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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]

1,806 (2012) country comparison to the world: 163

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 teledensity now exceeds 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) (2011)

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

149,600 (2011) country comparison to the world: 135

Telephones - mobile cellular [time series]

2.9 million (2011) country comparison to the world: 130

Economy

Agricultural products (Agriculture - products) [time series]

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

Budget [time series]

revenues: $5.491 billion expenditures: $5.346 billion (2012 est.)

Budget surplus (+) or deficit (-) [time series]

0.8% of GDP (2012 est.) country comparison to the world: 31

Central bank discount rate [time series]

9.5% (31 December 2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 27 10% (31 December 2009 est.)

Commercial bank prime lending rate [time series]

10.8% (31 December 2012 est.) country comparison to the world: 77 11% (31 December 2011 est.)

Current account balance [time series]

$711.1 million (2012 est.) country comparison to the world: 43 $271 million (2011 est.)

Debt - external [time series]

$1.968 billion (31 December 2012 est.) country comparison to the world: 142 $1.969 billion (31 December 2011 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. 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 [time series]

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

Exports [time series]

$5.887 billion (2012 est.) country comparison to the world: 108 $6.458 billion (2011 est.)

Exports - commodities [time series]

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

Fiscal year [time series]

1 April - 31 March

GDP (official exchange rate) [time series]

$17.64 billion (2012 est.)

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

$31.49 billion (2012 est.) country comparison to the world: 112 $30.33 billion (2011 est.) $28.86 billion (2010 est.) note: data are in 2012 US dollars

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

agriculture: 2.1% industry: 43.7% services: 50.2% (2012 est.)

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

$16,800 (2012 est.) country comparison to the world: 75 $16,400 (2011 est.) $15,800 (2010 est.) note: data are in 2012 US dollars

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

3.8% (2012 est.) country comparison to the world: 89 5.1% (2011 est.) 7% (2010 est.)

Household income or consumption by percentage share [time series]

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

Imports [time series]

$5.883 billion (2012 est.) country comparison to the world: 120 $6.275 billion (2011 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]

10.8% (2011 est.) country comparison to the world: 10

Inflation rate (consumer prices) [time series]

6.9% (2012 est.) country comparison to the world: 173 8.5% (2011 est.)

Investment (gross fixed) [time series]

27.6% of GDP (2012 est.) country comparison to the world: 31

Labor force [time series]

1.288 million country comparison to the world: 136 note: formal sector employees (2012 est.)

Labor force - by occupation [time series]

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

Market value of publicly traded shares [time series]

$4.107 billion (31 December 2011) country comparison to the world: 86 $4.076 billion (31 December 2010) $4.278 billion (31 December 2009)

Population below poverty line [time series]

30.3% (2003)

Public debt [time series]

12.9% of GDP (2012 est.) country comparison to the world: 138 13.4% of GDP (2011 est.)

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold [time series]

$8.648 billion (31 December 2012 est.) country comparison to the world: 77 $8.082 billion (31 December 2011 est.)

Stock of broad money [time series]

$7.6 billion (31 December 2012 est.) country comparison to the world: 115 $7.1 billion (31 December 2011 est.)

Stock of domestic credit [time series]

$415.9 million (31 December 2012 est.) country comparison to the world: 175 $1.114 billion (31 December 2011 est.)

Stock of narrow money [time series]

$1.28 billion (31 December 2012 est.) country comparison to the world: 142 $1.153 billion (31 December 2011 est.)

Taxes and other revenues [time series]

31.1% of GDP (2012 est.) country comparison to the world: 95

Unemployment rate [time series]

7.5% (2007 est.) country comparison to the world: 85

Energy

Carbon dioxide emissions (Carbon dioxide emissions from consumption of energy) [time series]

3.841 million Mt (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 131

Crude oil - exports [time series]

0 bbl/day (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 79

Crude oil - imports [time series]

0 bbl/day (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 157

Crude oil - production [time series]

0 bbl/day (2011 est.) country comparison to the world: 108

Crude oil - proved reserves [time series]

0 bbl (1 January 2012 est.) country comparison to the world: 106

Electricity - consumption [time series]

2.955 billion kWh (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 133

Electricity - exports [time series]

0 kWh (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 161

Electricity - from fossil fuels [time series]

100% of total installed capacity (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 6

Electricity - from hydroelectric plants [time series]

0% of total installed capacity (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 158

Electricity - from nuclear fuels [time series]

0% of total installed capacity (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 46

Electricity - from other renewable sources [time series]

0% of total installed capacity (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 108

Electricity - imports [time series]

2.89 billion kWh (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 43

Electricity - installed generating capacity [time series]

132,000 kW (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 165

Electricity - production [time series]

417 million kWh (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 165

Natural gas - consumption [time series]

0 cu m (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 118

Natural gas - exports [time series]

0 cu m (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 157

Natural gas - imports [time series]

0 cu m (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 158

Natural gas - production [time series]

0 cu m (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 99

Natural gas - proved reserves [time series]

0 cu m (1 January 2012 est.) country comparison to the world: 110

Refined petroleum products - consumption [time series]

15,420 bbl/day (2011 est.) country comparison to the world: 144

Refined petroleum products - exports [time series]

0 bbl/day (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 152

Refined petroleum products - imports [time series]

19,060 bbl/day (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 106

Refined petroleum products - production [time series]

0 bbl/day (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 123

Geography

Area [time series]

total: 581,730 sq km country comparison to the world: 48 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 freshwater 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]

20 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*, North East, North West, Selebi-Pikwe*, South East, Southern

Capital [time series]

name: Gaborone geographic coordinates: 24 38 S, 25 54 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 Michelle D. GAVIN 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 Tabelelo Mazile SERETSE 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 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 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 law organization participation [time series]

accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction with reservations; accepts ICCt jurisdiction

International organization participation [time series]

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 [time series]

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

Legal system [time series]

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

Legislative branch [time series]

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) 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 3.3%; 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)

National symbol(s) [time series]

zebra

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 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] 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: 557,647 females age 16-49: 531,095 (2010 est.)

Manpower fit for military service [time series]

males age 16-49: 340,949 females age 16-49: 302,332 (2010 est.)

Manpower reaching militarily significant age annually [time series]

male: 23,649 female: 23,063 (2010 est.)

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

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

Military expenditures [time series]

3.3% of GDP (2006) country comparison to the world: 37

Military service age and obligation [time series]

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

People and Society

Age structure [time series]

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 [time series]

22.02 births/1,000 population (2012 est.) country comparison to the world: 77

Children under the age of 5 years underweight [time series]

10.7% (2000) country comparison to the world: 64

Death rate [time series]

12 deaths/1,000 population (July 2012 est.) country comparison to the world: 29

Education expenditure (Education expenditures) [time series]

8.9% of GDP (2009) country comparison to the world: 8

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]

24.8% (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 2

HIV/AIDS - deaths [time series]

5,800 (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 35

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

320,000 (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 18

Health expenditure (Health expenditures) [time series]

10.3% of GDP (2009) country comparison to the world: 26

Hospital bed density [time series]

1.81 beds/1,000 population (2008)

Infant mortality rate [time series]

total: 10.49 deaths/1,000 live births country comparison to the world: 144 male: 11.03 deaths/1,000 live births female: 9.94 deaths/1,000 live births (2012 est.)

Languages [time series]

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 [time series]

total population: 55.74 years country comparison to the world: 198 male: 56.93 years female: 54.51 years (2012 est.)

Literacy [time series]

definition: age 15 and over can read and write total population: 84.5% male: 84% female: 84.9% (2010 est.)

Major urban areas - population (Major cities - population) [time series]

GABORONE (capital) 196,000 (2009)

Major infectious diseases [time series]

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

Maternal mortality ratio (Maternal mortality rate) [time series]

160 deaths/100,000 live births (2010) country comparison to the world: 61

Median age [time series]

total: 22.5 years male: 22.4 years female: 22.5 years (2012 est.)

Nationality [time series]

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

Net migration rate [time series]

4.75 migrant(s)/1,000 population country comparison to the world: 20 note: there is an increasing flow of Zimbabweans into South Africa and Botswana in search of better economic opportunities (2012 est.)

Physician density (Physicians density) [time series]

0.336 physicians/1,000 population (2006)

Population [time series]

2,098,018 (July 2012 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

Population growth rate [time series]

1.477% (2012 est.) country comparison to the world: 82

Religions [time series]

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

Sanitation facility access [time series]

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

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

total: 12 years male: 12 years female: 12 years (2007)

Sex ratio [time series]

at birth: 1.03 male(s)/female under 15 years: 1.04 male(s)/female 15-64 years: 1.03 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.67 male(s)/female total population: 1.02 male(s)/female (2011 est.)

Total fertility rate [time series]

2.46 children born/woman (2012 est.) country comparison to the world: 84

Urbanization [time series]

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

Transnational Issues

Disputes - international [time series]

none

Transportation

Airports [time series]

76 (2012) country comparison to the world: 72

Airports - with paved runways [time series]

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 [time series]

total: 66 1,524 to 2,437 m: 5 914 to 1,523 m: 47 under 914 m: 14 (2012)

Railways [time series]

total: 888 km country comparison to the world: 93 narrow gauge: 888 km 1.067-m gauge (2008)

Roadways [time series]

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) country comparison to the world: 116