2012 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

581,730 sq km 566,730 sq km 15,000 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

junction of the Limpopo and Shashe Rivers 513 m Tsodilo Hills 1,489 m

highest point

Tsodilo Hills 1,489 m

lowest point

junction of the Limpopo and Shashe Rivers 513 m

Environment - current issues

overgrazing; desertification; limited freshwater resources

Environment - international agreements

Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Ozone Layer Protection, Wetlands none of the selected 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)

0.19 cu km/yr (41%/18%/41%) 107 cu m/yr (2000)

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

20 sq km (2003)

Land boundaries

4,013 km Namibia 1,360 km, South Africa 1,840 km, Zimbabwe 813 km

border countries

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

total

4,013 km

Land use

0.65% 0.01% 99.34% (2005)

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

33.5% (male 358,254/ female 345,115) 62.5% (male 666,194/ female 645,884) 3.9% (male 33,200/ female 49,371) (2012 est.)

0-14 years

33.5% (male 358,254/ female 345,115)

15-64 years

62.5% (male 666,194/ female 645,884)

65 years and over

3.9% (male 33,200/ female 49,371) (2012 est.)

Birth rate

22.02 births/1,000 population (2012 est.)

Children under the age of 5 years underweight

10.7% (2000)

Death rate

12 deaths/1,000 population (July 2012 est.)

Education expenditures

8.9% of GDP (2009)

Ethnic groups

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

Health expenditures

10.3% of GDP (2009)

HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate

24.8% (2009 est.)

HIV/AIDS - deaths

5,800 (2009 est.)

HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS

320,000 (2009 est.)

Hospital bed density

1.81 beds/1,000 population (2008)

Infant mortality rate

10.49 deaths/1,000 live births 11.03 deaths/1,000 live births 9.94 deaths/1,000 live births (2012 est.)

female

9.94 deaths/1,000 live births (2012 est.)

total

10.49 deaths/1,000 live births

Languages

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

Life expectancy at birth

55.74 years 56.93 years 54.51 years (2012 est.)

female

54.51 years (2012 est.)

total population

55.74 years

Literacy

age 15 and over can read and write 84.5% 84% 84.9% (2010 est.)

definition

age 15 and over can read and write

female

84.9% (2010 est.)

male

84%

total population

84.5%

Major cities - population

GABORONE (capital) 196,000 (2009)

Major infectious diseases

high bacterial diarrhea, hepatitis A, and typhoid fever malaria (2009)

degree of risk

high

food or waterborne diseases

bacterial diarrhea, hepatitis A, and typhoid fever

vectorborne disease

malaria (2009)

Maternal mortality rate

160 deaths/100,000 live births (2010)

Median age

22.5 years 22.4 years 22.5 years (2012 est.)

female

22.5 years (2012 est.)

male

22.4 years

total

22.5 years

Nationality

Motswana (singular), Batswana (plural) Motswana (singular), Batswana (plural)

adjective

Motswana (singular), Batswana (plural)

noun

Motswana (singular), Batswana (plural)

Net migration rate

4.75 migrant(s)/1,000 population there is an increasing flow of Zimbabweans into South Africa and Botswana in search of better economic opportunities (2012 est.)

Physicians density

0.336 physicians/1,000 population (2006)

Population

2,098,018 (July 2012 est.) 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

Population growth rate

1.477% (2012 est.)

Religions

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

Sanitation facility access

urban: 74% of population rural: 39% of population total: 60% of population urban: 26% of population rural: 61% of population total: 40% of population

rural

61% of population

total

40% of population

urban

26% of population

School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education)

12 years 12 years 12 years (2007)

female

12 years (2007)

male

12 years

total

12 years

Sex ratio

1.03 male(s)/female 1.04 male(s)/female 1.03 male(s)/female 0.67 male(s)/female 1.02 male(s)/female (2011 est.)

15-64 years

1.03 male(s)/female

65 years and over

0.67 male(s)/female

at birth

1.03 male(s)/female

total population

1.02 male(s)/female (2011 est.)

under 15 years

1.04 male(s)/female

Total fertility rate

2.46 children born/woman (2012 est.)

Urbanization

61% of total population (2010) 2.3% annual rate of change (2010-15 est.)

rate of urbanization

2.3% annual rate of change (2010-15 est.)

urban population

61% of total population (2010)

Administrative divisions

9 districts and 5 town councils*; Central, Francistown*, Gaborone*, Ghanzi, Jwaneng*, Kgalagadi, Kgatleng, Kweneng, Lobatse*, North East, North West, Selebi-Pikwe*, South East, Southern

Capital

Gaborone 24 38 S, 25 54 E UTC+2 (7 hours ahead of Washington, DC during Standard Time)

geographic coordinates

24 38 S, 25 54 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

Republic of Botswana Botswana Republic of Botswana Botswana Bechuanaland

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

Ambassador Michelle D. GAVIN Embassy Enclave (off Khama Crescent), Gaborone Embassy Enclave, P. O. Box 90, Gaborone [267] 395-3982 [267] 395-6947

chief of mission

Ambassador Michelle D. GAVIN

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

Ambassador Tabelelo Mazile SERETSE 1531-1533 New Hampshire Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20036 [1] (202) 244-4990 [1] (202) 244-4164

chancery

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

chief of mission

Ambassador Tabelelo Mazile SERETSE

FAX

[1] (202) 244-4164

telephone

[1] (202) 244-4990

Executive branch

President Seretse Khama Ian KHAMA (since 1 April 2008); Vice President Ponatshego KEDIKILWE (since 2 August 2012); note - the president is both the chief of state and head of government President Seretse Khama Ian KHAMA (since 1 April 2008); Vice President Ponatshego KEDIKILWE (since 2 August 2012) Cabinet appointed by the president 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 Seretse Khama Ian KHAMA elected president; percent of National Assembly vote - NA

cabinet

Cabinet appointed by the president

chief of state

President Seretse Khama Ian KHAMA (since 1 April 2008); Vice President Ponatshego KEDIKILWE (since 2 August 2012); 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 Ponatshego KEDIKILWE (since 2 August 2012)

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 law organization participation

accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction with reservations; accepts ICCt jurisdiction

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

Judicial branch

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

Legal system

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

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 5-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) National Assembly elections last held on 16 October 2009 (next to be held in 2014) percent of vote by party - BDP 53.3%, BNF 21.9%, BCP 19.2%, 2.3%, other 3.3%; seats by party - BDP 45, BNF 6, BCP 4, BAM 1, other 1

election results

percent of vote by party - BDP 53.3%, BNF 21.9%, BCP 19.2%, 2.3%, other 3.3%; 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

"Fatshe leno la rona" (Our Land) Kgalemang Tumedisco MOTSETE adopted 1966

lyrics/music

Kgalemang Tumedisco MOTSETE

name

"Fatshe leno la rona" (Our Land)

National holiday

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

National symbol(s)

zebra

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 Movement for Democracy or BMD [Gomolemo MOTSWALEDI]; 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] 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) diamond mining companies

other

diamond mining companies

Suffrage

18 years of age; universal

Agriculture - products

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

Budget

$5.491 billion $5.346 billion (2012 est.)

expenditures

$5.346 billion (2012 est.)

revenues

$5.491 billion

Budget surplus (+) or deficit (-)

0.8% of GDP (2012 est.)

Central bank discount rate

9.5% (31 December 2010 est.) 10% (31 December 2009 est.)

Commercial bank prime lending rate

10.8% (31 December 2012 est.) 11% (31 December 2011 est.)

Current account balance

$711.1 million (2012 est.) $271 million (2011 est.)

Debt - external

$1.968 billion (31 December 2012 est.) $1.969 billion (31 December 2011 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. 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 $16,800 in 2012. 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. Unofficial estimates place unemployment at close 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 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 will support Botswana's downstream diamond industry.

Exchange rates

pulas (BWP) per US dollar - 7.65 (2012 est.) 6.8382 (2011 est.) 6.7936 (2010 est.) 7.1551 (2009) 6.7907 (2008)

Exports

$5.887 billion (2012 est.) $6.458 billion (2011 est.)

Exports - commodities

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

Fiscal year

1 April - 31 March

GDP - composition by sector

2.1% 43.7% 50.2% (2012 est.)

agriculture

2.1%

industry

43.7%

services

50.2% (2012 est.)

GDP - per capita (PPP)

$16,800 (2012 est.) $16,400 (2011 est.) $15,800 (2010 est.) data are in 2012 US dollars

GDP - real growth rate

3.8% (2012 est.) 5.1% (2011 est.) 7% (2010 est.)

GDP (official exchange rate)

$17.64 billion (2012 est.)

GDP (purchasing power parity)

$31.49 billion (2012 est.) $30.33 billion (2011 est.) $28.86 billion (2010 est.) data are in 2012 US dollars

Household income or consumption by percentage share

NA% NA%

highest 10%

NA%

lowest 10%

NA%

Imports

$5.883 billion (2012 est.) $6.275 billion (2011 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

10.8% (2011 est.)

Inflation rate (consumer prices)

6.9% (2012 est.) 8.5% (2011 est.)

Investment (gross fixed)

27.6% of GDP (2012 est.)

Labor force

1.288 million formal sector employees (2012 est.)

Labor force - by occupation

NA% NA% NA%

agriculture

NA%

industry

NA%

services

NA%

Market value of publicly traded shares

$4.107 billion (31 December 2011) $4.076 billion (31 December 2010) $4.278 billion (31 December 2009)

Population below poverty line

30.3% (2003)

Public debt

12.9% of GDP (2012 est.) 13.4% of GDP (2011 est.)

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold

$8.648 billion (31 December 2012 est.) $8.082 billion (31 December 2011 est.)

Stock of broad money

$7.6 billion (31 December 2012 est.) $7.1 billion (31 December 2011 est.)

Stock of domestic credit

$415.9 million (31 December 2012 est.) $1.114 billion (31 December 2011 est.)

Stock of narrow money

$1.28 billion (31 December 2012 est.) $1.153 billion (31 December 2011 est.)

Taxes and other revenues

31.1% of GDP (2012 est.)

Unemployment rate

7.5% (2007 est.)

Carbon dioxide emissions from consumption of energy

3.841 million Mt (2010 est.)

Crude oil - exports

0 bbl/day (2009 est.)

Crude oil - imports

0 bbl/day (2009 est.)

Crude oil - production

0 bbl/day (2011 est.)

Crude oil - proved reserves

0 bbl (1 January 2012 est.)

Electricity - consumption

2.955 billion kWh (2009 est.)

Electricity - exports

0 kWh (2010 est.)

Electricity - from fossil fuels

100% of total installed capacity (2009 est.)

Electricity - from hydroelectric plants

0% of total installed capacity (2009 est.)

Electricity - from nuclear fuels

0% of total installed capacity (2009 est.)

Electricity - from other renewable sources

0% of total installed capacity (2009 est.)

Electricity - imports

2.89 billion kWh (2009 est.)

Electricity - installed generating capacity

132,000 kW (2009 est.)

Electricity - production

417 million kWh (2009 est.)

Natural gas - consumption

0 cu m (2010 est.)

Natural gas - exports

0 cu m (2010 est.)

Natural gas - imports

0 cu m (2010 est.)

Natural gas - production

0 cu m (2010 est.)

Natural gas - proved reserves

0 cu m (1 January 2012 est.)

Refined petroleum products - consumption

15,420 bbl/day (2011 est.)

Refined petroleum products - exports

0 bbl/day (2008 est.)

Refined petroleum products - imports

19,060 bbl/day (2008 est.)

Refined petroleum products - production

0 bbl/day (2008 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

1,806 (2012)

Internet users

120,000 (2009)

Telephone system

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 fixed-line teledensity has declined in recent years and now stands at roughly 7 telephones per 100 persons; mobile-cellular teledensity now exceeds 100 telephones per 100 persons 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)

domestic

fixed-line teledensity has declined in recent years and now stands at roughly 7 telephones per 100 persons; mobile-cellular teledensity now exceeds 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) (2011)

Telephones - main lines in use

149,600 (2011)

Telephones - mobile cellular

2.9 million (2011)

Airports

76 (2012)

Airports - with paved runways

1 (2012)

1,524 to 2,437 m

7

2,438 to 3,047 m

1

914 to 1,523 m

1 (2012)

over 3,047 m

1

total

10

Airports - with unpaved runways

14 (2012)

1,524 to 2,437 m

5

914 to 1,523 m

47

total

66

under 914 m

14 (2012)

Railways

888 km 888 km 1.067-m gauge (2008)

total

888 km

Roadways

17,916 km (includes 8,916 km of Public Highway Network roads - 6,116 km paved and 2,800 km unpaved and other 9,000 km of District Council roads) (2011)

total

17,916 km (includes 8,916 km of Public Highway Network roads - 6,116 km paved and 2,800 km unpaved and other 9,000 km of District Council roads) (2011)

Manpower available for military service

557,647 531,095 (2010 est.)

females age 16-49

531,095 (2010 est.)

males age 16-49

557,647

Manpower fit for military service

340,949 302,332 (2010 est.)

females age 16-49

302,332 (2010 est.)

males age 16-49

340,949

Manpower reaching militarily significant age annually

23,649 23,063 (2010 est.)

female

23,063 (2010 est.)

male

23,649

Military branches

Botswana Defense Force (BDF): Ground Forces Command, Air Arm Command, Defense Logistics Command, Special Forces Group (2011)

Botswana Defense Force (BDF)

Ground Forces Command, Air Arm Command, Defense Logistics Command, Special Forces Group (2011)

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

none