01
Physical geography
Predominantly flat to gently rolling tableland; Kalahari Desert in southwest.
Local timeGaborone ·
Africa / Southern Africa · Card 004
Botswana
Botswana is a country in Southern Africa. Its capital is Gaborone.
Find Botswana
● Capital · Gold highlights this card’s area.
Map: Natural Earth. Boundaries show geographic context, not a position on sovereignty. Small islands may use enlarged markers.
Map: Natural Earth. Boundaries show geographic context, not a position on sovereignty. Small islands may use enlarged markers.
At a glance
- Capital
- Gaborone
- Languages
- English & Tswana
- Currency
- Botswana pula (BWP)
- Population
- 2.6 million2025 · World Bank
- Area
- 582,000 km²224,711 square miles
- Independence
- 1966from the UK
Botswana in context
Africa and its surrounding islands. The dot marks Gaborone; the mapped territory is highlighted in gold.
Natural Earth · locator mapGeography & languages
02
Languages
English is used officially, and Setswana is the national language and is widely spoken.
03
Location
Southern Africa, north of South Africa.
Flag
Light blue with a horizontal white-edged black stripe across the middle
Sources: CIA World Factbook · archived country profile · Commonwealth · 2024 election report
History & independence
The British protectorate of Bechuanaland became independent as Botswana on 30 September 1966 after constitutional negotiations. The country developed a parliamentary system and expanded public services as diamond revenues grew.
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Bechuanaland becomes a British protectorate
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Independence as Botswana
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An election brings the first change of governing party since independence
Sources: CIA World Factbook · archived country profile · Commonwealth · 2024 election report
Economy
Main activities
Diamonds are central to exports and public revenue. Tourism, cattle farming, financial services and other activities help diversify an economy exposed to changes in global diamond demand.
Industry and production
diamonds, copper, nickel, salt, soda ash, potash, coal, iron ore, silver; beef processing; textiles
Sources: CIA World Factbook · archived country profile · Commonwealth · 2024 election report
Population & economic trends
Dated World Bank observations. Population uses selected years; real GDP uses all available annual observations.
Population, 1970–2025
Millions of people2.62025 · millions of people
Population estimates may be revised. Selected years are shown.
Sources: World Bank · Population
View data table
| Year | People | Millions of people |
|---|---|---|
| 1970 | 590,334 | 0.590 |
| 1980 | 937,485 | 0.937 |
| 1990 | 1,305,696 | 1.306 |
| 2000 | 1,677,382 | 1.677 |
| 2010 | 2,033,111 | 2.033 |
| 2020 | 2,365,894 | 2.366 |
| 2025 | 2,562,122 | 2.562 |
Real GDP, 1990–2025
Billions of constant 2015 US dollars17.42025 · billions of constant 2015 US dollars
Constant prices adjust for inflation. This is total economic output, not current-dollar GDP or income per person. Missing years are left as gaps.
Sources: World Bank · Real GDP
View data table
| Year | Constant 2015 US$ | Billions of constant 2015 US dollars |
|---|---|---|
| 1990 | 5,274,313,873 | 5.274 |
| 1991 | 5,667,709,608 | 5.668 |
| 1992 | 5,833,040,675 | 5.833 |
| 1993 | 5,944,807,979 | 5.945 |
| 1994 | 6,160,480,628 | 6.160 |
| 1995 | 6,593,587,690 | 6.594 |
| 1996 | 6,977,980,666 | 6.978 |
| 1997 | 7,558,959,722 | 7.559 |
| 1998 | 7,592,496,073 | 7.592 |
| 1999 | 8,326,480,944 | 8.326 |
| 2000 | 8,491,986,059 | 8.492 |
| 2001 | 8,513,264,764 | 8.513 |
| 2002 | 9,029,979,997 | 9.030 |
| 2003 | 9,447,697,368 | 9.448 |
| 2004 | 9,703,335,214 | 9.703 |
| 2005 | 10,145,481,816 | 10.145 |
| 2006 | 10,994,036,837 | 10.994 |
| 2007 | 11,630,872,553 | 11.631 |
| 2008 | 12,009,117,014 | 12.009 |
| 2009 | 10,310,519,328 | 10.311 |
| 2010 | 11,353,915,358 | 11.354 |
| 2011 | 12,130,342,700 | 12.130 |
| 2012 | 12,109,617,149 | 12.110 |
| 2013 | 13,454,136,663 | 13.454 |
| 2014 | 14,220,638,233 | 14.221 |
| 2015 | 13,530,748,845 | 13.531 |
| 2016 | 14,505,561,464 | 14.506 |
| 2017 | 15,102,375,176 | 15.102 |
| 2018 | 15,734,967,213 | 15.735 |
| 2019 | 16,212,015,762 | 16.212 |
| 2020 | 14,796,887,965 | 14.797 |
| 2021 | 16,560,125,448 | 16.560 |
| 2022 | 17,468,616,756 | 17.469 |
| 2023 | 18,029,021,881 | 18.029 |
| 2024 | 17,527,834,938 | 17.528 |
| 2025 | 17,399,198,451 | 17.399 |
Human development
The Human Development Index combines health, education and income. Scores range from 0 to 1.
HDI · 20230.731High human developmentRank 111 of 193 · 2025 report
Human Development Index over time
19900.590
20000.594
20100.652
20200.718
20230.731
69.2 yearsLife expectancy at birth
10.5 yearsMean schooling, adults aged 25+
The latest values refer to 2023. All historical scores use the same report edition. HDI does not describe every aspect of inequality or quality of life.
Sources: UNDP · Human Development Report 2025
Government
Parliamentary republic. Parliament has one chamber (a unicameral legislature). Government is formed through the parliamentary system.
Sources: CIA World Factbook · archived country profile · Commonwealth · 2024 election report
Knowledge check
Three questions about Botswana.
QUESTION 1 OF 3
Which resource is central to Botswana’s exports and public revenue?
Sources & notes
Sources: CIA World Factbook · archived country profile · Commonwealth · 2024 election report
Prepared 24 September 2026. World Bank series: SP.POP.TOTL (persons) and NY.GDP.MKTP.KD (constant 2015 US dollars); downloaded 24 September 2026, provider update 13 July 2026. UNDP values use the 2025 report and 2023 observation year. These are dated statistical snapshots, not live population or economic counters.
Maps use Natural Earth geographic data. Background geography, flag descriptions and selected historical facts use archived public-domain CIA World Factbook profiles, supplemented by the sources linked above. The Factbook is no longer updated; dated statistics here come from the separately named providers.