Background:
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Formerly the British protectorate of Bechuanaland, Botswana adopted its new name upon independence in 1966. Four decades of uninterrupted civilian leadership, progressive social policies, and significant capital investment have created one of the most dynamic economies in Africa. 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 known rates of HIV/AIDS infection, but also one of Africa's most progressive and comprehensive programs for dealing with the disease.
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Location:
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Southern Africa, north of South Africa
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Geographic coordinates:
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22 00 S, 24 00 E
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Map references:
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Africa
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Area:
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total: 581,730 sq km
country comparison to the world: 47
land:
566,730 sq km
water:
15,000 sq km
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Area - comparative:
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slightly smaller than Texas
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Land boundaries:
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total: 4,013 km
border countries:
Namibia 1,360 km, South Africa 1,840 km, Zimbabwe 813 km
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Coastline:
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0 km (landlocked)
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Maritime claims:
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none (landlocked)
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Climate:
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Current Weather
semiarid; warm winters and hot summers
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Terrain:
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predominantly flat to gently rolling tableland; Kalahari Desert in southwest
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Elevation extremes:
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lowest point: junction of the Limpopo and Shashe Rivers 513 m
highest point:
Tsodilo Hills 1,489 m
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Natural resources:
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diamonds, copper, nickel, salt, soda ash, potash, coal, iron ore, silver
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Land use:
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arable land: 0.65%
permanent crops:
0.01%
other:
99.34% (2005)
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Irrigated land:
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10 sq km (2003)
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Total renewable water resources:
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14.7 cu km (2001)
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Freshwater withdrawal (domestic/industrial/agricultural):
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total: 0.19 cu km/yr (41%/18%/41%)
per capita:
107 cu m/yr (2000)
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Natural hazards:
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periodic droughts; seasonal August winds blow from the west, carrying sand and dust across the country, which can obscure visibility
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Environment - current issues:
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overgrazing; desertification; limited fresh water resources
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Environment - international agreements:
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party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Ozone Layer Protection, Wetlands
signed, but not ratified:
none of the selected agreements
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Geography - note:
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landlocked; population concentrated in eastern part of the country
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Population:
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2,029,307
country comparison to the world: 144
note:
estimates for this country explicitly take into account the effects of excess mortality due to AIDS; this can result in lower life expectancy, higher infant mortality, higher death rates, lower population growth rates, and changes in the distribution of population by age and sex than would otherwise be expected (July 2010 est.)
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Age structure:
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0-14 years: 34.3% (male 354,392/female 341,763)
15-64 years:
61.8% (male 632,287/female 622,169)
65 years and over:
3.9% (male 31,855/female 46,841) (2010 est.)
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Median age:
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total: 22 years
male:
21.8 years
female:
22.1 years (2010 est.)
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Population growth rate:
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1.843% (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 66
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Birth rate:
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22.54 births/1,000 population (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 79
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Death rate:
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9.02 deaths/1,000 population (July 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 78
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Net migration rate:
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4.91 migrant(s)/1,000 population
country comparison to the world: 14
note:
there is an increasing flow of Zimbabweans into South Africa and Botswana in search of better economic opportunities (2010 est.)
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Urbanization:
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urban population: 60% of total population (2008)
rate of urbanization:
2.5% annual rate of change (2005-10 est.)
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Sex ratio:
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at birth: 1.03 male(s)/female
under 15 years:
1.04 male(s)/female
15-64 years:
1.02 male(s)/female
65 years and over:
0.68 male(s)/female
total population:
1.01 male(s)/female (2010 est.)
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Infant mortality rate:
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total: 11.79 deaths/1,000 live births
country comparison to the world: 143
male:
12.51 deaths/1,000 live births
female:
11.05 deaths/1,000 live births (2010 est.)
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Life expectancy at birth:
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total population: 60.93 years
country comparison to the world: 181
male:
61.11 years
female:
60.75 years (2010 est.)
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Total fertility rate:
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2.54 children born/woman (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 87
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HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:
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23.9% (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 2
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HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:
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300,000 (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 23
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HIV/AIDS - deaths:
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11,000 (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 28
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Major infectious diseases:
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degree of risk: high
food or waterborne diseases:
bacterial diarrhea, hepatitis A, and typhoid fever
vectorborne disease:
malaria (2009)
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Nationality:
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noun: Motswana (singular), Batswana (plural)
adjective:
Motswana (singular), Batswana (plural)
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Ethnic groups:
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Tswana (or Setswana) 79%, Kalanga 11%, Basarwa 3%, other, including Kgalagadi and white 7%
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Religions:
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Christian 71.6%, Badimo 6%, other 1.4%, unspecified 0.4%, none 20.6% (2001 census)
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Languages:
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Setswana 78.2%, Kalanga 7.9%, Sekgalagadi 2.8%, English 2.1% (official), other 8.6%, unspecified 0.4% (2001 census)
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Literacy:
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definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population:
81.2%
male:
80.4%
female:
81.8% (2003 est.)
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School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education):
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total: 12 years
male:
12 years
female:
12 years (2005)
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Education expenditures:
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8.7% of GDP (2007)
country comparison to the world: 10
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Country name:
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conventional long form: Republic of Botswana
conventional short form:
Botswana
local long form:
Republic of Botswana
local short form:
Botswana
former:
Bechuanaland
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Government type:
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parliamentary republic
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Capital:
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name: Gaborone
geographic coordinates:
24 45 S, 25 55 E
time difference:
UTC+2 (7 hours ahead of Washington, DC during Standard Time)
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Administrative divisions:
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9 districts and 5 town councils*; Central, Francistown*, Gaborone*, Ghanzi, Jwaneng*, Kgalagadi, Kgatleng, Kweneng, Lobatse*, Northeast, Northwest, Selebi-Pikwe*, Southeast, Southern
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Independence:
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30 September 1966 (from the UK)
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National holiday:
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Independence Day (Botswana Day), 30 September (1966)
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Constitution:
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March 1965; effective 30 September 1966
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Legal system:
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based on Roman-Dutch law and local customary law; judicial review limited to matters of interpretation; accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction with reservations
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Suffrage:
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18 years of age; universal
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Executive branch:
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chief of state: President Seretse Khama Ian KHAMA (since 1 April 2008); Vice President Mompati MERAFHE (since 1 April 2008); note - the president is both the chief of state and head of government
head of government:
President Seretse Khama Ian KHAMA (since 1 April 2008); Vice President Mompati MERAFHE (since 1 April 2008)
cabinet:
Cabinet appointed by the president
(For more information visit the World Leaders website  )
elections:
president indirectly elected for a five-year term (eligible for a second term); election last held on 20 October 2009 (next to be held in October 2014); vice president appointed by the president
election results:
Seretse Khama Ian KHAMA elected president; percent of National Assembly vote - NA%
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Legislative branch:
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bicameral Parliament consists of the House of Chiefs (a largely advisory 15-member body with 8 ex-officio members consisting of the chiefs of the principal tribes, and 7 non-permanent members serving 5-year terms, consisting of 4 elected subchiefs and 3 members selected by the other 12 members) and the National Assembly (63 seats; 57 members directly elected by popular vote, 4 appointed by the majority party, and 2, the President and Attorney General, serve as ex-officio members; members serve five-year terms)
elections:
National Assembly elections last held on 16 October 2009 (next to be held in 2014)
election results:
percent of vote by party - BDP 53.3%, BNF 21.9%, BCP 19.2%, 2.3%, other 4.3%; seats by party - BDP 45, BNF 6, BCP 4, BAM 1, other 1
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Judicial branch:
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High Court; Court of Appeal; Magistrates' Courts (one in each district)
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Political parties and leaders:
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Botswana Alliance Movement or BAM [Ephraim Lepetu SETSHWAELO]; Botswana Congress Party or BCP [Gilson SALESHANDO]; Botswana Democratic Party or BDP [Daniel KWELAGOBE]; Botswana National Front or BNF [Otswoletse MOUPO]; Botswana Peoples Party or BPP [Bernard BALIKANI]; MELS Movement of Botswana or MELS [Themba JOINA]; New Democratic Front or NDF [Dick BAYFORD]
note:
a number of minor parties joined forces in 1999 to form the BAM but did not capture any parliamentary seats - includes the United Action Party [Ephraim Lepetu SETSHWAELO]; the Independence Freedom Party or IFP [Motsamai MPHO]; the Botswana Progressive Union [D. K. KWELE]
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Political pressure groups and leaders:
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First People of the Kalahari (Bushman organization); Pitso Ya Ba Tswana; Society for the Promotion of Ikalanga Language (Kalanga elites)
other:
diamond mining companies
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International organization participation:
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ACP, AfDB, AU, C, FAO, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICCt, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, Interpol, IOC, IPU, ISO, ITSO, ITU, ITUC, MIGA, NAM, OPCW, SACU, SADC, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UNWTO, UPU, WCO, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO
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Diplomatic representation in the US:
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chief of mission: Ambassador Lapologang Caesar LEKOA
chancery:
1531-1533 New Hampshire Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20036
telephone:
[1] (202) 244-4990
FAX:
[1] (202) 244-4164
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Diplomatic representation from the US:
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chief of mission: Ambassador Stephen J. NOLAN
embassy:
Embassy Enclave (off Khama Crescent), Gaborone
mailing address:
Embassy Enclave, P. O. Box 90, Gaborone
telephone:
[267] 395-3982
FAX:
[267] 395-6947
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Flag description:
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light blue with a horizontal white-edged black stripe in the center; the blue symbolizes water in the form of rain, while the black and white bands represent racial harmony
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Economy - overview:
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Botswana has maintained one of the world's highest economic growth rates since independence in 1966, though growth fell below 5% in 2007-08, and turned sharply negative in 2009, with industry falling nearly 30%. Through fiscal discipline and sound management, Botswana transformed itself from one of the poorest countries in the world to a middle-income country with a per capita GDP of $14,100 in 2008. Two major investment services rank Botswana as the best credit risk in Africa. Diamond mining has fueled much of the expansion and currently accounts for more than one-third of GDP, 70-80% of export earnings, and about half of the government's revenues. Botswana's heavy reliance on a single luxury export was a critical factor in the sharp economic contraction of 2009. Tourism, financial services, subsistence farming, and cattle raising are other key sectors. Although unemployment was 7.5% in 2007 according to official reports, unofficial estimates place it closer to 40%. The prevalence of HIV/AIDS is second highest in the world and threaten Botswana's impressive economic gains. An expected leveling off in diamond mining production within the next two decades overshadows long-term prospects.
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GDP (purchasing power parity):
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$26 billion (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 111
$27.43 billion (2008 est.)
$26.66 billion (2007 est.)
note:
data are in 2009 US dollars
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GDP (official exchange rate):
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$10.94 billion (2009 est.)
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GDP - real growth rate:
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-5.2% (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 191
2.9% (2008 est.)
4.4% (2007 est.)
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GDP - per capita (PPP):
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$13,100 (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 84
$14,100 (2008 est.)
$13,900 (2007 est.)
note:
data are in 2009 US dollars
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GDP - composition by sector:
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agriculture: 2.3%
industry:
45.8%
services:
51.9% (2008 est.)
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Labor force:
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685,300 formal sector employees (2007)
country comparison to the world: 151
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Labor force - by occupation:
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agriculture: NA%
industry:
NA%
services:
NA%
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Unemployment rate:
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7.5% (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 70
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Population below poverty line:
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30.3% (2003)
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Household income or consumption by percentage share:
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lowest 10%: NA%
highest 10%:
NA%
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Distribution of family income - Gini index:
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63 (1993)
country comparison to the world: 4
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Investment (gross fixed):
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26% of GDP (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 39
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Budget:
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revenues: $3.88 billion
expenditures:
$6.112 billion (2009 est.)
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Public debt:
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17.9% of GDP (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 107
6.6% of GDP (2008 est.)
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Inflation rate (consumer prices):
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8.1% (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 182
12.6% (2008 est.)
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Central bank discount rate:
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15% (31 December 2008)
country comparison to the world: 18
14.5% (31 December 2007)
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Commercial bank prime lending rate:
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16.54% (31 December 2008)
country comparison to the world: 39
16.22% (31 December 2007)
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Stock of money:
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$1.008 billion (31 December 2008)
country comparison to the world: 114
$1.026 billion (31 December 2007)
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Stock of quasi money:
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$4.183 billion (31 December 2008)
country comparison to the world: 90
$4.336 billion (31 December 2007)
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Stock of domestic credit:
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$NA
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Market value of publicly traded shares:
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$4.283 billion (31 December 2009)
country comparison to the world: 87
$3.556 billion (31 December 2008)
$5.887 billion (31 December 2007)
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Agriculture - products:
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livestock, sorghum, maize, millet, beans, sunflowers, groundnuts
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Industries:
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diamonds, copper, nickel, salt, soda ash, potash; livestock processing; textiles
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Industrial production growth rate:
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-19.9% (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 161
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Electricity - production:
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1.052 billion kWh (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 144
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Electricity - consumption:
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2.648 billion kWh (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 130
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Electricity - exports:
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0 kWh (2008 est.)
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Electricity - imports:
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2.181 billion kWh (2008 est.)
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Oil - production:
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0 bbl/day (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 119
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Oil - consumption:
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15,000 bbl/day (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 138
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Oil - exports:
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0 bbl/day (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 208
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Oil - imports:
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15,180 bbl/day (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 124
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Oil - proved reserves:
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0 bbl (1 January 2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 199
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Natural gas - production:
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0 cu m (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 202
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Natural gas - consumption:
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0 cu m (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 114
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Natural gas - exports:
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0 cu m (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 51
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Natural gas - imports:
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0 cu m (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 78
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Natural gas - proved reserves:
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0 cu m (1 January 2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 198
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Current account balance:
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-$758 million (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 124
$502.2 million (2008 est.)
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Exports:
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$3.382 billion (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 120
$4.707 billion (2008 est.)
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Exports - commodities:
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diamonds, copper, nickel, soda ash, meat, textiles
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Imports:
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$4.24 billion (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 119
$4.488 billion (2008 est.)
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Imports - commodities:
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foodstuffs, machinery, electrical goods, transport equipment, textiles, fuel and petroleum products, wood and paper products, metal and metal products
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Reserves of foreign exchange and gold:
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$8.704 billion (31 December 2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 72
$9.119 billion (31 December 2008 est.)
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Debt - external:
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$1.651 billion (31 December 2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 138
$409 million (31 December 2008 est.)
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Exchange rates:
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pulas (BWP) per US dollar - 7.4632 (2009), 6.7907 (2008), 6.2035 (2007), 5.8447 (2006), 5.1104 (2005)
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| Communications ::Botswana |
Telephones - main lines in use:
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142,300 (2008)
country comparison to the world: 135
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Telephones - mobile cellular:
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1.486 million (2008)
country comparison to the world: 135
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Telephone system:
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general assessment: Botswana is participating in regional development efforts; expanding fully digital system with fiber-optic cables linking the major population centers in the east as well as a system of open-wire lines, microwave radio relays links, and radiotelephone communication stations
domestic:
fixed-line teledensity has declined in recent years and now stands at roughly 8 telephones per 100 persons; mobile-cellular subscribership is growing rapidly reaching a teledensity of 80 telephones per 100 persons
international:
country code - 267; international calls are made via satellite, using international direct dialing; 2 international exchanges; digital microwave radio relay links to Namibia, Zambia, Zimbabwe, and South Africa; satellite earth station - 1 Intelsat (Indian Ocean) (2008)
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Radio broadcast stations:
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AM 8, FM 13, shortwave 4 (2001)
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Television broadcast stations:
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2 (1 state-owned, 1 private) (2007)
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Internet country code:
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.bw
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Internet hosts:
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7,341 (2009)
country comparison to the world: 128
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Internet users:
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120,000 (2008)
country comparison to the world: 146
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| Transportation ::Botswana |
Airports:
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77 (2009)
country comparison to the world: 71
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Airports - with paved runways:
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total: 9
2,438 to 3,047 m:
2
1,524 to 2,437 m:
6
914 to 1,523 m:
1 (2009)
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Airports - with unpaved runways:
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total: 68
1,524 to 2,437 m:
4
914 to 1,523 m:
54
under 914 m:
10 (2009)
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Railways:
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total: 888 km
country comparison to the world: 97
narrow gauge:
888 km 1.067-m gauge (2008)
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Roadways:
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total: 25,798 km
country comparison to the world: 103
paved:
8,410 km
unpaved:
17,388 km (2005)
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Military branches:
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Botswana Defense Force (BDF): Ground Forces Command, Air Arm Command, Logistics Command (2010)
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Military service age and obligation:
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18 is the apparent age of voluntary military service; official minimum age is unknown (2001)
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Manpower available for military service:
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males age 16-49: 543,097
females age 16-49:
520,896 (2010 est.)
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Manpower fit for military service:
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males age 16-49: 347,070
females age 16-49:
315,743 (2010 est.)
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Manpower reaching militarily significant age annually:
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male: 23,496
female:
22,944 (2010 est.)
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Military expenditures:
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3.3% of GDP (2006)
country comparison to the world: 39
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| Transnational Issues ::Botswana |
Disputes - international:
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Botswana still struggles to seal its border from thousands of Zimbabweans who flee economic collapse and political persecution; Namibia has long supported, and in 2004 Zimbabwe dropped objections to, plans between Botswana and Zambia to build a bridge over the Zambezi River at Kazungula crossing, thereby de facto recognizing the short, but not clearly delimited, Botswana-Zambia boundary
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