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Botswana

Botswana
General information
Common nameBotswana
MottoPula (Rain)
AnthemFatshe leno la rona
(This Land of Ours)
CapitalGaborone
Largest citycapital
Official languagesEnglish, Setswana
DemonymBatswana
Government
GovernmentParliamentary republic
PresidentIan Khama
Vice PresidentMompati Merafhe
IndependenceIndependence
from the United Kingdom30 September 1966
Geography
Total Area224610 sq mi (581739.9 km2) (47th)
Water %2.6
Demography
Population Est.2029307 (144th)
Population census1680863 (2001)
Density (pop.)3.4/km2 (229th) (8.9/sq mi)
Economy
GDP PPP$28.491 billion (2010)
GDP (PPP) per capita$15,489
GDP (nominal)$14.030 billion (2010)
GDP (nominal) per capita$7,627
Other information
Gini63 (1993) (high)
HDI(+) 0.633 (2010) (medium) (98th)
CurrencyPula (BWP)
Time zoneCentral Africa Time (UTC+02) (UTC)
- Summer (DST)not observed (UTC)
Drives on theleft
Internet TLD.bw
Calling code+267

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Botswana, officially the Republic of Botswana ( ), is a landlocked country located in Southern Africa. The citizens are referred to as "Batswana" (singular: Motswana). Formerly the British protectorate of Bechuanaland, Botswana adopted its new name after becoming independent within the Commonwealth on 30 September 1966. It has held free and fair democratic elections since independence.

Botswana is flat, and up to 70% is covered by the Kalahari Desert. It is bordered by South Africa to the south and southeast, Namibia to the west and north, and Zimbabwe to the northeast. Its border with Zambia to the north is poorly defined but at most is a few hundred meters long.

A mid-sized, landlocked country of just over two million people, Botswana is one of the most sparsely populated countries in the world. Botswana was one of the poorest countries in Africa when it gained independence from Britain in 1966, with a GDP per capita of about US$70. Botswana has since transformed itself, becoming one of the fastest-growing economies in the world to a GDP (purchasing power parity) per capita of about $14,800 (2010 IMF estimate). The country also has a strong tradition as a representative democracy.


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