# Gaborone

> capital city of Botswana

**Wikidata**: [Q3919](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q3919)  
**Wikipedia**: [English](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gaborone)  
**Source**: https://4ort.xyz/entity/gaborone

## Summary

Gaborone is the capital city of Botswana, founded in 1965. Located in the South-East District at an elevation of 1,014 meters, it serves as the administrative and political center of the country. The city has a population of 246,325 as of 2022 and covers an area of 169 square kilometers.

## Key Facts

- **Country**: Botswana
- **Inception**: 1965
- **Capital Status**: Capital of Botswana; formerly capital of Bechuanaland Protectorate (1965–1966)
- **Location**: South-East District
- **Coordinates**: Latitude -24.656944444444, Longitude 25.908611111111
- **Elevation**: 1,014 meters above sea level
- **Area**: 169 square kilometres
- **Population**: 246,325 (2022); 231,626 (2011); 235,884 (2013)
- **Timezone**: Central Africa Time (UTC+02:00)
- **Official Language**: English
- **Demonym**: Gaboronais (masculine singular), Gaboronaise (feminine singular), Gaberonano
- **Named After**: Kgosi Gaborone
- **Local Dialing Code**: 00267
- **UN/LOCODE**: BWGBE
- **ISO 3166-2 Code**: BW-GA
- **HASC Code**: BW.GB
- **Head of Government**: Q134129969 (Mayor, term started 2024)
- **Official Website**: http://www.gov.bw/en/Ministries--Authorities/Local-Authorities/Gaborone-City-Council
- **Instance Of**: Big city, administrative territorial entity, city

## FAQs

**What is the origin of the name Gaborone?**
The city is named after Kgosi Gaborone, a local chief.

**What are the sister cities of Gaborone?**
Gaborone is twinned with Burbank (United States), Zhejiang (China), Västerås Municipality (Sweden, since 2012), Sorong (Indonesia), and Windhoek (Namibia, since 2001).

**What is the demographic data for Gaborone?**
The city had a population of 231,626 in 2011, which grew to 246,325 by 2022. Residents are known as Gaboronais (masculine singular), Gaboronaise (feminine singular), or Gaberonano.

**What administrative codes are used for Gaborone?**
The city uses ISO 3166-2 code BW-GA, HASC code BW.GB, UN/LOCODE BWGBE, and local dialing code 00267.

**What is the historical timeline of Gaborone's capital status?**
Gaborone was founded in 1965 and served as the capital of the Bechuanaland Protectorate from 1965 until 1966, after which it became the capital of independent Botswana.

## Why It Matters

As the capital city of Botswana, Gaborone serves as the primary hub for the nation's government, commerce, and international diplomacy. Its establishment in 1965, just prior to Botswana's independence, marked a pivotal moment in the country's transition from the Bechuanaland Protectorate to a sovereign state. The city's strategic location in the South-East District and its role as a big city and administrative territorial entity make it central to Botswana's political and economic infrastructure. Gaborone's international connections, evidenced by its multiple sister city relationships and global identifiers, underscore its significance in regional and international cooperation.

## Notable For

- Capital city of Botswana
- Named after Kgosi Gaborone
- Former capital of the Bechuanaland Protectorate (1965–1966)
- Located at an elevation of 1,014 meters
- Subject of a systemic lupus erythematosus research ID (SNARC)
- Listed on Wikipedia's Vital Articles Level 4 list (as of 2022)
- Has a dedicated flag and coat of arms

## Body

### Geography and Location
Gaborone is situated in the South-East District of Botswana. Its precise coordinates are latitude -24.656944444444 and longitude 25.908611111111. The city rests at an elevation of 1,014 meters above sea level and encompasses a total area of 169 square kilometres. The city operates within the Central Africa Time zone (UTC+02:00).

### History and Governance
The city was founded in 1965. It initially served as the capital of the Bechuanaland Protectorate starting in 1965, a status that ended in 1966 when it became the capital of the newly independent Botswana. The city is named after Kgosi Gaborone. The current head of government (mayor) is identified as Q134129969, with a term starting in 2024. The official website for the local authority is the Gaborone City Council (http://www.gov.bw/en/Ministries--Authorities/Local-Authorities/Gaborone-City-Council), available in English.

### Demographics
Population records indicate the city had 231,626 inhabitants in 2011 and 235,884 in 2013. The most recent data from 2022 lists the population at 246,325. Demonyms for residents include "Gaboronais" (masculine singular), "Gaboronaise" (feminine singular), and "Gaberonano."

### International Relations
Gaborone maintains sister city relationships with several administrative bodies worldwide:
- **Burbank** (United States)
- **Zhejiang** (China)
- **Västerås Municipality** (Sweden, partnership started 2012)
- **Sorong** (Indonesia)
- **Windhoek** (Namibia, partnership started 2001)

### Identifiers and Codes
Gaborone is identified by numerous international and local coding systems:
- **ISO 3166-2**: BW-GA
- **HASC**: BW.GB
- **UN/LOCODE**: BWGBE
- **Local Dialing Code**: 00267
- **WOEID**: 1265547
- **GND ID**: 4311027-7
- **FAST ID**: 1209741
- **VIAF ID**: 124335113
- **GeoNames ID**: 933773
- **Freebase ID**: /m/0fndh
- **BabelNet ID**: 00015523n
- **MusicBrainz Area ID**: ac45af3b-2cc0-4f6b-9350-4d695be8665b
- **OpenStreetMap Relation ID**: 17349208; Node ID: 30670040
- **Library of Congress Authority ID**: n80104423
- **Bibliothèque Nationale de France ID**: 12072585z
- **Getty Thesaurus of Geographic Names ID**: 1088036 (inhabited place), 7594307 (town council)

### Media and Visual Documentation
The city is documented through various media links:
- **Image**: Gaborone_skyline.JPG
- **Video**: Google Timelapse-_Gaborone,_Botswana.webm
- **Aerial View**: Gaborone_25.92305E_24.68895S.jpg
- **Nighttime View**: Gaborone,_Botswana_-_51208479090.jpg
- **Flag Image**: Flag_of_Gaborone.svg
- **Locator Map**: BW-Gaborone.png
- **Page Banner**: Gaborone_banner.jpg
- **Geoshape**: Data:Botswana/Gaborone.map

### Encyclopedic and Database Listings
Gaborone is indexed in a vast array of encyclopedias and knowledge bases, including:
- **Armenian Soviet Encyclopedia** (Vol. 2, page 634)
- **Encyclopædia Britannica Online** (place/Gaborone)
- **Britannica Kids** (Article IDs: 345910, 35760, 324122)
- **Brockhaus Enzyklopädie Online**
- **Gran Enciclopèdia Catalana**
- **Hrvatska Enciklopedija** (ID: 20943)
- **Proleksis Enciklopedija** (ID: 22407)
- **Visuotinė Lietuvių Enciklopedija** (gaboronas)
- **Great Russian Encyclopedia Online (2017)** (ID: 2338322)
- **Treccani** (gaborone)
- **Larousse** (ville/Gaborone/120614)
- **Daum Encyclopedia** (b01g0310a)
- **Naver Encyclopedia** (ID: 1247673)
- **Online PWN Encyclopedia** (ID: 3903466)

### Digital and Social Platforms
The city has a presence on various digital platforms:
- **Facebook Location ID**: 106453696058870
- **Quora Topic**: Gaborone-Botswana
- **TripAdvisor ID**: 293767
- **Google News Topics ID**: CAAqIQgKIhtDQkFTRGdvSUwyMHZNR1p1WkdnU0FtcGhLQUFQAQ
- **Google Maps Customer ID**: 5305652212296192417
- **Store ID (Google Play)**: Gaborone
- **OpenWeatherMap City ID**: 933773
- **iNaturalist Place ID**: 96830
- **Routard.com Place ID**: 16270
- **Curlie ID**: Regional/Africa/Botswana/Localities/Gaborone/

### Wikipedia and Wikimedia Presence
Gaborone has a significant presence on Wikimedia projects:
- **Wikipedia Title**: Gaborone
- **Sitelink Count**: 163
- **Wikimedia Commons Gallery**: Gaborone
- **Wikimedia Commons Category**: Gaborone
- **Category for Maps**: Category:Maps of Gaborone
- **Category for People Born Here**: Category:Births in Gaborone
- **Category for People Who Died Here**: Category:Deaths in Gaborone
- **Category of Associated People**: Category:People from Gaborone
- **Topic's Main Category**: Category:Gaborone
- **Wikipedia Languages**: Available in 163 languages including Afrikaans, Arabic, Chinese, English, French, German, Japanese, Russian, Spanish, and Zulu.

### Aliases and Alternative Names
The city is known by several aliases and alternative names, including Gabs, Motse-Mshate, Gaberones, 哈博罗内, 哈博羅內, Габеронес, GC, and عاصمة بوتسوانا.

## References

1. [Source](https://www.mmegi.bw/news/new-mayor-demands-council-empowerment/news)
2. archINFORM
3. [Source](http://www.vasteras.se/download/18.3ff54ef414ba63027dc1371/1424697240251/08+Beslut+-+%C3%85terrapportering+av+f%C3%B6rstudie+samt+godk%C3%A4nnande+av+samarbetsavtal+med+Gaborone+City+Council.pdf)
4. [Source](http://www.windhoekcc.org.na/documents/a74_city_of_whk_annual_report_201718.pdf)
5. Virtual International Authority File
6. BnF authorities
7. Freebase Data Dumps. 2013
8. MusicBrainz
9. [Source](https://www.statsbots.org.bw/sites/default/files/publications/Population%20of%20Cities%20Towns%20and%20Villages%20%202022.pdf)
10. Flickr Shapefiles Public Dataset 2.0
11. [Source](http://cnig.gouv.fr/wp-content/uploads/2020/02/CNT-PVM_r%C3%A9vis%C3%A9_2020-01-27-1.pdf)
12. GeoNames
13. [Source](https://service.unece.org/trade/locode/bw.htm)
14. [archINFORM](https://www.archinform.net/service/wd_aiort.php)
15. FactGrid