Republic of Botswana
Botswana
National anthem of Botswana
Fatshe leno la rona
Weather in Gaborone
Celcius: 24°Fahrenheit: 75°
Map of Botswana
Basic information on Botswana
Formerly the British protectorate of Bechuanaland, Botswana adopted its new name upon independence in 1966. Four decades of uninterrupted civilian leadership, progressive social policies, and significant capital investment have created one of the most dynamic economies in Africa. Mineral extraction, principally diamond mining, dominates economic activity, though tourism is a growing sector due to the country's conservation practices and extensive nature preserves. Botswana has one of the world's highest known rates of HIV/AIDS infection, but also one of Africa's most progressive and comprehensive programs for dealing with the disease.
| Location | Southern Africa, north of South Africa |
| Population | 1,815,508 note: estimates for this country explicitly take into account the effects of excess mortality due to AIDS; this can result in lower life expectancy, higher infant mortality and death rates, lower population and growth rates, and changes in the distribution of population by age and sex than would otherwise be expected (July 2007 est.) |
| Nationality | noun: Motswana (singular), Batswana (plural) adjective: Motswana (singular), Batswana (plural) |
| Flag description | light blue with a horizontal white-edged black stripe in the center |