Broadcast media (Radio) [time series]

broadcast stations: AM 7, FM 13, shortwave 0 radios: NA

Telecommunication systems (Telephone system) [time series]

26,000 telephones; sparse system; telephone density - 18.67 telephones/1,000 persons local: NA intercity: small system of open wire lines, microwave radio relay links, and a few radio communication stations international: 1 INTELSAT (Indian Ocean) earth station

Broadcast media (Television) [time series]

broadcast stations: 0 televisions: NA

Military and security forces (Branches) [time series]

Botswana Defense Force (includes Army and Air Wing), Botswana National Police

Military expenditures (Defense expenditures) [time series]

exchange rate conversion - $198 million, 5.2% of GDP (FY93/94) BOUVET ISLAND (territory of Norway)

Manpower availability [time series]

males age 15-49 306,878; males fit for military service 161,376; males reach military age (18) annually 15,403 (1995 est.)

Agricultural products (Agriculture) [time series]

sorghum, maize, millet, pulses, groundnuts, beans, cowpeas, sunflower seeds; livestock

Budget [time series]

revenues: $1.7 billion expenditures: $1.99 billion, including capital expenditures of $652 million (FY93/94)

Exchange rates (Currency) [time series]

1 pula (P) = 100 thebe

Economic aid [time series]

recipient: US aid (1992), $13 million; Norway (1992), $16 million; Sweden (1992), $15.5 million; Germany (1992), $3.6 million; EC/Lome-IV (1992), $3 million-$6 million in grants; $28.7 million in long-term projects (1992)

Electricity [time series]

capacity: 220,000 kW production: 900 million kWh consumption per capita: 694 kWh (1993)

Exchange rates [time series]

pula (P) per US$1 - 1.7086 (January 1995), 2.6976 (November 1994), 2.4190 (1993), 2.1327 (1992), 2.0173 (1991), 1.8601 (1990)

Exports [time series]

$1.8 billion (f.o.b. 1994) commodities: diamonds 78%, copper and nickel 6%, meat 5% partners: Switzerland, UK, SACU (Southern African Customs Union)

Debt - external (External debt) [time series]

$344 million (December 1991)

Fiscal year [time series]

1 April - 31 March

Imports [time series]

$1.8 billion (c.i.f., 1992) commodities: foodstuffs, vehicles and transport equipment, textiles, petroleum products partners: Switzerland, SACU (Southern African Customs Union), UK, US

Industrial production growth rate (Industrial production) [time series]

growth rate 4.6% (FY92/93); accounts for about 43% of GDP, including mining

Industries [time series]

mining of diamonds, copper, nickel, coal, salt, soda ash, potash; livestock processing

Inflation rate (consumer prices) [time series]

10% (1994 est.)

Real GDP (purchasing power parity) (National product) [time series]

GDP - purchasing power parity - $4.3 billion (1994 est.)

Real GDP per capita (National product per capita) [time series]

$3,130 (1994 est.)

Real GDP growth rate (National product real growth rate) [time series]

1% (1994 est.)

Economic overview (Overview) [time series]

The economy has historically been based on cattle raising and crops. Agriculture today provides a livelihood for more than 80% of the population but supplies only about 50% of food needs and accounts for only 5% of GDP. Subsistence farming and cattle raising predominate. The driving force behind the rapid economic growth of the 1970s and 1980s has been the mining industry. This sector, mostly on the strength of diamonds, has gone from generating 25% of GDP in 1980 to 39% in 1994. No other sector has experienced such growth, especially not agriculture, which is plagued by erratic rainfall and poor soils. The unemployment rate remains a problem at 25%. Hampered by a still sluggish diamond market in 1994, GDP grew by only 1%.

Unemployment rate [time series]

25% (1994 est.)

Area [time series]

total area: 600,370 sq km land area: 585,370 sq km comparative area: slightly smaller than Texas

Climate [time series]

semiarid; warm winters and hot summers

Coastline [time series]

0 km (landlocked)

Environment - current issues (Environment) [time series]

current issues: overgrazing, primarily as a result of the expansion of the cattle population; desertification; limited natural fresh water resources natural hazards: periodic droughts; seasonal August winds blow from the west, carrying sand and dust across the country, which can obscure visibility international agreements: party to - Climate Change, Endangered Species, Law of the Sea, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection; signed, but not ratified - Biodiversity

Disputes - international (International disputes) [time series]

short section of boundary with Namibia is indefinite; quadripoint with Namibia, Zambia, and Zimbabwe is in disagreement; dispute with Namibia over uninhabited Kasikili (Sidudu) Island in Linyanti (Chobe) River remained unresolved in mid-February 1995 and the parties agreed to refer the matter to the International Court of Justice

Irrigated land [time series]

20 sq km (1989 est.)

Land boundaries [time series]

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

Land use [time series]

arable land: 2% permanent crops: 0% meadows and pastures: 75% forest and woodland: 2% other: 21%

Location [time series]

Southern Africa, north of South Africa

Map references [time series]

Africa

Maritime claims [time series]

none; landlocked

Natural resources [time series]

diamonds, copper, nickel, salt, soda ash, potash, coal, iron ore, silver

Note [time series]

landlocked; population concentrated in eastern part of the country

Terrain [time series]

predominately flat to gently rolling tableland; Kalahari Desert in southwest

Administrative divisions [time series]

10 districts; Central, Chobe, Ghanzi, Kgalagadi, Kgatleng, Kweneng, Ngamiland, North-East, South-East, Southern; in addition, there are 4 town councils - Francistown, Gaborone, Lobatse, Selebi-Phikwe

Capital [time series]

Gaborone

Constitution [time series]

March 1965, effective 30 September 1966

Digraph [time series]

BC

Diplomatic representation in the US (Diplomatic representation in US) [time series]

chief of mission: Ambassador Botsweletse Kingsley SEBELE chancery: Suite 7M, 3400 International Drive NW, Washington, DC 20008 telephone: [1] (202) 244-4990, 4991

Executive branch [time series]

chief of state and head of government: President Sir Ketumile MASIRE (since 13 July 1980); Vice President Festus MOGAE (since 9 March 1992); election last held 15 October 1994 (next to be held October 1999); results - President Sir Ketumile MASIRE was reelected by the National Assembly cabinet: Cabinet; appointed by the president

Diplomatic representation in the US (FAX) [time series]

[1] (202) 244-4164

Diplomatic representation in the US (FAX) [time series]

[267] 356947

Flag [time series]

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

Legislative branch (House of Chiefs) [time series]

is a largely advisory 15-member body consisting of chiefs of the 8 principal tribes, 4 elected subchiefs, and 3 members selected by the other 12

Independence [time series]

30 September 1966 (from UK)

Judicial branch [time series]

High Court, Court of Appeal

Legal system [time series]

based on Roman-Dutch law and local customary law; judicial review limited to matters of interpretation; has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction

Legislative branch [time series]

bicameral Parliament

International organization participation (Member of) [time series]

ACP, AfDB, C, CCC, ECA, FAO, FLS, G-77, GATT, IBRD, ICAO, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, INTELSAT (nonsignatory user), INTERPOL, IOC, ITU, NAM, OAU, SACU, SADC, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UNOMOZ, UNOMUR, UNOSOM, UPU, WCL, WFTU, WHO, WMO

Country name (Names) [time series]

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

Legislative branch (National Assembly) [time series]

elections last held 15 October 1994 (next to be held October 1999); results - percent of vote by party NA; seats - (44 total of which 40 are elected and 4 are appointed) BDP 27, BNF 13

National holiday [time series]

Independence Day, 30 September (1966)

Political parties (Political parties and leaders) [time series]

Botswana Democratic Party (BDP), Sir Ketumile MASIRE; Botswana National Front (BNF), Kenneth KOMA; Botswana People's Party (BPP), Knight MARIPE; Botswana Independence Party (BIP), Motsamai MPHO

Suffrage [time series]

21 years of age; universal

Government type (Type) [time series]

parliamentary republic

Diplomatic representation from the US (US diplomatic representation) [time series]

chief of mission: Ambassador Howard F. JETER embassy: address NA, Gaborone mailing address: P. O. Box 90, Gaborone telephone: [267] 353982

Age structure [time series]

0-14 years: 43% (female 300,598; male 303,333) 15-64 years: 53% (female 398,347; male 344,838) 65 years and over: 4% (female 25,773; male 19,525) (July 1995 est.)

Birth rate [time series]

31.01 births/1,000 population (1995 est.)

Death rate [time series]

7.41 deaths/1,000 population (1995 est.)

Ethnic groups (Ethnic divisions) [time series]

Batswana 95%, Kalanga, Basarwa, and Kgalagadi 4%, white 1%

Infant mortality rate [time series]

38 deaths/1,000 live births (1995 est.)

Labor force [time series]

428,000 (1992) by occupation: 220,000 formal sector employees, most others are engaged in cattle raising and subsistence agriculture (1992 est.); 14,300 are employed in various mines in South Africa (March 1992)

Languages [time series]

English (official), Setswana

Life expectancy at birth [time series]

total population: 63.56 years male: 60.54 years female: 66.67 years (1995 est.)

Literacy [time series]

age 15 and over can read and write (1990 est.) total population: 23% male: 32% female: 16%

Nationality [time series]

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

Net migration rate [time series]

0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1995 est.)

Population [time series]

1,392,414 (July 1995 est.)

Population growth rate [time series]

2.36% (1995 est.)

Religions [time series]

indigenous beliefs 50%, Christian 50%

Total fertility rate [time series]

3.86 children born/woman (1995 est.)

Airports [time series]

total: 100 with paved runways over 3,047 m: 1 with paved runways 2,438 to 3,047 m: 1 with paved runways 1,524 to 2,437 m: 6 with paved runways 914 to 1,523 m: 2 with paved runways under 914 m: 23 with unpaved runways 1,524 to 2,438 m: 5 with unpaved runways 914 to 1,523 m: 62

Roadways (Highways) [time series]

total: 11,514 km paved: 1,600 km unpaved: crushed stone, gravel 1,700 km; improved earth 5,177 km; unimproved earth 3,037 km

Ports [time series]

none

Railways (Railroads) [time series]

total: 888 km narrow gauge: 888 km 1.067-m gauge (1992)