Formerly the British protectorate of Bechuanaland, Botswana adopted its new name upon 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. 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.

Country Name:

• conventional long form: Republic of Botswana
• conventional short form: Botswana
• former: Bechuanaland

Capital:

• name: Gaborone
• geographic coordinates: 24 45 S, 25 55 E
• time difference: UTC+2 (7 hours ahead of Washington, DC during Standard Time)

Independence:

• 30 September 1966 (from the UK)

Government Type:

• parliamentary republic

Executive Branch:

• chief of state: President Seretse Khama Ian Khama (since 1 April 2008); Vice President Ponatshego Kedikilwe (since 2 August 2012)
• head of government: President Seretse Khama Ian Khama (since 1 April 2008); Vice President Ponatshego Kedikilwe (since 2 August 2012)
• 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)

Legislative Branch:

• structure: bicameral Parliament consists of the House of Chiefs and the National Assembly

Judicial Branch:

• structure: High Court; Court of Appeal; Magistrates' Courts (one in each district)

  ​

Population:

• 2,155,784 (global rank: 145)
• growth rate: 1.26% (global rank: 92)

Nationality:

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

Major Cities:

• Gaborone (capital): 202,000

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%

Languages:

• Setswana 78.2%, Kalanga 7.9%, Sekgalagadi 2.8%, English (official) 2.1%, other 8.6%, unspecified 0.4%

Life Expectancy at Birth:

• total population: 54.06 years (global rank: 210)
• male: 55.75 years
• female: 52.32 years

Infant Mortality:

• total population: 9.38 deaths/1,000 live births (global rank: 145)
• male: 9.77 deaths/1,000 live births
• female: 8.99 deaths/1,000 live births

HIV/AIDS:

• adult prevalence rate: 23% (global rank: 3)
• people living with AIDS: 337,700 (global rank: 21)

Literacy:

• definition: age 15 and over can read and write
• total population: 85.1%
• male: 84.6%
• female: 85.6%

  ​

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 $16,400 in 2013. 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 one-third 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. According to official government statistics, unemployment reached 17.8% in 2009, but unofficial estimates run much higher. 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 may support Botswana's downstream diamond industry.

Gross Domestic Product:

• GDP (PPP): $34 billion (global rank: 111)
• GDP per capita (PPP): $16,400 (global rank: 82)
• real growth rate: 3.92% (global rank: 84)
• composition by sector: agriculture: 1.9%, industry: 35.7%, services: 62.4%

Currency:

• currency: Botswanan Pul (BWP)
• exchange rate (per US Dollar): 8.732

Poverty:

• unemployment rate: 17.8%
• population below poverty line: 30.3%

Agricultural Products:

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

Industries:

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

Export Commodities:

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

Import Commodities:

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

  ​

Location:

• Southern Africa, north of South Africa

Area:

• total: 581,730 sq km (global rank: 48)
• land: 566,730 sq km
• water: 15,000 sq km
• comparative: slightly smaller than Texas

Climate:

• semiarid; warm winters and hot summers

Land Use:

• arable land: 0.45%
• permanent crops: 0%
• other: 99.55%

Natural Resources:

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

Current Environmental Issues:

• overgrazing; desertification; limited freshwater resources

  ​

• international disputes: none