impressive economic gains. An expected leveling off in diamond production within the next 10-15 years overshadows long-term prospects. A major international diamond company signed a 10-year deal with Botswana in 2012 to move its rough stone sorting and trading division from London to Gaborone by the end of 2013. The move has supported the development of Botswana's nascent downstream diamond industry.
    $33.74 billion (2014 est.)
    $32.15 billion (2013 est.)
    $30.36 billion (2012 est.)
    note: data are in 2014 US dollars
    country comparison to the world: 121
    $15.79 billion (2014 est.)
    4.9% (2014 est.)
    5.9% (2013 est.)
    4.3% (2012 est.)
    country comparison to the world: 63
    $16,000 (2014 est.)
    $15,300 (2013 est.)
    $14,400 (2012 est.)
    note: data are in 2014 US dollars
    country comparison to the world: 99
    48% of GDP (2014 est.)
    44.3% of GDP (2013 est.)
    35.7% of GDP (2012 est.)
    country comparison to the world: 13
    household consumption: 49.8%
    government consumption: 18.9%
    investment in fixed capital: 32.2%
    investment in inventories: 1.7%
    exports of goods and services: 51.3%
    imports of goods and services: -53.9%
    (2014 est.)
    agriculture: 1.9%
    industry: 28.7%
    services: 69.4% (2014 est.)
    livestock, sorghum, maize, millet, beans, sunflowers, groundnuts
    diamonds, copper, nickel, salt, soda ash, potash, coal, iron ore, silver; livestock processing; textiles
    5.3% (2014 est.)
    country comparison to the world: 49
    1.017 million (2014 est.)
    country comparison to the world: 144
    agriculture: NA%
    industry: NA%
    services: NA%
    17.8% (2009 est.)
    7.5% (2007 est.)
    country comparison to the world: 157
    30.3% (2003 est.)
    lowest 10%: NA%
    highest 10%: NA%
    63 (1993)
    country comparison to the world: 3
    revenues: $5.442 billion
    expenditures: $5.164 billion (2014 est.)
    33.4% of GDP (2014 est.)
    country comparison to the world: 74
    1.7% of GDP (2014 est.)
    country comparison to the world: 16
    17.4% of GDP (2014 est.)
    19.4% of GDP (2013 est.)
    country comparison to the world: 143
    1 April - 31 March
    3.9% (2014 est.)
    5.9% (2013 est.)
    country comparison to the world: 151
    7.5% (31 December 2014)
    7.5% (31 December 2013)
    country comparison to the world: 42
    9% (31 December 2014 est.)
    10.19% (31 December 2013 est.)
    country comparison to the world: 101
    $1.465 billion (31 December 2014 est.)
    $1.435 billion (31 December 2013 est.)
    country comparison to the world: 143
    $8.293 billion (31 December 2013 est.)
    $7.635 billion (31 December 2012 est.)
    country comparison to the world: 111
    $2.069 billion (31 December 2014 est.)
    $1.852 billion (31 December 2013 est.)
    country comparison to the world: 139
    $4.588 billion (31 December 2012 est.)
    $4.107 billion (31 December 2011)
    $4.076 billion (31 December 2010 est.)
    country comparison to the world: 87
    $2.703 billion (2014 est.)
    $1.535 billion (2013 est.)
    country comparison to the world: 44
    $7.477 billion (2014 est.)
    $7.603 billion (2013 est.)
    country comparison to the world: 103
    diamonds, copper, nickel, soda ash, meat, textiles
    $7.141 billion (2014 est.)
    $7.362 billion (2013 est.)
    country comparison to the world: 115
    foodstuffs, machinery, electrical goods, transport equipment, textiles, fuel and petroleum products, wood and paper products, metal and metal products
    $8.885 billion (31 December 2014 est.)
    $7.726 billion (31 December 2013 est.)
    country comparison to the world: 78
    $2.505 billion (31 December 2014 est.)
    $2.461 billion (31 December 2013 est.)
    country comparison to the world: 143
    pulas (BWP) per US dollar -
    9.19 (2014 est.)
    8.3989 (2013 est.)
    7.62 (2012 est.)
    6.8382 (2011 est.)
    6.7936 (2010 est.)
  • Energy :: BOTSWANA

  • 235 million kWh (2012 est.)
    country comparison to the world: 168
    3.213 billion kWh (2012 est.)
    country comparison to the world: 130
    0 kWh (2013 est.)
    country comparison to the world: 105
    3.371 billion kWh (2012 est.)
    country comparison to the world: 48
    132,000 kW (2012 est.)
    country comparison to the world: 169
    100% of total installed capacity (2012 est.)
    country comparison to the world: 6
    0% of total installed capacity (2012 est.)
    country comparison to the world: 46
    0% of total installed capacity (2012 est.)
    country comparison to the world: 158
    0% of total installed capacity (2012 est.)
    country comparison to the world: 157
    0 bbl/day (2014 est.)
    country comparison to the world: 152
    0 bbl/day (2012 est.)
    country comparison to the world: 79
    0 bbl/day (2012 est.)
    country comparison to the world: 157
    0 bbl (1 January 2015 est.)
    country comparison to the world: 106
    0 bbl/day (2012 est.)
    country comparison to the world: 120
    18,000 bbl/day (2013 est.)
    country comparison to the world: 141
    0 bbl/day (2012 est.)
    country comparison to the world: 151
    18,320 bbl/day (2012 est.)
    country comparison to the world: 106
    0 cu m (2013 est.)
    country comparison to the world: 102
    0 cu m (2013 est.)
    country comparison to the world: 118
    0 cu m (2013 est.)
    country comparison to the world: 59
    0 cu m (2013 est.)
    country comparison to the world: 157
    0 cu m (1 January 2014 est.)
    country comparison to the world: 110
    3.919 million Mt (2012 est.)
    country comparison to the world: 133
  • Communications :: BOTSWANA

  • total subscriptions: 170,000
    subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 8 (2014 est.)
    country comparison to the world: 132
    total: 3.4 million
    subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 158 (2014 est.)
    country comparison to the world: 131
    general assessment: Botswana is participating in regional development efforts; expanding fully digital system with fiber-optic cables linking the major population centers in the east as well as a system of open-wire lines, microwave radio relays links, and radiotelephone communication stations
    domestic: fixed-line teledensity has declined in recent years and now stands at roughly 7 telephones per 100 persons; mobile-cellular teledensity now pushing 140 telephones per 100 persons
    international: country code - 267; international calls are made via satellite, using international direct dialing; 2 international exchanges; digital microwave radio relay links to Namibia, Zambia, Zimbabwe, and South Africa; satellite earth station - 1 Intelsat (Indian Ocean) (2011)
    2 TV stations - 1 state-owned and 1 privately owned; privately owned satellite TV subscription service is available; 2 state-owned national radio stations; 3 privately owned radio stations broadcast locally (2007)
    AM 8, FM 13, shortwave 4 (2001)
    2 (1 state-owned, 1 private) (2007)
    .bw
    total: 283,500
    percent of population: 13.2% (2014 est.)
    country comparison to the world: 144
  • Transportation :: BOTSWANA

  • 74 (2013)
    country comparison to the world: 70
    total: 10
    over 3,047 m: 2
    2,438 to 3,047 m: 1
    1,524 to 2,437 m: 6
    914 to 1,523 m: 1 (2013)
    total: 64
    1,524 to 2,437 m: 5
    914 to 1,523 m: 46
    under 914 m:
    13 (2013)
    total: 888 km
    narrow gauge: 888 km 1.067-m gauge (2014)
    country comparison to the world: 93
    total: 17,916 km
    note: includes 8,916 km of Public Highway Network roads (6,116 km paved and 2,800 km unpaved) and 9,000 km of District Council roads (2011)
    country comparison to the world: 117
  • Military :: BOTSWANA

  • Botswana Defense Force (BDF): Ground Forces Command, Air Wing Command, Defense Logistics Command, Special Forces Group (2013)
    18 is the legal minimum age for voluntary military service; no conscription (2012)
    males age 16-49: 557,647
    females age 16-49: 531,095 (2010 est.)
    males age 16-49: 340,949
    females age 16-49: 302,332 (2010 est.)
    male: 23,649
    female: 23,063 (2010 est.)
    2% of GDP (2013)
    2.31% of GDP (2012)
    2.43% of GDP (2011)
    2.31% of GDP (2010)
    country comparison to the world: 34
  • Transnational Issues :: BOTSWANA

  • none
    current situation: Botswana is a source and destination country for women and children subjected to sex trafficking and forced labor; young Batswana serving as domestic workers, sometimes sent by their parents, may be denied education and basic necessities or experience confinement and abuse indicative of forced labor; adults and children of San ethnicity were reported to be in forced labor on farms and at cattle posts; Batswana girls also are forced into prostitution domestically; undocumented Asian workers may be vulnerable to forced labor due to the threat of deportation
    tier rating: Tier 2 Watch List – Botswana does not fully comply with the minimum standards for the elimination of trafficking; however, it is making significant efforts to do so; nevertheless, authorities did not increase anti-trafficking efforts in 2013; no cases involving domestic trafficking were investigated, no trafficking offenders were criminally prosecuted and convicted, and no reports of official complicity were investigated; the government did not pass anti-trafficking legislation or launch a public awareness campaign; formal victim identification and referral procedures were not developed (2014)