Country Profile: Republic of Botswana

News

Apr 2008: Botswana has been described as the least corrupt country in Africa, that it has sound economic policies and good management of the country's mineral wealth. The World Bank ranks it among the world's most politically stable nations.

Geography

Southern Africa, landlocked, north of South Africa, west of Zimbabwe. Almost as big as Texas. Flat with rolling tableland and some desert in the southwest. Semi arid. Warm winters and hot summers.

Government

The Republic of Botswana was a British protectorate called Bechuanaland before becoming independent in 1966. It has a president elected by parliament and four decades of stable government that has been described as progressive.

Economy

Figures unless otherwise stated are from the CIA Factbook.

Factbook: "Botswana has maintained one of the world's highest economic growth rates since independence in 1966, though growth fell below 5% in 2007-08. Through fiscal discipline and sound management, Botswana has transformed itself from one of the poorest countries in the world to a middle-income country."

Estimated per capita GDP (2009 U.S. dollars)

2009: $13,100 (ranks first in black Africa; more than 8 times the per capita GDP of Kenya)
2008: $14,100
2007: $13,900

GDP annual real (not per capita) growth rate estimate

2009: -5.2%
2008: 2.9%
2007: 4.4%

Public debt

2009: 17.9% of GDP

Unemployment rate

2007: 7.5%

Botswana has benefited from political stability, the export of diamonds and tourism.

Exports exceed imports value.

Military expenditures as a percentage of GDP

2006: 3.3%

Population

Living in an urban area: 60% (2008)

July 2009: 1.990 million. Growth rate: 1.937 (ranks 64th -- above the median)
July 2008: 1.842 million
July 2004: 1.56 million

Migration

More arriving than leaving, a net gain 5 persons per 1,000 population.

Health

Infant mortality (deaths before the age of one year per 1,000 live births)

2009: 12.59 (ranks 141st

Average life expectancy at birth

2009: 61.85 years (ranks 178th

Living with HIV/AIDS, ages 15 to 49: 37.3 percent (2003) -- second in the world in prevalence.

E)nvironment

Botswana suffers from overgrazing, desertification and limited fresh water resources.

Internet

Botswana in 2002 had about 60,000 internet users -- 3.8 percent of its 2004 population.

December 23, 2003 -- Bushmen families

Botswana has attempted to resettle about 600 people outside their old homes in the Central Kahlahi Game Reserve, the settlements called by the Bushmen "places of death." In the game reserve the government has destroyed Bushmen water holes and banned them from hunting. A third of the Bushmen have returned and are surviving, and they have taken the government to court regarding their right to return. Their court case resumes on January 17.

SOURCES:
http://www.cia.gov/cia/publications/factbook/