Botswana

Republic of Botswana

parliamentary republicIndependence 30 September 1966 (from UK)

Botswana as the 1993 edition of the CIA World Factbook published it: 74 fields, one of 36 editions from 1990 to 2025.

field in that editiontext changed from the edition beforenot in that editionthe open editionEach field below ends in its editions, 1990 to 2025. Point at a year above to follow it down.

CapitalGaborone

Area600,370 km2

LocationSouthern Africa, north of South Africa

Populationas each edition published it

1.33 million July 1993 est. · 1.22m in 1990

Population growth% a year

2.53% 1993 est. · 1.32% in 2025

Median ageyears

Not in this edition 19.1 yrs in 2003

Life expectancyyears at birth

62.54 years 1993 est. · 66.4 yrs in 2025

Fertility ratechildren per woman

4.25 children per woman 1993 est. · 4.8 in 1990

Infant mortalitydeaths per 1,000 live births

40.6 deaths per 1,000 live births 1993 est. · 43 in 1990

GDP per capitaeach edition's own dollars

$2,450 $18,100 in 2025

GDP real growth% a year

5.8% -3% in 2025

Geography

Southern Africa, north of South Africa

14 fields

Land useshare of 600,370 km2

arable land 2%permanent crops 0%meadows and pastures 75%forest and woodland 2%other 21%irrigated 20 km2 (1989 est.)

Area

600,370km2

land area: 585,370 km2comparative area: slightly smaller than Texas

Coastline

0km

(landlocked)Maritime claims: none; landlocked

Land boundaries

4,013km

total · Namibia 1,360 km, South Africa 1,840 km, Zimbabwe 813 km

Map references

Africa, Standard Time Zones of the World

International disputes

short section of boundary with Namibia is indefinite;
disputed island with Namibia in the Chobe River;
quadripoint with Namibia, Zambia, and Zimbabwe is in disagreement;
recent dispute with Namibia over uninhabited Sidudu Island in Linyanti River

Terrain

predominately flat to gently rolling tableland; Kalahari Desert in southwest

Natural resources

diamonds, copper, nickel, salt, soda ash, potash, coal, iron ore, silver

People

14 fields

Population

1,325,920

(July 1993 est.)growth rate: 2.53% (1993 est.)

Per 1,000 population(1993 est.)

Birth

33.39Death

8.05Net migration

Male · female(1993 est.)

TotalMale · femaleLife expectancy years62.54

59.52 · 65.65

TotalMale · femaleLiteracy72%

67% · 74%

MaleFemaleLiteracy age 15 and over able to read and write simple sentences (1990)

Labor force

400,000

by occupation: 198,500 formal sector employees, most others are engaged in cattle raising and subsistence agriculture (1990 est.); 14,600 are employed in various mines in South Africa (1990)

Infant mortality rate

40.6 deaths/1,000 live births (1993 est.)

Nationality

noun:: Motswana (singular), Batswana (plural)
adjective:: Motswana (singular), Batswana (plural)

Ethnic divisions

Batswana 95%, Kalanga, Basarwa, and Kgalagadi 4%, white 1%

Government

Parliamentary republic

20 fields

Names

conventional long form:: Republic of Botswana
conventional short form:: Botswana
former:: Bechuanaland

Administrative divisions

10 districts;
Central, Chobe, Ghanzi, Kgalagadi, Kgatleng, Kweneng, Ngamiland, North-East, South-East, Southern;
in addition, there are 4 town councils - Francistown, Gaborone, Lobaste, Selebi-Phikwe

Legal system

based on Roman-Dutch law and local customary law;
judicial review limited to matters of interpretation;
has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction

Political parties and leaders

Botswana Democratic Party (BDP), Sir Ketumile MASIRE;
Botswana National Front (BNF), Kenneth KOMA;
Boswana People's Party (BPP), Knight MARIPE;
Botswana Independence Party (BIP), Motsamai MPHO

Elections

National Assembly:: last held 7 October 1989 (next to be held October 1994);
results - percent of vote by party NA;
seats - (38 total, 34 elected) BDP 35, BNF 3
President:: last held 7 October 1989 (next to be held October 1994); results - President Sir Ketumile MASIRE was reelected by the National Assembly

Legislative branch

bicameral National Assembly consists of an upper house or House of Chiefs and a lower house or National Assembly

Leaders

Chief of State and Head of Government: President Sir Ketunile MASIRE (since 13 July 1980); Vice President Festus MOGAE (since 9 March 1992 )

Member of

ACP, AfDB, C, CCC, ECA, FAO, FLS, G-77, GATT, IBRD, ICAO, ICFTU, IDA, IFAD, IFC, ILO, IMF, INTERPOL, IOC, ITU, LORCS, NAM, OAU, SACU, SADC, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UNOMOZ, UPU, WCL, WHO, WMO

Diplomatic representation in US

chief of mission:: Ambassador Botsweletse Kingsley SEBELE
chancery:: Suite 7M, 3400 International Drive NW, Washington, DC 20008
telephone:: (202) 244-4990 or 4991

US diplomatic representation

chief of mission:: Ambassador David PASSAGE
embassy:: address NA, Gaborone
mailing address:: P. O. Box 90, Gaborone
telephone:: [267] 353-982
FAX:: [267] 356-947

Flag

light blue with a horizontal white-edged black stripe in the center

Economy

The economy has historically been based on cattle raising and crops. | Agriculture today provides a livelihood for more than 80% of the population, | but produces only about 50% of food needs.

18 fields

GDP per capita, PPP

$2,450

(FY92 est.)

Real growth rate

5.8%

(FY92 est.)industrial production growth: growth rate 6.9% (1991); accounts for about 53% of GDP, including mining

Inflation, consumer prices

16.5%

(December 1992)

Unemployment rate

25%

(1989)

Budget

Revenues

$1.7 billionExpenditures

$1.99 billion

expenditures, including capital expenditures of $652 million (FY94)

The economy has historically been based on cattle raising and crops. Agriculture today provides a livelihood for more than 80% of the population, but produces only about 50% of food needs. The driving force behind the rapid economic growth of the 1970s and 1980s has been the mining industry.

This sector, mostly on the strength of diamonds, has gone from generating 25% of GDP in 1980 to 50% in 1991. No other sector has experienced such growth, especially not agriculture, which is plagued by erratic rainfall and poor soils. The unemployment rate remains a problem at 25%. Although diamond production was down slightly in 1992, substantial gains in coal output and manufacturing helped boost the economy

National product

GDP - purchasing power equivalent - $3.6 billion (FY92 est.)

Exports

$1.6 billion (f.o.b. 1991)

commodities:: diamonds 78%, copper and nickel 8%, meat 4%
partners:: Switzerland, UK, SACU (Southern African Customs Union)

Imports

$1.7 billion (c.i.f., 1991)

commodities:: foodstuffs, vehicles and transport equipment, textiles, petroleum products
partners:: Switzerland, SACU (Southern African Customs Union), UK, US

External debt

$344 million (December 1991)

Electricity

220,000 kW capacity; 1,123 million kWh produced, 846 kWh per capita (1991)

Industries

mining of diamonds, copper, nickel, coal, salt, soda ash, potash; livestock processing

Agriculture

accounts for only 5% of GDP;
subsistence farming predominates;
cattle raising supports 50% of the population;
must import up to of 80% of food needs

Economic aid

US aid, $13 million (1992);
US commitments, including Ex-Im (FY70-89), $257 million;
Western (non-US) countries, ODA and OOF bilateral commitments (1970-89), $1,875 million;
OPEC bilateral aid (1979-89), $43 million;
Communist countries (1970-89), $29 million;
in 1992: Norway (largest donor) $16 million, Sweden $15.5 million, Germany $3.6 million, EC/Lome-IV $3-6 million in grants, $28.7 million in long-term projects

Currency

1 pula (P) = 100 thebe

Exchange rates

pula (P) per US$1 - 2.31 (February 1993), 2.1327 (1992), 2.0173 (1991), 1.8601 (1990), 2.0125 (1989), 1.8159 (1988)

Fiscal year

1 April - 31 March

Communications

4 fields

Networkskm

Highways

11,514Railroads

712

Highways: ; 1,600 km paved; 1,700 km crushed stone or gravel, 5,177 km improved earth, 3,037 km unimproved earth

Highways

11,514 km total;
1,600 km paved;
1,700 km crushed stone or gravel, 5,177 km improved earth, 3,037 km unimproved earth

Airports

total:: 100
usable:: 87
with permanent-surface runways:: 8
with runways over 3,659 m:: 0
with runways 2,440-3,659 m:: 1
with runways 1,220-2,439 m:: 29

Telecommunications

the small system is a combination of open-wire lines, microwave radio relay links, and a few radio-communications stations;
26,000 telephones;
broadcast stations - 7 AM, 13 FM, no TV;
1 Indian Ocean INTELSAT earth station