Geography
Area: 582,000 sq. km. (224,710 sq. mi.), about the size of Texas.
Cities (2001 census): Capital--Gaborone (pronounced ha-bo-ro-neh), pop. 186,007. Other towns--Francistown (83,023), Selebi-Phikwe (49,849), Molepolole (54,561), Kanye (40,628), Serowe (42,444), Mahalapye (39,719), Lobatse (29,689), Maun (43,776), Mochudi (36,962).
Terrain: Desert and savanna.
Climate: Mostly subtropical.
People
Nationality: Noun and adjective--Motswana (sing.), Batswana (pl.).
Population (est.): 1.84 million.
Annual population growth rate (2008): 1.434%.
Ethnic groups: Tswana 79%; Kalanga 11%; Kgalagadi, Herero, Bayeyi, Hambukush, Basarwa ("San"), Khoi, whites 10%.
Religions: Christianity 70%, none 20%, indigenous beliefs 6%, other 4%.
Languages: English (official), Setswana, Ikalanga.
Education: Adult literacy--81%.
Health (2008): Life expectancy--50.6 years. Infant mortality rate--44.01/1,000.
Work force (2005-2006 est.): 548,600 employed; total including unemployed, 651,500.
Government
Type: Republic, parliamentary democracy.
Independence: September 30, 1966.
Constitution: March 1965.
Branches: Executive--president (chief of state and head of government), cabinet. Legislative--popularly elected National Assembly; advisory House of Chiefs. Judicial--High Court, Court of Appeal, local and customary courts, industrial labor court.
Administrative subdivisions: Five town councils and nine district councils.
Major political parties: Botswana Democratic Party (BDP) 44 seats, Botswana Movement for Democracy (BMD) 6 seats, Botswana National Front (BNF) 6 seats, Botswana Congress Party (BCP)/Botswana Alliance Movement (BAM) 5 seats.
Suffrage: Universal at 18.
Economy
Nominal GDP (2009 est.): $12.0 billion.
Real GDP growth rate (2009): -4.8%.
Per capita nominal GDP (2009 est.): $6,200.
Natural resources: Diamonds, copper, nickel, coal, soda ash, salt, gold, potash.
Agriculture (2% of real GDP, 2008): Products--livestock, sorghum, white maize, millet, cowpeas, beans.
Industry: Types--mining (40% of real GDP, 2008): diamonds, copper, nickel, coal; tourism, textiles, construction, beef processing, chemical products production, food and beverage production.
Trade (2008): Exports--$5.127 billion f.o.b.: diamonds, nickel, copper, meat products, textiles, hides, skins, and soda ash. Partners--EU, South Africa. Imports--$3.931 billion f.o.b.: machinery, transport equipment, manufactured goods, food, chemicals, fuels. Major suppliers--South Africa, EU, and U.S.
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Background
Formerly the British protectorate of Bechuanaland, Botswana adopted its
new name upon independence in 1966. Four decades of uninterrupted
civilian leadership, progressive social policies, and significant
capital investment have created one of the most dynamic economies in
Africa. Mineral extraction, principally diamond mining, dominates
economic activity, though tourism is a growing sector due to the
country's conservation practices and extensive nature preserves.
Botswana has one of the world's highest known rates of HIV/AIDS
infection, but also one of Africa's most progressive and comprehensive
programs for dealing with the disease. |
SOURCES
All CIA World Factbooks 18 December 2003 to 18 December 2008
ALTERNATIVE NAMES
Botswana, Republic of Botswana
Identification
New Page 1
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MOTSWANA -BATSWANA IDENTIFICATION STATS |
|
|
| |
15 character
Botswana
|
30 character
Botswana
|
|
Country name |
Botswana |
|
Country name > Conventional long form |
Republic of Botswana |
|
Country name > Conventional short form |
Botswana |
|
Country name >
Former |
Bechuanaland |
|
Country name > Local long form |
Republic of Botswana |
|
Country name > Local short form |
Botswana |
|
ISO code
|
72 |
|
ISO long
|
BWA |
|
ISO short
|
BW |
|
Native names |
Botswana |
|
Oceanographic code |
BW |
Translation > Catalan
Botswana
|
|
Translation > French |
Br�sil |
Translation > German
Botswana
|
Translation > Italian
Botswana
|
|
Translation >
Portugese |
Botsuana |
Translation > Spanish
Botswana
|
|
UN code
|
72 |
SOURCES
CIA World Factbook, 28
July 2005; All
CIA World
Factbooks 18 December 2003 to 18 December 2008;
Microsoft.com;Wkipedia; IOC country codes
ALTERNATIVE NAMES
Botswana, Republic of Botswana
