Botswana

§1. Botswana Introduction

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.

§2. Botswana Geography

Location:
  Southern Africa, north of South Africa

Geographic coordinates:
  22 00 S, 24 00 E

Map references:
  Africa

Area:
  total: 600,370 km²
  land: 585,370 km²
  water: 15,000 km²

Area - comparative:
  slightly smaller than Texas

Land boundaries:
  total: 4,013 km
  border countries: Namibia 1,360 km, South Africa 1,840 km, Zimbabwe 813 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 extremes:
  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:
  arable land: 0.65%
  permanent crops: 0.01%
  other: 99.34% (2005)

Irrigated land:
  10 km² (1998 est.)

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 fresh water 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

Geography - note:
  landlocked; population concentrated in eastern part of the country

§3. Botswana People

Population:
  1,639,833
  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 and death rates, lower population and
    growth rates, and changes in the distribution of population by age and
    sex than would otherwise be expected (July 2006 est.)

Age structure:
  0-14 years: 38.3% (male 319,531/female 309,074)
  15-64 years: 57.9% (male 460,692/female 488,577)
  65 years and over: 3.8% (male 23,374/female 38,585) (2006 est.)

Median age:
  total: 19.4 years
  male: 18.8 years
  female: 20 years (2006 est.)

Population growth rate:
  -0.04% (2006 est.)

Birth rate:
  23.08 births/1,000 population (2006 est.)

Death rate:
  29.5 deaths/1,000 population (2006 est.)

Net migration rate:
  6.07 migrant(s)/1,000 population
  note: there is an increasing flow of Zimbabweans into South Africa and
    Botswana in search of better economic opportunities (2006 est.)

Sex ratio:
  at birth: 1.03 male(s)/female
  under 15 years: 1.03 male(s)/female
  15-64 years: 0.94 male(s)/female
  65 years and over: 0.61 male(s)/female
  total population: 0.96 male(s)/female (2006 est.)

Infant mortality rate:
  total: 53.7 deaths/1,000 live births
  male: 54.92 deaths/1,000 live births
  female: 52.44 deaths/1,000 live births (2006 est.)

Life expectancy at birth:
  total population: 33.74 years
  male: 33.9 years
  female: 33.56 years (2006 est.)

Total fertility rate:
  2.79 children born/woman (2006 est.)

HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:
  37.3% (2003 est.)

HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:
  350,000 (2003 est.)

HIV/AIDS - deaths:
  33,000 (2003 est.)

Major infectious diseases:
  degree of risk: high
  food or waterborne diseases: bacterial diarrhea, hepatitis A, and typhoid
    fever
  vectorborne disease: malaria (2005)

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 white 7%

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

Languages:
  Setswana 78.2%, Kalanga 7.9%, Sekgalagadi 2.8%, English 2.1% (official),
  other 8.6%, unspecified 0.4% (2001 census)

Literacy:
  definition: age 15 and over can read and write
  total population: 79.8%
  male: 76.9%
  female: 82.4% (2003 est.)

§4. Botswana Government

Country name:
  conventional long form: Republic of Botswana
  conventional short form: Botswana
  former: Bechuanaland

Government type:
  parliamentary republic

Capital:
  Gaborone

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

Independence:
  30 September 1966 (from UK)

National holiday:
  Independence Day (Botswana Day), 30 September (1966)

Constitution:
  March 1965, effective 30 September 1966

Legal system:
  based on Roman-Dutch law and local customary law; judicial review limited
  to matters of interpretation; accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction, with
  reservations

Suffrage:
  18 years of age; universal

Executive branch:
  chief of state: President Festus G. MOGAE (since 1 April 1998) and Vice
    President Seretse Ian KHAMA (since 13 July 1998); note - the president is
    both the chief of state and head of government
  head of government: President Festus G. MOGAE (since 1 April 1998) and Vice
    President Seretse Ian KHAMA (since 13 July 1998); note - the president is
    both the chief of state and head of government
  cabinet: Cabinet appointed by the president
  elections: president indirectly elected for a five-year term; election last
    held 20 October 2004 (next to be held in 2009); vice president appointed
    by the president
  election results: Festus G. MOGAE elected president; percent of National
    Assembly vote - 52%

Legislative branch:
  bicameral Parliament consists of the House of Chiefs (a largely advisory
  15-member body consisting of the chiefs of the 8 principal tribes, 4
  elected subchiefs, and 3 members selected by the other 12 members) and the
  National Assembly (61 seats, 57 members are directly elected by popular
  vote and 4 are appointed by the majority party; members serve five-year
  terms)
  elections: National Assembly elections last held 30 October 2004 (next to
    be held October 2009)
  election results: percent of vote by party - BDP 52%, BNF 26%, BCP 17%,
    other 5%; seats by party - BDP 44, BNF 12, BCP 1

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

Political parties and leaders:
  Botswana Alliance Movement or BAM [Ephraim Lepetu SETSHWAELO]; Botswana
  Congress Party or BCP [Otlaadisa KOOSALETSE]; Botswana Democratic Party or
  BDP [Festus G. MOGAE]; Botswana National Front or BNF [Otswoletse MOUPO]
  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:
  NA

International organization participation:
  ACP, AfDB, AU, C, FAO, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICCt, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA,
  IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, Interpol, IOC, IPU, ISO, ITU, MIGA, NAM, OPCW,
  SACU, SADC, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WCO, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO,
  WToO, WTO

Diplomatic representation in the US:
  chief of mission: Ambassador Lapologang Caesar LEKOA
  chancery: 1531-1533 New Hampshire Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20036
  telephone: [1] (202) 244-4990
  FAX: [1] (202) 244-4164

Diplomatic representation from the US:
  chief of mission: Ambassador Katherine H. CANAVAN
  embassy: address NA, Gaborone
  mailing address: Embassy Enclave, P. O. Box 90, Gaborone
  telephone: [267] 353982
  FAX: [267] 312782

Flag description:
  light blue with a horizontal white-edged black stripe in the center

§5. Botswana Economy

Economy - overview:
  Botswana has maintained one of the world's highest economic growth rates
  since independence in 1966. Through fiscal discipline and sound management,
  Botswana has transformed itself from one of the poorest countries in the
  world to a middle-income country with a per capita GDP of $10,000 in 2005.
  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 and for 70-80% of export earnings.
  Tourism, financial services, subsistence farming, and cattle raising are
  other key sectors. On the downside, the government must deal with high
  rates of unemployment and poverty. Unemployment officially is 23.8%, but
  unofficial estimates place it closer to 40%. HIV/AIDS infection rates are
  the second highest in the world and threaten Botswana's impressive economic
  gains. An expected leveling off in diamond mining production overshadows
  long-term prospects.

GDP (purchasing power parity):
  $16.48 billion (2005 est.)

GDP (official exchange rate):
  $9.255 billion (2005 est.)

GDP - real growth rate:
  3.3% (2005 est.)

GDP - per capita (PPP):
  $10,000 (2005 est.)

GDP - composition by sector:
  agriculture: 2.4%
  industry: 46.9% (including 36% mining)
  services: 50.7% (2003 est.)

Labor force:
  288,400 formal sector employees (2004)

Labor force - by occupation:
  agriculture NA%, industry NA%, services NA%

Unemployment rate:
  23.8% (2004)

Population below poverty line:
  30.3% (2003)

Household income or consumption by percentage share:
  lowest 10%: NA%
  highest 10%: NA%

Distribution of family income - Gini index:
  63 (1993)

Inflation rate (consumer prices):
  8.3% (2005 est.)

Investment (gross fixed):
  23.6% of GDP (2005 est.)

Budget:
  revenues: $3.766 billion
  expenditures: $3.767 billion; including capital expenditures of $NA (2005
    est.)

Public debt:
  7.3% of GDP (2005 est.)

Agriculture - products:
  livestock, sorghum, maize, millet, beans, sunflowers, groundnuts

Industries:
  diamonds, copper, nickel, salt, soda ash, potash; livestock processing;
  textiles

Industrial production growth rate:
  3.4% (2005 est.)

Electricity - production:
  891 million kWh (2004)

Electricity - consumption:
  2.641 billion kWh (2004)

Electricity - exports:
  0 kWh (2002)

Electricity - imports:
  1.39 billion kWh (2002)

Oil - production:
  0 bbl/day (2003)

Oil - consumption:
  12,000 bbl/day (2003 est.)

Oil - exports:
  NA bbl/day

Oil - imports:
  16,000 bbl/day (2001)

Natural gas - production:
  0 m³ (2003 est.)

Natural gas - consumption:
  0 m³ (2003 est.)

Current account balance:
  $562 million (2005 est.)

Exports:
  $3.68 billion f.o.b. (2005 est.)

Exports - commodities:
  diamonds, copper, nickel, soda ash, meat, textiles

Exports - partners:
  European Free Trade Association (EFTA) 87%, Southern African Customs Union
  (SACU) 7%, Zimbabwe 4% (2004)

Imports:
  $3.37 billion f.o.b. (2005 est.)

Imports - commodities:
  foodstuffs, machinery, electrical goods, transport equipment, textiles,
  fuel and petroleum products, wood and paper products, metal and metal
  products

Imports - partners:
  Southern African Customs Union (SACU) 74%, EFTA 17%, Zimbabwe 4% (2004)

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold:
  $6.12 billion (2005 est.)

Debt - external:
  $556 million (2005 est.)

Economic aid - recipient:
  $73 million (1995)

Currency (code):
  pula (BWP)

Exchange rates:
  pulas per US dollar - 5.1104 (2005), 4.6929 (2004), 4.9499 (2003), 6.3278
  (2002), 5.8412 (2001)

Fiscal year:
  1 April - 31 March

§6. Botswana Communications

Telephones - main lines in use:
  136,500 (2004)

Telephones - mobile cellular:
  571,400 (2004)

Telephone system:
  general assessment: the system is expanding with the growth of mobile
    cellular service and participation in regional development
  domestic: small system of open-wire lines, microwave radio relay links, and
    a few radiotelephone communication stations; mobile cellular service is
    growing fast
  international: country code - 267; two international exchanges; digital
    microwave radio relay links to Namibia, Zambia, Zimbabwe, and South
    Africa; satellite earth station - 1 Intelsat (Indian Ocean)

Radio broadcast stations:
  AM 8, FM 13, shortwave 4 (2001)

Television broadcast stations:
  1 (2001)

Internet country code:
  .bw

Internet hosts:
  1,621 (2005)

Internet users:
  60,000 (2002)

§7. Botswana Transportation

Airports:
  85 (2005)

Airports - with paved runways:
  total: 10
  2,438 to 3,047 m: 2
  1,524 to 2,437 m: 7
  914 to 1,523 m: 1 (2005)

Airports - with unpaved runways:
  total: 75
  1,524 to 2,437 m: 3
  914 to 1,523 m: 55
  under 914 m: 17 (2005)

Railways:
  total: 888 km
  narrow gauge: 888 km 1.067-m gauge (2004)

Roadways:
  total: 25,233 km
  paved: 8,867 km
  unpaved: 16,366 km (2003)

§8. Botswana Military

Military branches:
  Botswana Defense Force (includes an Air Wing)

Military service age and obligation:
  18 is the apparent age of voluntary military service; the official
  qualifications for determining minimum age are unknown (2001)

Manpower available for military service:
  males age 18-49: 350,649 (2005 est.)

Manpower fit for military service:
  males age 18-49: 136,322 (2005 est.)

Manpower reaching military service age annually:
  males: 21,103 (2005 est.)

Military expenditures - dollar figure:
  $325.5 million (2005 est.)

Military expenditures - percent of GDP:
  3.4% (2005 est.)

§9. Botswana Transnational Issues

Disputes - international:
  commission established with Namibia has yet to resolve small residual
  disputes along the Caprivi Strip, including the Situngu marshlands along
  the Linyanti River; downstream Botswana residents protest Namibia's planned
  construction of the Okavango hydroelectric dam at Popavalle (Popa Falls);
  Botswana has built electric fences to stem the thousands of Zimbabweans who
  flee to find work and escape political persecution; Namibia has long
  supported and in 2004 Zimbabwe dropped objections to plans between Botswana
  and Zambia to build a bridge over the Zambezi River, thereby de facto
  recognizing their short, but not clearly delimited Botswana-Zambia boundary


<Factbook 2006>
