Communications: Broadband - fixed subscriptions: subscriptions per 100 inhabitants
3 (2023 est.)
Communications: Broadband - fixed subscriptions: total
85,000 (2023 est.)
Communications: Broadcast media
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)
Communications: Internet country code
.bw
Communications: Internet users: percent of population
57.46% (2024 est.)
Communications: Telephones - fixed lines: subscriptions per 100 inhabitants
3 (2024 est.)
Communications: Telephones - fixed lines: total subscriptions
83,200 (2024 est.)
Communications: Telephones - mobile cellular: subscriptions per 100 inhabitants
164 (2024 est.)
Communications: Telephones - mobile cellular: total subscriptions
4.13 million (2024 est.)
Economy: Agricultural products
root vegetables, beef, vegetables, sorghum, maize, game meat, milk, watermelons, goat milk, sunflower seeds (2023)
Economy: Budget: expenditures
$6.296 billion (2024 est.)
Economy: Budget: revenues
$5.474 billion (2024 est.)
Economy: Current account balance: Current account balance 2013
$646.6 million (2013 est.)
Economy: Current account balance: Current account balance 2014
$1.713 billion (2014 est.)
Economy: Current account balance: Current account balance 2015
$301.2 million (2015 est.)
Economy: Current account balance: Current account balance 2016
$1.203 billion (2016 est.)
Economy: Current account balance: Current account balance 2017
$899.6 million (2017 est.)
Economy: Current account balance: Current account balance 2018
$66.9 million (2018 est.)
Economy: Current account balance: Current account balance 2019
-$1.155 billion (2019 est.)
Economy: Current account balance: Current account balance 2020
-$1.467 billion (2020 est.)
Economy: Current account balance: Current account balance 2021
-$314.583 million (2021 est.)
Economy: Current account balance: Current account balance 2022
-$232.122 million (2022 est.)
Economy: Current account balance: Current account balance 2023
-$116.727 million (2023 est.)
Economy: Current account balance: Current account balance 2024
-$821.1 million (2024 est.)
Economy: Debt - external: Debt - external 2022
$2.003 billion (2022 est.)
Economy: Debt - external: Debt - external 2023
$1.761 billion (2023 est.)
Economy: Exchange rates
13.5631 (2024 est.)
Economy: Exchange rates: Currency
pulas (BWP) per US dollar -
Economy: Exchange rates: Exchange rates 2013
8.3989 (2013 est.)
Economy: Exchange rates: Exchange rates 2014
8.9761 (2014 est.)
Economy: Exchange rates: Exchange rates 2015
10.1290 (2015 est.)
Economy: Exchange rates: Exchange rates 2016
10.9012 (2016 est.)
Economy: Exchange rates: Exchange rates 2017
10.3474 (2017 est.)
Economy: Exchange rates: Exchange rates 2018
10.2000 (2018 est.)
Economy: Exchange rates: Exchange rates 2019
10.7559 (2019 est.)
Economy: Exchange rates: Exchange rates 2020
11.4562 (2020 est.)
Economy: Exchange rates: Exchange rates 2021
11.0873 (2021 est.)
Economy: Exchange rates: Exchange rates 2022
12.3688 (2022 est.)
Economy: Exchange rates: Exchange rates 2023
13.5964 (2023 est.)
Economy: Exchange rates: Exchange rates 2024
13.5631 (2024 est.)
Economy: Exports - commodities
diamonds, copper ore, insulated wire, carbonates, cattle (2023)
Economy: Exports: Exports 2011
$6.684 billion (2011 est.)
Economy: Exports: Exports 2014
$9.481 billion (2014 est.)
Economy: Exports: Exports 2015
$7.184 billion (2015 est.)
Economy: Exports: Exports 2016
$8.237 billion (2016 est.)
Economy: Exports: Exports 2017
$6.912 billion (2017 est.)
Economy: Exports: Exports 2018
$7.533 billion (2018 est.)
Economy: Exports: Exports 2019
$6.203 billion (2019 est.)
Economy: Exports: Exports 2020
$4.681 billion (2020 est.)
Economy: Exports: Exports 2021
$7.861 billion (2021 est.)
Economy: Exports: Exports 2022
$8.914 billion (2022 est.)
Economy: Exports: Exports 2023
$6.398 billion (2023 est.)
Economy: Exports: Exports 2024
$5.315 billion (2024 est.)
Economy: GDP - composition, by end use: exports of goods and services
26% (2024 est.)
Economy: GDP - composition, by end use: government consumption
32.1% (2024 est.)
Economy: GDP - composition, by end use: household consumption
45.3% (2024 est.)
Economy: GDP - composition, by end use: imports of goods and services
-40.9% (2024 est.)
Economy: GDP - composition, by end use: investment in fixed capital
28.5% (2024 est.)
Economy: GDP - composition, by end use: investment in inventories
7.7% (2024 est.)
Economy: GDP - composition, by sector of origin: agriculture
1.7% (2024 est.)
Economy: GDP - composition, by sector of origin: industry
29.4% (2024 est.)
Economy: GDP - composition, by sector of origin: services
63.5% (2024 est.)
Economy: GDP - per capita (PPP)
$20,538 (2024 est.)
Economy: GDP (official exchange rate)
$19.401 billion (2024 est.)
Economy: GDP (purchasing power parity) - real
$51.779 billion (2024 est.)
Economy: Gini Index coefficient - distribution of family income: Gini Index coefficient - distribution of family income 2015
54.9 (2015 est.)
Economy: Household income or consumption by percentage share: highest 10%
42.9% (2015 est.)
Economy: Household income or consumption by percentage share: lowest 10%
1.4% (2015 est.)
Economy: Imports - commodities
refined petroleum, diamonds, cars, flavored water, electricity (2023)
Economy: Imports: Imports 2010
$6.634 billion (2010 est.)
Economy: Imports: Imports 2015
$8.093 billion (2015 est.)
Economy: Imports: Imports 2016
$6.916 billion (2016 est.)
Economy: Imports: Imports 2017
$6.282 billion (2017 est.)
Economy: Imports: Imports 2018
$7.362 billion (2018 est.)
Economy: Imports: Imports 2019
$7.695 billion (2019 est.)
Economy: Imports: Imports 2020
$6.938 billion (2020 est.)
Economy: Imports: Imports 2021
$9.25 billion (2021 est.)
Economy: Imports: Imports 2022
$8.826 billion (2022 est.)
Economy: Imports: Imports 2023
$7.228 billion (2023 est.)
Economy: Imports: Imports 2024
$8.481 billion (2024 est.)
Economy: Industrial production growth rate
-13.5% (2024 est.)
Economy: Inflation rate (consumer prices): Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2015
3.06% (2015 est.)
Economy: Inflation rate (consumer prices): Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2016
2.81% (2016 est.)
Economy: Inflation rate (consumer prices): Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2017
3.31% (2017 est.)
Economy: Inflation rate (consumer prices): Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2018
3.24% (2018 est.)
Economy: Inflation rate (consumer prices): Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2019
2.77% (2019 est.)
Economy: Inflation rate (consumer prices): Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2020
1.89% (2020 est.)
Economy: Inflation rate (consumer prices): Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2021
7.24% (2021 est.)
Economy: Inflation rate (consumer prices): Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2022
11.67% (2022 est.)
Economy: Inflation rate (consumer prices): Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2023
5.07% (2023 est.)
Economy: Inflation rate (consumer prices): Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2024
2.82% (2024 est.)
Economy: Labor force
1.173 million (2024 est.)
Economy: Population below poverty line
16.10% (2015 est.)
Economy: Public debt: Public debt 2013
19.02% (2013 est.)
Economy: Public debt: Public debt 2014
18.33% (2014 est.)
Economy: Public debt: Public debt 2016
15.80% (2016 est.)
Economy: Public debt: Public debt 2017
14.68% (2017 est.)
Economy: Public debt: Public debt 2018
15.23% (2018 est.)
Economy: Public debt: Public debt 2019
16.19% (2019 est.)
Economy: Public debt: Public debt 2020
19.62% (2020 est.)
Economy: Real GDP (purchasing power parity): Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2014
$32.588 billion (2014 est.)
Economy: Real GDP (purchasing power parity): Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2015
$31.162 billion (2015 est.)
Economy: Real GDP (purchasing power parity): Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2016
$36.266 billion (2016 est.)
Economy: Real GDP (purchasing power parity): Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2017
$35.589 billion (2017 est.)
Economy: Real GDP (purchasing power parity): Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2019
$37.220 billion (2019 est.)
Economy: Real GDP (purchasing power parity): Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2020
$36.180 billion (2020 est.)
Economy: Real GDP (purchasing power parity): Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2021
$43.131 billion (2021 est.)
Economy: Real GDP (purchasing power parity): Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2022
$45.498 billion (2022 est.)
Economy: Real GDP (purchasing power parity): Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2023
$46.957 billion (2023 est.)
Economy: Real GDP (purchasing power parity): Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2024
$45.553 billion (2024 est.)
Economy: Real GDP growth rate: Real GDP growth rate 2015
-4.85% (2015 est.)
Economy: Real GDP growth rate: Real GDP growth rate 2016
7.20% (2016 est.)
Economy: Real GDP growth rate: Real GDP growth rate 2017
4.11% (2017 est.)
Economy: Real GDP growth rate: Real GDP growth rate 2018
4.19% (2018 est.)
Economy: Real GDP growth rate: Real GDP growth rate 2019
3.03% (2019 est.)
Economy: Real GDP growth rate: Real GDP growth rate 2020
-8.73% (2020 est.)
Economy: Real GDP growth rate: Real GDP growth rate 2021
11.92% (2021 est.)
Economy: Real GDP growth rate: Real GDP growth rate 2022
5.49% (2022 est.)
Economy: Real GDP growth rate: Real GDP growth rate 2023
3.21% (2023 est.)
Economy: Real GDP growth rate: Real GDP growth rate 2024
-2.99% (2024 est.)
Economy: Real GDP per capita: Real GDP per capita 2014
$15,003 (2014 est.)
Economy: Real GDP per capita: Real GDP per capita 2015
$14,144 (2015 est.)
Economy: Real GDP per capita: Real GDP per capita 2016
$16,228 (2016 est.)
Economy: Real GDP per capita: Real GDP per capita 2017
$15,701 (2017 est.)
Economy: Real GDP per capita: Real GDP per capita 2019
$15,960 (2019 est.)
Economy: Real GDP per capita: Real GDP per capita 2020
$15,292 (2020 est.)
Economy: Real GDP per capita: Real GDP per capita 2021
$17,961 (2021 est.)
Economy: Real GDP per capita: Real GDP per capita 2022
$19,977 (2022 est.)
Economy: Real GDP per capita: Real GDP per capita 2023
$21,012 (2023 est.)
Economy: Remittances: Remittances 2013
$36.0 million (2013 est.)
Economy: Remittances: Remittances 2014
$46.1 million (2014 est.)
Economy: Remittances: Remittances 2015
$30.0 million (2015 est.)
Economy: Remittances: Remittances 2020
$44.2 million (2020 est.)
Economy: Remittances: Remittances 2021
0.3% of GDP (2021 est.)
Economy: Remittances: Remittances 2022
0.3% of GDP (2022 est.)
Economy: Remittances: Remittances 2023
0.4% of GDP (2023 est.)
Economy: Remittances: Remittances 2024
$128.3 million (2024 est.)
Economy: Reserves of foreign exchange and gold: Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2015
$7.546 billion (2015 est.)
Economy: Reserves of foreign exchange and gold: Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2016
$7.189 billion (2016 est.)
Economy: Reserves of foreign exchange and gold: Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2017
$7.491 billion (2017 est.)
Economy: Reserves of foreign exchange and gold: Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2018
$6.657 billion (2018 est.)
Economy: Reserves of foreign exchange and gold: Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2019
$6.170 billion (2019 est.)
Economy: Reserves of foreign exchange and gold: Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2020
$4.941 billion (2020 est.)
Economy: Reserves of foreign exchange and gold: Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2021
$4.802 billion (2021 est.)
Economy: Reserves of foreign exchange and gold: Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2022
$4.279 billion (2022 est.)
Economy: Reserves of foreign exchange and gold: Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2023
$4.756 billion (2023 est.)
Economy: Reserves of foreign exchange and gold: Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2024
$3.456 billion (2024 est.)
Economy: Taxes and other revenues
19.6% (of GDP) (2022 est.)
Economy: Unemployment rate: Unemployment rate 2019
20.09% (2019 est.)
Economy: Unemployment rate: Unemployment rate 2020
21.02% (2020 est.)
Economy: Unemployment rate: Unemployment rate 2021
23.11% (2021 est.)
Economy: Unemployment rate: Unemployment rate 2022
23.61% (2022 est.)
Economy: Unemployment rate: Unemployment rate 2023
23.38% (2023 est.)
Economy: Unemployment rate: Unemployment rate 2024
23.81% (2024 est.)
Economy: Youth unemployment rate (ages 15-24): female
48.6% (2024 est.)
Economy: Youth unemployment rate (ages 15-24): male
39.8% (2024 est.)
Economy: Youth unemployment rate (ages 15-24): total
43.9% (2024 est.)
Energy: Coal: consumption
1.351 million metric tons (2023 est.)
Energy: Coal: exports
891,000 metric tons (2023 est.)
Energy: Coal: imports
300 metric tons (2023 est.)
Energy: Coal: production
2.242 million metric tons (2023 est.)
Energy: Coal: proven reserves
1.66 billion metric tons (2023 est.)
Energy: Electricity access: electrification - rural areas
25%
Energy: Electricity access: electrification - total population
75.9% (2022 est.)
Energy: Electricity access: electrification - urban areas
95.5%
Energy: Electricity generation sources: fossil fuels
99.8% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
Energy: Electricity generation sources: solar
0.2% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
Energy: Electricity: consumption
3.879 billion kWh (2023 est.)
Energy: Electricity: exports
2 million kWh (2023 est.)
Energy: Electricity: imports
1.923 billion kWh (2023 est.)
Energy: Electricity: installed generating capacity
758,000 kW (2023 est.)
Energy: Electricity: transmission/distribution losses
625.694 million kWh (2023 est.)
Energy: Energy consumption per capita: Total energy consumption per capita 2023
32.443 million Btu/person (2023 est.)
Energy: Petroleum: refined petroleum consumption
22,000 bbl/day (2023 est.)
Environment: Carbon dioxide emissions: from coal and metallurgical coke
2.818 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)
Environment: Carbon dioxide emissions: from petroleum and other liquids
3.079 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)
Environment: Carbon dioxide emissions: total emissions
5.897 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)
Environment: Climate
semiarid; warm winters and hot summers
Environment: Environmental issues
overgrazing; desertification; limited freshwater resources; air pollution
Environment: International environmental agreements: 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
Environment: International environmental agreements: signed, but not ratified
none of the selected agreements
Environment: Land use: agricultural land
45.6% (2023 est.)
Environment: Land use: agricultural land: arable land
arable land: 0.5% (2023 est.)
Environment: Land use: agricultural land: permanent crops
permanent crops: 0% (2023 est.)
Environment: Land use: agricultural land: permanent pasture
permanent pasture: 45.2% (2023 est.)
Environment: Land use: forest
27.8% (2023 est.)
Environment: Land use: other
26.6% (2023 est.)
Environment: Methane emissions: agriculture
144 kt (2019-2021 est.)
Environment: Methane emissions: energy
26 kt (2022-2024 est.)
Environment: Methane emissions: other
1.7 kt (2019-2021 est.)
Environment: Methane emissions: waste
841.4 kt (2019-2021 est.)
Environment: Particulate matter emissions
12.5 micrograms per cubic meter (2019 est.)
Environment: Total renewable water resources
12.24 billion cubic meters (2022 est.)
Environment: Total water withdrawal: agricultural
59.661 million cubic meters (2022)
Environment: Total water withdrawal: industrial
24.295 million cubic meters (2022)
Environment: Total water withdrawal: municipal
129.327 million cubic meters (2022)
Environment: Urbanization: rate of urbanization
2.47% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)
Environment: Urbanization: urban population
67.46% (2024 est.)
Environment: Waste and recycling: municipal solid waste generated annually
210,900 tons (2024 est.)
Environment: Waste and recycling: percent of municipal solid waste recycled
21% (2022 est.)
Geography: Area - comparative
slightly smaller than Texas; almost four times the size of Illinois
Geography: Area: land
566,730 sq km
Geography: Area: water
15,000 sq km
Geography: Coastline
0 km (landlocked)
Geography: Elevation: highest point
Manyelanong Hill 1,495 m
Geography: Elevation: lowest point
junction of the Limpopo and Shashe Rivers 513 m
Geography: Elevation: mean elevation
1,013 m
Geography: Geographic coordinates
22 00 S, 24 00 E
Geography: Geography - note
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
Geography: Irrigated land
25 sq km (2014)
Geography: Land boundaries: border countries
Namibia 1,544 km; South Africa 1,969 km; Zambia 0.15 km; Zimbabwe 834 km
Geography: Land boundaries: total
4,347.15 km
Geography: Land use: agricultural land
45.6% (2023 est.)
Geography: Land use: agricultural land: arable land
arable land: 0.5% (2023 est.)
Geography: Land use: agricultural land: permanent crops
permanent crops: 0% (2023 est.)
Geography: Land use: agricultural land: permanent pasture
permanent pasture: 45.2% (2023 est.)
Geography: Land use: forest
27.8% (2023 est.)
Geography: Land use: other
26.6% (2023 est.)
Geography: Major aquifers
Lower Kalahari-Stampriet Basin, Upper Kalahari-Cuvelai-Upper Zambezi Basin
Geography: Major rivers (by length in 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
Geography: Major watersheds (area sq km): Atlantic Ocean drainage
Orange (941,351 sq km)
Geography: Major watersheds (area sq km): Indian Ocean drainage
Zambezi (1,332,412 sq km)
Geography: Major watersheds (area sq km): Internal (endorheic basin) drainage
Okavango Basin (863,866 sq km)
Geography: Map references
Africa
Geography: Maritime claims
none (landlocked)
Geography: Natural hazards
periodic droughts; seasonal August winds blow from the west, carrying sand and dust across the country, which can obscure visibility
Geography: Population distribution
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.
Geography: Terrain
predominantly flat to gently rolling tableland; Kalahari Desert in southwest
Government: Administrative divisions
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*
Government: Capital: etymology
named after GABORONE (ca. 1825-1931), a chief of the Tlokwa tribe, whose name means "it is not unbecoming"
Government: Capital: geographic coordinates
24 38 S, 25 54 E
Government: Capital: time difference
UTC+2 (7 hours ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time)
Government: Citizenship: citizenship by birth
no
Government: Citizenship: citizenship by descent only
at least one parent must be a citizen of Botswana
Government: Citizenship: dual citizenship recognized
no
Government: Citizenship: residency requirement for naturalization
10 years
Government: Constitution: 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
Government: Constitution: history
previous 1960 (pre-independence); latest adopted March 1965, effective 30 September 1966
Government: Country name: conventional short form
Botswana
Government: Country name: etymology
the name Botswana means "Land of the Tswana," referring to the country's largest ethnic group
Government: Country name: former
Bechuanaland
Government: Country name: local long form
Republic of Botswana
Government: Country name: local short form
Botswana
Government: Diplomatic representation from the US: chief of mission
Ambassador Howard A. VAN VRANKEN (since 24 May 2023)
Government: Diplomatic representation from the US: email address and website
ConsularGaborone@state.gov https://bw.usembassy.gov/
Government: Diplomatic representation from the US: embassy
Embassy Drive, Government Enclave (off Khama Crescent), Gaborone
Government: Diplomatic representation from the US: FAX
[267] 318-0232
Government: Diplomatic representation from the US: mailing address
2170 Gaborone Place, Washington DC 20521-2170
Government: Diplomatic representation from the US: telephone
[267] 395-3982
Government: Diplomatic representation in the US: chancery
1531-1533 New Hampshire Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20036
Government: Diplomatic representation in the US: chief of mission
Ambassador Mpho Churchill MOPHUTING (since 18 September 2024)
Government: Diplomatic representation in the US: email address and website
info@botswanaembassy.org http://www.botswanaembassy.org/
Government: Diplomatic representation in the US: FAX
[1] (202) 244-4164
Government: Diplomatic representation in the US: telephone
[1] (202) 244-4990
Government: Executive branch: cabinet
Cabinet appointed by the president
Government: Executive branch: chief of state
President Duma BOKO (since 1 November 2024)
Government: Executive branch: election results
BOKO's UDC won 35 seats in the National Assembly, which then selected BOKO as president
Government: Executive branch: 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
Government: Executive branch: expected date of next election
October 2029
Government: Executive branch: head of government
President Duma BOKO (since 1 November 2024)
Government: Executive branch: most recent election date
31 October 2024
Government: Flag
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
Government: International law organization participation
accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction with reservations; accepts ICCt jurisdiction
Government: International organization participation
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
Government: 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)
Government: Judicial branch: 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
Government: Judicial branch: 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
Government: Legal system
mixed legal system of civil law influenced by the Roman-Dutch model, including customary and common law
Government: Legislative branch: chamber name
National Assembly
Government: Legislative branch: electoral system
plurality/majority
Government: Legislative branch: expected date of next election
October 2029
Government: Legislative branch: legislative structure
unicameral
Government: Legislative branch: legislature name
Parliament
Government: Legislative branch: most recent election date
10/30/2024
Government: Legislative branch: number of seats
69 (61 directly elected; 6 indirectly elected)
Government: Legislative branch: 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)
Government: Legislative branch: percentage of women in chamber
9%
Government: Legislative branch: scope of elections
full renewal
Government: Legislative branch: term in office
5 years
Government: National anthem(s): history
adopted 1966
Government: National anthem(s): lyrics/music
Kgalemang Tumedisco MOTSETE
Government: National coat of arms
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
Government: National color(s)
light blue, white, black
Government: National heritage: selected World Heritage Site locales
Tsodilo Hills (c); Okavango Delta (n)
Government: National heritage: total World Heritage Sites
2 (1 cultural, 1 natural)
Government: National holiday
Independence Day (Botswana Day), 30 September (1966)
Government: National symbol(s)
zebra
Government: Political parties
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)
Government: Suffrage
18 years of age; universal
Introduction: Background
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.
Military and Security: Military - note
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)
Military and Security: Military and security forces
Botswana Defense Force (BDF): Ground Forces Command, Air Arm Command, Defense Logistics Command (2025)
Military and Security: Military and security service personnel strengths
estimated 10,000 active Botswana Defense Force (2025)
Military and Security: Military equipment inventories and acquisitions
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)
Military and Security: Military expenditures: Military Expenditures 2015
2.83% (2015 est.)
Military and Security: Military expenditures: Military Expenditures 2016
3.41% (2016 est.)
Military and Security: Military expenditures: Military Expenditures 2017
3.25% (2017 est.)
Military and Security: Military expenditures: Military Expenditures 2018
2.92% (2018 est.)
Military and Security: Military expenditures: Military Expenditures 2019
3.08% (2019 est.)
Military and Security: Military expenditures: Military Expenditures 2020
3.33% (2020 est.)
Military and Security: Military expenditures: Military Expenditures 2021
3.05% (2021 est.)
Military and Security: Military expenditures: Military Expenditures 2022
2.52% (2022 est.)
Military and Security: Military expenditures: Military Expenditures 2023
2.46% (2023 est.)
Military and Security: Military expenditures: Military Expenditures 2024
2.83% (2024 est.)
Military and Security: Military service age and obligation
18-24 years of age (men and women) for general recruits and officer candidates; 18-40 for special entrant officers; no conscription (2025)
People and Society: Age structure: 0-14 years
28.7% (male 355,583/female 348,863)
People and Society: Age structure: 15-64 years
65.2% (male 759,210/female 837,752)
People and Society: Age structure: 65 years and over
6.1% (2024 est.) (male 59,513/female 89,747)
People and Society: Alcohol consumption per capita: beer
2.93 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
People and Society: Alcohol consumption per capita: other alcohols
1.64 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
People and Society: Alcohol consumption per capita: spirits
0.96 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
People and Society: Alcohol consumption per capita: total
5.98 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
People and Society: Alcohol consumption per capita: wine
0.46 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
People and Society: Birth rate
21.16 births/1,000 population (2025 est.)
People and Society: Current health expenditure
6.26% (2023 est.)
People and Society: Currently married women (ages 15-49)
41.5% (2017 est.)
People and Society: Death rate
6.8 deaths/1,000 population (2025 est.)
People and Society: Dependency ratios: elderly dependency ratio
8.8 (2025 est.)
People and Society: Dependency ratios: potential support ratio
11.4 (2025 est.)
People and Society: Dependency ratios: total dependency ratio
60.9 (2025 est.)
People and Society: Dependency ratios: youth dependency ratio
52.1 (2025 est.)
People and Society: Drinking water source: improved: rural
rural: 79.6% of population (2022 est.)
People and Society: Drinking water source: improved: total
total: 92.6% of population (2022 est.)
People and Society: Drinking water source: improved: urban
urban: 97.5% of population (2022 est.)
People and Society: Drinking water source: unimproved: rural
rural: 20.4% of population (2022 est.)
People and Society: Drinking water source: unimproved: total
total: 7.4% of population (2022 est.)
People and Society: Drinking water source: unimproved: urban
urban: 2.5% of population (2022 est.)
People and Society: Education expenditure: Education expenditure (% GDP)
8.1% of GDP (2020 est.)
People and Society: Education expenditure: Education expenditure (% national budget)
21.5% national budget (2020 est.)
People and Society: Education expenditures
8.06% (2020 est.)
People and Society: Ethnic groups
Tswana (or Setswana) 79%, Kalanga 11%, Basarwa 3%, other, including Kgalagadi and people of European ancestry 7%
People and Society: Gross reproduction rate
1.34 (2025 est.)
People and Society: Health expenditure: Health expenditure (as % of GDP)
6.3% of GDP (2021)
People and Society: Health expenditure: Health expenditure (as % of national budget)
14.6% of national budget (2022 est.)
People and Society: HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate
15.70% (2024 est.)
People and Society: Hospital bed density
2.4 beds/1,000 population (2022 est.)
People and Society: Infant mortality rate: female
21.4 deaths/1,000 live births
People and Society: Infant mortality rate: male
25.9 deaths/1,000 live births
People and Society: Infant mortality rate: total
32.1 deaths/1,000 live births (2024 est.)
People and Society: Life expectancy at birth: female
71.9 years (2024 est.)
People and Society: Life expectancy at birth: male
66.8 years (2024 est.)
People and Society: Major urban areas - population
269,000 GABORONE (capital) (2018)
People and Society: Maternal mortality ratio
155 deaths/100,000 live births (2023 est.)
People and Society: Median age: female
28.3 years
People and Society: Median age: male
26 years
People and Society: Nationality: adjective
Motswana (singular), Batswana (plural)
People and Society: Net migration rate
-1.14 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2025 est.)
People and Society: Obesity - adult prevalence rate
18.9% (2016)
People and Society: Physician density
0.38 physicians/1,000 population (2023)
People and Society: Population
2,521,139 (2024 est.)
People and Society: Population distribution
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.
People and Society: Population growth rate
1.64% (2024 est.)
People and Society: Population: female
1,286,636
People and Society: Population: male
1,234,898
People and Society: Sanitation facility access: improved: rural
rural: 63% of population (2022 est.)
People and Society: Sanitation facility access: improved: total
total: 86% of population (2022 est.)
People and Society: Sanitation facility access: improved: urban
urban: 94.9% of population (2022 est.)
People and Society: Sanitation facility access: unimproved: rural
rural: 37% of population (2022 est.)
People and Society: Sanitation facility access: unimproved: total
total: 14% of population (2022 est.)
People and Society: Sanitation facility access: unimproved: urban
urban: 5.1% of population (2022 est.)
People and Society: School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education): female
13 years (2021 est.)
People and Society: School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education): male
12 years (2021 est.)
People and Society: School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education): total
12 years (2021 est.)
People and Society: Sex ratio: 0-14 years
1.02 male(s)/female
People and Society: Sex ratio: 15-64 years
0.91 male(s)/female
People and Society: Sex ratio: 65 years and over
0.66 male(s)/female
People and Society: Sex ratio: at birth
1.03 male(s)/female
People and Society: Sex ratio: total population
0.92 male(s)/female (2024 est.)
People and Society: Tobacco use: female
5.5% (2025 est.)
People and Society: Tobacco use: male
29.2% (2025 est.)
People and Society: Tobacco use: total
17.1% (2025 est.)
People and Society: Total fertility rate
2.70 children born/woman (2024 est.)
People and Society: Urbanization: rate of urbanization
2.47% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)
People and Society: Urbanization: urban population
67.46% (2024 est.)
Transnational Issues: Refugees and internally displaced persons: IDPs
99 (2023 est.)
Transnational Issues: Refugees and internally displaced persons: refugees
823 (2024 est.)
Transportation: Airports
122 (2025)
Transportation: Civil aircraft registration country code prefix
A2
Transportation: Railways: narrow gauge
888 km (2014) 1.067-m gauge
Transportation: Railways: total
888 km (2014)
Warning: Some information might be outdated or incorrect, please check statistics before using(most of the economical stats are correct, its mostly the Population stats that are incorrect). Some dates are listed but some are missed, if you have any issues please report it to the Github at github.com.