Botswana Fast Facts
 Official
Name: Republic of Botswana
Location: Central southern Africa.
Time: GMT
+ 2 hours
International
Dialing Code: +267
Geography
- Area: 582,000
sq. km. (224,710 sq. mi.), about the size of Texas.
- Capital City
(2001 census): Gaborone (pronounced ha-bo-ro-neh), pop. 186,007.
- Other Urban Centers:
Francistown (pop. 105,000); Lobatse (pop. 60,000), Selebi-Phikwe (pop.
50,000), Ghanzi, Mahalapye, Maun, and Kasane.
- Terrain: Desert
and savanna.
- Climate: Mostly
subtropical; semi-arid.
People
- Nationality:
Noun and adjective--Motswana (sing.), Batswana (pl.).
- Population (est.):
1.84 million.
- Annual population
growth rate (2008): 1.434%.
- Ethnic groups:
Tswana 79%; Kalanga 11%; Kgalagadi, Herero, Bayeyi, Hambukush, Basarwa
("San"), Khoi, whites 10%.
- Religions: Christianity
70%, none 20%, indigenous beliefs 6%, other 4%.
- Primary Languages:
English (official), Setswana (widely spoken)
- Education: Adult
literacy--81%.
Government
- Independence:
September 30, 1966.
- Type: Republic,
parliamentary democracy.
- Head of State:
President Ian Khama Seretse Khama..
Economy
- Nominal GDP (2007):
$11.9 billion.
- Real GDP growth
rate (2007 est.): 4.8%.
- Per capita nominal
GDP (2007): $6,742.
- Key Industry
Sectors: Precious minerals mining, Tourism,. Agriculture, Construction,
Beef processing, Chemical products production, Food and beverage production.
Electricity/voltage
Currency
- Pula. One pula
= 100 thebe.
Business Hours
- Private sector:
Monday to Friday 8am – 5pm
- Government offices:
Monday to Friday 7:30am – 4:30pm
Public Holidays
- 1 January: New
Year's Day
- 2 January: Public
Holiday
- March/April (variable):
Good Friday and Easter Monday
- 1 May: Labor
Day
- May (variable):
Ascension Day
- 1 July: Sir Seretse
Khama Day
- July (variable):
President Day and following day
- 30 September:
Botswana Independence Day
- 1 October: Public
Holiday
- 25 December:
Christmas Day
- 26 December:
Boxing Day
Embassy of the
Republic of Botswana in the USA
1531-33 New Hampshire Avenue NW,
Washington DC 20036, USA
Telephone: (202) 244 4990
Website: www.botswanaembassy.org
United States
Embassy in Botswana
Embassy Drive off Khama Crescent--
P.O. Box 90, Gaborone
Telephone: 267-353-982;
Fax 267-356-947
Web site: http://botswana.usembassy.gov/
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