*Botswana, Geography Location: Southern Africa, north of South Africa Map references: Africa, Standard Time Zones of the World Area: total area: 600,370 km2 land area: 585,370 km2 comparative area: slightly smaller than Texas Land boundaries: total 4,013 km, Namibia 1,360 km, South Africa 1,840 km, Zimbabwe 813 km Coastline: 0 km (landlocked) Maritime claims: none; landlocked International disputes: short section of boundary with Namibia is indefinite; disputed island with Namibia in the Chobe River; quadripoint with Namibia, Zambia, and Zimbabwe is in disagreement; recent dispute with Namibia over uninhabited Sidudu Island in Linyanti River Climate: semiarid; warm winters and hot summers Terrain: predominately flat to gently rolling tableland; Kalahari Desert in southwest Natural resources: diamonds, copper, nickel, salt, soda ash, potash, coal, iron ore, silver Land use: arable land: 2% permanent crops: 0% meadows and pastures: 75% forest and woodland: 2% other: 21% Irrigated land: 20 km2 (1989 est.) Environment: overgrazing, desertification Note: landlocked *Botswana, People Population: 1,325,920 (July 1993 est.) Population growth rate: 2.53% (1993 est.) Birth rate: 33.39 births/1,000 population (1993 est.) Death rate: 8.05 deaths/1,000 population (1993 est.) Net migration rate: 0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1993 est.) Infant mortality rate: 40.6 deaths/1,000 live births (1993 est.) Life expectancy at birth: total population: 62.54 years male: 59.52 years female: 65.65 years (1993 est.) Total fertility rate: 4.25 children born/woman (1993 est.) Nationality: noun: Motswana (singular), Batswana (plural) adjective: Motswana (singular), Batswana (plural) Ethnic divisions: Batswana 95%, Kalanga, Basarwa, and Kgalagadi 4%, white 1% Religions: indigenous beliefs 50%, Christian 50% Languages: English (official), Setswana Literacy: age 15 and over able to read and write simple sentences (1990) total population: 72% male: 67% female: 74% Labor force: 400,000 by occupation: 198,500 formal sector employees, most others are engaged in cattle raising and subsistence agriculture (1990 est.); 14,600 are employed in various mines in South Africa (1990) *Botswana, Government Names: conventional long form: Republic of Botswana conventional short form: Botswana former: Bechuanaland Digraph: BC Type: parliamentary republic Capital: Gaborone Administrative divisions: 10 districts; Central, Chobe, Ghanzi, Kgalagadi, Kgatleng, Kweneng, Ngamiland, North-East, South-East, Southern; in addition, there are 4 town councils - Francistown, Gaborone, Lobaste, Selebi-Phikwe Independence: 30 September 1966 (from UK) Constitution: March 1965, effective 30 September 1966 Legal system: based on Roman-Dutch law and local customary law; judicial review limited to matters of interpretation; has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction National holiday: Independence Day, 30 September (1966) Political parties and leaders: Botswana Democratic Party (BDP), Sir Ketumile MASIRE; Botswana National Front (BNF), Kenneth KOMA; Boswana People's Party (BPP), Knight MARIPE; Botswana Independence Party (BIP), Motsamai MPHO Suffrage: 21 years of age; universal Elections: National Assembly: last held 7 October 1989 (next to be held October 1994); results - percent of vote by party NA; seats - (38 total, 34 elected) BDP 35, BNF 3 President: last held 7 October 1989 (next to be held October 1994); results - President Sir Ketumile MASIRE was reelected by the National Assembly Executive branch: president, vice president, Cabinet Legislative branch: bicameral National Assembly consists of an upper house or House of Chiefs and a lower house or National Assembly Judicial branch: High Court, Court of Appeal Leaders: Chief of State and Head of Government: President Sir Ketunile MASIRE (since 13 July 1980); Vice President Festus MOGAE (since 9 March 1992 ) Member of: ACP, AfDB, C, CCC, ECA, FAO, FLS, G-77, GATT, IBRD, ICAO, ICFTU, IDA, IFAD, IFC, ILO, IMF, INTERPOL, IOC, ITU, LORCS, NAM, OAU, SACU, SADC, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UNOMOZ, UPU, WCL, WHO, WMO Diplomatic representation in US: chief of mission: Ambassador Botsweletse Kingsley SEBELE chancery: Suite 7M, 3400 International Drive NW, Washington, DC 20008 *Botswana, Government telephone: (202) 244-4990 or 4991 US diplomatic representation: chief of mission: Ambassador David PASSAGE embassy: address NA, Gaborone mailing address: P. O. Box 90, Gaborone telephone: [267] 353-982 FAX: [267] 356-947 Flag: light blue with a horizontal white-edged black stripe in the center *Botswana, Economy Overview: The economy has historically been based on cattle raising and crops. Agriculture today provides a livelihood for more than 80% of the population, but produces only about 50% of food needs. The driving force behind the rapid economic growth of the 1970s and 1980s has been the mining industry. This sector, mostly on the strength of diamonds, has gone from generating 25% of GDP in 1980 to 50% in 1991. No other sector has experienced such growth, especially not agriculture, which is plagued by erratic rainfall and poor soils. The unemployment rate remains a problem at 25%. Although diamond production was down slightly in 1992, substantial gains in coal output and manufacturing helped boost the economy National product: GDP - purchasing power equivalent - $3.6 billion (FY92 est.) National product real growth rate: 5.8% (FY92 est.) National product per capita: $2,450 (FY92 est.) Inflation rate (consumer prices): 16.5% (December 1992) Unemployment rate: 25% (1989) Budget: revenues $1.7 billion; expenditures $1.99 billion, including capital expenditures of $652 million (FY94) Exports: $1.6 billion (f.o.b. 1991) commodities: diamonds 78%, copper and nickel 8%, meat 4% partners: Switzerland, UK, SACU (Southern African Customs Union) Imports: $1.7 billion (c.i.f., 1991) commodities: foodstuffs, vehicles and transport equipment, textiles, petroleum products partners: Switzerland, SACU (Southern African Customs Union), UK, US External debt: $344 million (December 1991) Industrial production: growth rate 6.9% (1991); accounts for about 53% of GDP, including mining Electricity: 220,000 kW capacity; 1,123 million kWh produced, 846 kWh per capita (1991) Industries: mining of diamonds, copper, nickel, coal, salt, soda ash, potash; livestock processing Agriculture: accounts for only 5% of GDP; subsistence farming predominates; cattle raising supports 50% of the population; must import up to of 80% of food needs Economic aid: US aid, $13 million (1992); US commitments, including Ex-Im (FY70-89), $257 million; Western (non-US) countries, ODA and OOF bilateral commitments (1970-89), $1,875 million; OPEC bilateral aid (1979-89), $43 million; Communist countries (1970-89), $29 million; in 1992: Norway (largest donor) $16 million, Sweden $15.5 million, Germany $3.6 million, EC/Lome-IV $3-6 million in grants, $28.7 million in long-term projects Currency: 1 pula (P) = 100 thebe *Botswana, Economy Exchange rates: pula (P) per US$1 - 2.31 (February 1993), 2.1327 (1992), 2.0173 (1991), 1.8601 (1990), 2.0125 (1989), 1.8159 (1988) Fiscal year: 1 April - 31 March *Botswana, Communications Railroads: 712 km 1.067-meter gauge Highways: 11,514 km total; 1,600 km paved; 1,700 km crushed stone or gravel, 5,177 km improved earth, 3,037 km unimproved earth Airports: total: 100 usable: 87 with permanent-surface runways: 8 with runways over 3,659 m: 0 with runways 2,440-3,659 m: 1 with runways 1,220-2,439 m: 29 Telecommunications: the small system is a combination of open-wire lines, microwave radio relay links, and a few radio-communications stations; 26,000 telephones; broadcast stations - 7 AM, 13 FM, no TV; 1 Indian Ocean INTELSAT earth station *Botswana, Defense Forces Branches: Botswana Defense Force (including Army and Air Wing), Botswana National Police Manpower availability: males age 15-49 282,885; fit for military service 148,895; reach military age (18) annually 14,868 (1993 est.) Defense expenditures: exchange rate conversion - $196 million, 4.9% of GDP (FY93/94)