Background: Formerly the British protectorate of Bechuanaland,
Botswana adopted its new name upon independence in 1966. The economy, one
of the most robust on the continent, is dominated by diamond mining.
Government type: parliamentary republic
Capital: Gaborone
Currency: 1 pula (P) = 100 thebe
Geography of Botswana
Location: Southern Africa, north of South Africa
Geographic coordinates: 22 00 S, 24 00 E
Map references: Africa
Area:
total: 600,370 sq km
land: 585,370 sq km
water: 15,000 sq km
Land boundaries:
total: 4,013 km
border countries: Namibia 1,360 km, South Africa 1,840 km, Zimbabwe 813 km
Coastline: 0 km (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: 1%
permanent crops: 0%
permanent pastures: 46%
forests and woodland: 47%
other: 6% (1993 est.)
Irrigated land: 20 sq km (1993 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, 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
Geography - note: landlocked; population concentrated in eastern part of the
country
People of Botswana
Population: 1,640,115 (July 2005 est.)
Age structure:
0-14 years: 40.3%
15-64 years: 55.56%
65 years and over: 4.14%
Population growth rate: 0.47%
Birth rate: 28.85 births/1,000 population
Death rate: 24.18 deaths/1,000 population
Net migration rate: 0 migrant(s)/1,000 population
Infant mortality rate: 63.2 deaths/1,000 live births
Life expectancy at birth:
total population: 37.13 years
male: 36.77 years
female: 37.51 years
Total fertility rate: 3.7 children born/woman
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: indigenous beliefs 50%, Christian 50%
Languages: English (official), Setswana
Literacy:
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 69.8%
male: 80.5%
female: 59.9% (1995 est.)
SOURCE: The World Factbook |