Botswana

In the early 1800s, multiple political entities in what is now Botswana were destabilized or destroyed by a series of conflicts and population movements in southern Africa. By the end of this period, the Tswana ethnic group, who also live across the border in South Africa, had become the most prominent group in the area. In 1852, Tswana forces halted the expansion of white Afrikaner settlers who were seeking to expand their territory northwards into what is now Botswana. In 1885, Great Britain claimed territory that roughly corresponds with modern day Botswana as a protectorate called Bechuanaland. Upon independence in 1966, the British protectorate of Bechuanaland adopted the new name of Botswana, which means "land of the Tswana."

More than five decades of uninterrupted civilian leadership, progressive social policies, and significant capital investment have created an enduring democracy and upper-middle-income economy. The ruling Botswana Democratic Party has won every national election since independence; President Mokgweetsi Eric Keabetswe MASISI assumed the presidency in 2018 after the retirement of former President Ian KHAMA due to constitutional term limits. MASISI won his first election as president in 2019, and he is Botswana’s 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.

22 00 S, 24 00 E

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

slightly smaller than Texas; almost four times the size of Illinois

overgrazing; desertification; limited freshwater resources; air pollution

Party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Climate Change-Paris Agreement, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Wetlands

Signed, but not ratified: None of the selected agreements

semiarid; warm winters and hot summers

0 km (landlocked)

Total: 4,347.15 km

Border countries (4): Namibia 1,544 km; South Africa 1,969 km; Zambia 0.15 km; Zimbabwe 834 km

Agricultural land: 45.6% (2023 est.)

Arable land: 0.5% (2023 est.)

Permanent crops: 0% (2023 est.)

Permanent pasture: 45.2% (2023 est.)

Forest: 27.8% (2023 est.)

Other: 26.6% (2023 est.)

none (landlocked)

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

landlocked; sparsely populated with most settlement concentrated in the southern and eastern parts of the country; geography dominated by the Kalahari Desert, which covers about 70% of the country, although the Okavango Delta brings considerable biodiversity as one of the largest inland deltas in the World 

predominantly flat to gently rolling tableland; Kalahari Desert in southwest

Southern Africa, north of South Africa

Africa

25 sq km (2014)

12.24 billion cubic meters (2022 est.)

the population is primarily concentrated in the east, with a focus in and around the capital of Gaborone and the eastern city of Francistown; population density remains low in other areas in the country, especially in the Kalahari Desert to the west.

Highest point: Manyelanong Hill 1,495 m

Lowest point: Junction of the Limpopo and Shashe Rivers 513 m

Mean elevation: 1,013 m

Lower Kalahari-Stampriet Basin, Upper Kalahari-Cuvelai-Upper Zambezi Basin

Atlantic Ocean drainage: Orange (941,351 sq km)

Indian Ocean drainage: Zambezi (1,332,412 sq km)

Internal (endorheic basin) drainage: Okavango Basin (863,866 sq km)

Zambezi (shared with Zambia [s]), Angola, Namibia, Zimbabwe, and Mozambique [m]) - 2,740 km; Limpopo (shared with South Africa [s], Zimbabwe, and Mozambique [m]) - 1,800 km; Okavango river mouth (shared with Angola [s], and Namibia) - 1,600 km

Note: [s] after country name indicates river source; [m] after country name indicates river mouth

Total : 581,730 sq km

Land: 566,730 sq km

Water: 15,000 sq km

0-14 years: 28.7% (male 355,583/female 348,863)

15-64 years: 65.2% (male 759,210/female 837,752)

65 years and over: 6.1% (2024 est.) (male 59,513/female 89,747)

At birth: 1.03 male(s)/female

0-14 years: 1.02 male(s)/female

15-64 years: 0.91 male(s)/female

65 years and over: 0.66 male(s)/female

Total population: 0.92 male(s)/female (2024 est.)

Noun: Motswana (singular), Batswana (plural)

Adjective: Motswana (singular), Batswana (plural)

Total: 12 years (2021 est.)

Male: 12 years (2021 est.)

Female: 13 years (2021 est.)

Urban population: 72.9% of total population (2023)

Rate of urbanization: 2.47% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)

Improved:

Urban: 97.5% of population (2022 est.)

Rural: 79.6% of population (2022 est.)

Total: 92.6% of population (2022 est.)

Unimproved:

Urban: 2.5% of population (2022 est.)

Rural: 20.4% of population (2022 est.)

Total: 7.4% of population (2022 est.)

269,000 GABORONE (capital) (2018)

0.38 physicians/1,000 population (2023)

2.2 beds/1,000 population (2021 est.)

Total dependency ratio: 53.5 (2024 est.)

Youth dependency ratio: 44.1 (2024 est.)

Elderly dependency ratio: 9.3 (2024 est.)

Potential support ratio: 10.7 (2024 est.)

Improved:

Urban: 94.9% of population (2022 est.)

Rural: 63% of population (2022 est.)

Total: 86% of population (2022 est.)

Unimproved:

Urban: 5.1% of population (2022 est.)

Rural: 37% of population (2022 est.)

Total: 14% of population (2022 est.)

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

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

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.)

6.3% of GDP (2021)

14.6% of national budget (2022 est.)

1.15 (2024 est.)

41.5% (2017 est.)

Total: 43.9% (2024 est.)

Male: 39.8% (2024 est.)

Female: 48.6% (2024 est.)

note: % of labor force ages 15-24 seeking employment

2.7 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2024 est.)

Total: 27.1 years (2024 est.)

Male: 26 years

Female: 28.3 years

155 deaths/100,000 live births (2023 est.)

2.34 children born/woman (2024 est.)

Total: 2,450,668 (2024 est.)

Male: 1,174,306

Female: 1,276,362

Total: 23.7 deaths/1,000 live births (2024 est.)

Male: 25.9 deaths/1,000 live births

Female: 21.4 deaths/1,000 live births

Total: 17.1% (2025 est.)

Male: 29.2% (2025 est.)

Female: 5.5% (2025 est.)

18.9% (2016)

8.9 deaths/1,000 population (2024 est.)

19.6 births/1,000 population (2024 est.)

Total: 5.98 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)

Beer: 2.93 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)

Wine: 0.46 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)

Spirits: 0.96 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)

Other alcohols: 1.64 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)

Total population: 66.4 years (2024 est.)

Male: 64.4 years

Female: 68.6 years

8.1% of GDP (2020 est.)

21.5% national budget (2020 est.)

1.34% (2024 est.)

Municipal: 129.327 million cubic meters (2022)

Industrial: 24.295 million cubic meters (2022)

Agricultural: 59.661 million cubic meters (2022)

Municipal solid waste generated annually: 210,900 tons (2024 est.)

Percent of municipal solid waste recycled: 21% (2022 est.)

12.5 micrograms per cubic meter (2019 est.)

5.897 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)

From coal and metallurgical coke: 2.818 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)

From petroleum and other liquids: 3.079 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)

32.443 million Btu/person (2023 est.)

Chief of mission: Ambassador Howard A. VAN VRANKEN (since 24 May 2023)

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

Mailing address: 2170 Gaborone Place, Washington DC  20521-2170

Telephone: [267] 395-3982

FAX: [267] 318-0232

Email address and website:
ConsularGaborone@state.gov

https://bw.usembassy.gov/

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*

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 chief of the Tlokwa tribe, whose name means "it is not unbecoming"

History: Previous 1960 (pre-independence); latest adopted March 1965, effective 30 September 1966

Amendment process: 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

Chief of state: President Duma BOKO (since 1 November 2024)

Head of government: President Duma BOKO (since 1 November 2024)

Cabinet: Cabinet appointed by the president

Election/appointment process: President indirectly elected by the National Assembly for a 5-year term (eligible for a second term); vice president appointed by the president

Most recent election date: 31 October 2024

Election results: BOKO's UDC won 35 seats in the National Assembly, which then selected BOKO as president

Expected date of next election: October 2029

Description: Light blue with a horizontal white-edged black stripe across the middle

Meaning: The blue symbolizes rainwater, and the black and white bands represent racial harmony

30 September 1966 (from the UK)

Highest court(s): 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 Representative’s Court; Headman's Court

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

Legislature name: Parliament

Legislative structure: Unicameral

Chamber name: National Assembly

Number of seats: 69 (61 directly elected; 6 indirectly elected)

Electoral system: Plurality/majority

Scope of elections: Full renewal

Term in office: 5 years

Most recent election date: 10/30/2024

Parties elected and seats per party: Umbrella for Democratic Change (UDC) (36); Botswana Congress Party (BCP) (15); Botswana Patriotic Front (BPF) (5); Botswana Democratic Party (BDP) (4); Other (1)

Percentage of women in chamber: 9%

Expected date of next election: October 2029

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

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, MONUSCO, NAM, OPCW, SACU, SADC, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UNWTO, UPU, WCO, WFTU (NGOs), WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO

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

Alliance of Progressives or AP 
Botswana Congress Party or BCP 
Botswana Democratic Party or BDP 
Botswana National Front or BNF [Duma BOKO]Botswana Patriotic Front or BPF 
Botswana Peoples Party or BPP 
Botswana Republic Party or BRP 
Umbrella for Democratic Change or UDC (various times the coalition has included the BPP, BCP, BNF and other parties)

18 years of age; universal

parliamentary republic

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 largest ethnic group

Chief of mission: Ambassador Mpho Churchill MOPHUTING (since 18 September 2024)

Chancery: 1531-1533 New Hampshire Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20036

Telephone: [1] (202) 244-4990

FAX: [1] (202) 244-4164

Email address and website:
Info@botswanaembassy.org

http://www.botswanaembassy.org/

Title: "Fatshe leno la rona" (Our Land)

Lyrics/music: Kgalemang Tumedisco MOTSETE

History: Adopted 1966

accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction with reservations; accepts ICCt jurisdiction

zebra

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

Total World Heritage Sites: 2 (1 cultural, 1 natural)

Selected World Heritage Site locales: Tsodilo Hills (c); Okavango Delta (n)

light blue, white, black

16.1% (2015 est.)

note: % of population with income below national poverty line

Lowest 10%: 1.4% (2015 est.)

Highest 10%: 42.9% (2015 est.)

note: % share of income accruing to lowest and highest 10% of population

diamonds, copper ore, insulated wire, carbonates, cattle (2023)

note: top five export commodities based on value in dollars

UAE 27%, India 17%, Belgium 16%, South Africa 8%, USA 7% (2023)

note: top five export partners based on percentage share of exports

root vegetables, beef, vegetables, sorghum, maize, game meat, milk, watermelons, goat milk, sunflower seeds (2023)

note: top ten agricultural products based on tonnage

Revenues: $5.474 billion (2024 est.)

Expenditures: $6.296 billion (2024 est.)

note: central government revenues and expenses (excluding grants/extrabudgetary units/social security funds) converted to US dollars at average official exchange rate for year indicated

refined petroleum, diamonds, cars, flavored water, electricity (2023)

note: top five import commodities based on value in dollars

pulas (BWP) per US dollar -

Exchange rates:
13.563 (2024 est.)
13.596 (2023 est.)
12.369 (2022 est.)
11.087 (2021 est.)
11.456 (2020 est.)

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

good economic governance and financial management; diamond-driven growth model declining; rapid poverty reductions; high unemployment, particularly among youth; COVID-19 sharply contracted the economy and recovery is slow; public sector wages have posed fiscal challenges

$19.401 billion (2024 est.)

note: data in current dollars at official exchange rate

Household consumption: 45.3% (2024 est.)

Government consumption: 32.1% (2024 est.)

Investment in fixed capital: 28.5% (2024 est.)

Investment in inventories: 7.7% (2024 est.)

Exports of goods and services: 26% (2024 est.)

Imports of goods and services: -40.9% (2024 est.)

note: figures may not total 100% due to rounding or gaps in data collection

South Africa 65%, Namibia 8%, Canada 5%, China 3%, India 3% (2023)

note: top five import partners based on percentage share of imports

0.4% of GDP (2023 est.)
0.3% of GDP (2022 est.)
0.3% of GDP (2021 est.)

note: personal transfers and compensation between resident and non-resident individuals/households/entities

1.173 million (2024 est.)

note: number of people ages 15 or older who are employed or seeking work

$1.761 billion (2023 est.)

note: present value of external debt in current US dollars

$3.456 billion (2024 est.)
$4.756 billion (2023 est.)
$4.279 billion (2022 est.)

note: holdings of gold (year-end prices)/foreign exchange/special drawing rights in current dollars

19.6% of GDP (2020 est.)

note: central government debt as a % of GDP

23.2% (2024 est.)
23.4% (2023 est.)
23.7% (2022 est.)

note: % of labor force seeking employment

19.6% (of GDP) (2022 est.)

note: central government tax revenue as a % of GDP

$45.553 billion (2024 est.)
$46.957 billion (2023 est.)
$45.498 billion (2022 est.)

note: data in 2021 dollars

2.8% (2024 est.)
5.1% (2023 est.)
11.7% (2022 est.)

note: annual % change based on consumer prices

-$116.727 million (2023 est.)
-$232.122 million (2022 est.)
-$314.583 million (2021 est.)

note: balance of payments - net trade and primary/secondary income in current dollars

$18,100 (2024 est.)
$18,900 (2023 est.)
$18,600 (2022 est.)

note: data in 2021 dollars

$7.228 billion (2023 est.)
$8.826 billion (2022 est.)
$9.25 billion (2021 est.)

note: balance of payments - imports of goods and services in current dollars

$6.398 billion (2023 est.)
$8.914 billion (2022 est.)
$7.861 billion (2021 est.)

note: balance of payments - exports of goods and services in current dollars

-3% (2024 est.)
3.2% (2023 est.)
5.5% (2022 est.)

note: annual GDP % growth based on constant local currency

-13.5% (2024 est.)

note: annual % change in industrial value added based on constant local currency

Agriculture: 1.7% (2024 est.)

Industry: 29.4% (2024 est.)

Services: 63.5% (2024 est.)

note: figures may not total 100% due to non-allocated consumption not captured in sector-reported data

Electrification - total population: 75.9% (2022 est.)

Electrification - urban areas: 95.5%

Electrification - rural areas: 25%

Production: 2.242 million metric tons (2023 est.)

Consumption: 1.351 million metric tons (2023 est.)

Exports: 891,000 metric tons (2023 est.)

Imports: 300 metric tons (2023 est.)

Proven reserves: 1.66 billion metric tons (2023 est.)

Fossil fuels: 99.8% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)

Solar: 0.2% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)

Refined petroleum consumption: 22,000 bbl/day (2023 est.)

Installed generating capacity: 758,000 kW (2023 est.)

Consumption: 3.879 billion kWh (2023 est.)

Exports: 2 million kWh (2023 est.)

Imports: 1.923 billion kWh (2023 est.)

Transmission/distribution losses: 625.694 million kWh (2023 est.)

Percent of population: 81% (2023 est.)

.bw

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)

Total subscriptions: 4.44 million (2023 est.)

Subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 165 (2022 est.)

Total: 85,000 (2023 est.)

Subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 3 (2023 est.)

Total subscriptions: 90,000 (2023 est.)

Subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 4 (2023 est.)

Total: 888 km (2014)

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

A2

122 (2025)

3% of GDP (2024 est.)
2.6% of GDP (2023 est.)
2.8% of GDP (2022 est.)
3% of GDP (2021 est.)
3% of GDP (2020 est.)

Botswana Defense Force (BDF): Ground Forces Command, Air Arm Command, Defense Logistics Command (2025)

Note 1: Both the BDF and the Botswana Police Service (BPS) report to the Ministry of Defense, Justice and Security; the BPS has primary responsibility for internal security

Note 2: The Ground Force Command includes a marine unit with boats and river craft for patrolling Botswana's internal waterways and supporting anti-poaching operations

the key responsibilities of the Botswana Defense Force (BDF) are defending the country's sovereignty and territorial integrity on land and in the air, ensuring national security and stability, and aiding civil authorities in support of domestic missions such as disaster relief and anti-poaching; the BDF also participates in regional and international security operations

Bechuanaland/Botswana did not have a permanent military during colonial times, with the British colonial administrators relying instead on small, lightly armed constabularies such as the Bechuanaland Mounted Police, the Bechuanaland Border Police, and by the early 1960s, the Police Mobile Unit (PMU); after independence in 1966, Botswana militarized the PMU and gave it responsibility for the country’s defense rather than create a conventional military force; however, turmoil in neighboring countries and numerous cross-border incursions by Rhodesian and South African security forces in the 1960s and 1970s demonstrated that the PMU was inadequate for defending the country and led to the establishment of the BDF in 1977 (2025)

estimated 10,000 active Botswana Defense Force (2025)

the BDF has a mix of mostly older weapons and equipment, largely of Western/European origin; in recent years, it has received limited amounts of newer armaments from several European countries and the US (2025)

18-24 years of age (men and women) for general recruits and officer candidates; 18-40 for special entrant officers; no conscription (2025)

Refugees: 823 (2024 est.)

IDPs: 99 (2023 est.)

the two zebras, the country’s national symbol, support an elephant tusk that represents the country's fauna and a head of sorghum that signifies agriculture; the three wavy blue bands stand for the country’s reliance on water, the cog wheels for industry, and the bull’s head for the cattle industry; the coat of arms also features the national colors of light blue, white, and black; the motto reflects the scarcity of rain in the country: pula means “let there be rain” in Setswana, the national language

Energy: 26 kt (2022-2024 est.)

Agriculture: 144 kt (2019-2021 est.)

Waste: 841.4 kt (2019-2021 est.)

Other: 1.7 kt (2019-2021 est.)

54.9 (2015 est.)

note: index (0-100) of income distribution; higher values represent greater inequality