2010 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

land

566,730 sq km

total

581,730 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

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

Freshwater withdrawal (domestic/industrial/agricultural)

per capita

107 cu m/yr (2000)

total

0.19 cu km/yr (41%/18%/41%)

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

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%

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) (2010 est.)

Birth rate

22.54 births/1,000 population (2010 est.)

Death rate

9.02 deaths/1,000 population (July 2010 est.)

Education expenditures

8.1% of GDP (2007)

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.)

HIV/AIDS - deaths

11,000 (2007 est.)

HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS

300,000 (2007 est.)

Infant mortality rate

female

11.05 deaths/1,000 live births (2010 est.)

male

12.51 deaths/1,000 live births

total

11.79 deaths/1,000 live births

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

female

60.75 years (2010 est.)

male

61.11 years

total population

60.93 years

Literacy

definition: age 15 and over can read and write

female

81.8% (2003 est.)

male

80.4%

total population

81.2%

Major infectious diseases

degree of risk

high

food or waterborne diseases

bacterial diarrhea, hepatitis A, and typhoid fever

vectorborne disease

malaria (2009)

Median age

female

22.1 years (2010 est.)

male

21.8 years

total

22 years

Nationality

adjective

Motswana (singular), Batswana (plural)

noun

Motswana (singular), Batswana (plural)

Net migration rate

4.91 migrant(s)/1,000 population note: there is an increasing flow of Zimbabweans into South Africa and Botswana in search of better economic opportunities (2010 est.)

Population

2,029,307 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 2010 est.)

Population growth rate

1.843% (2010 est.)

Religions

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

School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education)

female

12 years (2006)

male

12 years

total

12 years

Sex ratio

at birth

1.03 male(s)/female under 15 years: 1.04 male(s)/female 15-64 years: 1.02 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.68 male(s)/female

total population

1.01 male(s)/female (2010 est.)

Total fertility rate

2.54 children born/woman (2010 est.)

Urbanization

rate of urbanization

2.5% annual rate of change (2005-10 est.)

urban population

60% of total population (2008)

Administrative divisions

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

Capital

geographic coordinates

24 45 S, 25 55 E

name

Gaborone

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

former

Bechuanaland

local long form

Republic of Botswana

local short form

Botswana

Diplomatic representation from the US

chief of mission

Ambassador Stephen J. NOLAN

embassy

Embassy Enclave (off Khama Crescent), Gaborone

FAX

[267] 395-6947

mailing address

Embassy Enclave, P. O. Box 90, Gaborone

telephone

[267] 395-3982

Diplomatic representation in the US

chancery

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

chief of mission

Ambassador Lapologang Caesar LEKOA

FAX

[1] (202) 244-4164

telephone

[1] (202) 244-4990

Executive branch

cabinet

Cabinet appointed by the president (For more information visit the World Leaders website )

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

election results

Seretse Khama Ian KHAMA elected president; percent of National Assembly vote - NA%

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

head of government

President Seretse Khama Ian KHAMA (since 1 April 2008); Vice President Mompati MERAFHE (since 1 April 2008)

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

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, IOM, IPU, ISO, ITSO, ITU, ITUC, MIGA, NAM, OPCW, SACU, SADC, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, 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 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)

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

elections

National Assembly elections last held on 16 October 2009 (next to be held in 2014)

National anthem

lyrics/music

Kgalemang Tumedisco MOTSETE note: adopted 1966

name

"Fatshe leno la rona" (Our Land)

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

Central bank discount rate

10% (31 December 2009) 15% (31 December 2008)

Commercial bank prime lending rate

13.76% (31 December 2009 est.) 16.54% (31 December 2008 est.)

Current account balance

-$552 million (2010 est.) -$762 million (2009 est.)

Debt - external

$2.222 billion (31 December 2010 est.) $1.681 billion (31 December 2009 est.)

Distribution of family income - Gini index

63 (1993)

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, and turned sharply negative in 2009, with industry falling nearly 30%. 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 $13,100 in 2010. 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 half 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. Although unemployment was 7.5% in 2007 according to official reports, unofficial estimates place it closer to 40%. The prevalence of HIV/AIDS is second highest in the world and threatens Botswana's impressive economic gains. An expected leveling off in diamond mining production within the next two decades overshadows long-term prospects.

Electricity - consumption

2.648 billion kWh (2007 est.)

Electricity - exports

0 kWh (2008 est.)

Electricity - imports

2.181 billion kWh (2008 est.)

Electricity - production

1.052 billion kWh (2007 est.)

Exchange rates

pulas (BWP) per US dollar - 6.7413 (2010), 7.1602 (2009), 6.7907 (2008), 6.2035 (2007), 5.8447 (2006)

Exports

$4.419 billion (2010 est.) $3.385 billion (2009 est.)

Exports - commodities

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

GDP - composition by sector

agriculture

2.3%

industry

45.8%

services

51.9% (2009 est.)

GDP - per capita (PPP)

$13,100 (2010 est.) $12,900 (2009 est.) $13,900 (2008 est.) note: data are in 2010 US dollars

GDP - real growth rate

3.1% (2010 est.) -5.4% (2009 est.) 2.9% (2008 est.)

GDP (official exchange rate)

$12.5 billion (2010 est.)

GDP (purchasing power parity)

$26.56 billion (2010 est.) $25.76 billion (2009 est.) $27.23 billion (2008 est.) note: data are in 2010 US dollars

Household income or consumption by percentage share

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

Imports

$4.518 billion (2010 est.) $4.243 billion (2009 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

6.9% (2010 est.)

Industries

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

Inflation rate (consumer prices)

7.1% (2010 est.) 8.1% (2009 est.)

Investment (gross fixed)

28.2% of GDP (2010 est.)

Labor force

685,300 formal sector employees (2007)

Labor force - by occupation

agriculture

NA%

industry

NA%

services

NA%

Market value of publicly traded shares

$3.991 billion (31 December 2009) $3.556 billion (31 December 2008) $5.887 billion (31 December 2007)

Natural gas - consumption

0 cu m (2008 est.)

Natural gas - exports

0 cu m (2008 est.)

Natural gas - imports

0 cu m (2008 est.)

Natural gas - production

0 cu m (2008 est.)

Natural gas - proved reserves

0 cu m (1 January 2010 est.)

Oil - consumption

15,000 bbl/day (2009 est.)

Oil - exports

0 bbl/day (2007 est.)

Oil - imports

15,180 bbl/day (2007 est.)

Oil - production

0 bbl/day (2009 est.)

Oil - proved reserves

0 bbl (1 January 2010 est.)

Population below poverty line

30.3% (2003)

Public debt

22.6% of GDP (2010 est.) 18.6% of GDP (2009 est.)

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold

$7.834 billion (31 December 2010 est.) $8.704 billion (31 December 2009 est.)

Stock of broad money

$6.679 billion (31 December 2010 est.) $5.357 billion (31 December 2009 est.)

Stock of domestic credit

$1.361 billion (31 December 2008 est.) $2.06 billion (31 December 2007 est.)

Stock of narrow money

$1.146 billion (31 December 2010 est) $939.1 million (31 December 2009 est)

Unemployment rate

7.5% (2007 est.)

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

Internet hosts

2,739 (2010)

Internet users

120,000 (2009)

Telephone system

domestic

fixed-line teledensity has declined in recent years and now stands at roughly 7 telephones per 100 persons; mobile-cellular subscribership is rapidly approaching a teledensity of 100 telephones per 100 persons

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

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

144,200 (2009)

Telephones - mobile cellular

1.874 million (2009)

Airports

78 (2010)

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 (2010)

Airports - with unpaved runways

total

69 1,524 to 2,437 m: 4 914 to 1,523 m: 52 under 914 m: 13 (2010)

Railways

narrow gauge

888 km 1.067-m gauge (2008)

total

888 km

Roadways

paved

8,410 km

total

25,798 km

unpaved

17,388 km (2005)

Manpower available for military service

males age 16-49: 543,097 females age 16-49: 520,896 (2010 est.)

Manpower fit for military service

males age 16-49: 347,070 females age 16-49: 315,743 (2010 est.)

Manpower reaching militarily significant age annually

female

22,944 (2010 est.)

male

23,496

Military branches

Botswana Defense Force (BDF)

Ground Forces Command, Air Arm Command, Logistics Command (2010)

Military expenditures

3.3% of GDP (2006)

Military service age and obligation

18 is the apparent age of voluntary military service; official minimum age is 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 January 19, 2011 ======================================================================