Botswana

BOTSWANA

Information about travelling to Botswana

Botswana is located in Southern Africa, north of South Africa

Facts about Botswana
Population1,842,323 note: est
CapitalGaborone
Time zoneUTC+2 (7 hours ahead of Washington, DC during Standard Time)
Location Southern Africa, north of South Africa

General info about Botswana
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.
Disease threats
degree of risk: high food or waterborne diseases: bacterial diarrhea, hepatitis A, and typhoid
Languages spoken
Setswana 78.2%, Kalanga 7.9%, Sekgalagadi 2.8%, English 2.1% (official), other 8.6%, unspecified 0.4% (2001 census)
Ethnic division
Tswana (or Setswana) 79%, Kalanga 11%, Basarwa 3%, other, including Kgalagadi and white 7%
HIV/AIDS prevalence rate
37.3% (2003 est.)
Climate
semiarid; warm winters and hot summers
Resources
diamonds, copper, nickel, salt, soda ash, potash, coal, iron ore, silver
Economy
Botswana has maintained one of the world's highest economic growth rates since independence in 1966, though growth slowed to about 5% annually in 2006-08. Through fiscal discipline and sound management, Botswana has transformed itself from one of the poorest countries in the world to a middle-income country with a per capita GDP of nearly $15,800 in 2008. Two major investment services rank Botswana as the best credit risk in Africa. Diamond mining has fueled much of the expansion and currently accounts for more than one-third of GDP and for 70-80% of export earnings. Tourism, financial services, subsistence farming, and cattle raising are other key sectors. On the downside, the government must deal with high rates of unemployment and poverty. Unemployment officially was 23.8% in 2004, but unofficial estimates place it closer to 40%. HIV/AIDS infection rates are the second highest in the world and threaten Botswana's impressive economic gains. An expected leveling off in diamond mining production overshadows long-term prospects.
Environment
overgrazing; desertification; limited fresh water resources

Cities in Botswana

boatlaname     bobonong     bokaa     bokspits     bonwapitse     dekar     dutlwe     francistown     gabane     gaborone     ghanzi     gweta     hukuntsi     kachikau     kalakamati     kalamare     kang     kanye     kasane     khakhea     khudumelapye     kobojango     kopong     lehututu     lephepe     letlhakane     letlhakeng     lobatse     machaneng     mahalapye     makalamabedi     makaleng     manyana     masunga     mathathane     maun     maunatlala     mmathubudukwane     mochudi     mogapi     mogapinyana     mogoditshane     moiyabana     mokobeng     molepolole     mookane     mopipi     mosetse     moshupa     nata     nkoyaphiri     nokaneng     orapa     otse     palapye     pandamatenga     pilane     pilikwe     ramotswa     ratholo     sebina     sefophe     sehithwa     sekoma     serowe     shakawe     tamasane     thamaga     tobane     tonota     tsabong     tshane     tsienyane     werda    


Airports in Botswana
KasaneBBK
FrancistownFRW
Sir Seretse Khama IntGBE
GhanziGNZ
HukuntsiHUK
LobatseLOQ
MaunMUB
OrapaORP
ShakaweSWX
TsabongTBY


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