Name Botswana

(long form) Republic of Botswana

Population 1,600,000

Capital City Gaborone (178,000)

Languages Setswana 78%, Kalanga 8%, and others


National Day September 30

Official Currency Pula (BWP)


Religions Christian (75%), Badimo, and others


Latitude/Longitude (Capital City)
24º 45S, 25º 55E

Relative Location Located south of the Equator and disected by the Tropic of Capricorn, Botswana is in both the eastern and southern hemispheres. This landlocked country is positioned in southern Africa, and bordered by the countries of Namibia, Zambia, Zimbabwe and South Africa.

Land Statistics

Coastline 0 (landlocked)

Land Area 569,582 sq km (219,916 sq miles) - slightly smaller than Texas

Landforms The flat southern African plateau covers much of the country, with an average elevation of 3,300 ft. The Kalahari Desert blankets the southwest.

To the north, the Okavango Delta provides a thriving oasis, while numerous salt lakes and pans attract an array of migrant waterfowl, including Flamingos.

Additional landforms include savanna grasslands in the east, and a dry scrub along the western border with Namibia.

Significant rivers include the Limpopo, Okavango and Shashe.

Highest Point Tsodilo Hills - 4,885 ft. (1,489 m)

Lowest Point At the junction of the Limpopo and Shashe Rivers - 513 m (1,683 ft)

Land Divisions 9 districts and 5 town councils; districts include: Central, Ghanzi, Kgalagadi, Kgatleng, Kweneng, Northwest, Northeast, Southeast, Souther; town councils include: Francistown, Gaborone, Jwaneng, Lobatse, and Selebi-Pikwe

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

Industries: diamonds, copper, nickel, salt, soda ash, potash; livestock processing; textiles

Mineral Resources: Numerous minerals are known to occur in significant quantities, but with the exception of diamonds, copper and nickel, they are mostly untapped. These are: salt, soda ash, potash, coal, iron ore, manganese and silver. Botswana has the largest known coal reserves in Africa, although they are of low quality.