ARCHIVE // BW // 2021
Botswana
2021 Edition — sovereign
1990
1991
1992
1993
1994
1995
1996
1997
1998
1999
2000
2001
2002
2003
2004
2005
2006
2007
2008
2009
2010
2011
2012
2013
2014
2015
2016
2017
2018
2019
2020
2021
2022
2023
2024
2025
Communications
Broadband - fixed subscriptions
[time series]
total: 71,898 (2020) subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 3.06 (2020 est.)
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; 4 privately owned radio stations broadcast locally (2019)
Internet country code
[time series]
.bw
Internet users
[time series]
total: 1.12 million (2021 est.) percent of population: 47% (2019 est.)
Telecommunication systems
[time series]
general assessment: due to effective regulatory reform and active competition, Botswana s telecom market is one of the most liberalized in the region; strategy to drive nationwide ICT penetration is slowed; one of the highest mobile penetration rates in Africa; operators developing 3G and LTE; Internet use rising due to lower prices; government has embraced digitalization, e-government and identity programs that require citizens to provide detailed personal information; previously dependent on satellites for international connectivity, country s new submarine cable landings improved competition and tripled international Internet capacity; importer of broadcast equipment from Hong Kong and China (2020) (2020) domestic: fixed-line teledensity has declined in recent years and now stands at roughly 6 telephones per 100 persons; mobile-cellular teledensity has advanced to 174 telephones per 100 persons (2019) 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) note: the COVID-19 pandemic continues to have a significant impact on production and supply chains globally; since 2020, some aspects of the telecom sector have experienced downturn, particularly in mobile device production; many network operators delayed upgrades to infrastructure; progress towards 5G implementation was postponed or slowed in some countries; consumer spending on telecom services and devices was affected by large-scale job losses and the consequent restriction on disposable incomes; the crucial nature of telecom services as a tool for work and school from home became evident, and received some support from governments
Telephones - fixed lines
[time series]
total subscriptions: 142,587 (2020) subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 5.95 (2020 est.)
Telephones - mobile cellular
[time series]
total subscriptions: 3,819,019 (2020) subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 162.4 (2020 est.)
Economy
Agricultural products
[time series]
milk, roots/tubers, vegetables, sorghum, beef, game meat, watermelons, cabbages, goat milk, onions
Budget
[time series]
revenues: 5.305 billion (2017 est.) expenditures: 5.478 billion (2017 est.)
Budget surplus (+) or deficit (-)
[time series]
-1% (of GDP) (2017 est.)
Credit ratings
[time series]
Moody's rating: A2 (2020) Standard & Poors rating: BBB+ (2020)
Current account balance
[time series]
$2.146 billion (2017 est.) $2.147 billion (2016 est.)
Debt - external
[time series]
$2.187 billion (31 December 2017 est.) $2.421 billion (31 December 2016 est.)
Economic overview
[time series]
Until the beginning of the global recession in 2008, Botswana maintained one of the world's highest economic growth rates since its independence in 1966. Botswana recovered from the global recession in 2010, but only grew modestly until 2017, primarily due to a downturn in the global diamond market, though water and power shortages also played a role. Through fiscal discipline and sound management, Botswana has transformed itself from one of the poorest countries in the world five decades ago into a middle-income country with a per capita GDP of approximately $18,100 in 2017. Botswana also ranks as one of the least corrupt and best places to do business in Sub-Saharan Africa. Because of its heavy reliance on diamond exports, Botswana s economy closely follows global price trends for that one commodity. Diamond mining fueled much of Botswana s past economic expansion and currently accounts for one-quarter of GDP, approximately 85% of export earnings, and about one-third of the government's revenues. In 2017, Diamond exports increased to the highest levels since 2013 at about 22 million carats of output, driving Botswana s economic growth to about 4.5% and increasing foreign exchange reserves to about 45% of GDP. De Beers, a major international diamond company, signed a 10-year deal with Botswana in 2012 and moved its rough stone sorting and trading division from London to Gaborone in 2013. The move was geared to support the development of Botswana's nascent downstream diamond industry. Tourism is a secondary earner of foreign exchange and many Batswana engage in tourism-related services, subsistence farming, and cattle rearing. According to official government statistics, unemployment is around 20%, but unofficial estimates run much higher. The prevalence of HIV/AIDS is second highest in the world and threatens the country's impressive economic gains.
Exchange rates
[time series]
pulas (BWP) per US dollar - 10.90512 (2020 est.) 10.81081 (2019 est.) 10.60446 (2018 est.) 10.1263 (2014 est.) 8.9761 (2013 est.)
Exports
[time series]
$6.16 billion note: data are in current year dollars (2019 est.) $7.53 billion note: data are in current year dollars (2018 est.)
Exports - commodities
[time series]
diamonds, insulated wiring, gold, beef, carbonates (2019)
Exports - partners
[time series]
India 21%, Belgium 19%, United Arab Emirates 19%, South Africa 9%, Israel 7%, Hong Kong 6%, Singapore 5% (2019)
Fiscal year
[time series]
1 April - 31 March
GDP (official exchange rate)
[time series]
$18.335 billion (2019 est.)
GDP - composition, by end use
[time series]
household consumption: 48.5% (2017 est.) government consumption: 18.4% (2017 est.) investment in fixed capital: 29% (2017 est.) investment in inventories: -1.8% (2017 est.) exports of goods and services: 39.8% (2017 est.) imports of goods and services: -33.9% (2017 est.)
GDP - composition, by sector of origin
[time series]
agriculture: 1.8% (2017 est.) industry: 27.5% (2017 est.) services: 70.6% (2017 est.)
Gini Index coefficient - distribution of family income
[time series]
53.3 (2015 est.) 63 (1993)
Household income or consumption by percentage share
[time series]
lowest 10%: NA highest 10%: NA
Imports
[time series]
$7.44 billion note: data are in current year dollars (2019 est.) $7.31 billion note: data are in current year dollars (2018 est.)
Imports - commodities
[time series]
diamonds, refined petroleum, cars, delivery trucks, electricity (2019)
Imports - partners
[time series]
South Africa 58%, Namibia 9%, Canada 7% (2019)
Industrial production growth rate
[time series]
-4.2% (2017 est.)
Industries
[time series]
diamonds, copper, nickel, salt, soda ash, potash, coal, iron ore, silver; beef processing; textiles
Inflation rate (consumer prices)
[time series]
2.7% (2019 est.) 3.2% (2018 est.) 3.2% (2017 est.)
Labor force
[time series]
1.177 million (2017 est.)
Labor force - by occupation
[time series]
agriculture: NA industry: NA services: NA
Population below poverty line
[time series]
19.3% (2009 est.)
Public debt
[time series]
14% of GDP (2017 est.) 15.6% of GDP (2016 est.)
Real GDP (purchasing power parity)
[time series]
$37.72 billion note: data are in 2017 dollars (2020 est.) $40.95 billion note: data are in 2017 dollars (2019 est.) $39.75 billion note: data are in 2017 dollars (2018 est.) note: data are in 2017 dollars
Real GDP growth rate
[time series]
2.4% (2017 est.) 4.3% (2016 est.) -1.7% (2015 est.)
Real GDP per capita
[time series]
$16,000 note: data are in 2017 dollars (2020 est.) $17,800 note: data are in 2017 dollars (2019 est.) $17,600 note: data are in 2017 dollars (2018 est.) note: data are in 2017 dollars
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold
[time series]
$7.491 billion (31 December 2017 est.) $7.189 billion (31 December 2016 est.)
Taxes and other revenues
[time series]
30.5% (of GDP) (2017 est.)
Unemployment rate
[time series]
20% (2013 est.) 17.8% (2009 est.)
Youth unemployment rate (ages 15-24)
(Unemployment, youth ages 15-24)
[time series]
total: 46.2% male: 44.9% female: 47.8% (2020 est.)
Energy
Crude oil - exports
[time series]
0 bbl/day (2015 est.)
Crude oil - imports
[time series]
0 bbl/day (2015 est.)
Crude oil - production
[time series]
0 bbl/day (2018 est.)
Crude oil - proved reserves
[time series]
0 bbl (1 January 2018 est.)
Electricity - consumption
[time series]
3.636 billion kWh (2016 est.)
Electricity - exports
[time series]
0 kWh (2016 est.)
Electricity - from fossil fuels
[time series]
100% of total installed capacity (2016 est.)
Electricity - from hydroelectric plants
[time series]
0% of total installed capacity (2017 est.)
Electricity - from nuclear fuels
[time series]
0% of total installed capacity (2017 est.)
Electricity - from other renewable sources
[time series]
0% of total installed capacity (2017 est.)
Electricity - imports
[time series]
1.673 billion kWh (2016 est.)
Electricity - installed generating capacity
[time series]
735,000 kW (2016 est.)
Electricity - production
[time series]
2.527 billion kWh (2016 est.)
Electricity access
[time series]
electrification - total population: 59% (2019) electrification - urban areas: 71% (2019) electrification - rural areas: 29% (2019)
Natural gas - consumption
[time series]
0 cu m (2017 est.)
Natural gas - exports
[time series]
0 cu m (2017 est.)
Natural gas - imports
[time series]
0 cu m (2017 est.)
Natural gas - production
[time series]
0 cu m (2017 est.)
Natural gas - proved reserves
[time series]
0 cu m (1 January 2014 est.)
Refined petroleum products - consumption
[time series]
21,000 bbl/day (2016 est.)
Refined petroleum products - exports
[time series]
0 bbl/day (2015 est.)
Refined petroleum products - imports
[time series]
21,090 bbl/day (2015 est.)
Refined petroleum products - production
[time series]
0 bbl/day (2015 est.)
Environment
Air pollutants
[time series]
particulate matter emissions: 21.24 micrograms per cubic meter (2016 est.) carbon dioxide emissions: 6.34 megatons (2016 est.) methane emissions: 5.73 megatons (2020 est.)
Climate
[time series]
semiarid; warm winters and hot summers
Environment - current issues
[time series]
overgrazing; desertification; limited freshwater resources; air pollution
International environmental agreements
(Environment - international agreements)
[time series]
party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Climate Change-Paris Agreement, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Wetlands signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements
Land use
[time series]
agricultural land: 45.8% (2018 est.) arable land: 0.6% (2018 est.) permanent crops: 0% (2018 est.) permanent pasture: 45.2% (2018 est.) forest: 19.8% (2018 est.) other: 34.4% (2018 est.)
Major aquifers
[time series]
Lower Kalahari-Stampriet Basin, Upper Kalahari-Cuvelai-Upper Zambezi Basin
Major infectious diseases
[time series]
degree of risk: high (2020) food or waterborne diseases: bacterial diarrhea, hepatitis A, and typhoid fever vectorborne diseases: malaria
Major rivers (by length in km)
[time series]
Zambezi (shared with Zambia [s]), Angola, Namibia, Zimbabwe, and Mozambique [m]) - 2,740 km; Limpopo (shared with South Africa [s], Zimbabwe, and Mozambique [m]) - 1,800 km; Okavango river mouth (shared with Angola [s], and Namibia) - 1,600 km note [s] after country name indicates river source; [m] after country name indicates river mouth
Major watersheds (area sq km)
[time series]
Atlantic Ocean drainage: Orange (941,351 sq km) Indian Ocean drainage: Zambezi (1,332,412 sq km) Internal (endorheic basin) drainage: Okavango Basin (863,866 sq km)
Revenue from coal
[time series]
coal revenues: 0.45% of GDP (2018 est.)
Revenue from forest resources
[time series]
forest revenues: 0.23% of GDP (2018 est.)
Total renewable water resources
[time series]
12.24 billion cubic meters (2017 est.)
Total water withdrawal
[time series]
municipal: 100.6 million cubic meters (2017 est.) industrial: 23.4 million cubic meters (2017 est.) agricultural: 69 million cubic meters (2017 est.)
Urbanization
[time series]
urban population: 71.6% of total population (2021) rate of urbanization: 2.47% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)
Waste and recycling
[time series]
municipal solid waste generated annually: 210,854 tons (2010 est.) municipal solid waste recycled annually: 2,109 tons (2005 est.) percent of municipal solid waste recycled: 1% (2005 est.)
Geography
Area
[time series]
total: 581,730 sq km land: 566,730 sq km water: 15,000 sq km
Area - comparative
[time series]
slightly smaller than Texas; almost four times the size of Illinois
Climate
[time series]
semiarid; warm winters and hot summers
Coastline
[time series]
0 km (landlocked)
Elevation
[time series]
highest point: Tsodilo Hills 1,489 m lowest point: junction of the Limpopo and Shashe Rivers 513 m mean elevation: 1,013 m
Geographic coordinates
[time series]
22 00 S, 24 00 E
Geography - note
[time series]
landlocked; population concentrated in the southern and eastern parts of the country
Irrigated land
[time series]
20 sq km (2012)
Land boundaries
[time series]
total: 4,347.15 km border countries (4): Namibia 1544 km, South Africa 1969 km, Zambia 0.15 km, Zimbabwe 834 km
Land use
[time series]
agricultural land: 45.8% (2018 est.) arable land: 0.6% (2018 est.) permanent crops: 0% (2018 est.) permanent pasture: 45.2% (2018 est.) forest: 19.8% (2018 est.) other: 34.4% (2018 est.)
Location
[time series]
Southern Africa, north of South Africa
Major aquifers
[time series]
Lower Kalahari-Stampriet Basin, Upper Kalahari-Cuvelai-Upper Zambezi Basin
Major rivers (by length in km)
[time series]
Zambezi (shared with Zambia [s]), Angola, Namibia, Zimbabwe, and Mozambique [m]) - 2,740 km; Limpopo (shared with South Africa [s], Zimbabwe, and Mozambique [m]) - 1,800 km; Okavango river mouth (shared with Angola [s], and Namibia) - 1,600 km note [s] after country name indicates river source; [m] after country name indicates river mouth
Major watersheds (area sq km)
[time series]
Atlantic Ocean drainage: Orange (941,351 sq km) Indian Ocean drainage: Zambezi (1,332,412 sq km) Internal (endorheic basin) drainage: Okavango Basin (863,866 sq km)
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
Population distribution
[time series]
the population is primarily concentrated in the east with a focus in and around the captial of Gaborone, and the far central-eastern city of Francistown; population density remains low in other areas in the country, especially in the Kalahari to the west as shown in this population distribution map
Terrain
[time series]
predominantly flat to gently rolling tableland; Kalahari Desert in southwest
Government
Administrative divisions
[time series]
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
[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) etymology: named after GABORONE (ca. 1825-1931), a revered kgosi (chief) of the Tlokwa tribe, part of the larger Tswana ethnic group
Citizenship
[time series]
citizenship by birth: no citizenship by descent only: at least one parent must be a citizen of Botswana dual citizenship recognized: no residency requirement for naturalization: 10 years
Constitution
[time series]
history: previous 1960 (preindependence); latest adopted March 1965, effective 30 September 1966 amendments: proposed by the National Assembly; passage requires approval in two successive Assembly votes with at least two-thirds majority in the final vote; proposals to amend constitutional provisions on fundamental rights and freedoms, the structure and branches of government, and public services also requires approval by majority vote in a referendum and assent by the president of the republic; amended several times, last in 2016
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 etymology: the name Botswana means "Land of the Tswana" - referring to the country's major ethnic group
Diplomatic representation from the US
[time series]
chief of mission: Ambassador Craig Lewis CLOUD (since 2 April 2019) embassy: Embassy Drive, Government Enclave (off Khama Crescent), Gaborone mailing address: 2170 Gabarone Place, Washington DC 20521-2170 telephone: [267] 395-3982 FAX: [267] 318-0232 email address and website: ConsularGabarone@state.gov https://bw.usembassy.gov/
Diplomatic representation in the US
[time series]
chief of mission: Ambassador Onkokame Kitso MOKAILA (since 17 September 2020) chancery: 1531-1533 New Hampshire Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20036 telephone: [1] (202) 244-4990 FAX: [1] (202) 244-4164 email address and website: info@botswanaembassy.org http://www.botswanaembassy.org/ consulate(s) general: Atlanta
Executive branch
[time series]
chief of state: President Mokgweetse Eric MASISI (since 1 April 2018); Vice President Slumber TSOGWANE (since 4 April 2018); note - the president is both chief of state and head of government head of government: President Mokgweetse Eric MASISI (since 1 April 2018); Vice President Slumber TSOGWANE (since 4 April 2018); note - the president is both chief of state and head of government cabinet: Cabinet appointed by the president elections/appointments: president indirectly elected by the National Assembly for a 5-year term (eligible for a second term); election last held on 24 October 2014 (next to be held on 31 October 2019); vice president appointed by the president election results: President Seretse Khama Ian KHAMA (since 1 April 2008) stepped down on 1 April 2018 having completed the constitutionally mandated 10-year term limit; upon his retirement, then Vice President MASISI became president; national elections held on 23 October 2019 gave MASISI'S BPD 38 seats in the National Assembly which then selected MASISI as President
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, 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
[time series]
highest courts: 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
[time series]
mixed legal system of civil law influenced by the Roman-Dutch model and also customary and common law
Legislative branch
[time series]
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 elections: last held on 23 October 2019 (next to be held in October 2024) election results: percent of vote by party - BDP 52.7%, UDC 35.9%, BPF 4.4%, AP 5.1%, other 1.7%; seats by party - BDP 38, UDC 15, BPF 3, AP 1; composition - NA
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; national colors: blue, white, black
Political parties
(Political parties and leaders)
[time series]
Alliance of Progressives or AP [Ndaba GAOLATHE] Botswana Congress Party or BCP [Dumelang SALESHANDO] Botswana Democratic Party or BDP [Mokgweetsi MASISI] Botswana Movement for Democracy or BMD [Sidney PILANE] Botswana National Front or BNF [Duma BOKO] Botswana Patriotic Front or BPF [Biggie BUTALE] Botswana Peoples Party or BPP [Motlatsi MOLAPISI] Real Alternative Party or RAP [Gaontebale MOKGOSI] Umbrella for Democratic Change or UDC [Duma BOKO] (various times the collation has included the BMD, BPP, BCP and BNF) (2019)
Suffrage
[time series]
18 years of age; universal
Introduction
Background
[time series]
Seeking to stop the incorporation of their land into Rhodesia (Zimbabwe) or the Union of South Africa, in 1885, three tribal chiefs traveled to Great Britain and successfully lobbied the British Government to put "Bechuanaland" under UK protection. Upon independence in 1966, the British protectorate of Bechuanaland adopted the new name of Botswana. More than five decades of uninterrupted civilian leadership, progressive social policies, and significant capital investment have created one of the most stable economies in Africa. The ruling Botswana Democratic Party has won every national election since independence; President Mokgweetsi Eric MASISI assumed the presidency in April 2018 following the retirement of former President Ian KHAMA due to constitutional term limits. MASISI won his first election as president in October 2019, and he is Botswana s fifth president since independence. 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 rates of HIV/AIDS infection, but also one of Africa's most progressive and comprehensive programs for dealing with the disease.
Military and Security
Military - note
[time series]
Bechuanaland/Botswana did not have a permanent military during colonial times, with the British colonial administrators relying instead on small, lightly armed constabularies such as the Bechuanaland Mounted Police, the Bechuanaland Border Police, and by the early 1960s, the Police Mobile Unit (PMU); after independence in 1966, Botswana militarized the PMU and gave it responsibility for the country s defense rather than create a conventional military force; however, turmoil in neighboring countries and numerous cross-border incursions by Rhodesian and South African security forces demonstrated that the PMU was inadequate for defending the country and led to the establishment of the BDF in 1977; as of 2021, the BDF s primary missions included securing territorial integrity/border security and internal duties such as disaster relief and anti-poaching as of 2021, the Army was comprised of approximately 4 small combat brigades (2 infantry, 1 light armored, 1 artillery), while the Air Force had 1 fighter/ground attack squadron; Botswana has no navy, but the Army has a marine unit with boats and other river craft for patrolling the country s numerous waterways, particularly the Chobe River and Okavango swamps Botswana participates in the Southern African Development Community (SADC) Standby Force, and in 2021 contributed nearly 300 troops to the SADC s effort to help the Mozambique Government suppress an insurgency
Military and security forces
[time series]
Botswana Defense Force (BDF): Ground Forces Command, Air Arm Command, Defense Logistics Command (2021) note - both the armed forces and the Botswana Police Service report to the Ministry of Defense, Justice, and Security
Military and security service personnel strengths
[time series]
the Botswana Defense Force (BDF) has approximately 9,000 active personnel (2021)
Military equipment inventories and acquisitions
[time series]
the BDF has a mix of foreign-supplied and mostly older weapons and equipment, largely from Europe and the US; since 2010, France is the leading supplier of armaments to the BDF (2020)
Military expenditures
[time series]
3% of GDP (2020 est.) 2.8% of GDP (2019) 2.8% of GDP (2018) 3% of GDP (2017) 3.4% of GDP (2016)
Military service age and obligation
[time series]
18 is the legal minimum age for voluntary military service; no conscription (2019)
People and Society
Age structure
[time series]
0-14 years: 30.54% (male 357,065/female 350,550) 15-24 years: 18.31% (male 208,824/female 215,462) 25-54 years: 39.67% (male 434,258/female 484,922) 55-64 years: 5.92% (male 59,399/female 77,886) 65 years and over: 5.56% (male 53,708/female 75,159) (2020 est.)
Birth rate
[time series]
20.6 births/1,000 population (2021 est.)
Children under the age of 5 years underweight
[time series]
NA
Contraceptive prevalence rate
[time series]
67.4% (2017)
Current health expenditure
(Current Health Expenditure)
[time series]
5.9% (2018)
Death rate
[time series]
9.12 deaths/1,000 population (2021 est.)
Demographic profile
[time series]
Botswana has experienced one of the most rapid declines in fertility in Sub-Saharan Africa. The total fertility rate has fallen from more than 5 children per woman in the mid 1980s to approximately 2.4 in 2013. The fertility reduction has been attributed to a host of factors, including higher educational attainment among women, greater participation of women in the workforce, increased contraceptive use, later first births, and a strong national family planning program. Botswana was making significant progress in several health indicators, including life expectancy and infant and child mortality rates, until being devastated by the HIV/AIDs epidemic in the 1990s. Today Botswana has the third highest HIV/AIDS prevalence rate in the world at approximately 22%, however comprehensive and effective treatment programs have reduced HIV/AIDS-related deaths. The combination of declining fertility and increasing mortality rates because of HIV/AIDS is slowing the population aging process, with a narrowing of the youngest age groups and little expansion of the oldest age groups. Nevertheless, having the bulk of its population (about 60%) of working age will only yield economic benefits if the labor force is healthy, educated, and productively employed. Batswana have been working as contract miners in South Africa since the 19th century. Although Botswana’s economy improved shortly after independence in 1966 with the discovery of diamonds and other minerals, its lingering high poverty rate and lack of job opportunities continued to push workers to seek mining work in southern African countries. In the early 1970s, about a third of Botswana’s male labor force worked in South Africa (lesser numbers went to Namibia and Zimbabwe). Not until the 1980s and 1990s, when South African mining companies had reduced their recruitment of foreign workers and Botswana’s economic prospects had improved, were Batswana increasingly able to find job opportunities at home. Most Batswana prefer life in their home country and choose cross-border migration on a temporary basis only for work, shopping, visiting family, or tourism. Since the 1970s, Botswana has pursued an open migration policy enabling it to recruit thousands of foreign workers to fill skilled labor shortages. In the late 1990s, Botswana’s prosperity and political stability attracted not only skilled workers but small numbers of refugees from neighboring Angola, Namibia, and Zimbabwe.
Dependency ratios
[time series]
total dependency ratio: 61.1 youth dependency ratio: 53.8 elderly dependency ratio: 7.3 potential support ratio: 13.8 (2020 est.)
Drinking water source
[time series]
improved: urban: 98.2% of population rural: 94% of population total: 96.9% of population unimproved: urban: 1.8% of population rural: 3.1% of population total: 3.8% of population (2017 est.)
Education expenditure
(Education expenditures)
[time series]
6.9% of GDP (2019)
Ethnic groups
[time series]
Tswana (or Setswana) 79%, Kalanga 11%, Basarwa 3%, other, including Kgalagadi and people of European ancestry 7%
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate
[time series]
19.9% (2020 est.)
HIV/AIDS - deaths
[time series]
5,100 (2020 est.)
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS
[time series]
370,000 (2020 est.)
Hospital bed density
[time series]
1.8 beds/1,000 population
Infant mortality rate
[time series]
total: 25.97 deaths/1,000 live births male: 28.38 deaths/1,000 live births female: 23.49 deaths/1,000 live births (2021 est.)
Languages
[time series]
Setswana 77.3%, Sekalanga 7.4%, Shekgalagadi 3.4%, English (official) 2.8%, Zezuru/Shona 2%, Sesarwa 1.7%, Sembukushu 1.6%, Ndebele 1%, other 2.8% (2011 est.)
Life expectancy at birth
[time series]
total population: 65.24 years male: 63.21 years female: 67.32 years (2021 est.)
Literacy
[time series]
definition: age 15 and over can read and write total population: 88.5% male: 88% female: 88.9% (2015)
Major infectious diseases
[time series]
degree of risk: high (2020) food or waterborne diseases: bacterial diarrhea, hepatitis A, and typhoid fever vectorborne diseases: malaria
Major urban areas - population
[time series]
269,000 GABORONE (capital) (2018)
Maternal mortality ratio
[time series]
144 deaths/100,000 live births (2017 est.)
Median age
[time series]
total: 25.7 years male: 24.5 years female: 26.7 years (2020 est.)
Nationality
[time series]
noun: Motswana (singular), Batswana (plural) adjective: Motswana (singular), Batswana (plural)
Net migration rate
[time series]
2.85 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2021 est.)
Obesity - adult prevalence rate
[time series]
18.9% (2016)
Physician density
(Physicians density)
[time series]
0.53 physicians/1,000 population (2016)
Population
[time series]
2,350,667 (July 2021 est.) 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 distribution
[time series]
the population is primarily concentrated in the east with a focus in and around the captial of Gaborone, and the far central-eastern city of Francistown; population density remains low in other areas in the country, especially in the Kalahari to the west as shown in this population distribution map
Population growth rate
[time series]
1.43% (2021 est.)
Religions
[time series]
Christian 79.1%, Badimo 4.1%, other 1.4% (includes Baha'i, Hindu, Muslim, Rastafarian), none 15.2%, unspecified 0.3% (2011 est.)
Sanitation facility access
[time series]
improved: urban: 92.9% of population rural: 60.8% of population total: 82.8% of population unimproved: urban: 7.1% of population rural: 39.2% of population total: 17.2% of population (2017 est.)
School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education)
[time series]
total: 13 years male: 13 years female: 13 years (2013)
Sex ratio
[time series]
at birth: 1.03 male(s)/female 0-14 years: 1.02 male(s)/female 15-24 years: 0.97 male(s)/female 25-54 years: 0.9 male(s)/female 55-64 years: 0.76 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.71 male(s)/female total population: 0.93 male(s)/female (2020 est.)
Total fertility rate
[time series]
2.42 children born/woman (2021 est.)
Youth unemployment rate (ages 15-24)
(Unemployment, youth ages 15-24)
[time series]
total: 46.2% male: 44.9% female: 47.8% (2020 est.)
Urbanization
[time series]
urban population: 71.6% of total population (2021) rate of urbanization: 2.47% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)
Transnational Issues
Disputes - international
[time series]
none
Transportation
Airports
[time series]
total: 74 (2013)
Airports - with paved runways
[time series]
total: 10 over 3,047 m: 2 2,438 to 3,047 m: 1 1,524 to 2,437 m: 6 914 to 1,523 m: 1 (2017)
Airports - with unpaved runways
[time series]
total: 64 1,524 to 2,437 m: 5 914 to 1,523 m: 46 under 914 m: 13 (2013)
Civil aircraft registration country code prefix
[time series]
A2
National air transport system
[time series]
number of registered air carriers: 1 (2020) inventory of registered aircraft operated by air carriers: 6 annual passenger traffic on registered air carriers: 253,417 (2018) annual freight traffic on registered air carriers: 110,000 mt-km (2018)
Railways
[time series]
total: 888 km (2014) narrow gauge: 888 km 1.067-m gauge (2014)
Roadways
[time series]
total: 31,747 km (2017) paved: 9,810 km (2017) unpaved: 21,937 km (2017)