Map of Botswana | Geography | People | Government | Economy | Energy | Communication
Military | Transportation | Transnational Issues | Year: Guide1989199019911992199319941995199619971998199920002001200220032004200520062007200820092010201120122013201420152016201720182019202020212022202320242025 | More stats

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Background: Formerly the British protectorate of Bechuanaland Botswana adopted its new name upon 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.


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Location: Southern Africa north of South Africa

Geographic coordinates: 22 00 S 24 00 E

Map reference

Area
Rank: 48
Land: 566,730 km²
Water: 15,000 km²
Comparative: slightly smaller than Texas

Land boundaries
Border countries: (4) Namibia 1544 km; South Africa 1969 km; Zambia 0.1 km; Zimbabwe 834 km

Coastline: 0 km (landlocked)

Maritime claims: none (landlocked)

Climate: semiarid; warm winters and hot summers

Terrain: predominantly flat to gently rolling tableland; Kalahari Desert in southwest

Elevation
Extremes highest point: Tsodilo Hills 1489 m

Natural resources: diamonds copper nickel salt soda ash potash coal iron ore silver

Land use
Permanent crops: 0%
Other: 99.55% (2011)

Irrigated land: 14.39 km² (2003)

Major rivers

Major watersheds area km²

Total water withdrawal

Total renewable water resources: 12.24 km³ (2011)

Natural hazards: periodic droughts; seasonal August winds blow from the west carrying sand and dust across the country which can obscure visibility

Geography
Note: landlocked; population concentrated in eastern part of the country


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Population: 2,155,784
Rank: 145
Growth rate: 1.26% (2014 est.)
Growth rate rank: 92
Below poverty line: 30.3% (2003)

Nationality
Adjective: Motswana (singular) Batswana (plural)

Ethnic groups: Tswana (or Setswana) 79% Kalanga 11% Basarwa 3% other including Kgalagadi and white 7%

Languages: Setswana 78.2% Kalanga 7.9% Sekgalagadi 2.8% English (official) 2.1% other 8.6% unspecified 0.4% (2001 census)

Religions: Christian 71.6% Badimo 6% other 1.4% unspecified 0.4% none 20.6% (2001 census)

Demographic profile

Age structure
15-24 years: 21.6% (male 231,576/female 234,852)
25-54 years: 37% (male 422,182/female 375,836)
55-64 years: 4.4% (male 42,099/female 52,917)
65 years and over: 4% (male 34,567/female 51,888) (2014 est.)

Dependency ratios
Youth dependency ratio: 52.8 %
Elderly dependency ratio: 5.9 %
Potential support ratio: 17.1 (2014 est.)

Median age
Male: 22.9 years
Female: 22.8 years (2014 est.)

Population growth rate: 1.26% (2014 est.)
Rank: 92

Birth rate: 21.34 births/1000 population (2014 est.)
Rank: 77

Death rate: 13.32 deaths/1000 population (2014 est.)
Rank: 17

Net migration rate: 4.62 migrant(s)/1000 population
Rank: 28

Population distribution

Urbanization
Rate of urbanization: 2.07% annual rate of change (2010-15 est.)

Major urban areas
Population: GABORONE (capital) 202,000 (2011)

Environment
Current issues: overgrazing; desertification; limited freshwater resources
International agreements signed but not ratified: none of the selected agreements

Air pollutants

Sex ratio
0-14 years: 1.04 male(s)/female
15-24 years: 0.99 male(s)/female
25-54 years: 1.12 male(s)/female
55-64 years: 1.03 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.67 male(s)/female
Total population: 1.02 male(s)/female (2014 est.)

Mothers mean age at first birth: 19 (2007 est.)

Maternal mortality ratio

Infant mortality rate
Rank: 145
Male: 9.77 deaths/1000 live births
Female: 8.99 deaths/1000 live births (2014 est.)

Life expectancy at birth
Rank: 210
Male: 55.75 years
Female: 52.32 years (2014 est.)

Total fertility rate: 2.37 children born/woman (2014 est.)
Rank: 87

Contraceptive prevalence rate: 52.8%

Drinking water source:

Current health expenditure

Physicians density: 0.34 physicians/1000 population (2006)

Hospital bed density: 1.8 beds/1000 population (2010)

Sanitation facility access:

Hiv/Aids
Adult prevalence rate: 23% (2012 est.)
Adult prevalence rate rank: 3
People living with hivaids: 337,700 (2012 est.)
People living with hivaids rank: 21
Deaths: 5,700 (2012 est.)
Deaths rank: 33

Major infectious diseases
Food or waterborne diseases: bacterial diarrhea hepatitis A and typhoid fever
Vectorborne disease: malaria (2013)

Obesity adult prevalence rate: 11.2% (2008)
Rank: 128

Alcohol consumption

Tobacco use

Children under the age of 5 years underweight: 11.2% (2008)
Rank: 65

Education expenditures: 9.5% of GDP (2009)
Rank: 5

Literacy
Total population: 85.1%
Male: 84.6%
Female: 85.6% (2011 est.)

School life expectancy primary to tertiary education
Male: 12 years
Female: 12 years (2006)

Youth unemployment


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Country name
Conventional short form: Botswana
Local long form: Republic of Botswana
Local short form: Botswana
Former: Bechuanaland

Government type: parliamentary republic

Capital
Geographic coordinates: 24 38 S 25 54 E
Time difference: UTC+2 (7 hours ahead of Washington DC during Standard Time)

Administrative divisions: 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

Dependent areas

Independence: 30 September 1966 (from the UK)

National holiday: Independence Day (Botswana Day) 30 September (1966)

Constitution: previous 1960 (preindependence); latest adopted March 1965 effective 30 September 1966; amended several times last in 2006 (2006)

Legal system: mixed legal system of civil law influenced by the Roman-Dutch model and also customary and common law

International law organization participation: accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction with reservations; accepts ICCt jurisdiction

Citizenship

Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal

Executive branch
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: president indirectly elected for a five-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

Legislative branch: bicameral Parliament consists of the House of Chiefs (a largely advisory 35-member body with 8 ex-officio members consisting of the chiefs of the principal tribes and 27 non-permanent members serving five-year terms of which 22 are indirectly elected with the remaining 5 appointed by the President) and the National Assembly (63 seats; 57 members directly elected by popular vote 4 appointed by the majority party and 2 the President and Attorney General serve as ex-officio members; members serve five-year terms)
Elections: National Assembly elections last held on 16 October 2009 (next to be held in 2014)
Election results: percent of vote by party - BDP 53.3% BNF 21.9% BCP 19.2% BAM 2.3% other 3.3%; seats by party - BDP 45 BNF 6 BCP 4 BAM 1 other 1

Judicial branch
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 three districts); Magistrates Courts (one in each district); Customary Court of Appeal; Paramount Chief's Court/Urban Customary Court; Seni

Political parties and leaders: 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 [Gomolemo MOTSWALEDI]; Botswana National Front or BNF [Duma BOKO]; Botswana Peoples Party or BPP [Motlatsi MOLAPISI]; MELS Movement of Botswana or MELS [Themba JOINA]; New Democratic Front or NDF [Dick BAYFORD]

International organization participation: ACP AfDB AU C CD FAO G-77 IAEA IBRD ICAO 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

Diplomatic representation
In the us chancery: 1531-1533 New Hampshire Avenue NW Washington DC 20,036
In the us telephone: [1] (202) 244-4,990
In the us FAX: [1] (202) 244-4,164
From the us embassy: Embassy Drive Government Enclave (off Khama Crescent) Gaborone
From the us mailing address: Embassy Enclave P. O. Box 90 Gaborone
From the us telephone: [267] 395-3,982
From the us FAX: [267] 318-0232

Flag description: 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

National symbols: zebra

National anthem
Lyrics and music: Kgalemang Tumedisco MOTSETE

National heritage


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Economy overview: Botswana 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 GDP growth has again slowed. 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 $16,400 in 2013. 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 two decades 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 may support Botswana's downstream diamond industry.

Real gdp purchasing power parity:
Rank: 111

Real gdp growth rate:
Rank: 84

Real gdp per capita:
Rank: 82

Gross national saving:
Rank: 17

Gdp composition by end use
Government consumption: 18.3%
Investment in fixed capital: 34.1%
Investment in inventories: -1.2%
Exports of goods and services: 47%
Imports of goods and services: -49.8%: (2013 est.)

Gdp composition by sector of origin
Industry: 35.7%
Services: 62.4% (2013 est.)

Agriculture products: livestock sorghum maize millet beans sunflowers groundnuts

Industries: diamonds copper nickel salt soda ash potash coal iron ore silver; livestock processing; textiles

Industrial production growth rate: 7.2% (2013 est.)
Rank: 31

Labor force: 1.308 million (2013 est.)
Rank: 136
By occupation industry: NA%
By occupation services: NA%

Unemployment rate: 7.5% (2007 est.)
Rank: 156

Youth unemployment

Population below poverty line: 30.3% (2003)

Gini index

Household income or consumption by percentage share
Highest 10: NA%

Distribution of family income gini index: 63 (1993)
Rank: 3

Budget
Expenditures: $4.952 billion (2013 est.)
Surplus or deficit: 0.6% of GDP (2013 est.)
Surplus or deficit rank: 32

Taxes and other revenues: 32.4% of GDP (2013 est.)
Rank: 79

Public debt: 17.4% of GDP (2012 est.)
Rank: 139

Revenue

Fiscal year: 1 April - 31 March

Inflation rate consumer prices: 7.5% (2012 est.)
Rank: 177

Central bank discount rate: 10% (31 December 2009 est.)
Rank: 27

Commercial bank prime lending rate: 11% (31 December 2012 est.)
Rank: 73

Stock of narrow money: $1.358 billion (31 December 2012 est.)
Rank: 137

Stock of broad money: $7.635 billion (31 December 2012 est.)
Rank: 110

Stock of domestic credit: $2.111 billion (31 December 2012 est.)
Rank: 145

Market value of publicly traded shares:
Rank: 79

Current account balance: -$795.2 million (2012 est.)
Rank: 47

Exports: $6.011 billion (2012 est.)
Rank: 103
Commodities: diamonds copper nickel soda ash meat textiles

Imports: $7.918 billion (2012 est.)
Rank: 112
Commodities: foodstuffs machinery electrical goods transport equipment textiles fuel and petroleum products wood and paper products metal and metal products

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold: $7.628 billion (31 December 2012 est.)
Rank: 79

Debt external: $2.443 billion (31 December 2012 est.)
Rank: 141

Stock of direct foreign investment at home

Stock of direct foreign investment abroad

Exchange rates:


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Electricity
Production: 429.6 million kWh (2010 est.)
Production rank: 165
Consumption: 3.118 billion kWh (2011 est.)
Consumption rank: 129
Exports: 0 kWh (2012 est.)
Exports rank: 102
Imports: 2.985 billion kWh (2010 est.)
Imports rank: 46
Installed generating capacity: 132,000 kW (2011 est.)
Installed generating capacity rank: 169
Generation sources fossil fuels: 100% of total installed capacity (2010 est.)
Generation sources fossil fuels rank: 6
Generation sources nuclear: 0% of total installed capacity (2010 est.)
Generation sources nuclear rank: 45
Generation sources hydroelectricity: 0% of total installed capacity (2010 est.)
Generation sources hydroelectricity rank: 157
Generation sources other renewable sources: 0% of total installed capacity (2010 est.)
Generation sources other renewable sources rank: 155

Coal

Petroleum
Petroleum total petroleum production: 0 bbl/day (2012 est.)
Petroleum total petroleum production rank: 151
Crude oil exports: 0 bbl/day (2010 est.)
Crude oil exports rank: 81
Crude oil imports: 0 bbl/day (2010 est.)
Crude oil imports rank: 157
Crude oil proven reserves: 0 bbl (1 January 2013 est.)
Crude oil proven reserves rank: 105

Crude oil

Refined petroleum
Products production: 0 bbl/day (2010 est.)
Products production rank: 120
Products consumption: 15,420 bbl/day (2011 est.)
Products consumption rank: 141
Products exports: 0 bbl/day (2010 est.)
Products exports rank: 151
Products imports: 19,360 bbl/day (2010 est.)
Products imports rank: 107

Natural gas
Production: 0 m³ (2011 est.)
Production rank: 100
Consumption: 0 m³ (2010 est.)
Consumption rank: 119
Exports: 0 m³ (2011 est.)
Exports rank: 62
Imports: 0 m³ (2011 est.)
Imports rank: 157
Proven reserves: 0 m³ (1 January 2013 est.)
Proven reserves rank: 111

Carbon dioxide emissions
From consumption of energy: 3.843 million Mt (2011 est.)

Energy consumption per capita


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Telephones
Main lines in use: 160,500 (2012)
Main lines in use rank: 134
Mobile cellular: 3.082 million (2012)
Mobile cellular rank: 129

Telephone system
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)

Broadcast media: 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)

Internet
Country code: .bw
Hosts: 1806 (2012)
Hosts rank: 163
Users: 120,000 (2009)
Users rank: 154

Broadband fixed subscriptions


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Military expenditures:
Rank: 34

Military and security forces

Military service age and obligation: 18 is the legal minimum age for voluntary military service; no conscription (2012)

Space program

Terrorist groups


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National air transport system

Civil aircraft registration country code prefix

Airports: 74 (2013)
Rank: 71
With paved runways over 3047 m: 2
With paved runways 2438 to 3047 m: 1
With paved runways 15-24 to 2437 m: 6
With paved runways 914 to 1523 m: 1 (2013)
With unpaved runways 15-24 to 2437 m: 5
With unpaved runways 914 to 1523 m: 46
With unpaved runways: 13 (2013)

Heliports

Pipelines

Railways
Rank: 93
Narrow gauge: 888 km 1.067-m gauge (2008)

Roadways
Rank: 117

Waterways

Merchant marine

Ports and terminals


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Disputes international: none

Refugees and internally displaced persons

Illicit drugs