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Botswana
Botswana
Population
2.5M
Rank #143Source: World Bank
Capital
Gaborone
Source: REST Countries
Region
Africa
Sub-Saharan Africa
Source: REST Countries
GDP (Nominal)
$19.40B
Rank #130Source: World Bank
Land Area
582.0K km²
Rank #47Source: REST Countries
Life Expectancy
69.163 yrs
Source: World Bank
Historical Trends
Population Trend (5-Year)
Source: World Bank
GDP Trend (5-Year, Nominal USD)
Source: World Bank
Geography
Area: 582,000 km²
Landlocked: Yes
Independent: Yes
Climate: semiarid; warm winters and hot summers
Terrain: predominantly flat to gently rolling tableland; Kalahari Desert in southwest
Elevation: mean elevation: 1,013 m lowest point: junction of the Limpopo and Shashe Rivers 513 m highest point: Tsodilo Hills 1,489 m
Natural Hazards: periodic droughts; seasonal August winds blow from the west, carrying sand and dust across the country, which can obscure visibility
Environmental Issues: overgrazing; desertification; limited freshwater resources; air pollution
Land Use: agricultural land: 45.8% (2011 est.) forest: 19.8% (2011 est.) other: 34.4% (2011 est.)
Geography Note: landlocked; population concentrated in the southern and eastern parts of the country
Natural Resources
diamondscoppernickelsaltsoda ashpotashcoaliron oresilver
People & Society
Fertility Rate
2.73
Population
2.5M
Ethnic Groups
Tswana (or Setswana) (79%)Kalanga (11%)Basarwa (3%)including Kgalagadi and people of European ancestry (7%)
Religions
Christian (79.1%)Badimo (4.1%)other (1.4%)none (15.2%)unspecified (0.3%)
Economy
GDP per Capita
$7,695.753
GDP per Capita PPP
20,538.132
(2024)
(2024)
GNI per Capita
7,750
(2024)
(2024)
Gini Index
54.9
(2015)
(2015)
Unemployment
23.81%
(2024)
(2024)
Inflation
2.818%
(2024)
(2024)
Public Debt
19.616%
(2020)
(2020)
Energy
Electricity Access
76%
(2023)
(2023)
Renewable Energy
27.4%
(2021)
(2021)
CO₂ Emissions
6.902 Mt
(2024)
(2024)
Energy Intensity
2.68 MJ/$
(2021)
(2021)
Renewable Electricity
0.254%
(2021)
(2021)
Environment
Forest Coverage
26.291% of land
(2023)
(2023)
Protected Areas
19.1% of land
(2002)
(2002)
Communications
Internet Users
81.36%
(2023)
(2023)
Mobile Penetration
179.027%
(2023)
(2023)
Broadband Subscribers
3.41%
(2023)
(2023)
Transportation
Air Transport Freight
0.282 M ton-km
(2023)
(2023)
Container Port Traffic
Not Available
Airports
4,264
Rail Lines
886 km
Roads Total
32,564.8 km(©IRF)
Military
Military Forces
Botswana Defence Force (BDF): Ground Forces Command, Air Arm Command, Defense Logistics Command
Personnel Strength
the Botswana Defense Force (BDF) has approximately 9,000 active personnel (8,500 Ground; 500 Air)
Military Expenditure (USD)
$0.57B
Military Expenditure (% of GDP)
2.83%
Military Expenditure History
2.8% of GDP (2019) 2.8% of GDP (2018) 3% of GDP (2017) 3.4% of GDP (2016) 2.7% of GDP (2015)
Equipment & Inventories
the BDF has a mix of foreign-supplied weapons and equipment, largely from European suppliers, as well as the US; since 2010, it has received limited quantities of equipment from Canada, France,...
Service Age & Obligation
18 is the legal minimum age for voluntary military service; no conscription
Education
Pre-Primary Enrollment
21.448%
(2015)
(2015)
Primary Enrollment
109.273%
(2022)
(2022)
Secondary Enrollment
70.629%
(2021)
(2021)
Tertiary Enrollment
21.409%
(2024)
(2024)
Education Spending
8.058% of GDP
(2020)
(2020)
Pupil-Teacher Ratio
23.713:1
(2015)
(2015)
Health
Physicians per 1,000
0.379
(2023)
(2023)
Safe Water Access
91.771%
(2024)
(2024)
Safe Drinking Water
63.291%
(2024)
(2024)
Under-5 Mortality
39.6 per 1,000
(2023)
(2023)
Maternal Mortality (World Bank)
15.606 per 100,000
(2021)
(2021)
Hospital Beds per 1,000
59.225
(2021)
(2021)
UHC Coverage Index
60
(2023)
(2023)
Measles Immunization
95%
(2024)
(2024)
Social Indicators
Extreme Poverty Rate
21.4%
(2015)
(2015)
Food Insecurity
24%
(2023)
(2023)
Youth NEET Rate
45.164%
(2024)
(2024)
Governance
Women in Government
8.696%
(2024)
(2024)
Voice & Accountability
0.50
(Above Average)
(2023)
(Above Average)
(2023)
Political Stability
1.04
(Strong)
(2023)
(Strong)
(2023)
Government Effectiveness
0.43
(Above Average)
(2023)
(Above Average)
(2023)
Regulatory Quality
0.50
(Above Average)
(2023)
(Above Average)
(2023)
Rule of Law
0.39
(Above Average)
(2023)
(Above Average)
(2023)
Control of Corruption
0.69
(Above Average)
(2023)
(Above Average)
(2023)
Government
Government Type
parliamentary republic
Legal System
mixed legal system of civil law influenced by the Roman-Dutch model and also customary and common law
Executive Branch
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...
Legislative Branch
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...
Judicial Branch
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...
National Symbols
Flag Description
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
National Symbols
zebra; national colors: blue, white, black
National Anthem
name: "Fatshe leno la rona" (Our Land) lyrics/music: Kgalemang Tumedisco MOTSETE note: adopted 1966
Safety
Homicide Rate
11.368 per 100,000
(2021)
(2021)
Travel Information
Language(s): English, Tswana
Currency: BWP (P)
Timezone(s): UTC+02:00
Landlocked: Yes
Independent: Yes
Driving Side: Left
Calling Code: +267
Car Sign: BW
Week Starts: Monday
Photos
Area comparison map
Area comparison map • CIA World Factbook • 2020
A female impala at Chobe National Park.
A female impala at Chobe National Park. • CIA World Factbook • 2020
Kudus on the move at Chobe National Park.
Kudus on the move at Chobe National Park. • CIA World Factbook • 2020
Grazing hippopotamus at Chobe National Park.
Grazing hippopotamus at Chobe National Park. • CIA World Factbook • 2020
Adult elephants are very protective and caring of their young.
Adult elephants are very protective and caring of their young. • CIA World Factbook • 2020
Fiery sunset on the Okavango Delta (also called the Okavango Swamp), the world's largest inland delta. The Okavango River empties as a swamp in a basin of the Kalahari Desert where, through the processes of evaporation and transpiration (water given off by plants), it disappears. Most of the islands in the delta began as termite mounds. The delta is home for a wide variety of birds and animals.
Fiery sunset on the Okavango Delta (also called the Okavango Swamp), the world's largest inland delta. The Okavango River empties as a swamp in a basin of the Kalahari Desert where, through the processes of evaporation and transpiration (water given off by plants), it disappears. Most of the islands in the delta began as termite mounds. The delta is home for a wide variety of birds and animals. • CIA World Factbook • 2020
27 photos available
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