Quick Facts

Formerly British protectorate Bechuanaland Independence gained in 1966 and became Botswana

Location: north of South Africa

Area: slightly smaller than Texas

Population: 1.8 million

Ethnic groups: Tswana or Setswana 79%, Kalanga 11%, Basarwa 3%

Life Expectancy:

Language: English (official) and Setswana

Climate: semiarid: warm winters and hot summers

Terrain: predominantly flat to gently rolling tableland; Kalahari desert in southwest

Natural Resources: diamonds, copper, nickel

Government: parliamentary republic (4 decades of uninterrupted civil leadership)

Capital city: Gabarone

Economy: diamonds, tourism, financial services, cattle raising, subsistence farming; unemployment 40%

Agriculture: livestock, sorghum, maize, millet, beans, sunflowers, groundnuts

Exports: diamonds, copper, nickel, soda ash, meat, textiles

Currency: pula (BWP)

In 2007 one US dollar equaled 6.2 pula Botswana struggles to seal its border from thousands of Zimbabweans who flee economic collapse and political persecution.