2018 Edition

Background

Formerly the British protectorate of Bechuanaland, Botswana adopted its new name at independence in 1966. More than five decades of uninterrupted civilian leadership, progressive social policies, and significant capital investment have created one of the most stable economies in Africa. The ruling Botswana Democratic Party has won every election since independence; President Mokgweetsi Eric MASISI assumed the presidency in April 2018 following the retirement of former President Ian KHAMA due to constitutional term limits. MASISI is Botswana’s fifth president since independence. 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.

Area

land

566,730 sq km

total

581,730 sq km

water

15,000 sq km

Area Comparative

slightly smaller than Texas

Climate

semiarid; warm winters and hot summers

Coastline

0 km (landlocked)

Elevation

elevation extremes

513 m lowest point: junction of the Limpopo and Shashe Rivers

mean elevation

1,013 m

note

1489 highest point: Tsodilo Hills

Environment Current Issues

overgrazing; desertification; limited freshwater resources; air pollution

Environment International Agreements

party to

Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Ozone Layer Protection, Wetlands

signed, but not ratified

none of the selected agreements

Geographic Coordinates

22 00 S, 24 00 E

Geography Note

landlocked; population concentrated in eastern part of the country

Irrigated Land

20 sq km (2012)

Land Boundaries

border countries (4)

Namibia 1544 km, South Africa 1969 km, Zambia 0.15 km, Zimbabwe 834 km

total

4,347.15 km

Land Use

arable land: 0.6% (2011 est.) / permanent crops: 0% (2011 est.) / permanent pasture: 45.2% (2011 est.)

agricultural land

45.8% (2011 est.)

forest

19.8% (2011 est.)

other

34.4% (2011 est.)

Location

Southern Africa, north of South Africa

Map References

Africa

Maritime Claims

note

none (landlocked)

Natural Hazards

periodic droughts; seasonal August winds blow from the west, carrying sand and dust across the country, which can obscure visibility

Natural Resources

diamonds, copper, nickel, salt, soda ash, potash, coal, iron ore, silver

Population Distribution

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

Terrain

predominantly flat to gently rolling tableland; Kalahari Desert in southwest

Age Structure

0-14 years

31.48% (male 357,175 /female 350,775)

15-24 years

18.7% (male 207,611 /female 212,874)

25-54 years

38.88% (male 412,475 /female 462,013)

55-64 years

5.61% (male 53,653 /female 72,617)

65 years and over

5.33% (male 51,304 /female 68,607) (2018 est.)

Birth Rate

21.7 births/1,000 population (2018 est.)

Death Rate

9.5 deaths/1,000 population (2018 est.)

Demographic Profile

Botswana has experienced one of the most rapid declines in fertility in sub-Saharan Africa. The total fertility rate has fallen from more than 5 children per woman in the mid 1980s to approximately 2.4 in 2013. The fertility reduction has been attributed to a host of factors, including higher educational attainment among women, greater participation of women in the workforce, increased contraceptive use, later first births, and a strong national family planning program. Botswana was making significant progress in several health indicators, including life expectancy and infant and child mortality rates, until being devastated by the HIV/AIDs epidemic in the 1990s.Today Botswana has the third highest HIV/AIDS prevalence rate in the world at approximately 22%, however comprehensive and effective treatment programs have reduced HIV/AIDS-related deaths. The combination of declining fertility and increasing mortality rates because of HIV/AIDS is slowing the population aging process, with a narrowing of the youngest age groups and little expansion of the oldest age groups. Nevertheless, having the bulk of its population (about 60%) of working age will only yield economic benefits if the labor force is healthy, educated, and productively employed.Batswana have been working as contract miners in South Africa since the 19th century. Although Botswana’s economy improved shortly after independence in 1966 with the discovery of diamonds and other minerals, its lingering high poverty rate and lack of job opportunities continued to push workers to seek mining work in southern African countries. In the early 1970s, about a third of Botswana’s male labor force worked in South Africa (lesser numbers went to Namibia and Zimbabwe). Not until the 1980s and 1990s, when South African mining companies had reduced their recruitment of foreign workers and Botswana’s economic prospects had improved, were Batswana increasingly able to find job opportunities at home.Most Batswana prefer life in their home country and choose cross-border migration on a temporary basis only for work, shopping, visiting family, or tourism. Since the 1970s, Botswana has pursued an open migration policy enabling it to recruit thousands of foreign workers to fill skilled labor shortages. In the late 1990s, Botswana’s prosperity and political stability attracted not only skilled workers but small numbers of refugees from neighboring Angola, Namibia, and Zimbabwe.

Dependency Ratios

elderly dependency ratio

5.8 (2015 est.)

potential support ratio

17.3 (2015 est.)

total dependency ratio

55.1 (2015 est.)

youth dependency ratio

49.3 (2015 est.)

Drinking Water Source

improved: urban: 99.2% of population

rural: 92.3% of population

total: 96.2% of population

unimproved: urban: 0.8% of population

rural: 7.7% of population

total: 3.8% of population (2015 est.)

Education Expenditures

9.6% of GDP (2009)

Ethnic Groups

Tswana (or Setswana) 79%, Kalanga 11%, Basarwa 3%, other, including Kgalagadi and white 7%

Health Expenditures

5.4% of GDP (2014)

Hiv Aids Adult Prevalence Rate

22.8% (2017 est.)

Hiv Aids Deaths

4,100 (2017 est.)

Hiv Aids People Living With Hiv Aids

380,000 (2017 est.)

Hospital Bed Density

1.8 beds/1,000 population (2010)

Infant Mortality Rate

female

26 deaths/1,000 live births (2018 est.)

male

31.2 deaths/1,000 live births (2018 est.)

total

28.6 deaths/1,000 live births (2018 est.)

Languages

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

female

66 years (2018 est.)

male

61.8 years (2018 est.)

total population

63.8 years (2018 est.)

Literacy

definition

age 15 and over can read and write (2015 est.)

female

88.9% (2015 est.)

male

88% (2015 est.)

total population

88.5% (2015 est.)

Major Infectious Diseases

degree of risk

high (2016)

food or waterborne diseases

bacterial diarrhea, hepatitis A, and typhoid fever (2016)

vectorborne diseases

malaria (2016)

Major Urban Areas Population

269,000 GABORONE (capital) (2018)

Maternal Mortality Rate

129 deaths/100,000 live births (2015 est.)

Median Age

female

26 years (2018 est.)

male

23.8 years

total

24.9 years

Nationality

adjective

Motswana (singular), Batswana (plural)

noun

Motswana (singular), Batswana (plural)

Net Migration Rate

3 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2017 est.)

Obesity Adult Prevalence Rate

18.9% (2016)

Physicians Density

0.38 physicians/1,000 population (2012)

Population

2,249,104 (July 2018 est.)

note

estimates for this country explicitly take into account the effects of excess mortality due to AIDS; this can result in lower life expectancy, higher infant mortality, higher death rates, lower population growth rates, and changes in the distribution of population by age and sex than would otherwise be expected

Population Growth Rate

1.52% (2018 est.)

Religions

Christian 79.1%, Badimo 4.1%, other 1.4% (includes Baha'i, Hindu, Muslim, Rastafarian), none 15.2%, unspecified 0.3% (2011 est.)

Sanitation Facility Access

improved: urban: 78.5% of population (2015 est.)

rural: 43.1% of population (2015 est.)

total: 63.4% of population (2015 est.)

unimproved: urban: 21.5% of population (2015 est.)

rural: 56.9% of population (2015 est.)

total: 36.6% of population (2015 est.)

School Life Expectancy Primary To Tertiary Education

female

13 years (2013)

male

13 years (2013)

total

13 years (2013)

Sex Ratio

0-14 years

1.04 male(s)/female (2017 est.)

15-24 years

0.99 male(s)/female (2017 est.)

25-54 years

1.15 male(s)/female (2017 est.)

55-64 years

0.82 male(s)/female (2017 est.)

65 years and over

0.66 male(s)/female (2017 est.)

at birth

1.03 male(s)/female (2017 est.)

total population

1.04 male(s)/female (2017 est.)

Total Fertility Rate

2.53 children born/woman (2018 est.)

Unemployment Youth Ages 15 24

female

43.5% (2010 est.)

male

29.6% (2010 est.)

total

36% (2010 est.)

Urbanization

rate of urbanization

2.87% annual rate of change (2015-20 est.)

urban population

69.4% of total population (2018)

Administrative Divisions

10 districts and 6 town councils*; Central, Chobe, Francistown*, Gaborone*, Ghanzi, Jwaneng*, Kgalagadi, Kgatleng, Kweneng, Lobatse*, North East, North West, Selebi-Phikwe*, South East, Southern, Sowa Town*

Capital

geographic coordinates

24 38 S, 25 54 E

name

Gaborone

time difference

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

Citizenship

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

Constitution

amendments

proposed by the National Assembly; passage requires approval in two successive Assembly votes with at least two-thirds majority in the final vote; proposals to amend constitutional provisions on fundamental rights and freedoms, the structure and branches of government, and public services also requires approval by majority vote in a referendum and assent by the president of the republic; amended several times, last in 2006 (2017)

history

previous 1960 (preindependence); latest adopted March 1965, effective 30 September 1966 (2017)

Country Name

conventional long form

Republic of Botswana

conventional short form

Botswana

etymology

the name Botswana means "Land of the Tswana" - referring to the country's major ethnic group

former

Bechuanaland

local long form

Republic of Botswana

local short form

Botswana

Diplomatic Representation From The Us

chief of mission

Ambassador Earl R. MILLER (since 30 January 2015)

embassy

Embassy Drive, Government Enclave (off Khama Crescent), Gaborone

FAX

[267] 318-0232

mailing address

Embassy Enclave, P. O. Box 90, Gaborone

telephone

[267] 395-3982

Diplomatic Representation In The Us

chancery

1531-1533 New Hampshire Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20036

chief of mission

Ambassador David John NEWMAN (since 3 August 2015)

consulate(s) general

Atlanta

FAX

[1] (202) 244-4164

telephone

[1] (202) 244-4990

Executive Branch

cabinet

Cabinet appointed by the president

chief of state

President Mokgweetse Eric MASISI (since 1 April 2018); Vice President Slumber TSOGWANE (since 4 April 2018); note - the president is both chief of state and head of government

election results

President Seretse Khama Ian KHAMA (since 1 April 2008) stepped down on 1 April 2018 having completed the constitutionally mandated 10-year term limit; upon his retirement, then Vice President MASISI became president

elections/appointments

president indirectly elected by the National Assembly for a 5-year term (eligible for a second term); election last held on 24 October 2014 (next to be held in October 2019); vice president appointed by the president

head of government

President Mokgweetse Eric MASISI (since 1 April 2018); Vice President Slumber TSOGWANE (since 4 April 2018); note - the president is both chief of state and head of government

Flag Description

light blue with a horizontal white-edged black stripe in the center; the blue symbolizes water in the form of rain, while the black and white bands represent racial harmony

Government Type

parliamentary republic

Independence

30 September 1966 (from the UK)

International Law Organization Participation

accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction with reservations; accepts ICCt jurisdiction

International Organization Participation

ACP, AfDB, AU, C, CD, FAO, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICCt, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU, ISO, ITSO, ITU, ITUC (NGOs), MIGA, NAM, OPCW, SACU, SADC, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UNWTO, UPU, WCO, WFTU (NGOs), WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO

Judicial Branch

highest courts

Court of Appeal, High Court (each consists of a chief justice and a number of other judges as prescribed by the Parliament)

judge selection and term of office

Court of Appeal and High Court chief justices appointed by the president and other judges appointed by the president upon the advice of the Judicial Service Commission; all judges appointed to serve until age 70

subordinate courts

Industrial Court (with circuits scheduled monthly in the capital city and in 3 districts); Magistrates Courts (1 in each district); Customary Court of Appeal; Paramount Chief's Court/Urban Customary Court; Senior Chief's Representative Court; Chief's Representative’s Court; Headman's Court

Legal System

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

Legislative Branch

description

unicameral Parliament consists of the National Assembly (63 seats; 57 members directly elected in single-seat constituencies by simple majority vote, 4 nominated by the president and indirectly elected by simple majority vote by the rest of the National Assembly, and 2 ex-officio members - the president and attorney general; elected members serve 5-year terms); note - the House of Chiefs (Ntlo ya Dikgosi), an advisory body to the National Assembly, consists of 35 members - 8 hereditary chiefs from Botswana's principal tribes, 22 indirectly elected by the chiefs, and 5 appointed by the president; the House of Chiefs consults on issues including powers of chiefs, customary courts, customary law, tribal property, and constitutional amendments

election results

percent of vote by party - BDP 46.5%, UDC 30.0%, BCP 20.4%, independent 3.1%; seats by party - BDP 37, UDC 17, BCP 3; composition - men 57, women 6, percent of women 9.5%

elections

last held on 24 October 2014 (next to be held in October 2019)

National Anthem

lyrics/music

Kgalemang Tumedisco MOTSETE

name

"Fatshe leno la rona" (Our Land)

note

adopted 1966

National Holiday

Independence Day (Botswana Day), 30 September (1966)

National Symbol S

zebra; national colors: blue, white, black

Political Parties And Leaders

Botswana Alliance Movement or BAM [Ephraim Lepetu SETSHWAELO]Botswana Congress Party or BCP [Dumelang SALESHANDO]Botswana Democratic Party or BDP [Ian KHAMA]Botswana Movement for Democracy or BMD [Sidney PILANE]Botswana National Front or BNF [Duma BOKO]Botswana Peoples Party or BPP [Motlatsi MOLAPISI]Real Alternative Party or RAP [Gaontebale MOKGOSI]Umbrella for Democratic Change or UDC [Duma BOKO] (coalition includes BMD, BPP, BCP and BNF)

Suffrage

18 years of age; universal

Agriculture Products

livestock, sorghum, maize, millet, beans, sunflowers, groundnuts

Budget

expenditures

5.478 billion (2017 est.)

revenues

5.305 billion (2017 est.)

Budget Surplus Or Deficit

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

Central Bank Discount Rate

5.5% (31 December 2016)

6% (31 December 2015)

Commercial Bank Prime Lending Rate

6.88% (31 December 2017 est.)

7.3% (31 December 2016 est.)

Current Account Balance

$2.146 billion (2017 est.)

$2.147 billion (2016 est.)

Debt External

$2.187 billion (31 December 2017 est.)

$2.421 billion (31 December 2016 est.)

Distribution Of Family Income Gini Index

60.5 (2009)

63 (1993)

Economy Overview

Until the beginning of the global recession in 2008, Botswana maintained one of the world's highest economic growth rates since its independence in 1966. Botswana recovered from the global recession in 2010, but only grew modestly until 2017, primarily due to a downturn in the global diamond market, though water and power shortages also played a role. Through fiscal discipline and sound management, Botswana has transformed itself from one of the poorest countries in the world five decades ago into a middle-income country with a per capita GDP of approximately $18,100 in 2017. Botswana also ranks as one of the least corrupt and best places to do business in sub-Saharan Africa.Because of its heavy reliance on diamond exports, Botswana’s economy closely follows global price trends for that one commodity. Diamond mining fueled much of Botswana’s past economic expansion and currently accounts for one-quarter of GDP, approximately 85% of export earnings, and about one-third of the government's revenues. In 2017, Diamond exports increased to the highest levels since 2013 at about 22 million carats of output, driving Botswana’s economic growth to about 4.5% and increasing foreign exchange reserves to about 45% of GDP. De Beers, a major international diamond company, signed a 10-year deal with Botswana in 2012 and moved its rough stone sorting and trading division from London to Gaborone in 2013. The move was geared to support the development of Botswana's nascent downstream diamond industry.Tourism is a secondary earner of foreign exchange and many Batswana engage in tourism-related services, subsistence farming, and cattle rearing. According to official government statistics, unemployment is around 20%, but unofficial estimates run much higher. The prevalence of HIV/AIDS is second highest in the world and threatens the country's impressive economic gains.

Exchange Rates

pulas (BWP) per US dollar -

10.19 (2017 est.)

10.9022 (2016 est.)

10.9022 (2015 est.)

10.1263 (2014 est.)

8.9761 (2013 est.)

Exports

$5.934 billion (2017 est.)

$7.226 billion (2016 est.)

Exports Commodities

diamonds, copper, nickel, soda ash, beef, textiles

Exports Partners

Belgium 20.3%, India 12.6%, UAE 12.4%, South Africa 11.9%, Singapore 8.7%, Israel 7%, Hong Kong 4.1%, Namibia 4.1% (2017)

Fiscal Year

1 April - 31 March

Gdp Composition By End Use

exports of goods and services

39.8% (2017 est.)

government consumption

18.4% (2017 est.)

household consumption

48.5% (2017 est.)

imports of goods and services

-33.9% (2017 est.)

investment in fixed capital

29% (2017 est.)

investment in inventories

-1.8% (2017 est.)

Gdp Composition By Sector Of Origin

agriculture

1.8% (2017 est.)

industry

27.5% (2017 est.)

services

70.6% (2017 est.)

Gdp Official Exchange Rate

$17.38 billion (2017 est.) (2017 est.)

Gdp Per Capita Ppp

$17,000 (2017 est.)

$16,900 (2016 est.)

$16,500 (2015 est.)

note

data are in 2017 dollars

Gdp Purchasing Power Parity

$39.01 billion (2017 est.)

$38.11 billion (2016 est.)

$36.54 billion (2015 est.)

note

data are in 2017 dollars

Gdp Real Growth Rate

2.4% (2017 est.)

4.3% (2016 est.)

-1.7% (2015 est.)

Gross National Saving

40.3% of GDP (2017 est.)

38.8% of GDP (2016 est.)

41.2% of GDP (2015 est.)

Household Income Or Consumption By Percentage Share

highest 10%

NA

lowest 10%

NA

Imports

$5.005 billion (2017 est.)

$5.871 billion (2016 est.)

Imports Commodities

foodstuffs, machinery, electrical goods, transport equipment, textiles, fuel and petroleum products, wood and paper products, metal and metal products

Imports Partners

South Africa 66.1%, Canada 8.3%, Israel 5.3% (2017)

Industrial Production Growth Rate

-4.2% (2017 est.)

Industries

diamonds, copper, nickel, salt, soda ash, potash, coal, iron ore, silver; beef processing; textiles

Inflation Rate Consumer Prices

3.3% (2017 est.)

2.8% (2016 est.)

Labor Force

1.177 million (2017 est.)

Labor Force By Occupation

agriculture

NA

industry

NA

services

NA

Market Value Of Publicly Traded Shares

$4.588 billion (31 December 2012 est.)

$4.107 billion (31 December 2011 est.)

$4.076 billion (31 December 2010 est.)

Population Below Poverty Line

19.3% (2009 est.)

Public Debt

14% of GDP (2017 est.)

15.6% of GDP (2016 est.)

Reserves Of Foreign Exchange And Gold

$7.491 billion (31 December 2017 est.)

$7.189 billion (31 December 2016 est.)

Stock Of Broad Money

$1.645 billion (31 December 2017 est.)

$1.494 billion (31 December 2016 est.)

Stock Of Direct Foreign Investment Abroad

$1.973 billion (31 December 2017 est.)

$1.312 billion (31 December 2016 est.)

Stock Of Direct Foreign Investment At Home

$5.319 billion (31 December 2017 est.)

$5.699 billion (31 December 2016 est.)

Stock Of Domestic Credit

$3.002 billion (31 December 2017 est.)

$2.579 billion (31 December 2016 est.)

Stock Of Narrow Money

$1.645 billion (31 December 2017 est.)

$1.494 billion (31 December 2016 est.)

Taxes And Other Revenues

30.5% (of GDP) (2017 est.)

Unemployment Rate

20% (2013 est.)

17.8% (2009 est.)

Carbon Dioxide Emissions From Consumption Of Energy

6.235 million Mt (2017 est.)

Crude Oil Exports

0 bbl/day (2015 est.)

Crude Oil Imports

0 bbl/day (2015 est.)

Crude Oil Production

0 bbl/day (2017 est.)

Crude Oil Proved Reserves

0 bbl (1 January 2018 est.)

Electricity Access

electrification - rural areas

54% (2013)

electrification - total population

66% (2013)

electrification - urban areas

75% (2013)

population without electricity

700,000 (2013)

Electricity Consumption

3.636 billion kWh (2016 est.)

Electricity Exports

0 kWh (2016 est.)

Electricity From Fossil Fuels

100% of total installed capacity (2016 est.)

Electricity From Hydroelectric Plants

0% of total installed capacity (2017 est.)

Electricity From Nuclear Fuels

0% of total installed capacity (2017 est.)

Electricity From Other Renewable Sources

0% of total installed capacity (2017 est.)

Electricity Imports

1.673 billion kWh (2016 est.)

Electricity Installed Generating Capacity

735,000 kW (2016 est.)

Electricity Production

2.527 billion kWh (2016 est.)

Natural Gas Consumption

0 cu m (2017 est.)

Natural Gas Exports

0 cu m (2017 est.)

Natural Gas Imports

0 cu m (2017 est.)

Natural Gas Production

0 cu m (2017 est.)

Natural Gas Proved Reserves

0 cu m (1 January 2014 est.)

Refined Petroleum Products Consumption

21,000 bbl/day (2016 est.)

Refined Petroleum Products Exports

0 bbl/day (2015 est.)

Refined Petroleum Products Imports

21,090 bbl/day (2015 est.)

Refined Petroleum Products Production

0 bbl/day (2015 est.)

Broadband Fixed Subscriptions

subscriptions per 100 inhabitants

2 (2017 est.)

total

48,901 (2017 est.)

Broadcast Media

2 TV stations - 1 state-owned and 1 privately owned; privately owned satellite TV subscription service is available; 2 state-owned national radio stations; 3 privately owned radio stations broadcast locally (2007)

Internet Country Code

.bw

Internet Users

percent of population

39.4% (July 2016 est.)

total

869,610 (July 2016 est.)

Telephone System

domestic

fixed-line teledensity has declined in recent years and now stands at roughly 6 telephones per 100 persons; mobile-cellular teledensity has advanced to 150 telephones per 100 persons (2017)

general assessment

effective regulatory reform has turned the Botswana's telecom market into one of the most liberalised in the region; Botswana has one of the highest mobile penetration rates in Africa; 3 MNOs have entered the underdeveloped broadband sector with the adoption of 3G, LTE and WiMAX technologies; mobile internet remains the preferred choice (2017)

international

country code - 267; international calls are made via satellite, using international direct dialing; 2 international exchanges; digital microwave radio relay links to Namibia, Zambia, Zimbabwe, and South Africa; satellite earth station - 1 Intelsat (Indian Ocean) (2016)

note

Botswana is participating in regional development efforts; expanding fully digital system with fiber-optic cables linking the major population centers in the east as well as a system of open-wire lines, microwave radio relays links, and radiotelephone communication stations; the Botswana Telecommunications Corporation is rolling out 4G service to over 95 sites in the country that will improve network connectivity

Telephones Fixed Lines

subscriptions per 100 inhabitants

6 (2017 est.)

total subscriptions

141,207 (2017 est.)

Telephones Mobile Cellular

subscriptions per 100 inhabitants

146 (2017 est.)

total subscriptions

3,240,589 (2017 est.)

Airports

74 (2013)

Airports With Paved Runways

1,524 to 2,437 m

6 (2017)

2,438 to 3,047 m

1 (2017)

914 to 1,523 m

1 (2017)

over 3,047 m

2 (2017)

total

10 (2017)

Airports With Unpaved Runways

1,524 to 2,437 m

5 (2013)

914 to 1,523 m

46 (2013)

total

64 (2013)

under 914 m

13 (2013)

Civil Aircraft Registration Country Code Prefix

A2 (2016)

National Air Transport System

annual freight traffic on registered air carriers

94,729 mt-km (2015)

annual passenger traffic on registered air carriers

194,005 (2015)

inventory of registered aircraft operated by air carriers

6 (2015)

number of registered air carriers

1 (2015)

Railways

narrow gauge

888 km 1.067-m gauge (2014)

total

888 km (2014)

Roadways

note

includes 8,916 km of Public Highway Network roads (6,116 km paved and 2,800 km unpaved) and 9,000 km of District Council roads

total

17,916 km (2011)

Military Branches

Botswana Defence Force (BDF): Ground Forces Command, Air Arm Command, Defense Logistics Command (2017)

Military Expenditures

3.37% of GDP (2016)

2.66% of GDP (2015)

2.13% of GDP (2014)

2.06% of GDP (2013)

2.23% of GDP (2012)

Military Service Age And Obligation

18 is the legal minimum age for voluntary military service; no conscription (2012)

Disputes International

none

Trafficking In Persons

current situation

Botswana is a source, transit, and destination country for women and children subjected to sex trafficking and forced labor; young Batswana serving as domestic workers, sometimes sent by their parents, may be denied education and basic necessities or experience confinement and abuse indicative of forced labor; Batswana girls and women also are forced into prostitution domestically; adults and children of San ethnicity were reported to be in forced labor on farms and at cattle posts in the country’s rural west

tier rating

Tier 2 Watch List – Botswana does not fully comply with the minimum standards for the elimination of trafficking; however, it is making significant efforts to do so; an anti-trafficking act was passed at the beginning of 2014, but authorities did not investigate, prosecute, or convict any offenders or government officials complicit in trafficking or operationalize victim identification and referral procedures based on the new law; the government sponsored a radio campaign to familiarize the public with the issue of human trafficking (2015)