Botswana Location : Southern Africa, north of South Africa
Capital City : Gaborone
Curreny : pula (BWP)
Languages Spoken : English (official), Setswana
Climate : semiarid; warm winters and hot summers
National Holiday : Independence Day (Botswana Day), 30 September (1966)
Background Information
Formerly the British protectorate of Bechuanaland, Botswana adopted its new name upon independence in 1966. The economy, one of the most robust on the continent, is dominated by diamond mining.
Geographical Note
landlocked; population concentrated in eastern part of the country
Economy
Botswana has maintained one of the world's highest growth rates since independence in 1966. 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 $7,800 in 2001. Two major investment services rank Botswana as the best credit risk in Africa. Diamond mining has fueled much of expansion and currently accounts for more than one-third of GDP and for four-fifths of export earnings. Tourism, 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 is 21%, but unofficial estimates place it closer to 40%. HIV/AIDS infection rates are the highest in the world and threaten Botswana's impressive economic gains.
Religions
indigenous beliefs 85%, Christian 15%
Ports : none
International Disputes - Risks to travellers
: none
flight Nav: cheapest-flights-to.com
>
Botswana
flights
|
|
|
