2015 Edition

Background

Formerly the British protectorate of Bechuanaland, Botswana adopted its new name at independence in 1966. More than four decades of uninterrupted civilian leadership, progressive social policies, and significant capital investment have created one of the most stable 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 freshwater 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

107.3 cu m/yr (2005)

total

0.19 cu km/yr (42%/19%/39%)

Geographic coordinates

22 00 S, 24 00 E

Geography - note

landlocked; population concentrated in eastern part of the country

Irrigated land

14.39 sq km (2003)

Land boundaries

border countries (4)

Namibia 1,544 km, South Africa 1,969 km, Zambia 0.15 km, Zimbabwe 834 km

total

4,347.15 km

Land use

arable land 0.6%; permanent crops 0%; permanent pasture 45.2%

agricultural land

45.8%

forest

19.8%

other

34.4% (2011 est.)

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

12.24 cu km (2011)

Age structure

0-14 years

32.66% (male 363,264/female 349,517)

15-24 years

21.49% (male 233,090/female 235,894)

25-54 years

37.31% (male 433,246/female 381,151)

55-64 years

4.48% (male 43,604/female 54,261)

65 years and over

4.06% (male 35,346/female 53,346) (2015 est.)

Birth rate

20.96 births/1,000 population (2015 est.)

Child labor - children ages 5-14

note

data represents children ages 7-17 (2006 est.)

percentage

9%

total number

45,036

Children under the age of 5 years underweight

11.2% (2008)

Contraceptive prevalence rate

52.8%

note

percent of women aged 12-49 (2007/08)

Death rate

13.39 deaths/1,000 population (2015 est.)

Dependency ratios

elderly dependency ratio

5.6%

potential support ratio

17.9% (2015 est.)

total dependency ratio

55.3%

youth dependency ratio

49.7%

Drinking water source

urban: 99.2% of population

rural: 92.3% of population

total: 96.2% of population

urban: 0.8% of population

rural: 7.7% of population

total: 3.8% of population (2015 est.)

Education expenditures

9.5% of GDP (2009)

Ethnic groups

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

Health expenditures

5.4% of GDP (2013)

HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate

25.16% (2014 est.)

HIV/AIDS - deaths

5,100 (2014 est.)

HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS

392,400 (2014 est.)

Hospital bed density

1.8 beds/1,000 population (2010)

Infant mortality rate

female

8.59 deaths/1,000 live births (2015 est.)

male

9.26 deaths/1,000 live births

total

8.93 deaths/1,000 live births

Languages

Setswana 78.2%, Kalanga 7.9%, Sekgalagadi 2.8%, English (official) 2.1%, Sesarwa 1.9%, Sempukushu 1.7%, other 5.1%, unspecified 0.2% (2001 est.)

Life expectancy at birth

female

52.33 years (2015 est.)

male

55.97 years

total population

54.18 years

Literacy

definition

age 15 and over can read and write

female

88.9% (2015 est.)

male

88%

total population

88.5%

Major infectious diseases

degree of risk

high

food or waterborne diseases

bacterial diarrhea, hepatitis A, and typhoid fever

vectorborne disease

malaria (2013)

Major urban areas - population

GABORONE (capital) 247,000 (2014)

Median age

female

23 years (2015 est.)

male

23.1 years

total

23.1 years

Nationality

adjective

Motswana (singular), Batswana (plural)

noun

Motswana (singular), Batswana (plural)

Net migration rate

4.56 migrant(s)/1,000 population

note

there is an increasing flow of Zimbabweans into South Africa and Botswana in search of better economic opportunities (2015 est.)

Obesity - adult prevalence rate

19.5% (2014)

Physicians density

0.4 physicians/1,000 population (2009)

Population

2,182,719

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 2015 est.)

Population growth rate

1.21% (2015 est.)

Religions

Christian 71.6%, Badimo 6%, other 1.4% (includes Baha'i, Hindu, Muslim), unspecified 0.4%, none 20.6% (2001 est.)

Sanitation facility access

urban: 78.5% of population

rural: 43.1% of population

total: 63.4% of population

urban: 21.5% of population

rural: 56.9% of population

total: 36.6% of population (2015 est.)

School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education)

female

NA (2008)

male

NA

total

12 years

Sex ratio

0-14 years

1.04 male(s)/female

15-24 years

0.99 male(s)/female

25-54 years

1.14 male(s)/female

55-64 years

0.8 male(s)/female

65 years and over

0.66 male(s)/female

at birth

1.03 male(s)/female

total population

1.03 male(s)/female (2015 est.)

Total fertility rate

2.33 children born/woman (2015 est.)

Urbanization

rate of urbanization

1.29% annual rate of change (2010-15 est.)

urban population

57.4% of total population (2015)

Administrative divisions

10 districts and 6 town councils*; Central, Chobe, Francistown*, Gaborone*, Ghanzi, Jwaneng*, Kgalagadi, Kgatleng, Kweneng, Lobatse*, North East, North West, Selebi-Phikwe*, South East, Southern, Sowa Town*

Capital

geographic coordinates

24 38 S, 25 54 E

name

Gaborone

time difference

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

Constitution

previous 1960 (preindependence); latest adopted March 1965, effective 30 September 1966; amended several times, last in 2006 (2006)

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 Earl R. MILLER (since 30 January 2015)

embassy

Embassy Drive, Government Enclave (off Khama Crescent), Gaborone

FAX

[267] 318-0232

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 David John NEWMAN (since 3 August 2015)

FAX

[1] (202) 244-4164

telephone

[1] (202) 244-4990

Executive branch

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 chief of state and head of government

election results

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

elections/appointments

president indirectly elected by the National Assembly for a 5-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, ICCt, 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

highest court(s)

Court of Appeal, High Court (each consists of a chief justice and a number of other judges as prescribed by the Parliament)

judge selection and term of office

Court of Appeal and High Court chief justices appointed by the president and other judges appointed by the president upon the advice of the Judicial Service Commission; all judges appointed to serve until age 70

subordinate courts

Industrial Court (with circuits scheduled monthly in the capital city and in 3 districts); Magistrates Courts (1 in each district); Customary Court of Appeal; Paramount Chief's Court/Urban Customary Court; Senior Chief's Representative Court; Chief's Representative’s Court; Headman's Court

Legal system

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

Legislative branch

description

unicameral Parliament consists of the National Assembly (63 seats; 57 members directly elected in single-seat constituencies by simple majority vote, 4 nominated by the president and indirectly elected by simple majority vote by the rest of the National Assembly, and 2 ex-officio members - the president and attorney general; elected members serve 5-year terms); note - the House of Chiefs (Ntlo ya Dikgosi), an advisory body to the National Assembly, consists of 35 members - 8 hereditary chiefs from Botswana's principal tribes, 22 indirectly elected by the chiefs, and 5 appointed by the president; the House of Chiefs consults on issues including powers of chiefs, customary courts, customary law, tribal property, and constitutional amendments

election results

percent of vote by party - BDP 46.5%, UDC 30.0%, BCP 20.4%, independents 3.1%; seats by party - BDP 37, UDC 17, BCP 3

elections

National Assembly elections last held on 24 October 2014 (next to be held in October 2019)

National anthem

lyrics/music

Kgalemang Tumedisco MOTSETE

name

"Fatshe leno la rona" (Our Land)

note

adopted 1966

National holiday

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

National symbol(s)

zebra; national colors: blue, white, black

Political parties and leaders

Botswana Alliance Movement or BAM [Ephraim Lepetu SETSHWAELO]

Botswana Congress Party or BCP [Dumelang SALESHANDO]

Botswana Democratic Party or BDP [Ian KHAMA]

Botswana Movement for Democracy or BMD [Ndaba GAOLATLHE]

Botswana National Front or BNF [Duma BOKO]

Botswana Peoples Party or BPP [Motlatsi MOLAPISI]

Umbrella for Democratic Change or UDC [Duma BOKO] (includes BMD, BPP, and BNF)

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

expenditures

$5.164 billion (2014 est.)

revenues

$5.442 billion

Budget surplus (+) or deficit (-)

1.7% of GDP (2014 est.)

Central bank discount rate

7.5% (31 December 2014)

7.5% (31 December 2013)

Commercial bank prime lending rate

9% (31 December 2014 est.)

10.19% (31 December 2013 est.)

Current account balance

$2.703 billion (2014 est.)

$1.535 billion (2013 est.)

Debt - external

$2.505 billion (31 December 2014 est.)

$2.461 billion (31 December 2013 est.)

Distribution of family income - Gini index

63 (1993)

Economy - overview

Botswana’s diamond dependent economy 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 2010-12, GDP growth slowed in 2012-14. 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 $16,600 in 2014. 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 one-third 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. According to official government statistics, unemployment reached 17.8% in 2009, but unofficial estimates run much higher. 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 10-15 years 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 has supported the development of Botswana's nascent downstream diamond industry.

Exchange rates

pulas (BWP) per US dollar -

9.19 (2014 est.)

8.3989 (2013 est.)

7.62 (2012 est.)

6.8382 (2011 est.)

6.7936 (2010 est.)

Exports

$7.477 billion (2014 est.)

$7.603 billion (2013 est.)

Exports - commodities

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

Fiscal year

1 April - 31 March

GDP - composition, by end use

(2014 est.)

exports of goods and services

51.3%

government consumption

18.9%

household consumption

49.8%

imports of goods and services

-53.9%

investment in fixed capital

32.2%

investment in inventories

1.7%

GDP - composition, by sector of origin

agriculture

1.9%

industry

28.7%

services

69.4% (2014 est.)

GDP - per capita (PPP)

$16,000 (2014 est.)

$15,300 (2013 est.)

$14,400 (2012 est.)

note

data are in 2014 US dollars

GDP - real growth rate

4.9% (2014 est.)

5.9% (2013 est.)

4.3% (2012 est.)

GDP (official exchange rate)

$15.79 billion (2014 est.)

GDP (purchasing power parity)

$33.74 billion (2014 est.)

$32.15 billion (2013 est.)

$30.36 billion (2012 est.)

note

data are in 2014 US dollars

Gross national saving

48% of GDP (2014 est.)

44.3% of GDP (2013 est.)

35.7% of GDP (2012 est.)

Household income or consumption by percentage share

highest 10%

NA%

lowest 10%

NA%

Imports

$7.141 billion (2014 est.)

$7.362 billion (2013 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

5.3% (2014 est.)

Industries

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

Inflation rate (consumer prices)

3.9% (2014 est.)

5.9% (2013 est.)

Labor force

1.017 million (2014 est.)

Labor force - by occupation

agriculture

NA%

industry

NA%

services

NA%

Market value of publicly traded shares

$4.588 billion (31 December 2012 est.)

$4.107 billion (31 December 2011)

$4.076 billion (31 December 2010 est.)

Population below poverty line

30.3% (2003 est.)

Public debt

17.4% of GDP (2014 est.)

19.4% of GDP (2013 est.)

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold

$8.885 billion (31 December 2014 est.)

$7.726 billion (31 December 2013 est.)

Stock of broad money

$8.293 billion (31 December 2013 est.)

$7.635 billion (31 December 2012 est.)

Stock of domestic credit

$2.069 billion (31 December 2014 est.)

$1.852 billion (31 December 2013 est.)

Stock of narrow money

$1.465 billion (31 December 2014 est.)

$1.435 billion (31 December 2013 est.)

Taxes and other revenues

33.4% of GDP (2014 est.)

Unemployment rate

17.8% (2009 est.)

7.5% (2007 est.)

Carbon dioxide emissions from consumption of energy

3.919 million Mt (2012 est.)

Crude oil - exports

0 bbl/day (2010 est.)

Crude oil - imports

0 bbl/day (2010 est.)

Crude oil - production

0 bbl/day (2013 est.)

Crude oil - proved reserves

0 bbl (1 January 2014 est.)

Electricity - consumption

3.162 billion kWh (2011 est.)

Electricity - exports

0 kWh (2013 est.)

Electricity - from fossil fuels

100% of total installed capacity (2011 est.)

Electricity - from hydroelectric plants

0% of total installed capacity (2011 est.)

Electricity - from nuclear fuels

0% of total installed capacity (2011 est.)

Electricity - from other renewable sources

0% of total installed capacity (2011 est.)

Electricity - imports

3.18 billion kWh (2011 est.)

Electricity - installed generating capacity

132,000 kW (2011 est.)

Electricity - production

350 million kWh (2011 est.)

Natural gas - consumption

0 cu m (2012 est.)

Natural gas - exports

0 cu m (2012 est.)

Natural gas - imports

0 cu m (2012 est.)

Natural gas - production

0 cu m (2012 est.)

Natural gas - proved reserves

0 cu m (1 January 2014 est.)

Refined petroleum products - consumption

15,520 bbl/day (2013 est.)

Refined petroleum products - exports

0 bbl/day (2010 est.)

Refined petroleum products - imports

19,360 bbl/day (2010 est.)

Refined petroleum products - production

0 bbl/day (2010 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 users

percent of population

13.2% (2014 est.)

total

283,500

Radio broadcast stations

AM 8, FM 13, shortwave 4 (2001)

Telephone system

domestic

fixed-line teledensity has declined in recent years and now stands at roughly 7 telephones per 100 persons; mobile-cellular teledensity now pushing 140 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 - fixed lines

subscriptions per 100 inhabitants

8 (2014 est.)

total subscriptions

170,000

Telephones - mobile cellular

subscriptions per 100 inhabitants

158 (2014 est.)

total

3.4 million

Television broadcast stations

2 (1 state-owned, 1 private) (2007)

Airports

74 (2013)

Airports - with paved runways

1,524 to 2,437 m

6

2,438 to 3,047 m

1

914 to 1,523 m

1 (2013)

over 3,047 m

2

total

10

Airports - with unpaved runways

13 (2013)

1,524 to 2,437 m

5

914 to 1,523 m

46

total

64

Railways

narrow gauge

888 km 1.067-m gauge (2014)

total

888 km

Roadways

note

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

total

17,916 km

Manpower available for military service

females age 16-49

531,095 (2010 est.)

males age 16-49

557,647

Manpower fit for military service

females age 16-49

302,332 (2010 est.)

males age 16-49

340,949

Manpower reaching militarily significant age annually

female

23,063 (2010 est.)

male

23,649

Military branches

Botswana Defense Force (BDF): Ground Forces Command, Air Wing Command, Defense Logistics Command, Special Forces Group (2013)

Military expenditures

2% of GDP (2013)

2.31% of GDP (2012)

2.43% of GDP (2011)

2.31% of GDP (2010)

Military service age and obligation

18 is the legal minimum age for voluntary military service; no conscription (2012)

Disputes - international

none

Trafficking in persons

currrent situation

Botswana is a source and destination country for women and children subjected to sex trafficking and forced labor; young Batswana serving as domestic workers, sometimes sent by their parents, may be denied education and basic necessities or experience confinement and abuse indicative of forced labor; adults and children of San ethnicity were reported to be in forced labor on farms and at cattle posts; Batswana girls also are forced into prostitution domestically; undocumented Asian workers may be vulnerable to forced labor due to the threat of deportation

tier rating

Tier 2 Watch List – Botswana does not fully comply with the minimum standards for the elimination of trafficking; however, it is making significant efforts to do so; nevertheless, authorities did not increase anti-trafficking efforts in 2013; no cases involving domestic trafficking were investigated, no trafficking offenders were criminally prosecuted and convicted, and no reports of official complicity were investigated; the government did not pass anti-trafficking legislation or launch a public awareness campaign; formal victim identification and referral procedures were not developed (2014)