2003 Edition

Administrative divisions

9 districts and four town councils*; Central, Francistown*, Gaborone*, Ghanzi, Kgalagadi, Kgatleng, Kweneng, Lobatse*, Northwest, Northeast, Selebi-Pikwe*, Southeast, Southern

Age structure

0-14 years: 39.5% (male 314,764; female 307,024) 15-64 years: 56% (male 424,726; female 455,967) 65 years and over: 4.5% (male 30,599; female 40,187) (2003 est.)

Agriculture - products

livestock, sorghum, maize, millet, beans, sunflowers, groundnuts

Airports

86 (2002)

Airports - with paved runways

total

10 2,438 to 3,047 m: 2 1,524 to 2,437 m: 7 914 to 1,523 m: 1 (2002)

Airports - with unpaved runways

total

76 1,524 to 2,437 m: 3 914 to 1,523 m: 55

under 914 m

18 (2002) Military Botswana

Area

land

585,370 sq km

total

600,370 sq km

water

15,000 sq km

Area - comparative

slightly smaller than Texas

Background

Formerly the British protectorate of Bechuanaland, Botswana adopted its new name upon independence in 1966. Four decades of uninterrupted civilian leadership, progressive social policies, and significant capital investment have created one of the most dynamic 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 the world's highest known rate of HIV/AIDS infection, but also one of Africa's most progressive and comprehensive programs for dealing with the disease. Geography Botswana

Birth rate

25.5 births/1,000 population (2003 est.)

Budget

expenditures

$2.4 billion, including capital expenditures of $NA (FY 01/02)

revenues

$2.3 billion

Capital

Gaborone

Climate

semiarid; warm winters and hot summers

Coastline

0 km (landlocked)

Constitution

March 1965, effective 30 September 1966

Country name

conventional long form

Republic of Botswana

conventional short form

Botswana

former

Bechuanaland

Currency

pula (BWP)

Currency code

BWP

Death rate

31 deaths/1,000 population (2003 est.)

Debt - external

$360 million (2002)

Diplomatic representation from the US

chief of mission

Ambassador Joseph HUGGINS

embassy

address NA, Gaborone

mailing address

Embassy Enclave, P. O. Box 90, Gaborone

telephone

[267] 353982

Diplomatic representation in the US

chancery

1531-1533 New Hampshire Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20036

chief of mission

Ambassador Lapologang Caesar LEKOA

Disputes - international

established a commission with Namibia to resolve small residual disputes along the Caprivi Strip, including the Situngu marshlands along the Linyanti River; downstream Botswana residents protest Namibia's planned construction of the Okavango hydroelectric dam on Popa Falls; dormant dispute remains where Botswana, Namibia, Zambia, and Zimbabwe boundaries converge This page was last updated on 18 December, 2003

Economic aid - recipient

$73 million (1995)

Economy - overview

Botswana has maintained one of the world's highest growth rates since independence in 1966. Through fiscal discipline and sound management, Botswana has transformed itself from one of the poorest countries in the world to a middle-income country with a per capita GDP of $9,500 in 2002. 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 and for nine-tenths of export earnings. Tourism, subsistence farming, and cattle raising are other key sectors. On the downside, the government must deal with high rates of unemployment and poverty. Unemployment officially is 21%, but unofficial estimates place it closer to 40%. HIV/AIDS infection rates are the highest in the world and threaten Botswana's impressive economic gains. Long-term prospects are overshadowed by the prospects of a leveling off in diamond mining production.

Electricity - consumption

1.564 billion kWh (2001)

Electricity - exports

0 kWh (2001)

Electricity - imports

1.183 billion kWh (2001)

Electricity - production

409.8 million kWh (2001)

Electricity - production by source

fossil fuel

100%

hydro

0%

nuclear

0%

other

0% (2001)

Elevation extremes

highest point

Tsodilo Hills 1,489 m

lowest point

junction of the Limpopo and Shashe Rivers 513 m

Environment - current issues

overgrazing; desertification; limited fresh water resources

Environment - international agreements

party to

Biodiversity, Climate Change, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Wetlands

signed, but not ratified

none of the selected agreements

Ethnic groups

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

Exchange rates

pulas per US dollar - 6.33 (2002), 5.84 (2001), 5.1 (2000), 4.62 (1999), 4.23 (1998)

Executive branch

cabinet

Cabinet appointed by the president

chief of state

President Festus MOGAE (since 1 April 1998) and Vice President Seretse Ian KHAMA (since 13 July 1998); note - the president is both the chief of state and head of government

election results

Festus MOGAE elected president; percent of National Assembly vote - 54.3%

elections

president elected by the National Assembly for a five-year term; election last held 16 October 1999 (next to be held NA October 2004); vice president appointed by the president

head of government

President Festus MOGAE (since 1 April 1998) and Vice President Seretse Ian KHAMA (since 13 July 1998); note - the president is both the chief of state and head of government

Exports

$2.4 billion f.o.b. (2002 est.)

Exports - commodities

diamonds 90%, copper, nickel, soda ash, meat, textiles

Exports - partners

European Free Trade Association (EFTA) 87%, Southern African Customs Union (SACU) 7%, Zimbabwe 4% (2000)

FAX

[1] (202) 244-4164

[267] 312782

telephone

[1] (202) 244-4990

Fiscal year

1 April - 31 March Communications Botswana

Flag description

light blue with a horizontal white-edged black stripe in the center Economy Botswana

GDP

purchasing power parity - $13.48 billion (2002 est.)

GDP - composition by sector

agriculture

4%

industry

44% (including 36% mining)

services

52% (2001 est.)

GDP - per capita

purchasing power parity - $8,500 (2002 est.)

GDP - real growth rate

4.2% (2002 est.)

Geographic coordinates

22 00 S, 24 00 E

Geography - note

landlocked; population concentrated in eastern part of the country People Botswana

Government type

parliamentary republic

Highways

paved

5,619 km

total

10,217 km

unpaved

4,598 km (1999)

HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate

38.8% (2001 est.)

HIV/AIDS - deaths

26,000 (2001 est.)

HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS

330,000 (2001 est.)

Household income or consumption by percentage share

highest 10%

NA%

lowest 10%

NA%

Imports

$1.9 billion f.o.b. (2002 est.)

Imports - commodities

foodstuffs, machinery, electrical goods, transport equipment, textiles, fuel and petroleum products, wood and paper products, metal and metal products

Imports - partners

Southern African Customs Union (SACU) 74%, EFTA 17%, Zimbabwe 4% (2000)

Independence

30 September 1966 (from UK)

Industrial production growth rate

2.4% (2001 est.)

Industries

diamonds, copper, nickel, salt, soda ash, potash; livestock processing; textiles

Infant mortality rate

female

66.28 deaths/1,000 live births (2003 est.)

male

68.36 deaths/1,000 live births

total

67.34 deaths/1,000 live births

Inflation rate (consumer prices)

8.1% (2002 est.)

International organization participation

ACP, AfDB, C, ECA, FAO, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICCt, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, Interpol, IOC, ISO, ITU, NAM, OAU, OPCW, SACU, SADC, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WCO, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTrO

Internet country code

.bw

Internet Service Providers (ISPs)

11 (2001)

Internet users

33,000 (2001) Transportation Botswana

Irrigated land

10 sq km (1998 est.)

Judicial branch

High Court; Court of Appeal; Magistrates' Courts (one in each district)

Labor force

264,000 formal sector employees (2000)

Labor force - by occupation

NA

Land boundaries

border countries

Namibia 1,360 km, South Africa 1,840 km, Zimbabwe 813 km

total

4,013 km

Land use

arable land

0.61%

other

99.38% (1998 est.)

permanent crops

0.01%

Languages

English (official), Setswana

Legal system

based on Roman-Dutch law and local customary law; judicial review limited to matters of interpretation; has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction

Legislative branch

bicameral Parliament consists of the House of Chiefs (a largely advisory 15-member body consisting of the chiefs of the eight principal tribes, four elected subchiefs, and three members selected by the other 12 members) and the National Assembly (44 seats, 40 members are directly elected by popular vote and 4 are appointed by the majority party; members serve five-year terms)

election results

percent of vote by party - BDP 54.3%, BNF 24.7%, other 21%; seats by party - BDP 33, BNF 6, other 1

elections

National Assembly elections last held 16 October 1999 (next to be held NA October 2004)

Life expectancy at birth

female

32.32 years (2003 est.)

male

32.2 years

total population

32.26 years

Literacy

definition

age 15 and over can read and write

female

82.4% (2003 est.) Government Botswana

male

76.9%

total population

79.8%

Location

Southern Africa, north of South Africa

Map references

Africa

Maritime claims

none (landlocked)

Median age

female

19.8 years (2002)

male

18.4 years

total

19.1 years

Military branches

Botswana Defense Force (including Army and Air Wing), Botswana National Police

Military expenditures - dollar figure

$207.3 million (FY02)

Military expenditures - percent of GDP

3.5% (FY02) Transnational Issues Botswana

Military manpower - availability

males age 15-49

381,056 (2003 est.)

Military manpower - fit for military service

males age 15-49

201,402 (2003 est.)

Military manpower - military age

18 years of age (2003 est.)

Military manpower - reaching military age annually

males

20,476 (2003 est.)

National holiday

Independence Day (Botswana Day), 30 September (1966)

Nationality

adjective

Motswana (singular), Batswana (plural)

noun

Motswana (singular), Batswana (plural)

Natural hazards

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

Natural resources

diamonds, copper, nickel, salt, soda ash, potash, coal, iron ore, silver

Net migration rate

0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2003 est.)

Oil - consumption

16,000 bbl/day (2001 est.)

Oil - exports

NA (2001)

Oil - imports

NA (2001)

Oil - production

0 bbl/day (2001 est.)

Political parties and leaders

Botswana Democratic Party or BDP [Festus MOGAE]; Botswana National Front or BNF [Otswoletse MOUPO]; Botswana Congress Party or BCP [Mokgweetsi KGOSIPULA]; Botswana Alliance Movement or BAM [Ephraim Lepetu SETSHWAELO]

are

the United Action Party [Ephraim Lepetu SETSHWAELO], the Independence Freedom Party or IFP [Motsamai MPHO], and the Botswana Progressive Union [D. K. KWELE]

note

a number of minor parties joined forces in 1999 to form the BAM but did not capture any parliamentary seats; the BAM parties

Political pressure groups and leaders

NA

Population

1,573,267

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 and death rates, lower population and growth rates, and changes in the distribution of population by age and sex than would otherwise be expected (July 2003 est.)

Population below poverty line

47%

Population growth rate

-0.55% (2003 est.)

Ports and harbors

none

Radio broadcast stations

AM 8, FM 13, shortwave 4 (2001)

Radios

252,720 (2000)

Railways

narrow gauge

888 km 1.067-m gauge (2002)

total

888 km

Religions

indigenous beliefs 85%, Christian 15%

Sex ratio

at birth

1.03 male(s)/female

total population

0.96 male(s)/female (2003 est.)

under 15 years

1.03 male(s)/female 15-64 years: 0.93 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.76 male(s)/female

Suffrage

18 years of age; universal

Telephone system

domestic

small system of open-wire lines, microwave radio relay links, and a few radiotelephone communication stations; mobile cellular service is growing fast

general assessment

the system is expanding with the growth of mobile cellular service and participation in regional development

international

two international exchanges; digital microwave radio relay links to Namibia, Zambia, Zimbabwe, and South Africa; satellite earth station - 1 Intelsat (Indian Ocean)

Telephones - main lines in use

131,000 (September 2001)

Telephones - mobile cellular

270,000 (September 2001)

Television broadcast stations

1 (2001)

Televisions

31,000 (1997)

Terrain

predominantly flat to gently rolling tableland; Kalahari Desert in southwest

Total fertility rate

3.27 children born/woman (2003 est.)

Unemployment rate

40% (official rate is 21%) (2001 est.)

Waterways

none