Sub Saharan Africa

Botswana
Last updated: March 2011

Country information

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Map of Botswana

Area: 581,730 sq km
Population: 1.99 million (2009 estimate)
Capital City: Gaborone, population 225,000 (2008 estimate)
People: Predominantly Bantu-speaking African (c. 90% of whom are Tswana), small San communities and white minorities
Languages: English and Setswana
Religion(s): Christianity and indigenous beliefs; small Muslim population
Currency: Pula. 10.62 - £1 (March 2011)
Political parties: Botswana Democratic Party (BDP), Botswana National Front (BNF), Botswana Congress Party (BCP), Botswana Movement for Democracy (BMD) and Botswana Peoples' Party (BPP)
Head of State: President Lieutenant General Seretse Khama Ian Khama
Foreign Minister: The Hon Phandu Tombola Chaha Skelemani
Membership of international groupings/organisations: United Nations, Commonwealth, Southern African Development Community (SADC), African Union (AU), Non Aligned Movement (NAM), Southern African Customs Union (SACU). Botswana is also a member of the implementation committee of NEPAD (New Partnership for Africa’s Development).