Daten & Fakten - Botsuana

Capital

Botsuana

name: Gaborone

geographic coordinates: 24 38 S, 25 54 E

time difference: UTC+2 (7 hours ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time)

etymology: named after GABORONE (ca. 1825-1931), a revered kgosi (chief) of the Tlokwa tribe, part of the larger Tswana ethnic group

Citizenship

Botsuana

citizenship by birth: no

citizenship by descent only: at least one parent must be a citizen of Botswana

dual citizenship recognized: no

residency requirement for naturalization: 10 years

Legal system

Botsuana

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

Suffrage

Botsuana

18 years of age; universal

Area

Botsuana

total: 581,730 sq km

land: 566,730 sq km

water: 15,000 sq km

Land use

Botsuana

agricultural land: 45.8% (2018 est.)

arable land: 0.6% (2018 est.)

permanent crops: 0% (2018 est.)

permanent pasture: 45.2% (2018 est.)

forest: 19.8% (2018 est.)

other: 34.4% (2018 est.)

Location

Botsuana

Southern Africa, north of South Africa

Age structure

Botsuana

0-14 years: 29.17% (male 355,951/female 349,283)

15-64 years: 64.88% (male 745,327/female 823,267)

65 years and over: 5.95% (2023 est.) (male 57,876/female 85,892)

Birth rate

Botsuana

20 births/1,000 population (2023 est.)

Death rate

Botsuana

9 deaths/1,000 population (2023 est.)

Languages

Botsuana

Setswana 77.3%, Sekalanga 7.4%, Shekgalagadi 3.4%, English (official) 2.8%, Zezuru/Shona 2%, Sesarwa 1.7%, Sembukushu 1.6%, Ndebele 1%, other 2.8% (2011 est.)

Life expectancy at birth

Botsuana

total population: 66 years (2023 est.)

male: 64 years

female: 68.2 years

Major urban areas - population

Botsuana

269,000 GABORONE (capital) (2018)

Median age

Botsuana

total: 26.8 years (2023 est.)

male: 25.6 years

female: 27.9 years

Net migration rate

Botsuana

2.8 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2023 est.)

Population distribution

Botsuana

the population is primarily concentrated in the east with a focus in and around the captial of Gaborone, and the far central-eastern city of Francistown; population density remains low in other areas in the country, especially in the Kalahari to the west as shown in this population distribution map

Population growth rate

Botsuana

1.37% (2023 est.)

Total fertility rate

Botsuana

2.37 children born/woman (2023 est.)

Urbanization

Botsuana

urban population: 72.9% of total population (2023)

rate of urbanization: 2.47% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)

Education expenditures

Botsuana

8.7% of GDP (2020 est.)

School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education)

Botsuana

total: 12 years

male: 12 years

female: 12 years (2021)

Budget surplus (+) or deficit (-)

Botsuana

-1% (of GDP) (2017 est.)

Industrial production growth rate

Botsuana

19.38% (2021 est.)

Labor force

Botsuana

1.05 million (2021 est.)

Population below poverty line

Botsuana

19.3% (2009 est.)

Unemployment rate

Botsuana

24.72% (2021 est.)

24.93% (2020 est.)

22.61% (2019 est.)

Public debt

Botsuana

19.66% of GDP (2020 est.)

16.22% of GDP (2019 est.)

15.23% of GDP (2018 est.)

Inflation rate (consumer prices)

Botsuana

7.24% (2021 est.)

1.89% (2020 est.)

2.77% (2019 est.)

Exports

Botsuana

$7.931 billion (2021 est.)

$4.81 billion (2020 est.)

$6.229 billion (2019 est.)

note: Data are in current year dollars and do not include illicit exports or re-exports.

Exports - partners

Botsuana

India 21%, Belgium 19%, United Arab Emirates 19%, South Africa 9%, Israel 7%, Hong Kong 6%, Singapore 5% (2019)

Imports

Botsuana

$9.277 billion (2021 est.) note: data are in current year dollars

$7.413 billion (2020 est.) note: data are in current year dollars

$7.696 billion (2019 est.)

Imports - partners

Botsuana

South Africa 58%, Namibia 9%, Canada 7% (2019)

Airports

Botsuana

74 (2021)

Broadband - fixed subscriptions

Botsuana

total: 259,525 (2020 est.)

subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 11 (2020 est.)

Internet users

Botsuana

total: 1.924 million (2021 est.)

percent of population: 74% (2021 est.)

Railways

Botsuana

total: 888 km (2014)

narrow gauge: 888 km (2014) 1.067-m gauge

Roadways

Botsuana

total: 31,747 km (2017)

paved: 9,810 km (2017)

unpaved: 21,937 km (2017)

Telephones - fixed lines

Botsuana

total subscriptions: 132,457 (2021 est.)

subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 5 (2021 est.)

Telephones - mobile cellular

Botsuana

total subscriptions: 4,160,553 (2021 est.)

subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 161 (2021 est.)

Disputes - international

Botsuana

none identified