Botswana Facts, Map, Population, GDP

Capital

Gaborone

Population

2,521,534 (2025 est.)

Area

581,730 sq km

Location

Southern Africa, north of South Africa

🧭 Background

In the early 1800s, multiple political entities in what is now Botswana were destabilized or destroyed by a series of conflicts and population movements in southern Africa. By the end of this period, the Tswana ethnic group, who also live across the border in South Africa, had become the most prominent group in the area. In 1852, Tswana forces halted the expansion of white Afrikaner settlers who were seeking to expand their territory northwards into what is now Botswana. In 1885, Great Britain claimed territory that roughly corresponds with modern day Botswana as a protectorate called Bechuanaland. Upon independence in 1966, the British protectorate of Bechuanaland adopted the new name of Botswana, which means "land of the Tswana." More than five decades of uninterrupted civilian leadership, progressive social policies, and significant capital investment have created an enduring democracy and upper-middle-income economy. The ruling Botswana Democratic Party has won every national election since independence; President Mokgweetsi Eric Keabetswe MASISI assumed the presidency in 2018 after the retirement of former President Ian KHAMA due to constitutional term limits. MASISI won his first election as president in 2019, and he 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 rates of HIV/AIDS infection but also one of Africa's most progressive and comprehensive programs for dealing with the disease.

🗺️ Geography

Location

Southern Africa, north of South Africa

Geographic coordinates

22 00 S, 24 00 E

Map references

Africa

Area — total

581,730 sq km

Area — land

566,730 sq km

Area — water

15,000 sq km

Area - comparative

Slightly smaller than Texas; almost four times the size of Illinois

Land boundaries — total

4,347.15 km

Land boundaries — border countries

Namibia 1,544 km; South Africa 1,969 km; Zambia 0.15 km; Zimbabwe 834 km

Coastline

0 km (landlocked)

Maritime claims

None (landlocked)

Climate

Semiarid; warm winters and hot summers

Terrain

Predominantly flat to gently rolling tableland; Kalahari Desert in southwest

Elevation — highest point

Manyelanong Hill 1,495 m

Elevation — lowest point

Junction of the Limpopo and Shashe Rivers 513 m

Elevation — mean elevation

1,013 m

Natural resources

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

Land use — agricultural land

45.6% (2023 est.)

Land use — agricultural land: arable land

Arable land: 0.5% (2023 est.)

Land use — agricultural land: permanent crops

Permanent crops: 0% (2023 est.)

Land use — agricultural land: permanent pasture

Permanent pasture: 45.2% (2023 est.)

Land use — forest

27.8% (2023 est.)

Land use — other

26.6% (2023 est.)

Irrigated land

25 sq km (2014)

Major rivers (by length in km)

Zambezi (shared with Zambia [s]), Angola, Namibia, Zimbabwe, and Mozambique [m]) - 2,740 km; Limpopo (shared with South Africa [s], Zimbabwe, and Mozambique [m]) - 1,800 km; Okavango river mouth (shared with Angola [s], and Namibia) - 1,600 km note: [s] after country name indicates river source; [m] after country name indicates river mouth

Major watersheds (area sq km) — Atlantic Ocean drainage

Orange (941,351 sq km)

Major watersheds (area sq km) — Indian Ocean drainage

Zambezi (1,332,412 sq km)

Major watersheds (area sq km) — Internal (endorheic basin) drainage

Okavango Basin (863,866 sq km)

Major aquifers

Lower Kalahari-Stampriet Basin, Upper Kalahari-Cuvelai-Upper Zambezi Basin

Population distribution

The population is primarily concentrated in the east, with a focus in and around the capital of Gaborone and the eastern city of Francistown; population density remains low in other areas in the country, especially in the Kalahari Desert to the west.

Natural hazards

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

Geography - note

Landlocked; sparsely populated with most settlement concentrated in the southern and eastern parts of the country; geography dominated by the Kalahari Desert, which covers about 70% of the country, although the Okavango Delta brings considerable biodiversity as one of the largest inland deltas in the World

👥 People and Society⬆️ Top

Population — total

2,521,534 (2025 est.)

Population — male

1,234,898

Population — female

1,286,636

Nationality — noun

Motswana (singular), Batswana (plural)

Nationality — adjective

Motswana (singular), Batswana (plural)

Ethnic groups

Tswana (or Setswana) 79%, Kalanga 11%, Basarwa 3%, other, including Kgalagadi and people of European ancestry 7%

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.)

Religions

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

Age structure — 0-14 years

28.7% (male 355,583/female 348,863)

Age structure — 15-64 years

65.2% (male 759,210/female 837,752)

Age structure — 65 years and over

6.1% (2024 est.) (male 59,513/female 89,747)

Dependency ratios — total dependency ratio

60.9 (2025 est.)

Dependency ratios — youth dependency ratio

52.1 (2025 est.)

Dependency ratios — elderly dependency ratio

8.8 (2025 est.)

Dependency ratios — potential support ratio

11.4 (2025 est.)

Median age — total

25.8 years (2025 est.)

Median age — male

26 years

Median age — female

28.3 years

Population growth rate

1.32% (2025 est.)

Birth rate

21.16 births/1,000 population (2025 est.)

Death rate

6.8 deaths/1,000 population (2025 est.)

Net migration rate

-1.14 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2025 est.)

Population distribution

The population is primarily concentrated in the east, with a focus in and around the capital of Gaborone and the eastern city of Francistown; population density remains low in other areas in the country, especially in the Kalahari Desert to the west.

Urbanization — urban population

72.9% of total population (2023)

Urbanization — rate of urbanization

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

Major urban areas - population

269,000 GABORONE (capital) (2018)

Sex ratio — at birth

1.03 male(s)/female

Sex ratio — 0-14 years

1.02 male(s)/female

Sex ratio — 15-64 years

0.91 male(s)/female

Sex ratio — 65 years and over

0.66 male(s)/female

Sex ratio — total population

0.92 male(s)/female (2024 est.)

Maternal mortality ratio

155 deaths/100,000 live births (2023 est.)

Infant mortality rate — total

27.8 deaths/1,000 live births (2025 est.)

Infant mortality rate — male

25.9 deaths/1,000 live births

Infant mortality rate — female

21.4 deaths/1,000 live births

Life expectancy at birth — total population

66.4 years (2024 est.)

Life expectancy at birth — male

64.4 years

Life expectancy at birth — female

68.6 years

Total fertility rate

2.73 children born/woman (2025 est.)

Gross reproduction rate

1.34 (2025 est.)

Drinking water source — improved: urban

Urban: 97.5% of population (2022 est.)

Drinking water source — improved: rural

Rural: 79.6% of population (2022 est.)

Drinking water source — improved: total

Total: 92.6% of population (2022 est.)

Drinking water source — unimproved: urban

Urban: 2.5% of population (2022 est.)

Drinking water source — unimproved: rural

Rural: 20.4% of population (2022 est.)

Drinking water source — unimproved: total

Total: 7.4% of population (2022 est.)

Health expenditure — Health expenditure (as % of GDP)

6.3% of GDP (2021)

Health expenditure — Health expenditure (as % of national budget)

14.6% of national budget (2022 est.)

Physician density

0.38 physicians/1,000 population (2023)

Hospital bed density

2.2 beds/1,000 population (2021 est.)

Sanitation facility access — improved: urban

Urban: 94.9% of population (2022 est.)

Sanitation facility access — improved: rural

Rural: 63% of population (2022 est.)

Sanitation facility access — improved: total

Total: 86% of population (2022 est.)

Sanitation facility access — unimproved: urban

Urban: 5.1% of population (2022 est.)

Sanitation facility access — unimproved: rural

Rural: 37% of population (2022 est.)

Sanitation facility access — unimproved: total

Total: 14% of population (2022 est.)

Obesity - adult prevalence rate

18.9% (2016)

Alcohol consumption per capita — total

5.98 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)

Alcohol consumption per capita — beer

2.93 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)

Alcohol consumption per capita — wine

0.46 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)

Alcohol consumption per capita — spirits

0.96 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)

Alcohol consumption per capita — other alcohols

1.64 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)

Tobacco use — total

17.1% (2025 est.)

Tobacco use — male

29.2% (2025 est.)

Tobacco use — female

5.5% (2025 est.)

Currently married women (ages 15-49)

41.5% (2017 est.)

Education expenditure — Education expenditure (% GDP)

8.1% of GDP (2020 est.)

Education expenditure — Education expenditure (% national budget)

21.5% national budget (2020 est.)

School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education) — total

12 years (2021 est.)

School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education) — male

12 years (2021 est.)

School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education) — female

13 years (2021 est.)

🌿 Environment⬆️ Top

Environmental issues

Overgrazing; desertification; limited freshwater resources; air pollution

International environmental agreements — party to

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

International environmental agreements — signed, but not ratified

None of the selected agreements

Climate

Semiarid; warm winters and hot summers

Land use — agricultural land

45.6% (2023 est.)

Land use — agricultural land: arable land

Arable land: 0.5% (2023 est.)

Land use — agricultural land: permanent crops

Permanent crops: 0% (2023 est.)

Land use — agricultural land: permanent pasture

Permanent pasture: 45.2% (2023 est.)

Land use — forest

27.8% (2023 est.)

Land use — other

26.6% (2023 est.)

Urbanization — urban population

72.9% of total population (2023)

Urbanization — rate of urbanization

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

Carbon dioxide emissions — total emissions

5.897 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)

Carbon dioxide emissions — from coal and metallurgical coke

2.818 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)

Carbon dioxide emissions — from petroleum and other liquids

3.079 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)

Particulate matter emissions

12.5 micrograms per cubic meter (2019 est.)

Methane emissions — energy

26 kt (2022-2024 est.)

Methane emissions — agriculture

144 kt (2019-2021 est.)

Methane emissions — waste

841.4 kt (2019-2021 est.)

Methane emissions — other

1.7 kt (2019-2021 est.)

Waste and recycling — municipal solid waste generated annually

210,900 tons (2024 est.)

Waste and recycling — percent of municipal solid waste recycled

21% (2022 est.)

Total water withdrawal — municipal

129.327 million cubic meters (2022)

Total water withdrawal — industrial

24.295 million cubic meters (2022)

Total water withdrawal — agricultural

59.661 million cubic meters (2022)

Total renewable water resources

12.24 billion cubic meters (2022 est.)

🏛️ Government⬆️ Top

Country name — conventional long form

Republic of Botswana

Country name — conventional short form

Botswana

Country name — local long form

Republic of Botswana

Country name — local short form

Botswana

Country name — former

Bechuanaland

Country name — etymology

The name Botswana means "Land of the Tswana," referring to the country's largest ethnic group

Government type

Parliamentary republic

Capital — name

Gaborone

Capital — geographic coordinates

24 38 S, 25 54 E

Capital — time difference

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

Capital — etymology

Named after GABORONE (ca. 1825-1931), a chief of the Tlokwa tribe, whose name means "it is not unbecoming"

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*

Legal system

Mixed legal system of civil law influenced by the Roman-Dutch model, including customary and common law

Constitution — history

Previous 1960 (pre-independence); latest adopted March 1965, effective 30 September 1966

Constitution — amendment process

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

International law organization participation

Accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction with reservations; accepts ICCt jurisdiction

Citizenship — citizenship by birth

No

Citizenship — citizenship by descent only

At least one parent must be a citizen of Botswana

Citizenship — dual citizenship recognized

No

Citizenship — residency requirement for naturalization

10 years

Suffrage

18 years of age; universal

Executive branch — chief of state

President Duma BOKO (since 1 November 2024)

Executive branch — head of government

President Duma BOKO (since 1 November 2024)

Executive branch — cabinet

Cabinet appointed by the president

Executive branch — election/appointment process

President indirectly elected by the National Assembly for a 5-year term (eligible for a second term); vice president appointed by the president

Executive branch — most recent election date

31 October 2024

Executive branch — election results

BOKO's UDC won 35 seats in the National Assembly, which then selected BOKO as president

Executive branch — expected date of next election

October 2029

Legislative branch — legislature name

Parliament

Legislative branch — legislative structure

Unicameral

Legislative branch — chamber name

National Assembly

Legislative branch — number of seats

69 (61 directly elected; 6 indirectly elected)

Legislative branch — electoral system

Plurality/majority

Legislative branch — scope of elections

Full renewal

Legislative branch — term in office

5 years

Legislative branch — most recent election date

10/30/2024

Legislative branch — parties elected and seats per party

Umbrella for Democratic Change (UDC) (36); Botswana Congress Party (BCP) (15); Botswana Patriotic Front (BPF) (5); Botswana Democratic Party (BDP) (4); Other (1)

Legislative branch — percentage of women in chamber

9%

Legislative branch — expected date of next election

October 2029

Judicial branch — highest court(s)

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

Judicial branch — 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

Judicial branch — 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

Political parties

Alliance of Progressives or AP Botswana Congress Party or BCP Botswana Democratic Party or BDP Botswana National Front or BNF [Duma BOKO]Botswana Patriotic Front or BPF Botswana Peoples Party or BPP Botswana Republic Party or BRP Umbrella for Democratic Change or UDC (various times the coalition has included the BPP, BCP, BNF and other parties)

Diplomatic representation in the US — chief of mission

Ambassador Mpho Churchill MOPHUTING (since 18 September 2024)

Diplomatic representation in the US — chancery

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

Diplomatic representation in the US — telephone

[1] (202) 244-4990

Diplomatic representation in the US — FAX

[1] (202) 244-4164

Diplomatic representation in the US — email address and website

Info@botswanaembassy.org http://www.botswanaembassy.org/

Diplomatic representation from the US — chief of mission

Ambassador Howard A. VAN VRANKEN (since 24 May 2023)

Diplomatic representation from the US — embassy

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

Diplomatic representation from the US — mailing address

2170 Gaborone Place, Washington DC 20521-2170

Diplomatic representation from the US — telephone

[267] 395-3982

Diplomatic representation from the US — FAX

[267] 318-0232

Diplomatic representation from the US — email address and website

ConsularGaborone@state.gov https://bw.usembassy.gov/

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, MONUSCO, NAM, OPCW, SACU, SADC, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UNWTO, UPU, WCO, WFTU (NGOs), WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO

Independence

30 September 1966 (from the UK)

National holiday

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

Flag

Description: light blue with a horizontal white-edged black stripe across the middle meaning: the blue symbolizes rainwater, and the black and white bands represent racial harmony

National symbol(s)

Zebra

National color(s)

Light blue, white, black

National coat of arms

The two zebras, the country’s national symbol, support an elephant tusk that represents the country's fauna and a head of sorghum that signifies agriculture; the three wavy blue bands stand for the country’s reliance on water, the cog wheels for industry, and the bull’s head for the cattle industry; the coat of arms also features the national colors of light blue, white, and black; the motto reflects the scarcity of rain in the country: pula means “let there be rain” in Setswana, the national language

National anthem(s) — title

"Fatshe leno la rona" (Our Land)

National anthem(s) — lyrics/music

Kgalemang Tumedisco MOTSETE

National anthem(s) — history

Adopted 1966

National heritage — total World Heritage Sites

2 (1 cultural, 1 natural)

National heritage — selected World Heritage Site locales

Tsodilo Hills (c); Okavango Delta (n)

💹 Economy⬆️ Top

Economic overview

Good economic governance and financial management; diamond-driven growth model declining; rapid poverty reductions; high unemployment, particularly among youth; COVID-19 sharply contracted the economy and recovery is slow; public sector wages have posed fiscal challenges

Real GDP (purchasing power parity) — Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2024

$45.553 billion (2024 est.)

Real GDP (purchasing power parity) — Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2023

$46.957 billion (2023 est.)

Real GDP (purchasing power parity) — Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2022

$45.498 billion (2022 est.)

Real GDP growth rate — Real GDP growth rate 2024

-3% (2024 est.)

Real GDP growth rate — Real GDP growth rate 2023

3.2% (2023 est.)

Real GDP growth rate — Real GDP growth rate 2022

5.5% (2022 est.)

Real GDP per capita — Real GDP per capita 2024

$18,100 (2024 est.)

Real GDP per capita — Real GDP per capita 2023

$18,900 (2023 est.)

Real GDP per capita — Real GDP per capita 2022

$18,600 (2022 est.)

GDP (official exchange rate)

$19.401 billion (2024 est.)

Inflation rate (consumer prices) — Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2024

2.8% (2024 est.)

Inflation rate (consumer prices) — Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2023

5.1% (2023 est.)

Inflation rate (consumer prices) — Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2022

11.7% (2022 est.)

GDP - composition, by sector of origin — agriculture

1.7% (2024 est.)

GDP - composition, by sector of origin — industry

29.4% (2024 est.)

GDP - composition, by sector of origin — services

63.5% (2024 est.)

GDP - composition, by end use — household consumption

45.3% (2024 est.)

GDP - composition, by end use — government consumption

32.1% (2024 est.)

GDP - composition, by end use — investment in fixed capital

28.5% (2024 est.)

GDP - composition, by end use — investment in inventories

7.7% (2024 est.)

GDP - composition, by end use — exports of goods and services

26% (2024 est.)

GDP - composition, by end use — imports of goods and services

-40.9% (2024 est.)

Agricultural products

Root vegetables, beef, vegetables, sorghum, maize, game meat, milk, watermelons, goat milk, sunflower seeds (2023)

Industries

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

Industrial production growth rate

-13.5% (2024 est.)

Labor force

1.173 million (2024 est.)

Unemployment rate — Unemployment rate 2024

23.2% (2024 est.)

Unemployment rate — Unemployment rate 2023

23.4% (2023 est.)

Unemployment rate — Unemployment rate 2022

23.7% (2022 est.)

Youth unemployment rate (ages 15-24) — total

43.9% (2024 est.)

Youth unemployment rate (ages 15-24) — male

39.8% (2024 est.)

Youth unemployment rate (ages 15-24) — female

48.6% (2024 est.)

Population below poverty line

16.1% (2015 est.)

Gini Index coefficient - distribution of family income — Gini Index coefficient - distribution of family income 2015

54.9 (2015 est.)

Household income or consumption by percentage share — lowest 10%

1.4% (2015 est.)

Household income or consumption by percentage share — highest 10%

42.9% (2015 est.)

Remittances — Remittances 2023

0.4% of GDP (2023 est.)

Remittances — Remittances 2022

0.3% of GDP (2022 est.)

Remittances — Remittances 2021

0.3% of GDP (2021 est.)

Budget — revenues

$5.474 billion (2024 est.)

Budget — expenditures

$6.296 billion (2024 est.)

Public debt — Public debt 2020

19.6% of GDP (2020 est.)

Taxes and other revenues

19.6% (of GDP) (2022 est.)

Current account balance — Current account balance 2023

-$116.727 million (2023 est.)

Current account balance — Current account balance 2022

-$232.122 million (2022 est.)

Current account balance — Current account balance 2021

-$314.583 million (2021 est.)

Exports — Exports 2023

$6.398 billion (2023 est.)

Exports — Exports 2022

$8.914 billion (2022 est.)

Exports — Exports 2021

$7.861 billion (2021 est.)

Exports - partners

UAE 27%, India 17%, Belgium 16%, South Africa 8%, USA 7% (2023)

Exports - commodities

Diamonds, copper ore, insulated wire, carbonates, cattle (2023)

Imports — Imports 2023

$7.228 billion (2023 est.)

Imports — Imports 2022

$8.826 billion (2022 est.)

Imports — Imports 2021

$9.25 billion (2021 est.)

Imports - partners

South Africa 65%, Namibia 8%, Canada 5%, China 3%, India 3% (2023)

Imports - commodities

Refined petroleum, diamonds, cars, flavored water, electricity (2023)

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold — Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2024

$3.456 billion (2024 est.)

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold — Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2023

$4.756 billion (2023 est.)

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold — Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2022

$4.279 billion (2022 est.)

Debt - external — Debt - external 2023

$1.761 billion (2023 est.)

Exchange rates — Currency

Pulas (BWP) per US dollar -

Exchange rates — Exchange rates 2024

13.563 (2024 est.)

Exchange rates — Exchange rates 2023

13.596 (2023 est.)

Exchange rates — Exchange rates 2022

12.369 (2022 est.)

Exchange rates — Exchange rates 2021

11.087 (2021 est.)

Exchange rates — Exchange rates 2020

11.456 (2020 est.)

⚡ Energy⬆️ Top

Electricity access — electrification - total population

75.9% (2022 est.)

Electricity access — electrification - urban areas

95.5%

Electricity access — electrification - rural areas

25%

Electricity — installed generating capacity

758,000 kW (2023 est.)

Electricity — consumption

3.879 billion kWh (2023 est.)

Electricity — exports

2 million kWh (2023 est.)

Electricity — imports

1.923 billion kWh (2023 est.)

Electricity — transmission/distribution losses

625.694 million kWh (2023 est.)

Electricity generation sources — fossil fuels

99.8% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)

Electricity generation sources — solar

0.2% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)

Coal — production

2.242 million metric tons (2023 est.)

Coal — consumption

1.351 million metric tons (2023 est.)

Coal — exports

891,000 metric tons (2023 est.)

Coal — imports

300 metric tons (2023 est.)

Coal — proven reserves

1.66 billion metric tons (2023 est.)

Petroleum — refined petroleum consumption

22,000 bbl/day (2023 est.)

Energy consumption per capita — Total energy consumption per capita 2023

32.443 million Btu/person (2023 est.)

📡 Communications⬆️ Top

Telephones - fixed lines — total subscriptions

83,200 (2024 est.)

Telephones - fixed lines — subscriptions per 100 inhabitants

3 (2024 est.)

Telephones - mobile cellular — total subscriptions

4.13 million (2024 est.)

Telephones - mobile cellular — subscriptions per 100 inhabitants

164 (2024 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; 4 privately owned radio stations broadcast locally (2019)

Internet country code

.bw

Internet users — percent of population

81% (2023 est.)

Broadband - fixed subscriptions — total

85,000 (2023 est.)

Broadband - fixed subscriptions — subscriptions per 100 inhabitants

3 (2023 est.)

🚚 Transportation⬆️ Top

Civil aircraft registration country code prefix

A2

Airports

122 (2025)

Railways — total

888 km (2014)

Railways — narrow gauge

888 km (2014) 1.067-m gauge

🛡️ Military and Security⬆️ Top

Military and security forces

Botswana Defense Force (BDF): Ground Forces Command, Air Arm Command, Defense Logistics Command (2025)

Military expenditures — Military Expenditures 2024

3% of GDP (2024 est.)

Military expenditures — Military Expenditures 2023

2.6% of GDP (2023 est.)

Military expenditures — Military Expenditures 2022

2.8% of GDP (2022 est.)

Military expenditures — Military Expenditures 2021

3% of GDP (2021 est.)

Military expenditures — Military Expenditures 2020

3% of GDP (2020 est.)

Military and security service personnel strengths

Estimated 10,000 active Botswana Defense Force (2025)

Military equipment inventories and acquisitions

The BDF has a mix of mostly older weapons and equipment, largely of Western/European origin; in recent years, it has received limited amounts of newer armaments from several European countries and the US (2025)

Military service age and obligation

18-24 years of age (men and women) for general recruits and officer candidates; 18-40 for special entrant officers; no conscription (2025)

Military - note

The key responsibilities of the Botswana Defense Force (BDF) are defending the country's sovereignty and territorial integrity on land and in the air, ensuring national security and stability, and aiding civil authorities in support of domestic missions such as disaster relief and anti-poaching; the BDF also participates in regional and international security operations Bechuanaland/Botswana did not have a permanent military during colonial times, with the British colonial administrators relying instead on small, lightly armed constabularies such as the Bechuanaland Mounted Police, the Bechuanaland Border Police, and by the early 1960s, the Police Mobile Unit (PMU); after independence in 1966, Botswana militarized the PMU and gave it responsibility for the country’s defense rather than create a conventional military force; however, turmoil in neighboring countries and numerous cross-border incursions by Rhodesian and South African security forces in the 1960s and 1970s demonstrated that the PMU was inadequate for defending the country and led to the establishment of the BDF in 1977 (2025)

🌐 Transnational Issues⬆️ Top

Refugees and internally displaced persons — refugees

823 (2024 est.)

Refugees and internally displaced persons — IDPs

99 (2023 est.)