Botswana
Republic of Botswana
parliamentary republicIndependence 30 September 1966 (from the UK)
Botswana as the 2025 edition of the CIA World Factbook published it: 141 fields, one of 36 editions from 1990 to 2025.
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Introduction
1 fieldBackground
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.
Geography
Southern Africa, north of South Africa
20 fieldsLand useshare of 581,730 sq km
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
Major watersheds (area sq km)
- Atlantic Ocean drainage:
- Orange (941,351 sq km)
- Indian Ocean drainage:
- Zambezi (1,332,412 sq km)
- Internal (endorheic basin) drainage:
- Okavango Basin (863,866 sq km)
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.
Natural hazards
periodic droughts; seasonal August winds blow from the west, carrying sand and dust across the country, which can obscure visibility
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
People and Society
32 fieldsAge structuremale left, female right · (2024 est.)
Per 1,000 population(2025 est.)
Male · female(2021 est.)
Religions(2011 est.)
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 people of European ancestry 7%
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.)
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.
Sex ratio
- at birth:
- 1.03 male(s)/female
- 0-14 years:
- 1.02 male(s)/female
- 15-64 years:
- 0.91 male(s)/female
- 65 years and over:
- 0.66 male(s)/female
- total population:
- 0.92 male(s)/female (2024 est.)
Infant mortality rate
- total:
- 27.8 deaths/1,000 live births (2025 est.)
- male:
- 25.9 deaths/1,000 live births
- female:
- 21.4 deaths/1,000 live births
Alcohol consumption per capita
- total:
- 5.98 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
- beer:
- 2.93 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
- wine:
- 0.46 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
- spirits:
- 0.96 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
- other alcohols:
- 1.64 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
Environment
11 fieldsLand use(2023 est.)
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
- signed, but not ratified:
- none of the selected agreements
Urbanization
- urban population:
- 72.9% of total population (2023)
- rate of urbanization:
- 2.47% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)
Carbon dioxide emissions
5.897 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)
- from coal and metallurgical coke:
- 2.818 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)
- from petroleum and other liquids:
- 3.079 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)
Methane emissions
- energy:
- 26 kt (2022-2024 est.)
- agriculture:
- 144 kt (2019-2021 est.)
- waste:
- 841.4 kt (2019-2021 est.)
- other:
- 1.7 kt (2019-2021 est.)
Waste and recycling
- municipal solid waste generated annually:
- 210,900 tons (2024 est.)
- percent of municipal solid waste recycled:
- 21% (2022 est.)
Total water withdrawal
- municipal:
- 129.327 million cubic meters (2022)
- industrial:
- 24.295 million cubic meters (2022)
- agricultural:
- 59.661 million cubic meters (2022)
Government
Parliamentary republic; President Duma BOKO (since 1 November 2024); President Duma BOKO (since 1 November 2024)
24 fieldsCountry name
- conventional long form:
- Republic of Botswana
- conventional short form:
- Botswana
- local long form:
- Republic of Botswana
- local short form:
- Botswana
- former:
- Bechuanaland
- etymology:
- the name Botswana means "Land of the Tswana," referring to the country's largest ethnic group
Capital
- name:
- Gaborone
- geographic coordinates:
- 24 38 S, 25 54 E
- time difference:
- UTC+2 (7 hours ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time)
- etymology:
- named after GABORONE (ca. 1825-1931), a chief of the Tlokwa tribe, whose name means "it is not unbecoming"
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*
Legal system
mixed legal system of civil law influenced by the Roman-Dutch model, including customary and common law
Constitution
- history:
- previous 1960 (pre-independence); latest adopted March 1965, effective 30 September 1966
- 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
International law organization participation
accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction with reservations; accepts ICCt jurisdiction
Citizenship
- citizenship by birth:
- no
- citizenship by descent only:
- at least one parent must be a citizen of Botswana
- dual citizenship recognized:
- no
- residency requirement for naturalization:
- 10 years
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 president
- 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
- most recent election date:
- 31 October 2024
- election results:
- BOKO's UDC won 35 seats in the National Assembly, which then selected BOKO as president
- expected date of next election:
- October 2029
Legislative branch
- legislature name:
- Parliament
- legislative structure:
- unicameral
- chamber name:
- National Assembly
- number of seats:
- 69 (61 directly elected; 6 indirectly elected)
- electoral system:
- plurality/majority
- scope of elections:
- full renewal
- term in office:
- 5 years
- most recent election date:
- 10/30/2024
- 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)
- percentage of women in chamber:
- 9%
- expected date of next election:
- October 2029
note: 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
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 70
- 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
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)
Diplomatic representation in the US
- chief of mission:
- Ambassador Mpho Churchill MOPHUTING (since 18 September 2024)
- chancery:
- 1531-1533 New Hampshire Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20036
- telephone:
- [1] (202) 244-4990
- FAX:
- [1] (202) 244-4164
- email address and website:
- [email protected]; http://www.botswanaembassy.org/
Diplomatic representation from the US
- chief of mission:
- Ambassador Howard A. VAN VRANKEN (since 24 May 2023)
- embassy:
- Embassy Drive, Government Enclave (off Khama Crescent), Gaborone
- mailing address:
- 2170 Gaborone Place, Washington DC 20521-2170
- telephone:
- [267] 395-3982
- FAX:
- [267] 318-0232
- email address and website:
- [email protected]; https://bw.usembassy.gov/
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
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
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
National anthem(s)
- title:
- "Fatshe leno la rona" (Our Land)
- lyrics/music:
- Kgalemang Tumedisco MOTSETE
- history:
- adopted 1966
National heritage
- total World Heritage Sites:
- 2 (1 cultural, 1 natural)
- selected World Heritage Site locales:
- Tsodilo Hills (c); Okavango Delta (n)
Economy
31 fieldsTrading partnersexports left, imports right
By end use% of GDP · (2024 est.)
Budget(2024 est.)
Economic overview
- 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
GDP - composition, by sector of origin
- agriculture:
- 1.7% (2024 est.)
- industry:
- 29.4% (2024 est.)
- services:
- 63.5% (2024 est.)
note: figures may not total 100% due to non-allocated consumption not captured in sector-reported data
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
Industries
- diamonds, copper, nickel, salt, soda ash, potash, coal, iron ore, silver;
- beef processing;
- textiles
Labor force
1.173 million (2024 est.) note: number of people ages 15 or older who are employed or seeking work
Unemployment rate
23.2% (2024 est.) · 23.4% (2023 est.) · 23.7% (2022 est.) note: % of labor force seeking employment
Youth unemployment rate (ages 15-24)
- total:
- 43.9% (2024 est.)
- male:
- 39.8% (2024 est.)
- female:
- 48.6% (2024 est.)
note: % of labor force ages 15-24 seeking employment
Population below poverty line
16.1% (2015 est.) note: % of population with income below national poverty line
Gini Index coefficient - distribution of family income
54.9 (2015 est.) note: index (0-100) of income distribution; higher values represent greater inequality
Remittances
0.4% of GDP (2023 est.) · 0.3% of GDP (2022 est.) · 0.3% of GDP (2021 est.) note: personal transfers and compensation between resident and non-resident individuals/households/entities
Taxes and other revenues
19.6% (of GDP) (2022 est.) note: central government tax revenue as a % of GDP
Current account balance
-$116.727 million (2023 est.) · -$232.122 million (2022 est.) · -$314.583 million (2021 est.) note: balance of payments - net trade and primary/secondary income in current dollars
Exports
$6.398 billion (2023 est.) · $8.914 billion (2022 est.) · $7.861 billion (2021 est.) note: balance of payments - exports of goods and services in current dollars
Exports - commodities
diamonds, copper ore, insulated wire, carbonates, cattle (2023) note: top five export commodities based on value in dollars
Imports
$7.228 billion (2023 est.) · $8.826 billion (2022 est.) · $9.25 billion (2021 est.) note: balance of payments - imports of goods and services in current dollars
Imports - commodities
refined petroleum, diamonds, cars, flavored water, electricity (2023) note: top five import commodities based on value in dollars
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold
$3.456 billion (2024 est.) · $4.756 billion (2023 est.) · $4.279 billion (2022 est.) note: holdings of gold (year-end prices)/foreign exchange/special drawing rights in current dollars
Debt - external
$1.761 billion (2023 est.) note: present value of external debt in current US dollars
Exchange rates
pulas (BWP) per US dollar - 13.563 (2024 est.) · 13.596 (2023 est.) · 12.369 (2022 est.) · 11.087 (2021 est.) · 11.456 (2020 est.)
Energy
6 fieldsElectrification% of population · (2022 est.)
Installed generating capacity, 758,000 kW(2023 est.)
Coal
- production:
- 2.242 million metric tons (2023 est.)
- consumption:
- 1.351 million metric tons (2023 est.)
- exports:
- 891,000 metric tons (2023 est.)
- imports:
- 300 metric tons (2023 est.)
- proven reserves:
- 1.66 billion metric tons (2023 est.)
Communications
6 fieldsPer 100 inhabitants(2023–24 est.)
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)
Transportation
3 fieldsMilitary and Security
6 fieldsPersonnel strengthsone square, 100 people · (2025)
Military and security forces
Botswana Defense Force (BDF): Ground Forces Command, Air Arm Command, Defense Logistics Command (2025) note 1: both the BDF and the Botswana Police Service (BPS) report to the Ministry of Defense, Justice and Security; the BPS has primary responsibility for internal security; note 2: the Ground Force Command includes a marine unit with boats and river craft for patrolling Botswana's internal waterways and supporting anti-poaching operations
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 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)
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)
Transnational Issues
1 fieldCite this entry
Central Intelligence Agency. “Botswana.” The World Factbook 2025. Archived by The Factbook, thefactbook.org/botswana.