# Botswana

> sovereign state in Southern Africa

**Wikidata**: [Q963](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q963)  
**Wikipedia**: [English](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Botswana)  
**Source**: https://4ort.xyz/entity/botswana

# Botswana

## Summary
Botswana is a landlocked sovereign state and parliamentary republic located in Southern Africa. Established as an independent nation on September 30, 1966, it succeeded the Bechuanaland Protectorate and is geographically defined by the Kalahari Desert and the Okavango Delta. It operates as a multiparty democracy with Gaborone as its capital.

## Key Facts
- **Official Name:** Republic of Botswana; Lefatshe la Botswana.
- **Classification:** Sovereign state, landlocked country, parliamentary republic.
- **Location:** Southern Africa (part of the African continent).
- **Independence (Inception):** September 30, 1966; replaced the Bechuanaland Protectorate.
- **Capital:** Gaborone.
- **Area:** 581,737 square kilometres (2.5% water).
- **Population:** 2,480,244 (2023 estimation); 2,021,144 (2013).
- **Official Language:** English.
- **Currency:** Botswana pula (Pula).
- **Head of State:** Duma Boko (since November 1, 2024).
- **Head of Government:** President of Botswana.
- **Legislative Body:** National Assembly of Botswana.
- **Highest Judicial Authority:** High Court of Botswana.
- **Central Bank:** Bank of Botswana.
- **Time Zone:** UTC+02:00 (Central Africa Time; Africa/Gaborone).
- **Telephone Country Code:** +267.
- **Internet Top-Level Domain:** .bw.
- **ISO Codes:** BW (Alpha-2), BWA (Alpha-3), 072 (Numeric).
- **GDP (Nominal):** $20.35 billion (2022).
- **Human Development Index (HDI):** 0.693 (2021).
- **Gini Coefficient:** 53.3 (2015).
- **Life Expectancy:** 66.797 years (2016).
- **Literacy Rate:** 88% (2014).
- **Unemployment Rate:** 18% (2014).
- **VAT Rate:** 12%.
- **Electrical Voltage:** 230V at 50Hz (Plugs: BS 1363, BS 546).
- **Driving Side:** Left.

## FAQs

### What is the political structure of Botswana?
Botswana is a parliamentary republic led by a President who serves as both the head of state and head of government. The legislative power is vested in the National Assembly of Botswana, and the highest judicial authority is the High Court of Botswana. The country is administratively divided into nine districts.

### What are the key demographic and social indicators?
Botswana has an estimated population of 2.48 million as of 2023, with a literacy rate of 88% (2014). The life expectancy at birth was recorded as 66.8 years in 2016. The country has a high Gini coefficient of 53.3 (2015), indicating significant income inequality, and an unemployment rate of 18% (2014).

### What international organizations is Botswana a member of?
Botswana is a member of the United Nations (joined October 17, 1966), the African Union, the Commonwealth of Nations, the World Trade Organization, and the Southern African Development Community (SADC). It is also a signatory to the African Continental Free Trade Area and the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons.

### What defines Botswana's geography and location?
Located in Southern Africa, Botswana is a landlocked country covering 581,737 square kilometres. Its terrain includes the Okavango Delta and the Kalahari Desert. The highest point is Otse Hill (1,491m) and the lowest is the Limpopo River (513m). It shares borders with Namibia, South Africa, Zambia, and Zimbabwe.

### What is the historical origin of Botswana?
Botswana gained independence from the United Kingdom on September 30, 1966, succeeding the Bechuanaland Protectorate. The country is named after the Tswana people, the dominant ethnic group.

## Why It Matters
Botswana stands as a prominent example of stable democratic governance and sustained economic growth in Africa. Since its peaceful transition to independence in 1966, it has maintained a continuous multiparty democratic system, a rarity in the region, reflected in its classification as a "free country" by Freedom House and its high Democracy Index score. Its economy, driven by diamond mining and tourism (anchored by the unique Okavango Delta ecosystem), has transitioned it from one of the world's poorest nations at independence to an upper-middle-income status. Its strategic role in Southern Africa is cemented through active membership in regional bodies like the Southern African Development Community (SADC), contributing significantly to regional political and economic integration.

## Notable For
- Being one of the few continuous multiparty democracies in Africa since independence.
- Hosting the Okavango Delta, one of the world's largest inland deltas and a UNESCO World Heritage site.
- Achieving the world's highest economic growth rate from 1966 to 1999.
- Possessing the second-highest Human Development Index (HDI) in mainland Sub-Saharan Africa.
- A unique national motto "Pula" (Rain) which also serves as the name of the official currency.
- A specialized tourism slogan: "Our pride, your destination."
- Having a medium-intermediate rank on the Bertelsmann Transformation Index (BTI) for governance and status.

## Body

### History and Independence
The modern state of Botswana was formed on September 30, 1966, when it gained full sovereignty from the United Kingdom. It replaced the Bechuanaland Protectorate, a colonial entity established in the 19th century. The country's name is derived from the Tswana people, the predominant ethnic group. Shortly after independence, it was admitted to the United Nations on October 17, 1966, and became a member of the Commonwealth of Nations.

### Government and Politics
Botswana functions as a parliamentary republic with a well-defined separation of powers. The head of state and government is the President; the office is currently held by Duma Boko, who assumed office on November 1, 2024, succeeding Mokgweetsi Masisi. The legislative branch is the National Assembly of Botswana. The judicial system is headed by the High Court of Botswana. Administratively, the country is divided into nine districts: Central, Ghanzi, Kgalagadi, Kgatleng, Kweneng, North-East, North-West, South-East, and Southern.

### Geography and Environment
Covering a total area of 581,737 square kilometres, Botswana is a landlocked country in Southern Africa. Its landscape is predominantly flat, dominated by the Kalahari Desert, which covers up to 70% of the country. The north features the Okavango Delta, a vast inland delta formed by the Okavango River. The highest point is Otse Hill at 1,491 metres (4,891 ft), while the lowest is the confluence of the Limpopo and Shashe Rivers at 513 metres (1,683 ft). Botswana shares borders with four countries: Namibia (west and north), South Africa (south and southeast), Zimbabwe (northeast), and Zambia (north, at a single point).

### Demographics and Society
The population of Botswana has grown from 524,173 in 1960 to an estimated 2,480,244 in 2023. The majority of the population speaks Tswana (Setswana), though English is the official language used in government and business. Other languages include Kalanga, Sekgalagadi, and numerous others. The demonym for a citizen is Motswana (singular) or Batswana (plural). The country has made significant strides in education, achieving a literacy rate of 88% as of 2014.

### Economy and Development
Botswana's economy is classified as upper-middle-income. The Gross Domestic Product (GDP) in nominal terms was recorded at $20.35 billion in 2022, with a nominal GDP per capita of $6,710.99 in 2020. The economy is heavily reliant on diamond mining, which accounts for a significant portion of export earnings and government revenue. Tourism, financial services, and agriculture also contribute. The central bank is the Bank of Botswana, which issues the national currency, the Pula. Despite economic success, the country faces challenges including high income inequality (Gini coefficient of 53.3 in 2015) and an unemployment rate of 18% (2014).

### International Relations
Botswana maintains diplomatic relations with a wide array of nations and is an active participant in global affairs. It is a member of key international organizations including the United Nations, the African Union, the Commonwealth of Nations, and the World Trade Organization. Regionally, it is a member of the Southern African Development Community (SADC) and the Southern African Customs Union (SACU). The country also participates in specialized agencies like UNESCO (joined January 16, 1980) and the World Health Organization.

### Culture and Symbols
National symbols play a crucial role in Botswana's identity. The national flag consists of a light blue field with a horizontal black-edged white stripe in the centre. The coat of arms features a shield supported by two zebras, symbolizing the importance of wildlife. The national anthem is "Fatshe leno la rona" ("This Land of Ours"). The national motto is "Pula," which means "Rain" in Setswana, signifying rain as a precious resource in the arid climate; the word is also the name of the currency. The country celebrates its Independence Day on September 30.

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