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

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

Internet users

120,000 (2009) country comparison to the world: 153

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) (2011)

Telephones - main lines in use

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

Telephones - mobile cellular

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

Agriculture - products

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

Budget

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

Budget surplus (+) or deficit (-)

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

Central bank discount rate

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

Commercial bank prime lending rate

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

Current account balance

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

Debt - external

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

Distribution of family income - Gini index

63 (1993) country comparison to the world: 4

Economy - overview

Botswana has maintained one of the world's highest economic growth rates since independence in 1966. However, economic growth was negative in 2009, with the industrial sector shrinking by 30%, after the global crisis reduced demand for Botswana's diamonds. Although the economy recovered in 2010, GDP growth has again slowed. Through fiscal discipline and sound management, Botswana transformed itself from one of the poorest countries in the world to a middle-income country with a per capita GDP of $16,800 in 2012. Two major investment services rank Botswana as the best credit risk in Africa. Diamond mining has fueled much of the expansion and currently accounts for more than one-third of GDP, 70-80% of export earnings, and about half of the government's revenues. Botswana's heavy reliance on a single luxury export was a critical factor in the sharp economic contraction of 2009. Tourism, financial services, subsistence farming, and cattle raising are other key sectors. Unofficial estimates place unemployment at close to 40%. The prevalence of HIV/AIDS is second highest in the world and threatens Botswana's impressive economic gains. An expected leveling off in diamond production within the next two decades overshadows long-term prospects. A major international diamond company signed a 10-year deal with Botswana in 2012 to move its rough stone sorting and trading division from London to Gaborone by the end of 2013. The move will support Botswana's downstream diamond industry.

Exchange rates

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

Exports

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

Exports - commodities

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

Fiscal year

1 April - 31 March

GDP (official exchange rate)

$17.64 billion (2012 est.)

GDP (purchasing power parity)

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

GDP - composition by sector

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

GDP - per capita (PPP)

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

GDP - real growth rate

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

Household income or consumption by percentage share

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

Imports

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

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

Inflation rate (consumer prices)

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

Investment (gross fixed)

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

Labor force

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

Labor force - by occupation

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

Market value of publicly traded shares

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

Population below poverty line

30.3% (2003)

Public debt

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

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold

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

Stock of broad money

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

Stock of domestic credit

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

Stock of narrow money

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

Taxes and other revenues

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

Unemployment rate

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

Carbon dioxide emissions from consumption of energy

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

Crude oil - exports

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

Crude oil - imports

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

Crude oil - production

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

Crude oil - proved reserves

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

Electricity - consumption

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

Electricity - exports

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

Electricity - from fossil fuels

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

Electricity - from hydroelectric plants

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

Electricity - from nuclear fuels

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

Electricity - from other renewable sources

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

Electricity - imports

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

Electricity - installed generating capacity

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

Electricity - production

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

Natural gas - consumption

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

Natural gas - exports

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

Natural gas - imports

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

Natural gas - production

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

Natural gas - proved reserves

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

Refined petroleum products - consumption

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

Refined petroleum products - exports

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

Refined petroleum products - imports

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

Refined petroleum products - production

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

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 (2003)

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

Capital

name: Gaborone geographic coordinates: 24 38 S, 25 54 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 Ponatshego KEDIKILWE (since 2 August 2012); note - the president is both the chief of state and head of government head of government: President Seretse Khama Ian KHAMA (since 1 April 2008); Vice President Ponatshego KEDIKILWE (since 2 August 2012) cabinet: Cabinet appointed by the president (For more information visit theWorld Leaders website) elections: president indirectly elected for a five-year term (eligible for a second term); election last held on 20 October 2009 (next to be held in October 2014); vice president appointed by the president election results: Seretse Khama Ian KHAMA elected president; percent of National Assembly vote - NA

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

Judicial branch

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: 37

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: 33.5% (male 358,254/ female 345,115) 15-64 years: 62.5% (male 666,194/ female 645,884) 65 years and over: 3.9% (male 33,200/ female 49,371) (2012 est.)

Birth rate

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

Children under the age of 5 years underweight

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

Death rate

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

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)

Infant mortality rate

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

Languages

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

Literacy

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

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

Median age

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

Nationality

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

Net migration rate

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

Physicians density

0.336 physicians/1,000 population (2006)

Population

2,098,018 (July 2012 est.) country comparison to the world: 144 note: estimates for this country explicitly take into account the effects of excess mortality due to AIDS; this can result in lower life expectancy, higher infant mortality, higher death rates, lower population growth rates, and changes in the distribution of population by age and sex than would otherwise be expected

Population growth rate

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

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

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: 1.03 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.67 male(s)/female total population: 1.02 male(s)/female (2011 est.)

Total fertility rate

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

Urbanization

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

Disputes - international

none

Airports

76 (2012) country comparison to the world: 72

Airports - with paved runways

total: 10 over 3,047 m: 1 2,438 to 3,047 m: 1 1,524 to 2,437 m: 7 914 to 1,523 m: 1 (2012)

Airports - with unpaved runways

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

Railways

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

Roadways

total: 17,916 km (includes 8,916 km of Public Highway Network roads - 6,116 km paved and 2,800 km unpaved and other 9,000 km of District Council roads) (2011) country comparison to the world: 116