2007 Edition

Administrative divisions

9 districts and 5 town councils*; Central, Francistown*, Gaborone*, Ghanzi, Jwaneng*, Kgalagadi, Kgatleng, Kweneng, Lobatse*, Northeast, Northwest, Selebi-Pikwe*, Southeast, Southern

Age structure

0-14 years: 38.3% (male 319,531/female 309,074) 15-64 years: 57.9% (male 460,692/female 488,577) 65 years and over: 3.8% (male 23,374/female 38,585) (2006 est.)

Agriculture - products

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

Airports

85 (2006)

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 (2006)

Airports - with unpaved runways

total

75 1,524 to 2,437 m: 3 914 to 1,523 m: 55

under 914 m

17 (2006)

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 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

Birth rate

23.08 births/1,000 population (2006 est.)

Budget

expenditures

$3.968 billion; including capital expenditures of $NA (2006 est.)

revenues

$4.256 billion

Capital

geographic coordinates

24 45 S, 25 55 E

name

Gaborone

time difference

UTC+2 (7 hours ahead of Washington, DC during Standard Time)

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

local long form

Republic of Botswana

local short form

Botswana

Currency (code)

pula (BWP)

Currency code

BWP

Current account balance

$1.698 billion (2006 est.)

Death rate

29.5 deaths/1,000 population (2006 est.)

Debt - external

$520 million (2006 est.)

Diplomatic representation from the US

chief of mission

Ambassador Katherine H. CANAVAN

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

telephone

[1] (202) 244-4990

Disputes - international

commission established with Namibia has yet 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 at Popavalle (Popa Falls); Botswana has built electric fences to stem the thousands of Zimbabweans who flee to find work and escape political persecution; Namibia has long supported and in 2004 Zimbabwe dropped objections to plans between Botswana and Zambia to build a bridge over the Zambezi River, thereby de facto recognizing their short, but not clearly delimited Botswana-Zambia boundary This page was last updated on 8 February, 2007

Distribution of family income - Gini index

63 (1993)

Economic aid - recipient

$73 million (1995)

Economy - overview

Botswana has maintained one of the world's highest economic 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 $11,200 in 2006. 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 70-80% of export earnings. Tourism, financial services, 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 was 23.8% in 2004, but unofficial estimates place it closer to 40%. HIV/AIDS infection rates are the second highest in the world and threaten Botswana's impressive economic gains. An expected leveling off in diamond mining production overshadows long-term prospects.

Electricity - consumption

2.464 billion kWh (2004)

Electricity - exports

0 kWh (2004)

Electricity - imports

1.699 billion kWh (2004)

Electricity - production

823 million kWh (2004)

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, 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

Ethnic groups

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

Exchange rates

pulas per US dollar - 5.90646 (2006), 5.1104 (2005), 4.6929 (2004), 4.9499 (2003), 6.3278 (2002)

Executive branch

cabinet

Cabinet appointed by the president

chief of state

President Festus G. 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 G. MOGAE elected president; percent of National Assembly vote - 52%

elections

president indirectly elected for a five-year term (eligible for a second term); election last held 20 October 2004 (next to be held in 2009); vice president appointed by the president

head of government

President Festus G. 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

$4.836 billion f.o.b. (2006 est.)

Exports - commodities

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

Exports - partners

European Free Trade Association (EFTA) 87%, Southern African Customs Union (SACU) 7%, Zimbabwe 4% (2004)

FAX

[1] (202) 244-4164

[267] 312782

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 - composition by sector

agriculture

2.4%

industry

46.9% (including 36% mining)

services

50.7% (2003 est.)

GDP - per capita (PPP)

$11,400 (2006 est.)

GDP - real growth rate

4.7% (2006 est.)

GDP (official exchange rate)

$9.697 billion (2006 est.)

GDP (purchasing power parity)

$18.72 billion (2006 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

HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate

37.3% (2003 est.)

HIV/AIDS - deaths

33,000 (2003 est.)

HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS

350,000 (2003 est.)

Household income or consumption by percentage share

highest 10%

NA%

lowest 10%

NA%

Imports

$3.034 billion f.o.b. (2006 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% (2004)

Independence

30 September 1966 (from UK)

Industrial production growth rate

6.3% (2006 est.)

Industries

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

Infant mortality rate

female

52.44 deaths/1,000 live births (2006 est.)

male

54.92 deaths/1,000 live births

total

53.7 deaths/1,000 live births

Inflation rate (consumer prices)

11.4% (2006 est.)

International organization participation

ACP, AfDB, AU, C, FAO, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICCt, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, Interpol, IOC, IPU, ISO, ITU, MIGA, NAM, OPCW, SACU, SADC, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UNMIS, UNWTO, UPU, WCO, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO

Internet country code

.bw

Internet hosts

5,499 (2006)

Internet Service Providers (ISPs)

11 (2001)

Internet users

60,000 (2002) Transportation Botswana

Investment (gross fixed)

21.8% of GDP (2006 est.)

Irrigated land

10 sq km (2003)

Judicial branch

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

Labor force

288,400 formal sector employees (2004)

Labor force - by occupation

agriculture

NA%

industry

NA%

services

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

0.65%

other

99.34% (2005)

permanent crops

0.01%

Languages

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

Legal system

based on Roman-Dutch law and local customary law; judicial review limited to matters of interpretation; accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction, with reservations

Legislative branch

bicameral Parliament consists of the House of Chiefs (a largely advisory 15-member body with 8 permanent members consisting of the chiefs of the principal tribes, and 7 non-permanent members serving 5-year terms, consisting of 4 elected subchiefs and 3 members selected by the other 12 members) and the National Assembly (63 seats, 57 members are directly elected by popular vote, 4 are appointed by the majority party, and 2, the President and Attorney-General, serve as ex-officio members; members serve five-year terms)

election results

percent of vote by party - BDP 51.7%, BNF 26.1%, BCP 16.6%, other 5%; seats by party - BDP 44, BNF 12, BCP 1

elections

National Assembly elections last held 30 October 2004 (next to be held October 2009)

Life expectancy at birth

female

33.56 years (2006 est.)

male

33.9 years

total population

33.74 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

Major infectious diseases

degree of risk

high

food or waterborne diseases

bacterial diarrhea, hepatitis A, and typhoid fever

vectorborne disease

malaria (2007)

Manpower available for military service

females age 18-49

361,642 (2005 est.)

males age 18-49

350,649

Manpower fit for military service

females age 18-49

136,315 (2005 est.)

males age 18-49

136,322

Manpower reaching military service age annually

females age 18-49

21,379 (2005 est.)

males age 18-49

21,103

Map references

Africa

Maritime claims

none (landlocked)

Median age

female

20 years (2006 est.)

male

18.8 years

total

19.4 years

Military branches

Botswana Defense Force (includes an air wing) (2006)

Military expenditures - dollar figure

$325.5 million (2005 est.)

Military expenditures - percent of GDP

3.4% (2005 est.) Transnational Issues Botswana

Military service age and obligation

18 is the apparent age of voluntary military service; the official qualifications for determining minimum age are unknown (2001)

National holiday

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

Nationality

adjective

Motswana (singular), Batswana (plural)

noun

Motswana (singular), Batswana (plural)

Natural gas - consumption

0 cu m (2004 est.)

Natural gas - production

0 cu m (2004 est.)

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

6.07 migrant(s)/1,000 population

note

there is an increasing flow of Zimbabweans into South Africa and Botswana in search of better economic opportunities (2006 est.)

Oil - consumption

11,500 bbl/day (2004 est.)

Oil - exports

NA bbl/day (2001)

Oil - imports

16,000 bbl/day (2001)

Oil - production

0 bbl/day (2004)

Political parties and leaders

Botswana Alliance Movement or BAM [Ephraim Lepetu SETSHWAELO]; Botswana Congress Party or BCP [Otlaadisa KOOSALETSE]; Botswana Democratic Party or BDP [Festus G. MOGAE]; Botswana National Front or BNF [Otswoletse MOUPO]; Botswana Peoples Party or BPP; MELS Movement of Botswana or MELS; New Democratic Front or NDF

note

a number of minor parties joined forces in 1999 to form the BAM but did not capture any parliamentary seats - includes the United Action Party [Ephraim Lepetu SETSHWAELO]; the Independence Freedom Party or IFP [Motsamai MPHO]; the Botswana Progressive Union [D. K. KWELE]

Political pressure groups and leaders

NA

Population

1,639,833

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 2006 est.)

Population below poverty line

30.3% (2003)

Population growth rate

-0.04% (2006 est.)

Public debt

7.1% of GDP (2006 est.)

Radio broadcast stations

AM 8, FM 13, shortwave 4 (2001)

Radios

252,720 (2000)

Railways

narrow gauge

888 km 1.067-m gauge (2005)

total

888 km

Religions

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

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold

$7.445 billion (2006 est.)

Roadways

paved

8,914 km

total

24,455 km

unpaved

15,441 km (2004) Military Botswana

Sex ratio

at birth

1.03 male(s)/female

total population

0.96 male(s)/female (2006 est.)

under 15 years

1.03 male(s)/female 15-64 years: 0.94 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.61 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

country code - 267; 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

132,000 (2005)

Telephones - mobile cellular

823,100 (2005)

Television broadcast stations

1 (2001)

Televisions

31,000 (1997)

Terrain

predominantly flat to gently rolling tableland; Kalahari Desert in southwest

Total fertility rate

2.79 children born/woman (2006 est.)

Unemployment rate

23.8% (2004)