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	==Other websites==		==Other websites==
	* ~~{{commonscat-inline}}~~		* * {{wikivoyage-inline}}
	* {{wikivoyage-inline}}
	* [http://www.listofnewspapers.com/en/africa/batswana-newspapers-in-botswana.html Botswana Newspapers] {{Webarchive\|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121006142729/http://www.listofnewspapers.com/en/africa/batswana-newspapers-in-botswana.html \|date=2012-10-06 }}		* [http://www.listofnewspapers.com/en/africa/batswana-newspapers-in-botswana.html Botswana Newspapers] {{Webarchive\|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121006142729/http://www.listofnewspapers.com/en/africa/batswana-newspapers-in-botswana.html \|date=2012-10-06 }}

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{{Infobox country
| conventional_long_name = Republic of Botswana
| common_name = Botswana
| native_name = {{smaller|{{native name|tn|Lefatshe la Botswana}}}}
| image_flag = Flag of Botswana.svg
| image_coat = Arms of Botswana.svg
| national_motto = {{native phrase|tn|"Pula!"|italics=off|nolink=yes}}<br/>{{small|"Rain"}}
| national_anthem = {{native phrase|tn|[[Fatshe leno la rona]]|nolink=yes}}<br/>{{small|''Blessed Be Our Noble Land''}}<br/><div style="padding-top:0.5em;" class="center">[[File:United States Navy Band - Fatshe leno la rona.ogg]]</div>
| image_map = Botswana (centered orthographic projection).svg
| map_caption = {{map caption|location_color=dark green}}
| capital = [[Gaborone]]
| coordinates = {{Coord|24|39.5|S|25|54.5|E|type:city|display=inline}}
| largest_city = capital
| official_languages = [[English language|English]]
| national_languages = [[Tswana language|Setswana]]
| ethnic_groups = {{Unbulleted list|79% [[Tswana people|Tswana]] |11% [[Kalanga people|Kalanga]] |3% [[San people|San]] |7% Others}}
| ethnic_groups_year = 2012 est.
| religion = {{Unbulleted list|73%
[[Christianity]] |—66% [[Protestantism]] |—7% Other [[Christians|Christian]] |20% [[Irreligion|No religion]] |6% [[African traditional religion|Traditional faiths]] |1% Others}}
| demonym = {{Unbulleted list|[[Batswana]] (plural) |Motswana (singular)}}
| government_type = [[Unitary state|Unitary]] [[Dominant-party system|dominant-party]]<ref>{{cite web |last1=Seabo |first1=Batlang |last2=Kesaobaka |first2=Molebatsi |title=Botswana's Dominant Party System |url=https://www.eisa.org.za/pdf/JAE16.2Seabo.pdf |website=Electoral Institute for Sustainable Democracy in Africa |access-date=9 April 2020}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last1=Benza |first1=Brian |title=Botswana's Masisi retains presidency as BDP wins election |url=https://www.reuters.com/article/us-botswana-election/botswanas-masisi-retains-presidency-as-bdp-wins-election-idUSKBN1X40KS |access-date=9 April 2020 |work=Reuters |date=24 October 2019}}</ref><ref>{{cite journal |last1=Selolwane |first1=Onalenna |title=Monopoly Politikos: How Botswana's Opposition Parties Have Helped Sustain One-Party Dominance |journal=African Sociological Review |date=2002 |volume=6 |issue=1 |pages=68–90 |doi=10.4314/asr.v6i1.23203 |jstor=24487673 |doi-access=free }}</ref> [[parliamentary system|parliamentary]] [[constitutional republic]]<ref>{{cite web |title=Africa :: Botswana – The World Factbook - Central Intelligence Agency |url=https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/geos/bc.html |website=www.cia.gov |access-date=17 December 2019 |archive-date=15 October 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151015203531/https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/geos/bc.html |url-status=deviated |archivedate=15 October 2015 |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20151015203531/https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/geos/bc.html }}</ref>
| leader_title1 = [[President of Botswana|President]]
| leader_name1 = [[Mokgweetsi Masisi]]<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2018-03-28/masisi-to-lead-botswana-as-khama-steps-down-after-decade-at-helm|title=Masisi to Lead Botswana as Khama Steps Down After a Decade|newspaper=Bloomberg.com|date=28 March 2018 |access-date=31 March 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180401010006/https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2018-03-28/masisi-to-lead-botswana-as-khama-steps-down-after-decade-at-helm|archive-date=1 April 2018|url-status=live}}</ref>
| leader_title2 = [[Vice-President of Botswana|Vice-President]]
| leader_name2 = [[Slumber Tsogwane]]
| leader_title3 = [[Speaker of the National Assembly of Botswana|National Assembly Speaker]]
| leader_name3 = [[Phandu Skelemani]]
| leader_title4 = [[Chief Justice of Botswana|Chief Justice]]
| leader_name4 = Terence Rannowane
| legislature = [[National Assembly (Botswana)|National Assembly]]
| sovereignty_type = [[Independence]]
| sovereignty_note = from the [[United Kingdom]]
| established_event1 = Established ([[Constitution of Botswana|Constitution]])
| established_date1 = 30 September 1966
| area_km2 = 581,730
| area_rank = 47th 
| area_sq_mi = 224,610 
| area_footnote =<ref>{{cite report|url = http://www.fao.org/3/a-az171e.pdf | publisher = United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization | website = fao.org | title = Global Forest Resources Assessment 2015 – Country Report – Botswana | page = 9 | date = 2015 | quote = Total Country Area ('000)ha / 58 173 }}</ref>
| percent_water = 2.7
| population_estimate = {{UN_Population|Botswana}}{{UN_Population|ref}}
| population_census = 2,024,904
| population_estimate_year = {{UN_Population|Year}}
| population_estimate_rank = 145th
| population_census_year = 2011
| population_density_km2 = 3.7
| population_density_sq_mi = 9.07
| population_density_rank = 231st
| GDP_PPP = $44.3 billion<ref name="imf2019gdp">{{cite web |title=IMF Country Specific Data |url=https://www.imf.org/external/pubs/ft/weo/2019/01/weodata/weorept.aspx?sy=2019&ey=2019&scsm=1&ssd=1&sort=country&ds=.&br=1&pr1.x=67&pr1.y=3&c=616&s=NGDPD%2CPPPGDP%2CNGDPDPC%2CPPPPC&grp=0&a= |access-date=10 August 2019}}</ref>
| GDP_PPP_year = 2019
| GDP_PPP_rank =
| GDP_PPP_per_capita = $18,654<ref name=imf2019gdp/>
| GDP_PPP_per_capita_rank =
| GDP_nominal = $19.651 billion<ref name=imf2019gdp/>
| GDP_nominal_year = 2019
| GDP_nominal_rank =
| GDP_nominal_per_capita = $8,263<ref name=imf2019gdp/>
| GDP_nominal_per_capita_rank =
| Gini = 53.3
| Gini_year = 2015
| Gini_change = decrease 
| Gini_ref = <ref name="WBgini">{{cite web |url= https://data.worldbank.org/indicator/SI.POV.GINI?locations=BW |title= GINI index (World Bank estimate) |publisher= World Bank |access-date= 20 April 2019 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20171213083923/https://data.worldbank.org/indicator/SI.POV.GINI?locations=BW |archive-date= 13 December 2017 |url-status= live}}</ref>
| Gini_rank =
| HDI = 0.735
| HDI_year = 2019
| HDI_change = increase 
| HDI_ref = <ref name="UNHDR">{{cite web|url=http://hdr.undp.org/sites/default/files/hdr2020.pdf|title=Human Development Report 2020|language=en|publisher=[[United Nations Development Programme]]|date=December 15, 2020|access-date=December 15, 2020}}</ref>
| HDI_rank = 100th
| currency = [[Botswana pula]]
| currency_code = BWP
| time_zone = [[Central Africa Time]] (GMT+2)<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.elaws.gov.bw/desplaylrpage1.php?id=1399|last=Chapter: 01:04|title=Interpretation Act 1984 (§40(1))|date=20 July 1984|access-date=11 September 2020|archive-date=28 March 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170328201053/http://www.elaws.gov.bw/desplaylrpage1.php?id=1399|url-status=deviated|archivedate=28 March 2017|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20170328201053/http://www.elaws.gov.bw/desplaylrpage1.php?id=1399}}</ref>
| utc_offset =
| utc_offset_DST =
| time_zone_DST =
| date_format = dd/mm/yyyy
| drives_on = [[Right- and left-hand traffic|left]]
| calling_code = [[+267]]
| cctld = [[.bw]]
| official_website = {{URL|http://www.gov.bw/}}
| today =
}}
'''Botswana''' (officially called the '''Republic of Botswana''') is a [[country]] in southern [[Africa]]. The [[Capital (city)|capital]] of Botswana is [[Gaborone]].

== History ==
The first people in Botswana's territory were the Khoe and San people.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Botswana {{!}} South African History Online|url=https://www.sahistory.org.za/place/botswana|access-date=2021-05-10|website=www.sahistory.org.za}}</ref> Botswana was first formed as the Bechuanaland Protectorate by the [[British Empire]] in 1885.<ref>{{Cite web|title=History of Botswana {{!}} Embassy of the Republic of Botswana in Washington, D.C.|url=http://www.botswanaembassy.org/page/history-of-botswana|access-date=2021-05-10|website=www.botswanaembassy.org}}</ref><ref>{{Cite journal|last=Morton|first=Fred|date=January 1989|title=The Birth of Botswana: A History of the Bechuanaland Protectorate from 1910 to 1966|url=https://www.researchgate.net/publication/272925981|journal=African Economic History|via=ResearchGate}}</ref>

== Geography ==
{{see also|List of settlements in Botswana}}
The countries that border Botswana are [[Zimbabwe]], [[South Africa]], and [[Namibia]]. It is also possible to travel from Botswana directly into [[Zambia]] by crossing the [[Zambezi River]] by [[ferry]].

Botswana is [[landlocked]]. All of Botswana's [[trade]] must be brought in over land or by airplane.

The two most important [[geography|geographical features]] in Botswana are the [[Okavango Delta]] and the [[Kalahari Desert]].

==Divisions==
Botswana is divided into 10 districts:
*[[Southern District (Botswana)|Southern District]]
*[[South-East District (Botswana)|South-East District]]
*[[Kweneng District]]
*[[Kgatleng District]]
*[[Central District (Botswana)|Central District]]
*[[North-East District (Botswana)|North-East District]]
*[[Ngamiland District]]
*[[Kgalagadi District]]
*[[Chobe District]]
*[[Ghanzi District]]

== Culture ==
People from Botswana are called ''Batswana''. The [[population]] of Botswana is about 2.2 million. <ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/geos/print_bc.html|title=Africa :: Botswana — The World Factbook - Central Intelligence Agency|website=www.cia.gov|access-date=2020-06-17|archive-date=2018-06-08|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180608014516/https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/geos/print_bc.html|url-status=deviated|archivedate=2018-06-08|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20180608014516/https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/geos/print_bc.html}}</ref> This is only 2.7 persons per km², a small number for a country of this size. This is because most of the country is [[desert]] and very dry.

Botswana has two official [[language]]s: Setswana and English. Setswana is the national language (also called ''[[Tswana language|Tswana]]'').

== Governance ==
Botswana is a [[democracy]]. The people vote for their political [[leader]]s. Those leaders vote for the president. In 2008 [[Ian Khama]] became the fourth [[president]] of Botswana.

President Khama won elections in 2009 and 2014. The current President of Botswana is Dr. Eric K. Mokgweetsi who took over from Dr. Ian Khama Seretse Khama in 2018.

== Economy ==
The [[economy]] of Botswana has been growing very fast since it became an [[independence|independent country]] in 1966. The people of Botswana have had the world's fastest growth in [[standard of living]] since that time.

Botswana's economy comes mostly from [[mining]]. This includes [[diamond]]s, [[metal]]s (including [[copper]]) and [[mineral]]s (including [[salt]]). Botswana is the highest producer of [[diamond]]s by value in the world.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.knowbotswana.com/botswana-diamonds.html|title=Botswana diamonds|publisher=Know Botswana.com|accessdate=December 24, 2014}}</ref> In 1999, Botswana produced over 30 million [[carat (mass)|carats]] (6,000 kg) of diamonds from the three Debswana mines. That is about 25% of worldwide production. There has been an agreement with [[De Beers]] since 1969. In 2023 a new agreement was made giving the country more of the diamonds - 30% in 2023, 40% from 2028 and 50% from 2033.<ref>{{Cite news|last1=Dempsey|first1=Harry|last2=Cotterill|first2=Joseph|date=2023-07-25|title=De Beers prospects blemished after Botswana cuts new diamond deal|work=Financial Times|url=https://www.ft.com/content/f2b27377-3650-448f-84ed-40e43118e801?|access-date=2023-07-25}}</ref>

[[Tourism]] is also important to the country. Many people come to Botswana each year to see its [[wildlife]].

The [[currency]] of Botswana is called the ''pula'' (which means [[rain]]). It is made up of 100 ''thebe'' (which means [[shield]]). In 2017, one US dollar was about 10.32 pulas.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.xe.com/currencyconverter/convert/?From=USD&To=BWP|title=XE: Convert USD/BWP. United States Dollar to Botswana Pula|website=www.xe.com|accessdate=2017-05-17}}</ref>

==In popular culture==

The ''No. 1 Ladies' Detective Agency'' books by Alexander McCall Smith are set in Botswana. The HBO television series based on the books was filmed in Botswana.

==Gallery==
<gallery>
File:Okavango sunset (6158363864).jpg|Okavango sunset
File:Tsodilo Hills, Botswana (2625371308).jpg|Tsodilo Hills
File:Bosquimanos-Grassland Bushmen Lodge, Botswana 01.jpg|Grassland Bushman Lodge
|Gaborone
</gallery>
==Related pages==
*[[Botswana at the Olympics]]
*[[Botswana national football team]]
*[[List of rivers of Botswana]]

==References==
{{reflist}}

==Other websites==
* {{commonscat-inline}}
* {{wikivoyage-inline}}
* [http://www.listofnewspapers.com/en/africa/batswana-newspapers-in-botswana.html Botswana Newspapers] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121006142729/http://www.listofnewspapers.com/en/africa/batswana-newspapers-in-botswana.html |date=2012-10-06 }}

{{africa}}
{{Commonwealth nations}}

[[Category:Botswana| ]]
[[Category:English-speaking countries]]
[[Category:1966 establishments]]
[[Category:1960s establishments in Africa]]
[[Category:Commonwealth member states]]

Botswana - Revision history

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