2009 Edition

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.

Area

total: 581,730 sq km country comparison to the world: 47 land: 566,730 sq km water: 15,000 sq km

Area - comparative

slightly smaller than Texas

Climate

semiarid; warm winters and hot summers

Coastline

0 km (landlocked)

Elevation extremes

lowest point: junction of the Limpopo and Shashe Rivers 513 m highest point: Tsodilo Hills 1,489 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

Freshwater withdrawal (domestic/industrial/agricultural)

total: 0.19 cu km/yr (41%/18%/41%) per capita: 107 cu m/yr (2000)

Geographic coordinates

22 00 S, 24 00 E

Geography - note

landlocked; population concentrated in eastern part of the country

Irrigated land

10 sq km (2003)

Land boundaries

total: 4,013 km border countries: Namibia 1,360 km, South Africa 1,840 km, Zimbabwe 813 km

Land use

arable land: 0.65% permanent crops: 0.01% other: 99.34% (2005)

Location

Southern Africa, north of South Africa

Map references

Africa

Maritime claims

none (landlocked)

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

Terrain

predominantly flat to gently rolling tableland; Kalahari Desert in southwest

Total renewable water resources

14.7 cu km (2001)

Age structure

0-14 years: 34.8% (male 352,399/female 340,058) 15-64 years: 61.4% (male 613,714/female 608,003) 65 years and over: 3.9% (male 31,155/female 45,547) (2009 est.)

Birth rate

22.89 births/1,000 population (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 81

Death rate

8.52 deaths/1,000 population (July 2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 93

Education expenditures

8.7% of GDP (2007) country comparison to the world: 10

Ethnic groups

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

HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate

23.9% (2007 est.) country comparison to the world: 2

HIV/AIDS - deaths

11,000 (2007 est.) country comparison to the world: 28

HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS

300,000 (2007 est.) country comparison to the world: 23

Infant mortality rate

total: 12.59 deaths/1,000 live births country comparison to the world: 141 male: 13.43 deaths/1,000 live births female: 11.73 deaths/1,000 live births (2009 est.)

Languages

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

Life expectancy at birth

total population: 61.85 years country comparison to the world: 178 male: 61.72 years female: 61.99 years (2009 est.)

Literacy

definition: age 15 and over can read and write total population: 81.2% male: 80.4% female: 81.8% (2003 est.)

Major infectious diseases

degree of risk: high food or waterborne diseases: bacterial diarrhea, hepatitis A, and typhoid fever vectorborne disease: malaria (2009)

Median age

total: 21.7 years male: 21.5 years female: 21.9 years (2009 est.)

Nationality

noun: Motswana (singular), Batswana (plural) adjective: Motswana (singular), Batswana (plural)

Net migration rate

5 migrant(s)/1,000 population country comparison to the world: 21 note: there is an increasing flow of Zimbabweans into South Africa and Botswana in search of better economic opportunities (2009 est.)

Population

1,990,876 country comparison to the world: 146 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 2009 est.)

Population growth rate

1.937% (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 64

Religions

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

School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education)

total: 12 years male: 12 years female: 12 years (2005)

Sex ratio

at birth: 1.03 male(s)/female under 15 years: 1.04 male(s)/female 15-64 years: 1.01 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.68 male(s)/female total population: 1 male(s)/female (2009 est.)

Total fertility rate

2.6 children born/woman (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 89

Urbanization

urban population: 60% of total population (2008) rate of urbanization: 2.5% annual rate of change (2005-10 est.)

Administrative divisions

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

Capital

name: Gaborone geographic coordinates: 24 45 S, 25 55 E time difference: UTC+2 (7 hours ahead of Washington, DC during Standard Time)

Constitution

March 1965; effective 30 September 1966

Country name

conventional long form: Republic of Botswana conventional short form: Botswana local long form: Republic of Botswana local short form: Botswana former: Bechuanaland

Diplomatic representation from the US

chief of mission: Ambassador Stephen J. NOLAN embassy: Embassy Enclave (off Khama Crescent), Gaborone mailing address: Embassy Enclave, P. O. Box 90, Gaborone telephone: [267] 395-3982

Diplomatic representation in the US

chief of mission: Ambassador Lapologang Caesar LEKOA chancery: 1531-1533 New Hampshire Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20036 telephone: [1] (202) 244-4990

Executive branch

chief of state: President Seretse Khama Ian KHAMA (since 1 April 2008); Vice President Mompati MERAFHE (since 1 April 2008); note - the president is both the chief of state and head of government head of government: President Seretse Khama Ian KHAMA (since 1 April 2008); Vice President Mompati MERAFHE (since 1 April 2008) cabinet: Cabinet appointed by the president elections: president indirectly elected for a five-year term (eligible for a second term); election last held 20 October 2004 (next to be held on 9 October 2009); vice president appointed by the president election results: Festus G. MOGAE elected president; percent of National Assembly vote - 52%: note - MOGAE stepped down on 1 April 2008 and designated KHAMA to serve out the remainder of his term

FAX

[1] (202) 244-4164

[267] 395-6947

Flag description

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

Government type

parliamentary republic

Independence

30 September 1966 (from the UK)

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, ITSO, ITU, ITUC, MIGA, NAM, OPCW, SACU, SADC, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UNMIS, UNWTO, UPU, WCO, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO

Judicial branch

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

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 ex-officio 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) elections: National Assembly elections last held 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%, 2.3%, other 4.3%; seats by party - BDP 45, BNF 6, BCP 4, BAM 1, other 1

National holiday

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

Political parties and leaders

Botswana Alliance Movement or BAM [Ephraim Lepetu SETSHWAELO]; Botswana Congress Party or BCP [Gilson SALESHANDO]; Botswana Democratic Party or BDP [Daniel KWELAGOBE]; Botswana National Front or BNF [Otswoletse MOUPO]; Botswana Peoples Party or BPP [Bernard BALIKANI]; MELS Movement of Botswana or MELS [Themba JOINA]; New Democratic Front or NDF [Dick BAYFORD] 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

First People of the Kalahari (Bushman organization); Pitso Ya Ba Tswana; Society for the Promotion of Ikalanga Language (Kalanga elites) other: diamond mining companies

Suffrage

18 years of age; universal

Agriculture - products

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

Budget

revenues: $4.326 billion expenditures: $4.808 billion (2008 est.)

Central bank discount rate

15% (31 December 2008) country comparison to the world: 17 14.5% (31 December 2007)

Commercial bank prime lending rate

16.54% (31 December 2008) country comparison to the world: 34 16.22% (31 December 2007)

Current account balance

$750.3 million (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 49 $2.434 billion (2007 est.)

Debt - external

$409 million (31 December 2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 168 $408 million (31 December 2007 est.)

Distribution of family income - Gini index

63 (1993) country comparison to the world: 4

Economy - overview

Botswana has maintained one of the world's highest economic growth rates since independence in 1966, though growth fell below 5% in 2007-08. 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 $13,300 in 2008. 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

2.648 billion kWh (2007 est.) country comparison to the world: 130

Electricity - exports

0 kWh (2008 est.)

Electricity - imports

2.181 billion kWh (2008 est.)

Electricity - production

1.052 billion kWh (2007 est.) country comparison to the world: 144

Exchange rates

pulas (BWP) per US dollar - 6.7907 (2008 est.), 6.2035 (2007), 5.8447 (2006), 5.1104 (2005), 4.6929 (2004)

Exports

$4.707 billion (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 112 $5.158 billion (2007 est.)

Exports - commodities

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

GDP - composition by sector

agriculture: 1.6% industry: 52.6% (including 36% mining) services: 45.8% (2008 est.)

GDP - per capita (PPP)

$13,900 (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 83 $13,800 (2007 est.) $13,400 (2006 est.) note: data are in 2008 US dollars

GDP - real growth rate

2.9% (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 129 4.4% (2007 est.) 5.1% (2006 est.)

GDP (official exchange rate)

$13.46 billion (2008 est.)

GDP (purchasing power parity)

$27.11 billion (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 111 $26.35 billion (2007 est.) $25.23 billion (2006 est.) note: data are in 2008 US dollars

Household income or consumption by percentage share

lowest 10%: NA% highest 10%: NA%

Imports

$4.486 billion (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 122 $3.447 billion (2007 est.)

Imports - commodities

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

Industrial production growth rate

-2.4% (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 158

Industries

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

Inflation rate (consumer prices)

12.6% (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 175 7.1% (2007 est.)

Investment (gross fixed)

23.4% of GDP (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 62

Labor force

685,300 formal sector employees (2007) country comparison to the world: 146

Labor force - by occupation

agriculture: NA% industry: NA% services: NA%

Market value of publicly traded shares

$3.556 billion (31 December 2008) country comparison to the world: 82 $5.887 billion (31 December 2007) $3.947 billion (31 December 2006)

Natural gas - consumption

0 cu m (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 208

Natural gas - exports

0 cu m (2008) country comparison to the world: 46

Natural gas - imports

0 cu m (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 71

Natural gas - production

0 cu m (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 94

Natural gas - proved reserves

0 cu m (1 January 2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 105

Oil - consumption

15,000 bbl/day (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 134

Oil - exports

0 bbl/day (2007 est.) country comparison to the world: 207

Oil - imports

15,180 bbl/day (2007 est.) country comparison to the world: 124

Oil - production

0 bbl/day (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 116

Oil - proved reserves

0 bbl (1 January 2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 101

Population below poverty line

30.3% (2003)

Public debt

5.9% of GDP (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 118 8.6% of GDP (2004 est.)

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold

$9.119 billion (31 December 2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 68 $9.79 billion (31 December 2007 est.)

Stock of domestic credit

$NA (31 December 2008) $NA (31 December 2007)

Stock of money

$1.008 billion (31 December 2008) country comparison to the world: 87 $1.026 billion (31 December 2007)

Stock of quasi money

$4.183 billion (31 December 2008) country comparison to the world: 75 $4.336 billion (31 December 2007)

Unemployment rate

7.5% (2007 est.) country comparison to the world: 96

Internet country code

.bw

Internet hosts

7,341 (2009) country comparison to the world: 128

Internet users

120,000 (2008) country comparison to the world: 146

Radio broadcast stations

AM 8, FM 13, shortwave 4 (2001)

Telephone system

general assessment: the system is expanding with the growth of mobile-cellular service and participation in regional development; system is fully digital with fiber-optic cables linking the major population centers in the east; fixed-line connections declined in recent years and now stand at roughly 8 per 100 persons; mobile-cellular telephone density currently is about 80 per 100 persons domestic: small system of open-wire lines, microwave radio relay links, and a few radiotelephone communication stations; mobile-cellular service is growing fast 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) (2008)

Telephones - main lines in use

142,300 (2008) country comparison to the world: 135

Telephones - mobile cellular

1.486 million (2008) country comparison to the world: 133

Television broadcast stations

2 (1 state-owned, 1 private)

Airports

77 (2009) country comparison to the world: 71

Airports - with paved runways

total: 9 2,438 to 3,047 m: 2 1,524 to 2,437 m: 6 914 to 1,523 m: 1 (2009)

Airports - with unpaved runways

total: 68 1,524 to 2,437 m: 4 914 to 1,523 m: 54 under 914 m: 10 (2009)

Railways

total: 888 km country comparison to the world: 97 narrow gauge: 888 km 1.067-m gauge (2008)

Roadways

total: 25,798 km country comparison to the world: 103 paved: 8,410 km unpaved: 17,388 km (2005)

Botswana Defense Force

Ground Forces (includes Air Arm) (2009)

Manpower available for military service

males age 16-49: 487,853 females age 16-49: 464,278 (2008 est.)

Manpower fit for military service

males age 16-49: 341,190 females age 16-49: 315,588 (2009 est.)

Manpower reaching militarily significant age annually

male: 23,420 female: 22,904 (2009 est.)

Military expenditures

3.3% of GDP (2006) country comparison to the world: 42

Military service age and obligation

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

Disputes - international

Botswana still struggles to seal its border from thousands of Zimbabweans who flee economic collapse and 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 at Kazungula crossing, thereby de facto recognizing the short, but not clearly delimited, Botswana-Zambia boundary page last updated on November 11, 2009