Africa :: Botswana

EXPAND ALL COLLAPSE ALL

## Introduction ::Botswana

Background:
Formerly the British protectorate of Bechuanaland, Botswana adopted its new name upon 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.

## Geography ::Botswana

Location:
Southern Africa, north of South Africa
Geographic coordinates:
22 00 S, 24 00 E
Map references:
Africa
Area:
total: 581,730 sq km country comparison to the world: 48 land: 566,730 sq km water: 15,000 sq km
Area - comparative:
slightly smaller than Texas
Land boundaries:
total: 4,013 km border countries: Namibia 1,360 km, South Africa 1,840 km, Zimbabwe 813 km
Coastline:
0 km (landlocked)
Maritime claims:
none (landlocked)
Climate:
semiarid; warm winters and hot summers
Terrain:
predominantly flat to gently rolling tableland; Kalahari Desert in southwest
Elevation extremes:
lowest point: junction of the Limpopo and Shashe Rivers 513 m highest point: Tsodilo Hills 1,489 m
Natural resources:
diamonds, copper, nickel, salt, soda ash, potash, coal, iron ore, silver
Land use:
arable land: 0.45% permanent crops: 0% other: 99.55% (2011)
Irrigated land:
14.39 sq km (2003)
Total renewable water resources:
12.24 cu km (2011)
Freshwater withdrawal (domestic/industrial/agricultural):
total: 0.19 cu km/yr (42%/19%/39%) per capita: 107.3 cu m/yr (2005)
Natural hazards:
periodic droughts; seasonal August winds blow from the west, carrying sand and dust across the country, which can obscure visibility
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
Geography - note:
landlocked; population concentrated in eastern part of the country

## People and Society ::Botswana

Nationality:
noun: Motswana (singular), Batswana (plural) adjective: Motswana (singular), Batswana (plural)
Ethnic groups:
Tswana (or Setswana) 79%, Kalanga 11%, Basarwa 3%, other, including Kgalagadi and white 7%
Languages:
Setswana 78.2%, Kalanga 7.9%, Sekgalagadi 2.8%, English (official) 2.1%, other 8.6%, unspecified 0.4% (2001 census)
Religions:
Christian 71.6%, Badimo 6%, other 1.4%, unspecified 0.4%, none 20.6% (2001 census)
Population:
2,127,825 (July 2013 est.) country comparison to the world: 144 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
Age structure:
0-14 years: 33.2% (male 360,053/female 346,691) 15-24 years: 21.8% (male 229,713/female 233,546) 25-54 years: 36.7% (male 411,019/female 370,395) 55-64 years: 4.3% (male 40,639/female 51,305) 65 years and over: 4% (male 33,868/female 50,596) (2013 est.) population pyramid:
Median age:
total: 22.7 years male: 22.6 years female: 22.7 years (2013 est.)
Population growth rate:
1.35% (2013 est.) country comparison to the world: 89
Birth rate:
21.69 births/1,000 population (2013 est.) country comparison to the world: 77
Death rate:
12.91 deaths/1,000 population (2013 est.) country comparison to the world: 22
Net migration rate:
4.68 migrant(s)/1,000 population country comparison to the world: 22 note: there is an increasing flow of Zimbabweans into South Africa and Botswana in search of better economic opportunities (2013 est.)
Urbanization:
urban population: 61.7% of total population (2011) rate of urbanization: 2.07% annual rate of change (2010-15 est.)
Major urban areas - population:
GABORONE (capital) 202,000 (2011)
Sex ratio:
at birth: 1.03 male(s)/female 0-14 years: 1.04 male(s)/female 15-24 years: 0.98 male(s)/female 25-54 years: 1.1 male(s)/female 55-64 years: 0.79 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.67 male(s)/female total population: 1.02 male(s)/female (2013 est.)
Maternal mortality rate:
160 deaths/100,000 live births (2010) country comparison to the world: 61
Infant mortality rate:
total: 9.9 deaths/1,000 live births country comparison to the world: 145 male: 10.34 deaths/1,000 live births female: 9.45 deaths/1,000 live births (2013 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:
total population: 54.47 years country comparison to the world: 205 male: 55.98 years female: 52.92 years (2013 est.)
Total fertility rate:
2.41 children born/woman (2013 est.) country comparison to the world: 85
Contraceptive prevalence rate:
52.8% note: percent of women aged 12-49 (2007/08)
Health expenditures:
8.3% of GDP (2010) country comparison to the world: 55
Physicians density:
0.34 physicians/1,000 population (2006)
Hospital bed density:
1.8 beds/1,000 population (2010)
Drinking water source:
improved: urban: 99% of population rural: 92% of population total: 96% of population unimproved: urban: 1% of population rural: 8% of population total: 4% of population (2010 est.)
Sanitation facility access:
improved: urban: 75% of population rural: 41% of population total: 62% of population unimproved: urban: 25% of population rural: 59% of population total: 38% of population (2010 est.)
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:
24.8% (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 2
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:
320,000 (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 18
HIV/AIDS - deaths:
5,800 (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 36
Major infectious diseases:
degree of risk: high food or waterborne diseases: bacterial diarrhea, hepatitis A, and typhoid fever vectorborne disease: malaria (2013)
Obesity - adult prevalence rate:
11.2% (2008) country comparison to the world: 128
Children under the age of 5 years underweight:
11.2% (2008) country comparison to the world: 65
Education expenditures:
7.8% of GDP (2009) country comparison to the world: 15
Literacy:
definition: age 15 and over can read and write total population: 84.5% male: 84% female: 84.9% (2010 est.)
School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education):
total: 12 years male: 12 years female: 12 years (2006)
Child labor - children ages 5-14:
total number: 45,036 percentage: 9 % note: data represents children ages 7-17 (2006 est.)
Unemployment, youth ages 15-24:
total: 13.6% country comparison to the world: 94 male: 13.2% female: 14% (2000)

## Government ::Botswana

Country name:
conventional long form: Republic of Botswana conventional short form: Botswana local long form: Republic of Botswana local short form: Botswana former: Bechuanaland
Government type:
parliamentary republic
Capital:
name: Gaborone geographic coordinates: 24 38 S, 25 54 E time difference: UTC+2 (7 hours ahead of Washington, DC during Standard Time)
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
Independence:
30 September 1966 (from the UK)
National holiday:
Independence Day (Botswana Day), 30 September (1966)
Constitution:
March 1965; effective 30 September 1966
Legal system:
mixed legal system of civil law influenced by the Roman-Dutch model and also customary and common law
International law organization participation:
accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction with reservations; accepts ICCt jurisdiction
Suffrage:
18 years of age; universal
Executive branch:
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 head of government: President Seretse Khama Ian KHAMA (since 1 April 2008); Vice President Ponatshego KEDIKILWE (since 2 August 2012) cabinet: Cabinet appointed by the president (For more information visit the World Leaders website ) 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 election results: Seretse Khama Ian KHAMA elected president; percent of National Assembly vote - NA
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 five-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) elections: National Assembly elections last held on 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%, BAM 2.3%, other 3.3%; seats by party - BDP 45, BNF 6, BCP 4, BAM 1, other 1
Judicial branch:
highest court(s): Court of Appeal, High Court (each consists of a chief justice and 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 three districts); Magistrates Courts (one 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
Political parties and leaders:
Botswana Alliance Movement or BAM [Ephraim Lepetu SETSHWAELO]; Botswana Congress Party or BCP [Dumelang SALESHANDO]; Botswana Democratic Party or BDP [Daniel KWELAGOBE]; Botswana Movement for Democracy or BMD [Gomolemo MOTSWALEDI]; Botswana National Front or BNF [Duma BOKO]; 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
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
Diplomatic representation in the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador Tebelelo Mazile SERETSE chancery: 1531-1533 New Hampshire Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20036 telephone: [1] (202) 244-4990 FAX: [1] (202) 244-4164
Diplomatic representation from the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador Michelle D. GAVIN embassy: Embassy Drive, Government Enclave (off Khama Crescent), Gaborone mailing address: Embassy Enclave, P. O. Box 90, Gaborone telephone: [267] 395-3982 FAX: [267] 318-0232
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
National symbol(s):
zebra
National anthem:
name: "Fatshe leno la rona" (Our Land) lyrics/music: Kgalemang Tumedisco MOTSETE note: adopted 1966

## Economy ::Botswana

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 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 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 may support Botswana's downstream diamond industry.
GDP (purchasing power parity):
$32.06 billion (2012 est.) country comparison to the world: 112 $30.88 billion (2011 est.) $29.39 billion (2010 est.) note: data are in 2012 US dollars
GDP (official exchange rate):
$17.62 billion (2012 est.)
GDP - real growth rate:
3.8% (2012 est.) country comparison to the world: 89 5.1% (2011 est.) 7% (2010 est.)
GDP - per capita (PPP):
$17,100 (2012 est.) country comparison to the world: 79 $16,700 (2011 est.) $16,000 (2010 est.) note: data are in 2012 US dollars
GDP - composition, by sector of origin:
agriculture: 2.1% industry: 45% services: 52.9% (2011 est.)
Labor force:
1.288 million (2012 est.) country comparison to the world: 134
Labor force - by occupation:
agriculture: NA% industry: NA% services: NA%
Unemployment rate:
17.8% (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 155 7.5% (2007 est.)
Population below poverty line:
30.3% (2003)
Household income or consumption by percentage share:
lowest 10%: NA% highest 10%: NA%
Distribution of family income - Gini index:
63 (1993) country comparison to the world: 3
Investment (gross fixed):
30% of GDP (2012 est.) country comparison to the world: 22
Budget:
revenues: $5.508 billion expenditures: $5.393 billion (2012 est.)
Taxes and other revenues:
31.3% of GDP (2012 est.) country comparison to the world: 85
Budget surplus (+) or deficit (-):
0.7% of GDP (2012 est.) country comparison to the world: 35
Public debt:
14.4% of GDP (2012 est.) country comparison to the world: 138 17% of GDP (2011 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices):
7.5% (2012 est.) country comparison to the world: 182 8.5% (2011 est.)
Central bank discount rate:
9.5% (31 December 2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 25 10% (31 December 2009 est.)
Commercial bank prime lending rate:
11% (31 December 2012 est.) country comparison to the world: 75 11% (31 December 2011 est.)
Stock of narrow money:
$1.361 billion (31 December 2012 est.) country comparison to the world: 138 $1.153 billion (31 December 2011 est.)
Stock of broad money:
$7.6 billion (31 December 2012 est.) country comparison to the world: 114 $7.1 billion (31 December 2011 est.)
Stock of domestic credit:
$1.45 billion (31 December 2012 est.) country comparison to the world: 148 $1.114 billion (31 December 2011 est.)
Market value of publicly traded shares:
$4.44 billion (31 December 2012) country comparison to the world: 88 $4.107 billion (31 December 2011) $4.076 billion (31 December 2010)
Agriculture - products:
livestock, sorghum, maize, millet, beans, sunflowers, groundnuts
Industries:
diamonds, copper, nickel, salt, soda ash, potash, coal, iron ore, silver; livestock processing; textiles
Industrial production growth rate:
0% (2012 est.) country comparison to the world: 135
Current account balance:
$231.3 million (2012 est.) country comparison to the world: 52 $271 million (2011 est.)
Exports:
$6.259 billion (2012 est.) country comparison to the world: 105 $6.458 billion (2011 est.)
Exports - commodities:
diamonds, copper, nickel, soda ash, meat, textiles
Imports:
$6.938 billion (2012 est.) country comparison to the world: 112 $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
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold:
$7.839 billion (31 December 2012 est.) country comparison to the world: 78 $8.082 billion (31 December 2011 est.)
Debt - external:
$2.437 billion (31 December 2012 est.) country comparison to the world: 143 $2.396 billion (31 December 2011 est.)
Exchange rates:
pulas (BWP) per US dollar - 7.6179 (2012 est.) 6.8382 (2011 est.) 6.7936 (2010 est.) 7.1551 (2009) 6.7907 (2008)
Fiscal year:
1 April - 31 March

## Energy ::Botswana

Electricity - production:
417 million kWh (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 165
Electricity - consumption:
3.118 billion kWh (2011 est.) country comparison to the world: 132
Electricity - exports:
0 kWh (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 161
Electricity - imports:
2.89 billion kWh (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 44
Electricity - installed generating capacity:
132,000 kW (2011 est.) country comparison to the world: 164
Electricity - from fossil fuels:
100% of total installed capacity (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 6
Electricity - from nuclear fuels:
0% of total installed capacity (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 46
Electricity - from hydroelectric plants:
0% of total installed capacity (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 158
Electricity - from other renewable sources:
0% of total installed capacity (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 109
Crude oil - production:
0 bbl/day (2011 est.) country comparison to the world: 108
Crude oil - exports:
0 bbl/day (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 79
Crude oil - imports:
0 bbl/day (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 157
Crude oil - proved reserves:
0 bbl (1 January 2012 est.) country comparison to the world: 106
Refined petroleum products - production:
0 bbl/day (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 123
Refined petroleum products - consumption:
15,420 bbl/day (2011 est.) country comparison to the world: 143
Refined petroleum products - exports:
0 bbl/day (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 152
Refined petroleum products - imports:
19,060 bbl/day (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 106
Natural gas - production:
0 cu m (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 99
Natural gas - consumption:
0 cu m (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 117
Natural gas - exports:
0 cu m (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 60
Natural gas - imports:
0 cu m (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 158
Natural gas - proved reserves:
0 cu m (1 January 2012 est.) country comparison to the world: 109
Carbon dioxide emissions from consumption of energy:
3.841 million Mt (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 131

## Communications ::Botswana

Telephones - main lines in use:
149,600 (2011) country comparison to the world: 135
Telephones - mobile cellular:
2.9 million (2011) country comparison to the world: 130
Telephone system:
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 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 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)
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) country comparison to the world: 163
Internet users:
120,000 (2009) country comparison to the world: 154

## Transportation ::Botswana

Airports:
76 (2012) country comparison to the world: 72
Airports - with paved runways:
total: 10 over 3,047 m: 1 2,438 to 3,047 m: 1 1,524 to 2,437 m: 7 914 to 1,523 m: 1 (2012)
Airports - with unpaved runways:
total: 66 1,524 to 2,437 m: 5 914 to 1,523 m: 47 under 914 m: 14 (2012)
Railways:
total: 888 km country comparison to the world: 93 narrow gauge: 888 km 1.067-m gauge (2008)
Roadways:
total: 17,916 km country comparison to the world: 116 note: 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)

## Military ::Botswana

Military branches:
Botswana Defense Force (BDF): Ground Forces Command, Air Wing Command, Defense Logistics Command, Special Forces Group (2013)
Military service age and obligation:
18 is the legal minimum age for voluntary military service; no conscription (2012)
Manpower available for military service:
males age 16-49: 557,647 females age 16-49: 531,095 (2010 est.)
Manpower fit for military service:
males age 16-49: 340,949 females age 16-49: 302,332 (2010 est.)
Manpower reaching militarily significant age annually:
male: 23,649 female: 23,063 (2010 est.)
Military expenditures:
2.8% of GDP (2012) country comparison to the world: 43

## Transnational Issues ::Botswana

Disputes - international:
none

EXPAND ALL COLLAPSE ALL