Botswana

This Page was last updated on the 31st. October, 2006.

Country	Botswana
Official Name	Republic of Botswana
Former Name	British Protectorate of Bechuanaland (formerly British; Bechuanaland came under British protection in 1885; northern part became present Botswana, the southern became part of the Cape Colony [northwest province of South Africa]; self-governing in June 1964; adopted name of Botswana at independence.)
Capital	Gaborone
Main Towns	Francistown (pop. 83,023), Gaborone (pop. 186,007), Kanye (pop. 40,628), Lobatse (pop. 29,689), Maun (pop. 43,776), Mochudi (pop. 36,962), Molepolole (pop. 54,561), Selebi-Phikwe (pop. 49,849), Serowe (pop. 42,444)
Subdivisions	9 districts: Central, Ghanzi, Kgalagadi, Kgatleng, Kweneng, Northwest, Northeast, Southeast, Southern 5 town councils: Francistown, Gaborone, Jwaneng, Lobatse, Selebi-Pikwe
Independence	30 September 1966 (from UK)
Constitution	March 1965, effective 30 September 1966
National Holiday	Independence Day (Botswana Day), 30 September (1966)
UN Membership	17 October 1966
OAU Membership	October 1966 – now African Union (AU)
Commonwealth	30 September 1966
Other Organisations	In alphabetical order according to abbreviation/acronym: Africa-Caribbean-Pacific-European Union (ACP-EU), African Development Bank (AfDB or AFDB), Economic Commission for Africa (ECA), Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO), Group of 77 at the United Nations (G-77), International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), International Bank for Reconstruction and Development (IBRD), International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO), International Criminal Court (ICCt - signatory), International Confederation of Free Trade Unions (ICFTU), International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement (ICRM), International Development Association (IDA), International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD), International Finance Corporation (IFC), International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRCS), International Labour Organisation (ILO), International Monetary Fund (IMF), International Criminal Police Organization (Interpol), International Olympic Committee (IOC), International Organisation for Standardisation (ISO), International Telecommunications Union (ITU), Non Aligned Movement (NAM), Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW), Southern African Customs Union (SACU), Southern African Development Community (SADC), United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD), United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO), United Nations Industrial Development Organisation (UNIDO), Universal Postal Union (UPU), World Customs Organization (WCO, former Customs Cooperation Council [CCC]), World Federation of Trade Unions (WFTU), World Health Organisation (WHO), World Intellectual Property Organisation (WIPO), World Meteorological Organisation (WMO), World Tourism Organisation (WToO), World Trade Organisation (WTrO).
Population	World Bank Figures: 1,646,640 (1999), 1,675,000 (2000), 1,695,000 (2001), 1,711,770 (2002), 1,722,468 (2003) Other Sources: 1,392,414 (July 1995), 1,586,119 (July 2001 est.) 1,573,267 (July 2003 est.), 1,640,115 (July 2005 est)
Area	224,711 sq. mls. (582,000 sq. kms.)
Density	2 per sq.km. (1995)
Highest Point	Tsodilo Hills 4,969 ft. (1,515 m.)
Lowest Point	Shashi/Limpopo Rivers 1,684 ft. (513 m.)
Neighbours	Namibia (W & N), South Africa (S), Zimbabwe (E)
Life Expectancy	68 years (1995), total population: 37.13 years, male: 36.77 years, female: 37.51 years (2001 est.) total population: 32.26 years male: 32.2 years female: 32.32 years (2003 est.) total population: 33.87 years male: 33.89 years female: 33.84 years (2005 est.)
Infant Mortality Rate	total: 67.34 deaths/1,000 live births female: 66.28 deaths/1,000 live births (2003 est.) male: 68.36 deaths/1,000 live births total: 54.58 deaths/1,000 live births male: 55.97 deaths/1,000 live births female: 53.14 deaths/1,000 live births (2005 est.)
HIV/AIDS	adult prevalence rate: 38.8% (2001 est.), 37.3% (2003 est.) people living with HIV/AIDS: 330,000 (2001 est.), 350,000 (2003 est.) deaths: 26,000 (2001 est.), 33,000 (2003 est.) IRIN Plus News - HIV/AIDS Treatment Map: Botswana - Updated: Oct 2005 Population: 1.8 million HIV Prevalence Rate (%) December 2003: 37.3 No. Of People living with HIV/AIDS: 380,000 No. Of People in need of ART: 110,000 No. Of People Currently On ART (Sep 05): 50,000 No. Of People on ART Public Sector: No. Of People on ART in Non Govt Programmes: 42,500 7,500 No. Of People Exptd to be on ART (end of 2005): 55,000 Front Line Drug Regimen: Zidovudine+Lamivudine+Nevirapine and Nevirapine+Zidovudine+Efavirenz HIV/AIDS Treatment Sites: 35 Global Fund 2 Year Approved Funding (Round 2 December 2003-Dec 2005): US$18,588,414.00 Total Funds Disbursed By The Global Fund: US$9 019 119. 00 Total Funds Disbursed By The World Bank Multi-Country HIV/AIDS Programme (MAP): NIL Total Funds Disbursed By PEPFAR: US$33,671,449.00 Source: UNAIDS, Ministry of Health NAC, The Global Fund, The World Bank, US State Department
Adult Literacy Rate	total population: 69.8%, male: 80.5%, female: 59.9% (1995 est.) total population: 79.8% male: 76.9% female: 82.4% (2003 est.)
Ethnic Groups	Tswana (or Setswana) 79%, Kalanga 11%, Basarwa ( Bushman), other 7%
Languages	Setswana 78.2%, Kalanga 7.9%, Sekgalagadi 2.8%, English 2.1% (official), other 8.6%, unspecified 0.4% (2001 census)
Religions	Christian 71.6%, Badimo 6%, other 1.4%, unspecified 0.4%, none 20.6% (2001 census)
Type of Government	Parliamentary republic
President	Festus Gontebanye Mogae (since 1 April 1998)
Prime Minister	---
Political Parties	Botswana Democratic Party (BDP); Botswana National Front (BNF); Botswana Congress Party (BCP); Botswana Alliance Movement (BAM - formed of minor parties: the United Action Party, the Independence Freedom Party [IFP], and the Botswana Progressive Union)
Ruling Party	Botswana Democratic Party (BDP)
Currency	Pula (P, BWP)(100 thebe) pulas per US dollar - 4.6929 (2004), 4.9499 (2003), 6.3278 (2002), 5.8412 (2001), 5.1018 (2000)
GDP	US$2,641 (1992), US$4,318m (1995), GDP: US$8.74 billion (2004) purchasing power parity - US$15.05 billion (2004 est.) per capita purchasing power parity - US$9,500 (2002 est.), US$9,200 (2004 est.)
GNP	US$2,980 (1992) US$3,020 (1995)
Per Capita Income	Per capita nominal GDP: US$4,800 (2003/4), GDP per head: US$4,143 (2004)
Population Below Poverty Line	47% (2002 est.)
Land Use	arable land: 0.65% permanent crops: 0.01% other: 99.34% (2001) Irrigated land: 10 sq km (1998 est.)
Natural Resources	diamonds, copper, nickel, salt, soda ash, potash, coal, iron ore, silver
Oil and Natural Gas	Oil - production: 0 bbl/day (2001 est.) consumption: 16,000 bbl/day (2001 est.) exports: NA (2001) imports: NA (2001)
Military	Branches: Botswana Defense Force (Army and Air Wing), Botswana National Police Manpower - availability: males age 15-49: 381,056 (2003 est.) males age 18-49: 350,649 (2005 est.) Expenditures - dollar figure: US$207.3 million 3.5% of GDP (FY02) US$338.5 million, 3.9% of GDP(2004)
Economic Aid Received	US$73 million (1995) Annual avg. economic aid: US$25 million (2003/4 - source: Bank of Botswana Annual Report 2003) Aid per Capita (World Bank): US$37 (1999), US$18 (2000), US$17 (2001), US$22 (2002), US$17 (2003)
Debt	Less indebted World Bank Figures: US$339,100,000 (2000), US$307,400,000 (2001), US$403,400,000 (2002), US$437,500,000 (2003) Other Sources: US$699m (1995), US$455m (2000), US$360 million (2002),US$531 million (2004 est.)
Major Imports	Foodstuffs, machinery, electrical goods, transport equipment, textiles, fuel and petroleum products, wood and paper products, metal and metal products machinery, transport equipment, manufactured goods, food, chemicals, fuels (2003/4 - source: Bank of Botswana Annual Report 2003)
Imports from	South Africa, EU, and U.S. US$2.9 billion (2003/4 - source: Bank of Botswana Annual Report 2003) Southern African Customs Union (SACU) 74%, EFTA 17%, Zimbabwe 4% (2000) US$2.255 billion f.o.b. (2004 est.)
Major Exports	diamonds, copper, nickel, soda ash, meat, textiles diamonds, nickel, copper, meat products, textiles, hides, skins, and soda ash (2003/4 - source: Bank of Botswana Annual Report 2003)
Exports to	EU, South Africa, Zimbabwe. US$2.9 billion (2003/4 - source: Bank of Botswana Annual Report 2003) European Free Trade Association (EFTA) 87%, Southern African Customs Union (SACU) 7%, Zimbabwe 4% (2000) US$2.94 billion f.o.b. (2004 est.)

We try to have each fact sheet up to date and as accurate as possible.
If you notice any mistakes, or have suggestions on items which could be added, please let us know by emailing to: suttonlink@dial.pipex.com

The White Fathers, Sutton Coldfield, 31 October, 2006.

Page 4 of 61

First Previous Next Last