Botswana

Wealth and National Well-Being

Country Comparisons:
2010: see chart

World Factbook: "Botswana has maintained one of the world's highest economic growth rates since independence in 1966, though growth fell below 5% in 2007-08. Through fiscal discipline and sound management, Botswana has transformed itself from one of the poorest countries in the world to a middle-income country."

Botswana has benefited from political stability, the export of diamonds and tourism.

Public debt
2010: 22.6% of GDP
2009: 17.9% of GDP

Unemployment rate
2007: 7.5%

2010: Exports are 97.8% of imports in dollar value.

Military expenditures as a percentage of GDP
2006: 3.3%

People

Living in an urban area
2010: 61%
2008: 60%

Migration

2011:More arriving than leaving, A net gain 4.82 persons per 1,000 population. Note: there is an increasing flow of Zimbabweans into South Africa and Botswana in search of better economic opportunities (World Factbook).

Geography

Southern Africa, landlocked, north of South Africa, west of Zimbabwe. Almost as big as Texas. Flat with rolling tableland and some desert in the southwest. Semi arid. Warm winters and hot summers.

Government

Chief of state is a president elected by parliament for a five-year term and eligible for a second term. Bicameral parliament, upper house a largely advisory 15-member body with chiefs of the principal tribes and others. The lower house (National Assembly) has 63 seats with 57 members elected by popular vote.

Recent History

The Republic of Botswana was a British protectorate called Bechuanaland before becoming independent in 1966.

Bushmen families, December 23, 2003: Botswana has attempted to resettle about 600 people outside their old homes in the Central Kalahari Game Reserve, the settlements called by the Bushmen "places of death." In the game reserve the government has destroyed Bushmen water holes and banned them from hunting. A third of the Bushmen have returned and are surviving, and they have taken the government to court regarding their right to return. Their court case resumes on January 17.

Apr 2008: Botswana has been described as the least corrupt country in Africa and with four decades of stable government, as having sound economic policies and good management of the country's mineral wealth. The World Bank ranks it among the world's most politically stable nations.

Jun 2011: Botswana suffers from overgrazing, desertification and limited fresh water resources.

SOURCES:
http://www.cia.gov/cia/publications/factbook/