Botswana

Full name of country: Republic of Botswana

Region: Africa

Official language: English

Population: 2,450,668 (2024 est.)

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

Land area: 566,730 sq km (218,816 sq miles)

Water area: 15,000 sq km (5,792 sq miles)

Capital: Gaborone

National anthem: "Fatshe leno la rona" (Our Land), by Kgalemang Tumedisco Motsete

National holiday: Independence Day (Botswana Day), September 30, (1966)

Population growth: 1.34% (2024 est.)

Time zone: UTC +2

Flag: The flag of Botswana is light blue with a vertical black and white band running across it. The blue represents rainwater and the black and white represents both the country’s zebras and the concept of racial harmony.

Motto: “Let there be rain”

Independence: September 30, 1966 (from the UK)

Government type: parliamentary republic

Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal

Legal system: mixed legal system of civil law influenced by the Roman-Dutch model and also customary and common law

Botswana is a country in south central Africa, bounded on the northeast by Zimbabwe, on the south and southeast by South Africa, on the west and north by Namibia, and on the north by a single bridge to Zambia. It includes some of the last great wilderness areas in Africa, including much of the Kalahari Desert and the Okavango Delta.

Inhabited by various peoples for thousands of years, from the 1880s until 1966 Botswana was ruled as a British protectorate known as Bechuanaland. Since independence, Botswana has been a success story, with a stable multiparty democratic government and relatively strong economy boosted by diamond mining and tourism.

Note: unless otherwise indicated, statistical data in this article is sourced from the CIA World Factbook, as cited in the bibliography.

People and Culture

Population: Most Batswana live in large agricultural settlements or urban areas in the eastern part of the country. The rest live in smaller settlements in the western part of the country.

The capital and largest city is Gaborone, with an estimated population of 269,000 in 2018. Other major urban centers include Francistown, Molepolole, Selebi-Phikwe, and Maun.

About 79 percent of the people belong to the Tswana (or Setswana) ethnic group, a Bantu-speaking people who have been dominant in the area since at least the early 1800s. The Kalanga, who constitute 11 percent of the population, are the next largest group, followed by the Basarwa who make up 3 percent of the population. Other groups, including Kgalagadi and people of European descent, comprise 7 percent of the population. The various ethnic groups are proud of their peaceful, cooperative society.

The Setswana language, part of the Bantu language family, is spoken by about 77.3 percent of the people. Two other major languages are Sekalanga, spoken by 7.4 percent of the people, and Shekgalagadi, spoken by 3.4 percent. English, the official language, is spoken by about 2.8 percent of the population. Other languages include Zezuru/Shona (2 percent), Sesarwa (1.7 percent), Sembukushu (1.6 percent), and Ndebele (1 percent) (2011 estimates).

There is no state-established church in Botswana, and freedom of religion is guaranteed in the constitution. Estimates of the percentage of people who adhere to different religions vary widely. Several religions are followed, including various Christian denominations and Badimo, a system of traditional animist beliefs. Around 15 percent of the people claim no religion at all (2011 estimate).

Indigenous People: During the Middle Stone Age, the San (also known as the Basarwa or Bushmen), arrived in what is now Botswana. The San speak a "click" language in which clicks represent consonants.

The San were followed about 2,000 years ago by the Bakgothu (or Khoekhoe), a pastoral group. Like the San, they speak a click language. They raised large herds of cattle and flocks of sheep, and smelted iron and made pottery. Small groups of both the San and Khoekhoe continue to live a nomadic lifestyle across parts of southern Africa.

Around the same time the Khoekhoe arrived in modern-day Botswana, the Bantu peoples were also moving into the region. They were an agricultural people, with settled villages and large herds of livestock. In time, the Bantu largely displaced the San and the Khoekhoe.

Around 1300, three groups formed in what is now Botswana: the Batswana, Basotho, and Bakgalagadi. During the next several centuries, groups split off, migrated and formed new communities, and merged with and subjugated other groups. As a result, by the nineteenth century, numerous Batswana and Bakgalagadi tribes lived in the area.

During the early nineteenth century, tribal wars decimated the population. In the latter half of the century, the Boers from Transvaal made incursions into what was then known as Bechuanaland. Local chiefs appealed to the British Empire, and in 1885, the British declared Bechuanaland a British protectorate.

Education: Education is not compulsory in Botswana, but major advances were made over the decades following independence. Primary education, for children between the ages of seven and thirteen, is free. Secondary education is offered in two cycles, of three years and two years. School life expectancy was estimated at twelve years for both males and females in 2021.

The University of Botswana was established in 1982 in Gaborone. Botswana also has a number of technical schools and colleges.

The literacy rate for those over age fifteen was estimated at 88.5 percent (88 percent among men and 88.9 percent among women) in 2015.

Health Care: In 2024, estimated life expectancy in Botswana was about 64.4 years for men and 68.6 years for women. The figures reflect the high death rate from AIDS. Botswana has had one of the highest known rates of HIV/AIDS infection in the world. However, Botswana also has one of the best programs in Africa for dealing with AIDS. The country ranked 114th out of 193 countries on the 2022 UN Human Development Index, which measures quality-of-life indicators.

Other high-risk diseases in Botswana include bacterial diarrhea, hepatitis A, typhoid fever, and malaria. With a physician density of 0.38 physicians per 1,000 people (2018 estimate), it is difficult to combat such illnesses.

Food: Botswana's staple food is bogobe, made from millet and sorghum meal boiled into a mush. This is usually served with meat and vegetables. Served with milk and sugar, the dish is called ting. When madila (sour milk) and cooking melon are added, it is called tophi. Madila, which tastes similar to yogurt, may also be eaten alone.

Meat dishes include seswaa, or chotlho, a stew. Serobe is a dish containing the intestines and organs of a goat, sheep, or cow. Oxtail is also a popular meat dish.

The morama, an underground tuber, is used extensively in Botswanan cooking. Also popular is the Kalahari truffle, an edible fungus. Among the San, the mopane worm, a grub, is considered a delicacy. The grub is dried in the sun and eaten raw, boiled, roasted, or fried.

Strong palm wine is a traditional drink. Another drink is Kgadi, which is made from distilled sugar or fungus. Ginger beer is a favorite homemade nonalcoholic beverage. Coca-Cola and Fanta soft drinks are also manufactured in Botswana.

Arts & Entertainment: Traditional art in Botswana traces back to prehistoric times. The Kalahari Desert continues to yield tools and artifacts from as early as the Stone Age. An Iron Age site, dating to about 750, holds San iron artifacts, pottery and tools of bone and flint. Numerous ancient San rock paintings in the Tsodilo Hills are a tourist attraction. The San still produce necklaces of ostrich eggs, leatherwork, hunting weapons and woodwork.

Basketwork, weaving, and pottery continue to flourish. Tin workers and woodcarvers produce useful and decorative items for sale. Traditional kgotla (meeting) chairs are still made.

Modern art and traditional art are exhibited side-by-side in the National Art Gallery in Gaborone. The Bank of Botswana also has a permanent modern art exhibit. Contemporary artists use modern designs with traditional motifs and patterns.

Many Batswana enjoy sports. The Zebras, Botswana's national football (soccer) team, formed in 1970 and affiliated with Federation Internationale de Football Association (FIFA) in 1976. The team has played in several World Cup qualifying matches in Africa. Other popular sports include cricket, rugby, netball, tennis, softball, swimming, baseball, and basketball. Most sports have both men's and women's teams.

Holidays: Independence Day, also called Botswana Day, is celebrated on September 30. Other official holidays include Labour Day (May 1), President's Day (date varies), and Christmas, which is celebrated on both December 25 and 26.

Sir Seretse Khama Day (July 1) honors the first president of Botswana. Khama was elected four times, beginning in 1966, and died in office in 1980.

Environment and Geography

Topography: Botswana is landlocked country in central southern Africa. The Kalahari Desert covers about 84 percent of the country's area and extends into South Africa, Angola, and Namibia. About two-thirds of Botswana (in the north) is in the tropics. The Tsodilo Hills in the northwest are the site of the country's highest point at 1,489 meters (4,885 feet) above sea level. The lowest point, 513 meters (1,683 feet) lies at the junction of the Limpopo and Shashe rivers.

Most of the terrain is flat or gently rolling. The east is rocky and dry. The southeast is higher, a little wetter and slightly more fertile. The Kalahari is infertile and very dry.

Botswana is watered by four main rivers: the Chobe, Cubango, Cuando, and Limpopo. The Cubango or Kuvango (formerly Okavango) is the longest river in Botswana at 1,600 kilometers (1,000 miles). It rises in Angola, forms part of the Angola-Namibia border, and meanders through northern Botswana. It eventually forms the Okavango Delta, one of the largest inland drainage deltas in the world. It covers is a 12,590-square kilometer (5,000-square mile) depression that once held a prehistoric lake. The northern part of the delta is wet all year and supports papyrus growth. The southern part is wet only in the rainy season. The delta supports an abundance of wildlife, especially birds and crocodiles.

Natural Resources: Botswana's natural resources are primarily mineral. In addition to extensive deposits of diamonds, Botswana has copper, coal, iron ore, silver, nickel, soda ash, salt, and potash. Its wildlife is another rich resource.

Environmental concerns include limited sources of fresh water. Overgrazing is also a problem and is one of the causes of desertification.

Plants & Animals: Botswana is home to about 200 edible wild plant species. These are particularly important for hunter-gatherer groups such as the San. Tsamma melons and wild cucumbers, in particular, are useful to both humans and wildlife.

Though most of country is savannah (covered with shrubs, thornbush, trees or grass), Botswana is home to more than 3,000 species of plants. Small areas of forest survive, consisting of several species of acacia and mopane (ironwood), with some mogonono (silver leaf), marula, and baobab trees.

Animals are numerous, including around 550 species of birds, 150 species of mammals, 150 species of reptiles, and 80 species of fish. Almost 30 percent of the nation's total land area is set aside in national parks, game reserves, or other protected areas. Controlled hunting is allowed in the reserves, and there is relatively little poaching in Botswana.

Typical wildlife includes lions, leopards and cheetahs, giraffes, elephants and hippos, aardvarks, jackals and foxes, monkeys, bushbabies and baboons. The zebra is considered by many to be the official animal of Botswana. The local name for the zebra is makgabisa naga, meaning "to make the bush beautiful."

Most bird species live in the Okavango Delta or along the Chobe River. Species include vultures, ostriches, darters, eagles (such as the African fish eagle), doves (including the Cape Turtle dove and Namaqua dove), bee-eaters, bustards, oxpeckers, weaver birds, whydahs, and the fork-tailed drongo. The lilac-breasted roller is the unofficial national bird.

Crocodiles sun themselves on rocks alongside rivers. Other reptiles include pythons, black mambas, several species of cobras (including the spitting cobra), the puff adder and horned adder, and the boomslang. Botswana is also home to numerous lizards, including geckos and chameleons.

Climate: Botswana is semiarid. Rain is so precious that the Setswana word for rain, pula, is the name of the nation's currency; the country's motto also focuses on rain. The rainy season comes during the summer months, between November and March. The average annual rainfall varies across the country. In the northeast, along the Chobe, precipitation may measure more than 650 millimeters (26 inches), while the Kalahari Desert may get less than 250 millimeters (10 inches).

In spite of the rain, summer is hot, with an average temperature of around 38° Celsius (100° Fahrenheit), sometimes climbing closer to 44° Celsius (111° Fahrenheit). Summer is also very humid. Winter is dry, with sunny, cool days. At night, temperatures can drop to freezing, particularly in the southwest.

Natural hazards include frequent droughts. In August, sandstorms and dust storms often blow from the west. The storms obscure visibility and contribute to respiratory and eye diseases. Climate change has increased concerns about such hazards.

Economy

Before the development of the diamond industry, Botswana's economy was based on subsistence agriculture. Since 1971, the diamond trade has increased the wealth of the nation several times over. The country's gross domestic product (GDP; purchasing power parity) was estimated at $46.742 billion in 2023, or $17,500 per capita.

Despite Botswana’s relatively strong economic status compared to other African nations, there are still significant weaknesses. The unemployment rate was estimated at 23.38 percent in 2023 (and  45.4 percent among youths), but some observers suggest the true rate is likely much higher. Approximately 16.1 percent of the population lived below the poverty line in 2015.

Industry: Diamond mining accounts for the majority of the country's export earnings and a substantial portion the government's revenue. In addition to diamonds, Botswana exports products such as gold, copper, beef, and insulated wiring. In 2022, the country’s total exports were estimated to be valued at $8.9 billion.

The country's other main industries include mining of salt, potash, soda ash, nickel, silver, coal, iron ore, and copper; livestock processing; textiles manufacturing; tourism; and financial services.

Agriculture: Less than 0.6 percent of the land in Botswana is arable. Farming is almost all at the subsistence level. Common crops include millet and sorghum, maize, beans, sunflowers, and groundnuts (peanuts). Cattle are also raised.

Tourism: The tourist industry has become increasingly important to Botswana's economy in the twenty-first century. Though the sector suffered heavily in 2020 due to the impact of the global COVID-19 pandemic, it began to recover in the following years.

The Tsodilo Hills, with their ancient San rock paintings, are a United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) World Heritage Site. Other popular tourist sites include the Savuti Marsh, the Okavango Delta and the Kalahari Sand Dunes.

Some communities cooperate to provide handicrafts and cultural demonstrations for visitors. The San, for instance, often perform dances, tell stories, and guide tourists on hunting and gathering expeditions.

The numerous and varied wildlife draws both hunters and ecotourists. Game reserves and national parks provide opportunities for hunting and fishing, bird watching, horseback safaris, and photography.

Government

Botswana is a multiparty parliamentary republic with a unicameral legislature and a strong presidential system. Suffrage is universal at age eighteen.

The president is head of state and head of government. The president is indirectly elected by the parliament, or National Assembly, to a five-year term, and may serve only two terms. The president appoints the members of the cabinet, which is responsible to the National Assembly.

The sixty-three-member National Assembly constitutes the legislature. Fifty-seven of the Assembly members are directly elected to five-year terms, four are elected by the other members from a list drawn up by the president, and two are ex-officio members (the president and attorney general).

The House of Chiefs serves as an advisory group to the National Assembly on such as powers of chiefs, customary courts and law, tribal property, and constitutional amendments. Of the House’s thirty-five members, eight are hereditary chiefs from the country’s main tribes, twenty-two are indirectly elected by the chiefs, and five are appointed by the president.

The judiciary branch is independent of the executive and legislative branches. The Court of Appeal and the High Court are the highest courts in the land. Law is based on Roman-Dutch law and customary law.

Interesting Facts

• The upper Limpopo is also called the Krokodil (Crocodile) River.
• Botswana, Zimbabwe, Zambia and Namibia meet at a point in the middle of the Zambesi (Zambezi) River at Kazungula, Botswana.
• Botswana won its first Olympic medal in 2012, when runner Nijel Amos received the silver medal in the 800 meters.
• The border between Botswana and Zambia is one of the shortest national borders in the world, and is dominated by a bridge connecting the two countries that was completed in 2021.

Bibliography

"Botswana." The World Bank 2024, The World Bank Group, data.worldbank.org/country/botswana. Accessed 16 Jan. 2025.

"Botswana." The World Factbook, Central Intelligence Agency, 2 Jan. 2025, www.cia.gov/the-world-factbook/countries/botswana/. Accessed 16 Jan. 2025.

"Human Development Insights 2022" Human Development Reports 13 Mar 2024, UNDP, hdr.undp.org/data-center/country-insights#/ranks. Accessed 16 Jan. 2025.