Botswana

Broadcast media

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

.bw

Internet hosts

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

Internet users

120,000 (2009) country comparison to the world: 154

Telephone system

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) (2010)

Telephones - main lines in use

137,400 (2010) country comparison to the world: 139

Telephones - mobile cellular

2.363 million (2010) country comparison to the world: 132

Agriculture - products

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

Budget

revenues: $4.656 billion expenditures: $5.638 billion (2010 est.)

Budget surplus (+) or deficit (-)

-7% of GDP (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 174

Central bank discount rate

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

Commercial bank prime lending rate

11.46% (31 December 2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 74 13.76% (31 December 2009 est.)

Current account balance

-$340.2 million (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 98 -$543 million (2009 est.)

Debt - external

$2.499 billion (31 December 2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 135 $1.617 billion (31 December 2009 est.)

Distribution of family income - Gini index

63 (1993) country comparison to the world: 5

Economy - overview

Botswana has maintained one of the world's highest economic growth rates since independence in 1966, though growth fell below 5% in 2007-08, and turned sharply negative in 2009, with industry falling nearly 30%. Through fiscal discipline and sound management, Botswana transformed itself from one of the poorest countries in the world to a middle-income country with a per capita GDP of $13,100 in 2010. Two major investment services rank Botswana as the best credit risk in Africa. Diamond mining has fueled much of the expansion and currently accounts for more than one-third of GDP, 70-80% of export earnings, and about half of the government's revenues. Botswana's heavy reliance on a single luxury export was a critical factor in the sharp economic contraction of 2009. Tourism, financial services, subsistence farming, and cattle raising are other key sectors. Although unemployment was 7.5% in 2007 according to official reports, unofficial estimates place it closer to 40%. The prevalence of HIV/AIDS is second highest in the world and threatens Botswana's impressive economic gains. An expected leveling off in diamond mining production within the next two decades overshadows long-term prospects.

Electricity - consumption

2.85 billion kWh (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 129

Electricity - exports

0 kWh (2009 est.)

Electricity - imports

1.959 billion kWh (2009 est.)

Electricity - production

593 million kWh (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 157

Exchange rates

pulas (BWP) per US dollar - 6.7413 (2010) 7.1551 (2009) 6.7907 (2008) 6.2035 (2007) 5.8447 (2006)

Exports

$4.591 billion (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 112 $3.435 billion (2009 est.)

Exports - commodities

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

GDP (official exchange rate)

$14.03 billion (2010 est.)

GDP (purchasing power parity)

$28.49 billion (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 110 $26.24 billion (2009 est.) $27.24 billion (2008 est.) note: data are in 2010 US dollars

GDP - composition by sector

agriculture: 2.1% industry: 45.8% services: 52% (2009 est.)

GDP - per capita (PPP)

$14,000 (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 84 $13,200 (2009 est.) $14,000 (2008 est.) note: data are in 2010 US dollars

GDP - real growth rate

8.6% (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 12 -3.7% (2009 est.) 3.1% (2008 est.)

Household income or consumption by percentage share

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

Imports

$4.767 billion (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 118 $3.998 billion (2009 est.)

Imports - commodities

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

Industrial production growth rate

7.9% (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 46

Industries

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

Inflation rate (consumer prices)

7% (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 177 8.1% (2009 est.)

Investment (gross fixed)

25.8% of GDP (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 52

Labor force

1.225 million formal sector employees (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 138

Labor force - by occupation

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

Market value of publicly traded shares

$4.076 billion (31 December 2010) country comparison to the world: 88 $3.991 billion (31 December 2009) $3.556 billion (31 December 2008)

Natural gas - consumption

0 cu m (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 155

Natural gas - exports

0 cu m (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 56

Natural gas - imports

0 cu m (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 84

Natural gas - production

0 cu m (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 152

Natural gas - proved reserves

0 cu m (1 January 2011 est.) country comparison to the world: 109

Oil - consumption

15,000 bbl/day (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 140

Oil - exports

0 bbl/day (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 140

Oil - imports

15,590 bbl/day (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 127

Oil - production

0 bbl/day (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 156

Oil - proved reserves

0 bbl (1 January 2011 est.) country comparison to the world: 105

Population below poverty line

30.3% (2003)

Public debt

19.9% of GDP (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 110 17.6% of GDP (2009 est.)

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold

$7.885 billion (31 December 2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 75 $8.704 billion (31 December 2009 est.)

Stock of broad money

$6.654 billion (31 December 2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 115 $5.802 billion (31 December 2009 est.)

Stock of domestic credit

$1.466 billion (31 December 2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 139 $122.6 million (31 December 2009 est.)

Stock of narrow money

$1.438 billion (31 December 2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 129 $1.065 billion (31 December 2009 est.)

Taxes and other revenues

33.2% of GDP (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 75

Unemployment rate

7.5% (2007 est.) country comparison to the world: 80

Area

total: 581,730 sq km country comparison to the world: 48 land: 566,730 sq km water: 15,000 sq km

Area - comparative

slightly smaller than Texas

Climate

semiarid; warm winters and hot summers

Coastline

0 km (landlocked)

Elevation extremes

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

Environment - current issues

overgrazing; desertification; limited freshwater resources

Environment - international agreements

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

Freshwater withdrawal (domestic/industrial/agricultural)

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

Geographic coordinates

22 00 S, 24 00 E

Geography - note

landlocked; population concentrated in eastern part of the country

Irrigated land

20 sq km (2008)

Land boundaries

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

Land use

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

Location

Southern Africa, north of South Africa

Map references

Africa

Maritime claims

none (landlocked)

Natural hazards

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

Natural resources

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

Terrain

predominantly flat to gently rolling tableland; Kalahari Desert in southwest

Total renewable water resources

14.7 cu km (2001)

Administrative divisions

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

Capital

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

Constitution

March 1965; effective 30 September 1966

Country name

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

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

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

chief of state: President Seretse Khama Ian KHAMA (since 1 April 2008); Vice President Mompati MERAFHE (since 1 April 2008); note - the president is both the chief of state and head of government head of government: President Seretse Khama Ian KHAMA (since 1 April 2008); Vice President Mompati MERAFHE (since 1 April 2008) cabinet: Cabinet appointed by the president (For more information visit theWorld Leaders website) elections: president indirectly elected for a five-year term (eligible for a second term); election last held on 20 October 2009 (next to be held in October 2014); vice president appointed by the president election results: Seretse Khama Ian KHAMA elected president; percent of National Assembly vote - NA

Flag 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

Government type

parliamentary republic

Independence

30 September 1966 (from the UK)

International law organization participation

accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction with reservations; accepts ICCt jurisdiction

International organization participation

ACP, AfDB, AU, C, FAO, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU, ISO, ITSO, ITU, ITUC, MIGA, NAM, OPCW, SACU, SADC, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UNWTO, UPU, WCO, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO

Judicial branch

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

Legal system

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

Legislative branch

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

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

National holiday

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

National symbol(s)

zebra

Political parties and leaders

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 pressure groups and leaders

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

18 years of age; universal

Background

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.

Manpower available for military service

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

Manpower fit for military service

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

Manpower reaching militarily significant age annually

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

Military branches

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

Military expenditures

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

Military service age and obligation

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

Age structure

0-14 years: 33.9% (male 356,346/female 343,452) 15-64 years: 62.2% (male 649,931/female 634,998) 65 years and over: 3.9% (male 32,542/female 48,129) (2011 est.)

Birth rate

22.31 births/1,000 population (2011 est.) country comparison to the world: 76

Children under the age of 5 years underweight

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

Death rate

10.57 deaths/1,000 population (July 2011 est.) country comparison to the world: 47

Drinking water source

improved: urban: 99% of population rural: 90% of population total: 95% of population unimproved: urban: 1% of population rural: 10% of population total: 5% of population (2008)

Education expenditures

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

Ethnic groups

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

HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate

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

HIV/AIDS - deaths

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

HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS

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

Health expenditures

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

Hospital bed density

1.81 beds/1,000 population (2008) country comparison to the world: 109

Infant mortality rate

total: 11.14 deaths/1,000 live births country comparison to the world: 142 male: 11.76 deaths/1,000 live births female: 10.51 deaths/1,000 live births (2011 est.)

Languages

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

total population: 58.05 years country comparison to the world: 191 male: 58.78 years female: 57.3 years (2011 est.)

Literacy

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

Major cities - population

GABORONE (capital) 196,000 (2009)

Major infectious diseases

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

Maternal mortality rate

190 deaths/100,000 live births (2008) country comparison to the world: 59

Median age

total: 22.3 years male: 22.2 years female: 22.4 years (2011 est.)

Nationality

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

Net migration rate

4.82 migrant(s)/1,000 population country comparison to the world: 19 note: there is an increasing flow of Zimbabweans into South Africa and Botswana in search of better economic opportunities (2011 est.)

Physicians density

0.336 physicians/1,000 population (2006) country comparison to the world: 134

Population

2,065,398 (July 2011 est.) country comparison to the world: 145 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

1.656% (2011 est.) country comparison to the world: 69

Religions

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

Sanitation facility access

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 (2008)

School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education)

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

Sex ratio

at birth: 1.03 male(s)/female under 15 years: 1.04 male(s)/female 15-64 years: 1.02 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.68 male(s)/female total population: 1.01 male(s)/female (2011 est.)

Total fertility rate

2.5 children born/woman (2011 est.) country comparison to the world: 82

Urbanization

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

Disputes - international

none

Airports

78 (2010) country comparison to the world: 71

Airports - with paved runways

total: 9 2,438 to 3,047 m: 2 1,524 to 2,437 m: 6 914 to 1,523 m: 1 (2010)

Airports - with unpaved runways

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

Railways

total: 888 km country comparison to the world: 93 narrow gauge: 888 km 1.067-m gauge (2010)

Roadways

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