Botswana: Quick Facts

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Last updated

Nov. 11, 2026

News •

Botswana is gambling with its future by raising its stake in De Beers • Nov. 10, 2026, 3:50 PM ET (Daily Maverick)

‘We were fodder’ — how a Botswana architect was duped into fighting for Russia • Nov. 9, 2026, 1:26 AM ET (Daily Maverick)

Facts

Also Known As	Bechuanaland • Republic of Botswana
Head Of State And Government	President: Duma Boko
Capital	Gaborone³
Population	(2025 est.) 2,471,000
Currency Exchange Rate	1 USD equals 13.873 Botswana pula
Form Of Government	multiparty republic with one legislative house¹ (National Assembly [69²])
Official Language	English⁴
Official Religion	none
Official Name	Republic of Botswana
Total Area (Sq Km)	570,162
Total Area (Sq Mi)	220,141
Monetary Unit	pula (P)
Population Rank	(2026) 144
Population Projection 2030	2,742,000
Density: Persons Per Sq Mi	(2026) 11.2
Density: Persons Per Sq Km	(2026) 4.3
Urban-Rural Population	Urban: (2024) 73.5% • Rural: (2024) 26.2%
Life Expectancy At Birth	Male: (2021) 59.2 years • Female: (2021) 63.2 years
Gni (U.S.$ ’000,000)	(2024) 19,548
Gni Per Capita (U.S.$)	(2024) 7,750
¹In addition, the Ntlo ya Dikgosi (known as the House of Chiefs in English), a 35-member body consisting of chiefs, subchiefs, and associated members, serves in an advisory capacity to the government. ²Includes 6 specially elected members and 2 ex officio members (the president and the speaker).³The high court meets in Lobatse.⁴Tswana is the national language.

Photos and Videos

Flag of Botswana with a light blue field and, across the center, a horizontal black stripe bordered by thin white stripes.

Map of Botswana showing its national boundaries with Namibia, Angola, Zambia, Zimbabwe, and South Africa. Major cities such as Gaborone, Francistown, Maun, and Selebi-Phikwe are marked, along with rivers and the Tropic of Capricorn. An inset locator map highlights Botswana's position in southern Africa.

A herd of African elephants stands at the edge of the Chobe River in Botswana, drinking water with a backdrop of dry hills and scattered green trees.

Map of southern Africa highlighting Botswana in light brown, with neighboring countries labeled and the capital city, Gaborone, marked with a star symbol. Surrounding countries include Namibia, Zimbabwe, Zambia, Angola, South Africa, and Mozambique.

Map of Botswana highlighting major physical features, including the Kalahari Desert, Okavango Delta, Makgadikgadi Pans, Tsodilo Hills, and major game reserves such as Chobe National Park and Central Kalahari Game Reserve. Surrounding countries-Namibia, Zambia, Zimbabwe, and South Africa-are labeled, and an inset locator map shows Botswana's position within southern Africa.

African elephant

Epauletted fruit bat

A pride of lionesses lying together on sandy ground in Chobe National Park, Botswana, with trees and brush in the background.

Observe grazing cattle in African savannas and learn about the region's traditional pastoralism

National anthem of Botswana

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Topics

nation-state Commonwealth Southern African Development Community member states of the Commonwealth flag of Botswana English language Robert Mugabe on Zimbabwe list of cities and towns in South Africa United States India United Kingdom China Canada Russia Germany Australia Japan France

Cecil Rhodes

Cecil Rhodes

prime minister of Cape Colony

Pres. Duma Boko

Duma Boko

president of Botswana

Ian Khama

Ian Khama

president of Botswana

Festus Mogae

Festus Mogae

president of Botswana

Sir Hercules Robinson

Sir Hercules Robinson

British colonial governor

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Isaac Schapera

South African anthropologist

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Khama III

Ngwato chief

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John Mackenzie

British missionary

Khama, Sir Seretse

Sir Seretse Khama

president of Botswana

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Sir Sidney Godolphin Alexander Shippard

British colonial official

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Lobatse

Botswana

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Francistown

Botswana

A map of the continent of Africa, including its countries, boundaries, and capital cities. It also shows parts of Europe and Asia and surrounding bodies of water, including the Atlantic Ocean, Mediterranean Sea, Red Sea, and Indian Ocean.

Africa

continent

Namib desert

Southern Africa

region, Africa

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Ghanzi

Botswana

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Selebi-Phikwe

Botswana

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Serowe

Botswana

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Orapa

Botswana

Mochudi

Mochudi

Botswana

Botswana: traditional house

Mahalapye

Botswana

Gaborone, Botswana

Gaborone

national capital, Botswana

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Maun

Botswana

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Kanye

Botswana

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Makgadikgadi

region, Botswana

Lake Ngami

Lake Ngami

lake, Botswana

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Guess the Country by Its Neighbors Quiz

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Which Country Is Larger? Quiz

Mount Kenya in Mount Kenya National Park is the highest mountain in Africa. UNESCO World Heritage Site. Giant Lobelia in foreground. (Mt. Kenya; Mt. Kenya National Park; mountains; rugged mountain; African geography, African landscape, stratovolcano)

Africa’s Physical Features

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Which Country Is Larger By Area? Quiz

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