BOTSWANA

The Jwaneng Mine is the richest diamond mine in the world by value.

Capital: Gaborone.

Other towns/cities: Francistown, Molepolole, Maun.

Population: 2.4-million (2023).

GDP: $18.3-billion (2019).

GDP per capita (PPP): $14 800 (2021).

Currency: Pula.

Regional Economic Community: Southern African Development Community (SADC), Southern African Customs Union (SACU).

Land mass: 581 730km².

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

Main economic sectors: Mining, tourism.

Other sectors: Services, meat processing, textiles.

New sectors for investment: Sustainable tourism, agri-processing, leather and leather products, renewable energy, mineral beneficiation.

Key projects: National Development Plan 11, focus on business reforms and export diversifi cation strategy. The Botswana Investment and Trade Centre aims to attract foreign direct investment and there are proposed amendments to immigration laws.

Chief exports: Diamonds, copper, nickel, soda ash, iron and steel products, textiles.

Top export destinations: Belgium, India, UAE, South Africa, Singapore, Israel.

Top import sources: South Africa, Canada, Israel.

Main imports: Machinery, electrical goods, transport equipment, textiles, fuel and petroleum products, wood and paper products, metal and metal products, food.

Infrastructure: 10 airports with paved runways; 31 747km of roads, of which 9 810km is paved (2017); 888km of railway (2014).

ICT: Mobile phone subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 161 (2021).

ICT Development Index 2017 (ITU) ranking: 105, 5th in Africa.

Population using Internet: 74% (2021).

Climate: semi-arid, warm winters and hot summers. Kalahari Desert in the southwest and the Okavango Delta in the north is a huge inland river delta.

Religion: Nearly 80% Christian. Also, Badimo and others.

Modern history: Botswana has made the most of its natural resources and succeeded in turning what was a poor country at the time of its independence from Britain in 1966 into the ranks of middle-income countries. The country has enjoyed long periods of political stability and runs credible elections. Diamonds and tourism are the two big earners for the country. The government is in a joint venture with De Beers called Debswana for the mining of diamonds, but the government expressed unhappiness about the terms of the agreement in the course of 2023. The tourism sector caters to high-end visitors and access to the sensitive Okavango Delta is strictly controlled. Despite these positive factors, Botswana has a high rate of HIV infection and has a number of challenges including rural poverty and shortages of water and power in many areas. The Botswana Democratic Party has won every election since independence. In 2018, Mokgweetsi Masisi became the fifth president of Botswana. Concerns have been expressed that the current administration is not respecting civil and political rights to the same extent as its predecessors.