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Communications

Broadcast media [time series]

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 [time series]

.bw

Internet users (Internet hosts) [time series]

2,739 (2010) country comparison to the world: 148

Internet users [time series]

120,000 (2009) country comparison to the world: 153

Telecommunication systems (Telephone system) [time series]

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 subscribership is rapidly approaching a teledensity of 100 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) (2008)

Telephones - fixed lines (Telephones - main lines in use) [time series]

144,200 (2009) country comparison to the world: 133

Telephones - mobile cellular [time series]

1.874 million (2009) country comparison to the world: 136

Economy

Agricultural products (Agriculture - products) [time series]

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

Central bank discount rate [time series]

10% (31 December 2009) country comparison to the world: 19 15% (31 December 2008)

Commercial bank prime lending rate [time series]

13.76% (31 December 2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 35 16.54% (31 December 2008 est.)

Current account balance [time series]

-$552 million (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 118 -$762 million (2009 est.)

Debt - external [time series]

$2.222 billion (31 December 2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 137 $1.681 billion (31 December 2009 est.)

Gini Index coefficient - distribution of family income (Distribution of family income - Gini index) [time series]

63 (1993) country comparison to the world: 4

Economic overview (Economy - overview) [time series]

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 [time series]

2.648 billion kWh (2007 est.) country comparison to the world: 130

Electricity - exports [time series]

0 kWh (2008 est.)

Electricity - imports [time series]

2.181 billion kWh (2008 est.)

Electricity - production [time series]

1.052 billion kWh (2007 est.) country comparison to the world: 143

Exchange rates [time series]

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

Exports [time series]

$4.419 billion (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 112 $3.385 billion (2009 est.)

Exports - commodities [time series]

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

GDP (official exchange rate) [time series]

$12.5 billion (2010 est.)

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

$26.56 billion (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 112 $25.76 billion (2009 est.) $27.23 billion (2008 est.) note: data are in 2010 US dollars

GDP - composition, by sector of origin (GDP - composition by sector) [time series]

agriculture: 2.3% industry: 45.8% services: 51.9% (2009 est.)

Real GDP per capita (GDP - per capita (PPP)) [time series]

$13,100 (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 88 $12,900 (2009 est.) $13,900 (2008 est.) note: data are in 2010 US dollars

Real GDP growth rate (GDP - real growth rate) [time series]

3.1% (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 118 -5.4% (2009 est.) 2.9% (2008 est.)

Household income or consumption by percentage share [time series]

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

Imports [time series]

$4.518 billion (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 122 $4.243 billion (2009 est.)

Imports - commodities [time series]

foodstuffs, machinery, electrical goods, transport equipment, textiles, fuel and petroleum products, wood and paper products, metal and metal products

Industrial production growth rate [time series]

6.9% (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 43

Industries [time series]

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

Inflation rate (consumer prices) [time series]

7.1% (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 179 8.1% (2009 est.)

Investment (gross fixed) [time series]

28.2% of GDP (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 24

Labor force [time series]

685,300 formal sector employees (2007) country comparison to the world: 151

Labor force - by occupation [time series]

agriculture: NA% industry: NA% services: NA%

Market value of publicly traded shares [time series]

$3.991 billion (31 December 2009) country comparison to the world: 86 $3.556 billion (31 December 2008) $5.887 billion (31 December 2007)

Natural gas - consumption [time series]

0 cu m (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 114

Natural gas - exports [time series]

0 cu m (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 51

Natural gas - imports [time series]

0 cu m (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 78

Natural gas - production [time series]

0 cu m (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 201

Natural gas - proved reserves [time series]

0 cu m (1 January 2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 199

Oil - consumption [time series]

15,000 bbl/day (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 137

Oil - exports [time series]

0 bbl/day (2007 est.) country comparison to the world: 207

Oil - imports [time series]

15,180 bbl/day (2007 est.) country comparison to the world: 123

Oil - production [time series]

0 bbl/day (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 119

Oil - proved reserves [time series]

0 bbl (1 January 2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 198

Population below poverty line [time series]

30.3% (2003)

Public debt [time series]

22.6% of GDP (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 106 18.6% of GDP (2009 est.)

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold [time series]

$7.834 billion (31 December 2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 58 $8.704 billion (31 December 2009 est.)

Stock of broad money [time series]

$6.679 billion (31 December 2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 113 $5.357 billion (31 December 2009 est.)

Stock of domestic credit [time series]

$1.361 billion (31 December 2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 139 $2.06 billion (31 December 2007 est.)

Stock of narrow money [time series]

$1.146 billion (31 December 2010 est) country comparison to the world: 136 $939.1 million (31 December 2009 est)

Unemployment rate [time series]

7.5% (2007 est.) country comparison to the world: 77

Geography

Area [time series]

total: 581,730 sq km country comparison to the world: 47 land: 566,730 sq km water: 15,000 sq km

Area - comparative [time series]

slightly smaller than Texas

Climate [time series]

semiarid; warm winters and hot summers

Coastline [time series]

0 km (landlocked)

Elevation (Elevation extremes) [time series]

lowest point: junction of the Limpopo and Shashe Rivers 513 m highest point: Tsodilo Hills 1,489 m

Environment - current issues [time series]

overgrazing; desertification; limited fresh water resources

International environmental agreements (Environment - international agreements) [time series]

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

Total water withdrawal (Freshwater withdrawal (domestic/industrial/agricultural)) [time series]

total: 0.19 cu km/yr (41%/18%/41%) per capita: 107 cu m/yr (2000)

Geographic coordinates [time series]

22 00 S, 24 00 E

Geography - note [time series]

landlocked; population concentrated in eastern part of the country

Irrigated land [time series]

10 sq km (2003)

Land boundaries [time series]

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

Land use [time series]

arable land: 0.65% permanent crops: 0.01% other: 99.34% (2005)

Location [time series]

Southern Africa, north of South Africa

Map references [time series]

Africa

Maritime claims [time series]

none (landlocked)

Natural hazards [time series]

periodic droughts; seasonal August winds blow from the west, carrying sand and dust across the country, which can obscure visibility

Natural resources [time series]

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

Terrain [time series]

predominantly flat to gently rolling tableland; Kalahari Desert in southwest

Total renewable water resources [time series]

14.7 cu km (2001)

Government

Administrative divisions [time series]

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

Capital [time series]

name: Gaborone geographic coordinates: 24 45 S, 25 55 E time difference: UTC+2 (7 hours ahead of Washington, DC during Standard Time)

Constitution [time series]

March 1965; effective 30 September 1966

Country name [time series]

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

Diplomatic representation from the US [time series]

chief of mission: Ambassador Stephen J. NOLAN embassy: Embassy Enclave (off Khama Crescent), Gaborone mailing address: Embassy Enclave, P. O. Box 90, Gaborone telephone: [267] 395-3982 FAX: [267] 395-6947

Diplomatic representation in the US [time series]

chief of mission: Ambassador Lapologang Caesar LEKOA chancery: 1531-1533 New Hampshire Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20036 telephone: [1] (202) 244-4990 FAX: [1] (202) 244-4164

Executive branch [time series]

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 head of government: President Seretse Khama Ian KHAMA (since 1 April 2008); Vice President Mompati MERAFHE (since 1 April 2008) cabinet: Cabinet appointed by the president (For more information visit theWorld 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%

Flag (Flag description) [time series]

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 [time series]

parliamentary republic

Independence [time series]

30 September 1966 (from the UK)

International organization participation [time series]

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 [time series]

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

Legal system [time series]

based on Roman-Dutch law and local customary law; judicial review limited to matters of interpretation; accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction with reservations

Legislative branch [time series]

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) 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%, 2.3%, other 4.3%; seats by party - BDP 45, BNF 6, BCP 4, BAM 1, other 1

National anthem(s) (National anthem) [time series]

name: "Fatshe leno la rona" (Our Land) lyrics/music: Kgalemang Tumedisco MOTSETE note: adopted 1966

National holiday [time series]

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

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

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

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 [time series]

18 years of age; universal

Introduction

Background [time series]

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.

Military

Manpower available for military service [time series]

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

Manpower fit for military service [time series]

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

Manpower reaching militarily significant age annually [time series]

male: 23,496 female: 22,944 (2010 est.)

Military and security forces (Military branches) [time series]

Botswana Defense Force (BDF): Ground Forces Command, Air Arm Command, Logistics Command (2010)

Military expenditures [time series]

3.3% of GDP (2006) country comparison to the world: 38

Military service age and obligation [time series]

18 is the apparent age of voluntary military service; official minimum age is unknown (2001)

People

Age structure [time series]

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 [time series]

22.54 births/1,000 population (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 78

Death rate [time series]

9.02 deaths/1,000 population (July 2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 73

Education expenditure (Education expenditures) [time series]

8.1% of GDP (2007) country comparison to the world: 10

Ethnic groups [time series]

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

HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate [time series]

23.9% (2007 est.) country comparison to the world: 2

HIV/AIDS - deaths [time series]

11,000 (2007 est.) country comparison to the world: 28

HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS [time series]

300,000 (2007 est.) country comparison to the world: 23

Infant mortality rate [time series]

total: 11.79 deaths/1,000 live births country comparison to the world: 143 male: 12.51 deaths/1,000 live births female: 11.05 deaths/1,000 live births (2010 est.)

Languages [time series]

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 [time series]

total population: 60.93 years country comparison to the world: 183 male: 61.11 years female: 60.75 years (2010 est.)

Literacy [time series]

definition: age 15 and over can read and write total population: 81.2% male: 80.4% female: 81.8% (2003 est.)

Major infectious diseases [time series]

degree of risk: high food or waterborne diseases: bacterial diarrhea, hepatitis A, and typhoid fever vectorborne disease: malaria (2009)

Median age [time series]

total: 22 years male: 21.8 years female: 22.1 years (2010 est.)

Nationality [time series]

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

Net migration rate [time series]

4.91 migrant(s)/1,000 population country comparison to the world: 17 note: there is an increasing flow of Zimbabweans into South Africa and Botswana in search of better economic opportunities (2010 est.)

Population [time series]

2,029,307 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 (July 2010 est.)

Population growth rate [time series]

1.843% (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 66

Religions [time series]

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

School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education) [time series]

total: 12 years male: 12 years female: 12 years (2006)

Sex ratio [time series]

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 [time series]

2.54 children born/woman (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 85

Urbanization [time series]

urban population: 60% of total population (2008) rate of urbanization: 2.5% annual rate of change (2005-10 est.)

Transnational Issues

Disputes - international [time series]

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

Transportation

Airports [time series]

78 (2010) country comparison to the world: 71

Airports - with paved runways [time series]

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 [time series]

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

Railways [time series]

total: 888 km country comparison to the world: 97 narrow gauge: 888 km 1.067-m gauge (2008)

Roadways [time series]

total: 25,798 km country comparison to the world: 103 paved: 8,410 km unpaved: 17,388 km (2005)