Languages: Setswana 78.2%, Kalanga 7.9%, Sekgalagadi 2.8%, English (official) 2.1%, other 8.6%, unspecified 0.4% (2001 census)
Ethnicity/race: Tswana (or Setswana) 79%, Kalanga 11%, Basarwa 3%, other (including Kgalagadi and white) 7%
National Holiday: Independence Day (Botswana Day), September 30
Religions: Christian 71.6%, Badimo 6%, other 1.4%, unspecified 0.4%, none 20.6% (2001 census)
Literacy rate: 85.1% (2011 est.)
Economic summary: GDP/PPP (2013 est.): $30.09 billion; per capita $16,400. Real growth rate: 3.9%. Inflation: 6.1%. Unemployment: 17.8%. Arable land: 0.45%. Agriculture: livestock, sorghum, maize, millet, beans, sunflowers, groundnuts. Labor force: 1.308 million (2013); agriculture n.a., industry n.a., services n.a. Industries: diamonds, copper, nickel, salt, soda ash, potash; livestock processing; textiles. Natural resources: diamonds, copper, nickel, salt, soda ash, potash, coal, iron ore, silver. Exports: $7.569 billion (2013 est.): diamonds, copper, nickel, soda ash, meat, textiles. Imports: $7.389 billion (2013 est.): foodstuffs, machinery, electrical goods, transport equipment, textiles, fuel and petroleum products, wood and paper products, metal and metal products. Major trading partners: European Free Trade Association (EFTA), Southern African Customs Union (SACU), Zimbabwe (2004).
Member of Commonwealth of Nations
Communications: Telephones: main lines in use: 160,500 (2012); mobile cellular: 3.0820 (2012). Broadcast media: 2 TV stations - 1 state-owned and 1 privately owned; privately owned satellite TV subscription service is available; 2 state-owned national radio stations; 3 privately owned radio stations broadcast locally (2007). Internet hosts: 1,806 (2012). Internet users: 120,000 (2009).
Transportation: Railways: total: 888 km (2008). Highways: total: 17,916 km; (2011). Ports and harbors: none. Airports: 74 (2013 est.).
International disputes: none.
Major sources and definitions
