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Botswana
2024 Edition — sovereign
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Communications
Broadband - fixed subscriptions
[time series]
total: 259,525 (2020 est.) subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 11 (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: 1.924 million (2021 est.) percent of population: 74% (2021 est.)
Telecommunication systems
[time series]
general assessment: effective regulatory reform has made Botswana s telecom market one of the most liberalized in the region; there is a service-neutral licensing regime adapted to the convergence of technologies and services, and several operators now compete in all telecom sectors; Botswana has one of the highest mobile penetration rates in Africa; in a bid to generate new revenue streams and secure market share, the three mobile network operators have entered the underdeveloped broadband sector by adopting of 3G, LTE, and WiMAX technologies; in the fixed-line broadband market they compete with a large number of ISPs, some of which have rolled out their own wireless access infrastructure; the landlocked country depends on satellites for international bandwidth, and on other countries for transit capacity to the landing points of international submarine cables; the landing of additional cables in the region in recent years has improved the competitive situation in this sector, while prices for connectivity have fallen dramatically (2022) domestic: fixed-line teledensity has declined in recent years and now stands at roughly 5 telephones per 100 persons; mobile-cellular teledensity is roughly 161 telephones per 100 persons (2021) 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)
Telephones - fixed lines
[time series]
total subscriptions: 92,000 (2022 est.) subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 3 (2022 est.)
Telephones - mobile cellular
[time series]
total subscriptions: 4.348 million (2022 est.) subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 165 (2022 est.)
Economy
Agricultural products
[time series]
milk, root vegetables, vegetables, maize, sorghum, beef, game meat, watermelons, cabbages, goat milk (2022) note: top ten agricultural products based on tonnage
Budget
[time series]
revenues: $5.989 billion (2022 est.) expenditures: $5.099 billion (2022 est.) note: central government revenues and expenses (excluding grants/extrabudgetary units/social security funds) converted to US dollars at average official exchange rate for year indicated
Credit ratings
[time series]
Moody's rating: A2 (2020) Standard & Poors rating: BBB+ (2020) note: The year refers to the year in which the current credit rating was first obtained.
Current account balance
[time series]
$606.394 million (2022 est.) -$250.118 million (2021 est.) -$1.531 billion (2020 est.) note: balance of payments - net trade and primary/secondary income in current dollars
Debt - external
[time series]
$1.507 billion (2022 est.) note: present value of external debt in current US dollars
Economic overview
[time series]
good economic governance and financial management; diamond-driven growth model declining; rapid poverty reductions; high unemployment, particularly among youth; COVID-19 sharply contracted the economy and recovery is slow; public sector wages have posed fiscal challenges
Exchange rates
[time series]
pulas (BWP) per US dollar - 13.596 (2023 est.) 12.369 (2022 est.) 11.087 (2021 est.) 11.456 (2020 est.) 10.756 (2019 est.)
Exports
[time series]
$8.9 billion (2022 est.) $7.928 billion (2021 est.) $4.703 billion (2020 est.) note: balance of payments - exports of goods and services in current dollars
Exports - commodities
[time series]
diamonds, copper ore, insulated wire, coal, cattle (2022) note: top five export commodities based on value in dollars
Exports - partners
[time series]
UAE 27%, Belgium 18%, India 15%, South Africa 10%, Hong Kong 6% (2022) note: top five export partners based on percentage share of exports
GDP (official exchange rate)
[time series]
$19.396 billion (2023 est.) note: data in current dollars at official exchange rate
GDP - composition, by end use
[time series]
household consumption: 42.9% (2023 est.) government consumption: 28.9% (2023 est.) investment in fixed capital: 25.7% (2023 est.) investment in inventories: 4.7% (2023 est.) exports of goods and services: 31.7% (2023 est.) imports of goods and services: -35.7% (2023 est.) note: figures may not total 100% due to rounding or gaps in data collection
GDP - composition, by sector of origin
[time series]
agriculture: 1.6% (2023 est.) industry: 34.3% (2023 est.) services: 59.4% (2023 est.) note: figures may not total 100% due to non-allocated consumption not captured in sector-reported data
Gini Index coefficient - distribution of family income
[time series]
53.3 (2015 est.) note: index (0-100) of income distribution; higher values represent greater inequality
Household income or consumption by percentage share
[time series]
lowest 10%: 1.5% (2015 est.) highest 10%: 41.5% (2015 est.) note: % share of income accruing to lowest and highest 10% of population
Imports
[time series]
$8.7 billion (2022 est.) $9.252 billion (2021 est.) $7.554 billion (2020 est.) note: balance of payments - imports of goods and services in current dollars
Imports - commodities
[time series]
diamonds, refined petroleum, trucks, raw sugar, plastic products (2022) note: top five import commodities based on value in dollars
Imports - partners
[time series]
South Africa 61%, Namibia 9%, Belgium 5%, India 4%, Canada 4% (2022) note: top five import partners based on percentage share of imports
Industrial production growth rate
[time series]
2.25% (2023 est.) note: annual % change in industrial value added based on constant local currency
Industries
[time series]
diamonds, copper, nickel, salt, soda ash, potash, coal, iron ore, silver; beef processing; textiles
Inflation rate (consumer prices)
[time series]
5.07% (2023 est.) 11.67% (2022 est.) 7.24% (2021 est.) note: annual % change based on consumer prices
Labor force
[time series]
1.17 million (2023 est.) note: number of people ages 15 or older who are employed or seeking work
Population below poverty line
[time series]
16.1% (2015 est.) note: % of population with income below national poverty line
Public debt
[time series]
19.62% of GDP (2020 est.) note: central government debt as a % of GDP
Real GDP (purchasing power parity)
[time series]
$46.742 billion (2023 est.) $45.499 billion (2022 est.) $43.133 billion (2021 est.) note: data in 2021 dollars
Real GDP growth rate
[time series]
2.73% (2023 est.) 5.49% (2022 est.) 11.92% (2021 est.) note: annual GDP % growth based on constant local currency
Real GDP per capita
[time series]
$17,500 (2023 est.) $17,300 (2022 est.) $16,700 (2021 est.) note: data in 2021 dollars
Remittances
[time series]
0.31% of GDP (2023 est.) 0.34% of GDP (2022 est.) 0.32% of GDP (2021 est.) note: personal transfers and compensation between resident and non-resident individuals/households/entities
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold
[time series]
$4.756 billion (2023 est.) $4.279 billion (2022 est.) $4.802 billion (2021 est.) note: holdings of gold (year-end prices)/foreign exchange/special drawing rights in current dollars
Taxes and other revenues
[time series]
19.65% (of GDP) (2022 est.) note: central government tax revenue as a % of GDP
Unemployment rate
[time series]
23.38% (2023 est.) 23.62% (2022 est.) 23.11% (2021 est.) note: % of labor force seeking employment
Youth unemployment rate (ages 15-24)
[time series]
total: 45.4% (2023 est.) male: 40.5% (2023 est.) female: 51.5% (2023 est.) note: % of labor force ages 15-24 seeking employment
Energy
Carbon dioxide emissions
[time series]
8.145 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2022 est.) from coal and metallurgical coke: 5.171 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2022 est.) from petroleum and other liquids: 2.974 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2022 est.)
Coal
[time series]
production: 2.634 million metric tons (2022 est.) consumption: 2.291 million metric tons (2022 est.) exports: 539,000 metric tons (2022 est.) imports: 1,000 metric tons (2022 est.) proven reserves: 1.66 billion metric tons (2022 est.)
Electricity
[time series]
installed generating capacity: 738,000 kW (2022 est.) consumption: 3.697 billion kWh (2022 est.) exports: 2 million kWh (2022 est.) imports: 1.662 billion kWh (2022 est.) transmission/distribution losses: 591.813 million kWh (2022 est.)
Electricity access
[time series]
electrification - total population: 75.9% (2022 est.) electrification - urban areas: 95.5% electrification - rural areas: 25%
Electricity generation sources
[time series]
fossil fuels: 99.8% of total installed capacity (2022 est.) solar: 0.2% of total installed capacity (2022 est.)
Energy consumption per capita
[time series]
39.265 million Btu/person (2022 est.)
Petroleum
[time series]
refined petroleum consumption: 21,000 bbl/day (2022 est.)
Environment
Air pollutants
[time series]
particulate matter emissions: 12.82 micrograms per cubic meter (2019 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 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]
0.45% of GDP (2018 est.)
Revenue from forest resources
[time series]
0.23% of GDP (2018 est.)
Total renewable water resources
[time series]
12.24 billion cubic meters (2020 est.)
Total water withdrawal
[time series]
municipal: 110 million cubic meters (2020 est.) industrial: 30 million cubic meters (2020 est.) agricultural: 80 million cubic meters (2020 est.)
Urbanization
[time series]
urban population: 72.9% of total population (2023) 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: Manyelanong Hill 1,495 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; sparsely populated with most settlement concentrated in the southern and eastern parts of the country; geography dominated by the Kalahari Desert, which covers about 70% of the country, although the Okavango Delta brings considerable biodiversity as one of the largest inland deltas in the World
Irrigated land
[time series]
25 sq km (2014)
Land boundaries
[time series]
total: 4,347.15 km border countries (4): Namibia 1,544 km; South Africa 1,969 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 (pre-independence); 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 2021
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 largest ethnic group
Diplomatic representation from the US
[time series]
chief of mission: Ambassador Howard A. VAN VRANKEN (since 24 May 2023) embassy: Embassy Drive, Government Enclave (off Khama Crescent), Gaborone mailing address: 2170 Gaborone Place, Washington DC 20521-2170 telephone: [267] 395-3982 FAX: [267] 318-0232 email address and website: ConsularGaborone@state.gov https://bw.usembassy.gov/
Diplomatic representation in the US
[time series]
chief of mission: Ambassador Mpho Churchill MOPHUTING (since 18 September 2024) 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/
Executive branch
[time series]
chief of state: President Duma BOKO (since 1 November 2024) head of government: President Duma BOKO (since 1 November 2024) 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 31 October 2024 (next to be held in October 2029); vice president appointed by the president election results: National elections held in 2024 gave BOKO's UDC 35 seats in the National Assembly, which then selected BOKO 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, MONUSCO, NAM, OPCW, SACU, SADC, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UNWTO, UPU, WCO, WFTU (NGOs), WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO
Judicial branch
[time series]
highest court(s): 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 (65 seats; 58 members directly elected in single-seat constituencies by simple majority vote, 5 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 vice president of Botswana; elected members serve 5-year terms) elections: last held on 23 October 2019 (next to be held by 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- men 56, women 7, percentage women 11.1% 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
National anthem(s)
(National anthem)
[time series]
name: "Fatshe leno la rona" (Our Land) lyrics/music: Kgalemang Tumedisco MOTSETE note: adopted 1966
National heritage
[time series]
total World Heritage Sites: 2 (1 cultural, 1 natural) selected World Heritage Site locales: Tsodilo Hills (c); Okavango Delta (n)
National holiday
[time series]
Independence Day (Botswana Day), 30 September (1966)
National symbol(s)
[time series]
zebra; national colors: light blue, white, black
Political parties
[time series]
Alliance of Progressives or AP Botswana Congress Party or BCP Botswana Democratic Party or BDP Botswana National Front or BNF [Duma BOKO]Botswana Patriotic Front or BPF Botswana Peoples Party or BPP Botswana Republic Party or BRP Umbrella for Democratic Change or UDC (various times the coalition has included the BPP, BCP, BNF and other parties)
Suffrage
[time series]
18 years of age; universal
Introduction
Background
[time series]
In the early 1800s, multiple political entities in what is now Botswana were destabilized or destroyed by a series of conflicts and population movements in southern Africa. By the end of this period, the Tswana ethnic group, who also live across the border in South Africa, had become the most prominent group in the area. In 1852, Tswana forces halted the expansion of white Afrikaner settlers who were seeking to expand their territory northwards into what is now Botswana. In 1885, Great Britain claimed territory that roughly corresponds with modern day Botswana as a protectorate called Bechuanaland. Upon independence in 1966, the British protectorate of Bechuanaland adopted the new name of Botswana, which means "land of the Tswana." More than five decades of uninterrupted civilian leadership, progressive social policies, and significant capital investment have created an enduring democracy and upper-middle-income economy. The ruling Botswana Democratic Party has won every national election since independence; President Mokgweetsi Eric Keabetswe MASISI assumed the presidency in 2018 after the retirement of former President Ian KHAMA due to constitutional term limits. MASISI won his first election as president in 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]
the BDF s key functions include defending the country's territorial integrity on land and in the air, ensuring national security and stability, and aiding civil authorities in support of domestic missions such as disaster relief and anti-poaching; it participates in regional and international security operations 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 in the 1960s and 1970s demonstrated that the PMU was inadequate for defending the country and led to the establishment of the Botswana Defense Force (BDF) in 1977 (2024)
Military and security forces
[time series]
Botswana Defense Force (BDF): Ground Forces Command, Air Arm Command, Defense Logistics Command (2024) note 1: both the BDF and the Botswana Police Service report to the Ministry of Defense and Security; the Botswana Police Service has primary responsibility for internal security; the BDF reports to the Office of the President through the minister of defense and security and has some domestic security responsibilities note 2: the Ground Force Command includes a marine unit with boats and river craft for patrolling Botswana's internal waterways and supporting anti-poaching operations
Military and security service personnel strengths
[time series]
approximately 10,000 active BDF personnel (2024)
Military equipment inventories and acquisitions
[time series]
the BDF has a mix of mostly older weapons and equipment, largely of Western/European origin; in recent years, it has received limited amounts of material from several European countries and the US (2024)
Military expenditures
[time series]
2.6% of GDP (2023 est.) 2.8% of GDP (2022 est.) 3% of GDP (2021 est.) 3% of GDP (2020 est.) 2.8% of GDP (2019 est.)
Military service age and obligation
[time series]
18 is the legal minimum age for voluntary military service for men and women; no conscription (2024)
People and Society
Age structure
[time series]
0-14 years: 28.7% (male 355,583/female 348,863) 15-64 years: 65.2% (male 759,210/female 837,752) 65 years and over: 6.1% (2024 est.) (male 59,513/female 89,747)
Alcohol consumption per capita
[time series]
total: 5.98 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.) beer: 2.93 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.) wine: 0.46 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.) spirits: 0.96 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.) other alcohols: 1.64 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
Birth rate
[time series]
19.6 births/1,000 population (2024 est.)
Children under the age of 5 years underweight
[time series]
NA
Contraceptive prevalence rate
[time series]
67.4% (2017)
Current health expenditure
[time series]
6.2% of GDP (2020)
Currently married women (ages 15-49)
[time series]
45% (2023 est.)
Death rate
[time series]
8.9 deaths/1,000 population (2024 est.)
Demographic profile
[time series]
Botswana has experienced one of the most rapid declines in fertility in Sub-Saharan Africa. The total fertility rate fell from more than 5 children per woman in the mid 1980s to approximately 2.4 in 2013, and remains at that level in 2022. 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. In 2021, Botswana had one of the highest HIV/AIDS prevalence rates in the world at close to 20%, 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% as of 2022) 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: 57.5 youth dependency ratio: 51.8 elderly dependency ratio: 5.7 potential support ratio: 13.8 (2021 est.)
Drinking water source
[time series]
improved: urban: 98.1% of population rural: 96.9% of population total: 99.4% of population unimproved: urban: 0.2% of population rural: 3.1% of population total: 0.6% of population (2020 est.)
Education expenditure
(Education expenditures)
[time series]
8.7% of GDP (2020 est.)
Ethnic groups
[time series]
Tswana (or Setswana) 79%, Kalanga 11%, Basarwa 3%, other, including Kgalagadi and people of European ancestry 7%
Gross reproduction rate
[time series]
1.15 (2024 est.)
Hospital bed density
[time series]
1.8 beds/1,000 population
Infant mortality rate
[time series]
total: 23.7 deaths/1,000 live births (2024 est.) male: 25.9 deaths/1,000 live births female: 21.4 deaths/1,000 live births
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: 66.4 years (2024 est.) male: 64.4 years female: 68.6 years
Literacy
[time series]
definition: age 15 and over can read and write total population: 88.5% male: 88% female: 88.9% (2015)
Major urban areas - population
[time series]
269,000 GABORONE (capital) (2018)
Maternal mortality ratio
[time series]
186 deaths/100,000 live births (2020 est.)
Median age
[time series]
total: 27.1 years (2024 est.) male: 26 years female: 28.3 years
Nationality
[time series]
noun: Motswana (singular), Batswana (plural) adjective: Motswana (singular), Batswana (plural)
Net migration rate
[time series]
2.7 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2024 est.)
Obesity - adult prevalence rate
[time series]
18.9% (2016)
Physician density
[time series]
0.38 physicians/1,000 population (2018)
Population
[time series]
total: 2,450,668 male: 1,174,306 female: 1,276,362 (2024 est.)
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]
1.34% (2024 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: 94.9% of population rural: 63% of population total: 85.6% of population unimproved: urban: 5.1% of population rural: 37% of population total: 14.4% of population (2020 est.)
School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education)
[time series]
total: 12 years male: 12 years female: 12 years (2021)
Sex ratio
[time series]
at birth: 1.03 male(s)/female 0-14 years: 1.02 male(s)/female 15-64 years: 0.91 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.66 male(s)/female total population: 0.92 male(s)/female (2024 est.)
Tobacco use
[time series]
total: 19.4% (2020 est.) male: 30.4% (2020 est.) female: 8.3% (2020 est.)
Total fertility rate
[time series]
2.34 children born/woman (2024 est.)
Urbanization
[time series]
urban population: 72.9% of total population (2023) rate of urbanization: 2.47% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)
Transportation
Airports
[time series]
122 (2024)
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 (2018) mt-km
Railways
[time series]
total: 888 km (2014) narrow gauge: 888 km (2014) 1.067-m gauge
Roadways
[time series]
total: 31,747 km paved: 9,810 km unpaved: 21,937 km (2017)