Botswana
Country Guide

Explore Botswana

Botswana with its capital Gaborone is located in Africa (Southern Africa, north of South Africa). It covers some 581,731 square kilometers (slightly smaller than Texas) with a population of 2,214,860. English and Tswana are the languages spoken by people in Botswana. Namibia, South Africa and Zimbabwe are bordering countries.

Botswana is a land-locked country located in Southern Africa. Botswana is famous for its wildlife areas like the Chobe National Park, Moremi National Park in the Okavango Delta or the Central Kalahari Game Reserve. The bulk of the Kalahari desert falls within Botswana's borders and Botswana is home to most of the world's San (bushman) population. People in Botswana are very friendly and the crime rate is low. There isn't much to worry about on this front. The northern part of Botswana, including Chobe National Park and the Okavango Delta is in a malaria zone, so it is advisable to take the relevant precautions. Seek medical advice before travelling to these areas.

Popular Destinations in Botswana

Administrative regions of Botswana

• Central District
• Ghanzi District
• Kgalagadi District
• Kgatleng District
• Kweneng District
• Ngwaketsi District
• North-East District
• North-West District
• South-East District

About the country

The topography is predominantly flat to gently rolling tableland with Kalahari Desert in southwest. The average density of population is about 4 per km². The climate in Botswana can be described as semiarid with warm winters and hot summers. Potential natural disasters are periodic droughts seasonal August winds blow from the west, carrying sand and dust across the country, which can obscure visibility

To reach someone Botswana dial +267 prior to a number. The local cellular networks are operated on 900 MHz, 1800 MHz, 3G, 4G. Websites typically end with the top level domain ".bw". If you want to bring electric appliances (e.g. battery chaarger), keep in min the local 230 V - 50 Hz (plugs: D, G). The sign for the locally used currency Pula is BWP.

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.

Formerly the British protectorate of Bechuanaland, Botswana adopted its new name at independence in 1966. More than four 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 election since independence; President Ian KHAMA was reelected for a second term in 2014. 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.

Geography

Area
Total (World Rank: 48)	581,730	sq km
Land (World Rank: 47)	566,730	sq km
Water (World Rank: 37)	15,000	sq km
Forest (World Rank: 26)	45.20	%
Comparative	slightly smaller than Texas
Landborder
4347.15
Elevation
Lowest point (World Rank: 7)	513	m
Highest point (World Rank: 145)	1,489	m
Agricultural land
Total (World Rank: 80)	45.80	%
Arable (World Rank: 207)	0.60	%
Permanent pastures (World Rank: 26)	45.20	%
Irrigated land (World Rank: 163)	20	sq km
Map reference
Africa
Environment
Issues	- desertification - limited freshwater resources - overgrazing
Agreement party	- Biodiversity - Climate Change - Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol - Desertification - Endangered Species - Hazardous Wastes - Law of the Sea - Ozone Layer Protection - Wetlands
Hazzards	- periodic droughts - seasonal August winds blow from the west, carrying sand and dust across the country, which can obscure visibility
Location
Southern Africa, north of South Africa
Climate
semiarid; warm winters and hot summers
Terrain
predominantly flat to gently rolling tableland; Kalahari Desert in southwest

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People

Population
Total (World Rank: 144)	2,214,860
Deathrate (World Rank: 51)	0.96	%
Birthrate (World Rank: 70)	2.21	%
Growthrate (World Rank: 72)	1.55	%
Migration rate (World Rank: 33)	0.30	%
Fertility rate (World Rank: 76)	2.56	%
Median age
Male (World Rank: 163)	23.50
Female (World Rank: 153)	25.60
Age structure
0 14 male (World Rank: 137)	357,003
0 14 female (World Rank: 136)	350,657
15 24 male (World Rank: 142)	207,209
15 24 female (World Rank: 140)	211,629
25 54 male (World Rank: 149)	401,082
25 54 female (World Rank: 143)	450,437
55 64 male (World Rank: 153)	51,195
55 64 female (World Rank: 146)	69,835
65 x male (World Rank: 148)	50,206
65 x female (World Rank: 146)	65,605
Health
Infant mortality rate (World Rank: 65)	2.96	%
Life expectancy total (World Rank: 190)	63	years
Life expectancy female (World Rank: 190)	66	years
Life expectancy male (World Rank: 189)	61	years
Physicians per 1000 (World Rank: 136)	0.38
Hospital bed per 1000 (World Rank: 115)	1.80
Sanitation access total (World Rank: 147)	63.40	%
Obesity adult (World Rank: 114)	18.90	%
Drinking water access (World Rank: 100)	96.20	%

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Energy

Electricity
Production (World Rank: 134)	2,789,000,000	kWh
Consumption (World Rank: 129)	3,722,000,000	kWh
Import (World Rank: 59)	1,468,000,000	kWh
Source fossil (World Rank: 40)	98.50	%
Source renew (World Rank: 127)	1.50	%
Refined products
Consumption (World Rank: 132)	23,000	bbl / day
Import (World Rank: 114)	21,290	bbl / day
Natural gas
Consumption (World Rank: 151)	11	m³
Carbon footprint
4400000

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Nation

Budget
Education (World Rank: 4)	10	% of GDP
Military (World Rank: 24)	3	% of GDP
Health (World Rank: 129)	5	% of GDP
Surplus (World Rank: 55)	-1	% of GDP
National symbol
zebra
National colours
white
Adjective
Motswana (singular), Batswana (plural)
Noun
Motswana (singular), Batswana (plural)
Background
Formerly the British protectorate of Bechuanaland, Botswana adopted its new name at independence in 1966. More than four 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 election since independence; President Ian KHAMA was reelected for a second term in 2014. 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.
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

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Economy

Gdp
Purchasing power parity (World Rank: 119)	37,210,000,000	USD
Real growth rate (World Rank: 56)	4.30	%
Per capita purchasing power parity (World Rank: 95)	17,300	USD
Source agriculture (World Rank: 180)	1.80	%
Source industry (World Rank: 81)	29.40	%
Source service (World Rank: 73)	68.80	%
Labourforce
Total (World Rank: 138)	1,187,000
In poverty (World Rank: 59)	30.30	%
Products
Industries	- beef processing - coal - copper - diamonds - iron ore - nickel - potash - salt - silver - soda ash - textiles
Agriculture	- beans - groundnuts - livestock - maize - millet - sorghum - sunflowers
Exports	- beef - copper - diamonds - nickel - soda ash - textiles
Imports	- electrical goods - foodstuffs - fuel - machinery - metal - metal products - paper products - petroleum products - textiles - transport equipment - wood

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Communication

Phone
Landline total (World Rank: 132)	142,122
Landline per 100 (World Rank: 150)	6.00
Mobile per 100 (World Rank: 26)	149.00
Assessment	0
Internet
Users (World Rank: 134)	869,610
Population (World Rank: 140)	39.40	%

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Transport

Air
Airports paved (World Rank: 115)	10.00
Airports unpaved (World Rank: 51)	64.00
Rail
Total length (World Rank: 95)	888
Road
Total length (World Rank: 118)	17,916

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