Introduction :: Botswana

Background

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 Botswanas 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.

Geography :: Botswana

Location

Southern Africa, north of South Africa

Geographic coordinates

22 00 S, 24 00 E

Map references

Africa

Area

total: 581,730 sq km

land: 566,730 sq km

water: 15,000 sq km

Area – comparative

Land boundaries

total: 4,347.15 km

border countries (4): Namibia 1544 km, South Africa 1969 km, Zambia 0.15 km, Zimbabwe 834 km

Coastline

0 km (landlocked)

Maritime claims

none (landlocked)

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 resources

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

Land use

agricultural land: 45.8% (2011 est.)

arable land: 0.6% (2011 est.) /** permanent crops:** 0% (2011 est.) /** permanent pasture:** 45.2% (2011 est.)

forest: 19.8% (2011 est.)

other: 34.4% (2011 est.)

Irrigated land

20 sq km (2012)

Population distribution

the population is primarily concentrated in the east with a focus in and around the capital 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

Natural hazards

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

Environment – current issues

overgrazing; desertification; limited freshwater resources; air pollution

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

Geography – note

landlocked; population concentrated in the southern and eastern parts of the country

People and Society :: Botswana

Population

2,317,233 (July 2020 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

Nationality

noun: Motswana (singular), Batswana (plural)

adjective: Motswana (singular), Batswana (plural)

Ethnic groups

Tswana (or Setswana) 79%, Kalanga 11%, Basarwa 3%, other, including Kgalagadi and people of European ancestry 7%

Languages

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.)

Religions

Christian 79.1%, Badimo 4.1%, other 1.4% (includes Baha’i, Hindu, Muslim, Rastafarian), none 15.2%, unspecified 0.3% (2011 est.)

Demographic profile

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 Botswanas 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 Botswanas 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 Botswanas 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, Botswanas prosperity and political stability attracted not only skilled workers but small numbers of refugees from neighboring Angola, Namibia, and Zimbabwe.

Age structure

Dependency ratios

total dependency ratio: 61.1

youth dependency ratio: 53.8

elderly dependency ratio: 7.3

potential support ratio: 13.8 (2020 est.)

Median age

total: 25.7 years

male: 24.5 years

female: 26.7 years (2020 est.)

Population growth rate

1.48% (2020 est.)

Birth rate

20.9 births/1,000 population (2020 est.)

Death rate

9.2 deaths/1,000 population (2020 est.)

Net migration rate

2.9 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2020 est.)

Population distribution

Urbanization

None

Major urban areas – population

269,000 GABORONE (capital) (2018)

Sex ratio

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.)

Maternal mortality rate

144 deaths/100,000 live births (2017 est.)

Infant mortality rate

total: 26.8 deaths/1,000 live births

male: 29.2 deaths/1,000 live births

female: 24.2 deaths/1,000 live births (2020 est.)

Life expectancy at birth

total population: 64.8 years

male: 62.8 years

female: 66.9 years (2020 est.)

Total fertility rate

2.45 children born/woman (2020 est.)

Drinking water source

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.)

Current Health Expenditure

6.1% (2017)

Physicians density

0.53 physicians/1,000 population (2016)

Hospital bed density

1.8 beds/1,000 population (2010)

Sanitation facility access

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.)

HIV/AIDS – adult prevalence rate

20.3% (2018 est.)

HIV/AIDS – people living with HIV/AIDS

370,000 (2018 est.)

HIV/AIDS – deaths

4,800 (2018 est.)

Major infectious diseases

degree of risk: high (2020)

food or waterborne diseases: bacterial diarrhea, hepatitis A, and typhoid fever

vectorborne diseases: malaria

Obesity – adult prevalence rate

18.9% (2016)

Education expenditures

9.6% of GDP (2009)

Literacy

definition: age 15 and over can read and write

total population: 88.5%

male: 88%

female: 88.9% (2015)

School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education)

total: 13 years

male: 13 years

female: 13 years (2013)

Unemployment, youth ages 15-24

total: 36%

male: 29.6%

female: 43.5% (2010 est.)

Government :: Botswana

Country name

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

Government type

parliamentary republic

Capital

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

Administrative divisions

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*

Independence

30 September 1966 (from the UK)

National holiday

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

Constitution

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 2006

Legal system

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

International law organization participation

accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction with reservations; accepts ICCt jurisdiction

Citizenship

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

Suffrage

18 years of age; universal

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 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

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 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

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 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 Representatives Court; Headman’s Court

Political parties and leaders

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)

International organization participation

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

Diplomatic representation in the US

Ambassador Onkokame Kitso MOKAILA (since 17 September 2020)
chancery: 1531-1533 New Hampshire Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20036

telephone: 1 244-4990

FAX: 1 244-4164
consulate(s) general: Atlanta

Diplomatic representation from the US

chief of mission: Ambassador Craig Lewis CLOUD (since 2 April 2019)

telephone: [267] 395-3982

embassy: Embassy Drive, Government Enclave (off Khama Crescent), Gaborone

mailing address: Embassy Enclave, P. O. Box 90, Gaborone

FAX: [267] 318-0232

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 symbol(s)

zebra; national colors: blue, white, black

National anthem

None

Economy :: Botswana

Economy – overview

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, Botswanas economy closely follows global price trends for that one commodity. Diamond mining fueled much of Botswanas 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 Botswanas 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.

GDP (purchasing power parity)

$39.01 billion (2017 est.)
$38.11 billion (2016 est.)
$36.54 billion (2015 est.)

note: data are in 2017 dollars

GDP (official exchange rate)

$17.38 billion (2017 est.)

GDP – real growth rate

2.4% (2017 est.)
4.3% (2016 est.)
-1.7% (2015 est.)

GDP – per capita (PPP)

$17,000 (2017 est.)
$16,900 (2016 est.)
$16,500 (2015 est.)

note: data are in 2017 dollars

Gross national saving

40.3% of GDP (2017 est.)
38.8% of GDP (2016 est.)
41.2% of GDP (2015 est.)

GDP – composition, by end use

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

agriculture: 1.8% (2017 est.)

industry: 27.5% (2017 est.)

services: 70.6% (2017 est.)

Agriculture – products

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

Industries

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

Industrial production growth rate

-4.2% (2017 est.)

Labor force

1.177 million (2017 est.)

Labor force – by occupation

agriculture: NA

industry: NA

services: NA

Unemployment rate

20% (2013 est.)
17.8% (2009 est.)

Population below poverty line

19.3% (2009 est.)

Household income or consumption by percentage share

lowest 10%: NA
highest 10%: NA

Budget

revenues: 5.305 billion (2017 est.)

expenditures: 5.478 billion (2017 est.)

Taxes and other revenues

30.5% (of GDP) (2017 est.)

Budget surplus (+) or deficit (-)

-1% (of GDP) (2017 est.)

Public debt

14% of GDP (2017 est.)
15.6% of GDP (2016 est.)

Fiscal year

1 April – 31 March

Inflation rate (consumer prices)

3.3% (2017 est.)
2.8% (2016 est.)

Current account balance

$2.146 billion (2017 est.)
$2.147 billion (2016 est.)

Exports

$5.934 billion (2017 est.)
$7.226 billion (2016 est.)

Exports – partners

Belgium 20.3%, India 12.6%, UAE 12.4%, South Africa 11.9%, Singapore 8.7%, Israel 7%, Hong Kong 4.1%, Namibia 4.1% (2017)

Exports – commodities

diamonds, copper, nickel, soda ash, beef, textiles

Imports

$5.005 billion (2017 est.)
$5.871 billion (2016 est.)

Imports – commodities

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

Imports – partners

South Africa 66.1%, Canada 8.3%, Israel 5.3% (2017)

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold

$7.491 billion (31 December 2017 est.)
$7.189 billion (31 December 2016 est.)

Debt – external

$2.187 billion (31 December 2017 est.)
$2.421 billion (31 December 2016 est.)

Exchange rates

pulas (BWP) per US dollar –
10.19 (2017 est.)
10.9022 (2016 est.)
10.9022 (2015 est.)
10.1263 (2014 est.)
8.9761 (2013 est.)

Telephones – fixed lines

total subscriptions: 142,481

subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 6 (2018 est.)

Telephones – mobile cellular

total subscriptions: 3,381,228

subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 150 (2018 est.)

Telecommunication systems

general assessment: the Botswana Telecommunications Corp is rolling out 4G service to over 95 sites in the country that will improve network connectivity; an effective regulatory reform has turned the Botswana’s telecom market into one of the most liberalized in the region; Botswana has one of the highest mobile penetration rates in Africa; 3 MNOs have entered the underdeveloped broadband sector with the adoption of 3G, LTE and WiMAX technologies; mobile Internet remains the preferred choice; the expansion of a fully digital system with fiber-optic cables along with a system of open-wire lines links the major population centers in the east; the use of multiple SIM cards has delayed the introduction of mobile number portability (MNP) (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 150 telephones per 100 persons (2018)

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 outbreak is negatively impacting telecommunications production and supply chains globally; consumer spending on telecom devices and services has also slowed due to the pandemic’s effect on economies worldwide; overall progress towards improvements in all facets of the telecom industry – mobile, fixed-line, broadband, submarine cable and satellite – has moderated

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; 4 privately owned radio stations broadcast locally (2019)

Internet country code

.bw

Internet users

total: 1,057,079

percent of population: 47% (July 2018 est.)

Broadband – fixed subscriptions

total: 40,044

subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 2 (2018 est.)

Military and Security :: Botswana

Military and security forces

Botswana Defence Force (BDF): Ground Forces Command, Air Arm Command, Defense Logistics Command (2019)

Military expenditures

2.8% of GDP (2019)
2.78% of GDP (2018)
3.02% of GDP (2017)
3.37% of GDP (2016)
2.66% of GDP (2015)

Military and security service personnel strengths

the Botswana Defense Force (BDF) has approximately 9,000 active personnel (8,500 Ground; 500 Air) (2019 est.)

Military equipment inventories and acquisitions

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, Spain, Switzerland, Ukraine, and the US (2019 est.)

Military service age and obligation

18 is the legal minimum age for voluntary military service; no conscription (2012)

Transportation :: Botswana

National air transport system

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)

Civil aircraft registration country code prefix

A2 (2016)

Airports

74 (2013)

Airports – with paved runways

total: 10 (2017)

over 3,047 m: 2 (2017)

2,438 to 3,047 m: 1 (2017)

1,524 to 2,437 m: 6 (2017)

914 to 1,523 m: 1 (2017)

Airports – with unpaved runways

total: 64 (2013)

1,524 to 2,437 m: 5 (2013)

914 to 1,523 m: 46 (2013)

under 914 m: 13 (2013)

Railways

total: 888 km (2014)

narrow gauge: 888 km 1.067-m gauge (2014)

Roadways

total: 31,747 km (2017)

paved: 9,810 km (2017)

unpaved: 21,937 km (2017)

Transnational Issues :: Botswana

Disputes – international

none

Trafficking in persons

current situation: Botswana is a source, transit, and destination country for women and children subjected to sex trafficking and forced labor; young Batswana serving as domestic workers, sometimes sent by their parents, may be denied education and basic necessities or experience confinement and abuse indicative of forced labor; Batswana girls and women also are forced into prostitution domestically; adults and children of San ethnicity were reported to be in forced labor on farms and at cattle posts in the countrys rural west

tier rating: Tier 2 Watch List Botswana does not fully comply with the minimum standards for the elimination of trafficking; however, it is making significant efforts to do so; an anti-trafficking act was passed at the beginning of 2014, but authorities did not investigate, prosecute, or convict any offenders or government officials complicit in trafficking or operationalize victim identification and referral procedures based on the new law; the government sponsored a radio campaign to familiarize the public with the issue of human trafficking (2015)

Source: https://www.cia.gov