Botswana

Location

• Southern Africa, north of South Africa
• 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 

Population

Notable Population Centers

City	Population	Note
Gaborone	246,325	Capital
Francistown	103,417
Mogoditshane	88,004
Maun	85,350
Molepolole	74,861
Serowe	55,676
Tlokweng	55,508
Palapye	52,636
Mochudi	50,321
Mahalapye	48,431

Size

• 231,803 square miles
• 600,370 square kilometers
• slightly smaller than Texas; almost four times the size of Illinois

History

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.

Climate

semiarid; warm winters and hot summers

Terrain

predominantly flat to gently rolling tableland; Kalahari Desert in southwest

Languages

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.)

Religions

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

Government

parliamentary republic

• Constitution: history: previous 1960 (pre-independence); latest adopted March 1965, effective 30 September 1966amendment 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
• Political Parties and Leaders: n/a
• Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal
• Legal System: mixed legal system of civil law influenced by the Roman-Dutch model, including customary and common law
• Executive Branch: 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 presidentelection/appointment process: president indirectly elected by the National Assembly for a 5-year term (eligible for a second term); vice president appointed by the presidentmost recent election date: 31 October 2024election results: BOKO's UDC won 35 seats in the National Assembly, which then selected BOKO as presidentexpected date of next election: October 2029
• Judicial Branch: 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 70subordinate 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
• Legislative Branch: legislature name: Parliamentlegislative structure: unicameralchamber name: National Assemblynumber of seats: 69 (61 directly elected; 6 indirectly elected)electoral system: plurality/majorityscope of elections: full renewalterm in office: 5 yearsmost recent election date: 10/30/2024parties 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 2029note: 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

Demographic Profile

n/a

Economy

• 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
• Budget: 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
• Credit Rating: n/a
• Natural Resources: diamonds, copper, nickel, salt, soda ash, potash, coal, iron ore, silver
• Industries: diamonds, copper, nickel, salt, soda ash, potash, coal, iron ore, silver; beef processing; textiles
• Agricultural Products: root vegetables, beef, vegetables, sorghum, maize, game meat, milk, watermelons, goat milk, sunflower seeds (2023)note: top ten agricultural products based on tonnage
• Land Use: agricultural land: 45.6% (2022 est.)arable land: 0.5% (2022 est.)permanent crops: 0% (2022 est.)permanent pasture: 45.2% (2022 est.)forest: 26.5% (2022 est.)other: 27.9% (2022 est.)
• Labor Force by Occupation: n/a
• Imports
• Imported Commodities: refined petroleum, diamonds, cars, flavored water, electricity (2023)note: top five import commodities based on value in dollars
• Import Partners: South Africa 65%, Namibia 8%, Canada 5%, China 3%, India 3% (2023)note: top five import partners based on percentage share of imports
• Exports
• Exported Commodities: diamonds, copper ore, insulated wire, carbonates, cattle (2023)note: top five export commodities based on value in dollars
• Export Partners: UAE 27%, India 17%, Belgium 16%, South Africa 8%, USA 7% (2023)note: top five export partners based on percentage share of exports