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Botswana

BW / BWA   -22.2°, 23.7°

Botswana, officially the Republic of Botswana, is a landlocked country in Southern Africa. Botswana is topographically flat, with approximately 70% of its territory being a part of the Kalahari Desert. It is bordered by South Africa to the south and southeast, Namibia to the west and north, Zambia to the north, and Zimbabwe to the northeast. Its total area is 581,730 square kilometres (224,610 sq mi). Gaborone, in the South-East District, is the country's capital and largest city.

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Capital
Gaborone
Population
2,480,244
Area
581,737 km2
Climate
Desert or arid
Government
Parliamentary republic
Currency
Botswana pula
Languages
Setswana 77.3%, Sekalanga 7.4%, Shekgalagadi 3.4%
Sells
diamonds, copper ore, insulated wire, carbonates
Sells to
UAE 27%, India 17%, Belgium 16%
Land borders
4: Namibia, South Africa, Zambia, Zimbabwe
Drives on the
left
Calling code
+267
Founded
1966
Hemisphere
Southern

Where it is

Languages

Share of the population that speaks each. Click one to see every country that speaks it.

77.3%
7.4%
3.4%
Englishofficial
2.8%
2.0%

What it sells, and to whom

Every line is a thread: click a commodity or a partner to see who else trades in it.

Exports

diamonds copper ore insulated wire carbonates cattle

Imports

refined petroleum diamonds cars flavored water electricity

Trades with

UAE27.0% India17.0% Belgium16.0% South Africa8.0% USA7.0% Namibia8.0% Canada5.0% China3.0%

Natural resources

diamonds copper nickel salt soda ash potash

Industries

diamonds copper nickel salt soda ash potash

Farms and fisheries

  • root vegetables
  • beef
  • vegetables
  • sorghum
  • maize
  • game meat

Largest cities

Gaborone  capital 246,325
Francistown 103,417
Mogoditshane 88,004
Maun 85,350
Molepolole 74,861

Wars and conflicts

Click one to see everyone else who fought in it.

Kivu conflict2004–now

Form of government

Parliamentary republic.

parliamentary republic

Money, belief and alliances

Money

Botswana pula

Belongs to

United Nations World Meteorological Organization Southern African Development Community International Development Association Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons International Centre for Settlement of Investment Disputes African Union Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons Commonwealth of Nations Multilateral Investment Guarantee Agency International Bank for Reconstruction and Development UNESCO Southern African Customs Union World Health Organization Interpol World Trade Organization

Climate and geography

semiarid; warm winters and hot summers

Climate zone

Desert or arid

Highest point

Otse Hill

Landmarks and landscapes

Okavango Delta Kalahari Desert Makgadikgadi Pan

Landlocked. Southern hemisphere.

Land borders (4)

Namibia South Africa Zambia Zimbabwe

In charge right now

Duma Boko
Duma Boko Head of state

Figures from its history

Seretse Khama
Seretse Khama First president Sir Seretse Goitsebeng Maphiri Khama, GCB, KBE was a Motswana politician who served as the first President of Botswana, a post he held from 1966 to his death in 1980.
Ian Khama
Ian Khama President, 2008-2018 Seretse Khama Ian Khama is a Botswana politician and former military officer who served as the fourth President of Botswana from 1 April 2008 to 1 April 2018.

Leaders before them

Mokgweetsi Masisi
Mokgweetsi Masisi 2018 to 2024
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