Gaborone
mailing address: Embassy Enclave, P. O. Box 90, Gaborone
telephone: [267] 395–3982
FAX: [267] 395–6947
Flag description:
light blue with a horizontal white-edged black stripe in the center; the blue symbolizes water in the form of rain, while the black and white bands represent racial harmony
National anthem:
name: "Fatshe leno la rona" (Our Land)
lyrics/music: Kgalemang Tumedisco MOTSETE
note: adopted 1966
Economy ::Botswana
Economy - overview:
Botswana has maintained one of the world's highest economic growth rates since independence in 1966, though growth fell below 5% in 2007–08, and turned sharply negative in 2009, with industry falling nearly 30%. Through fiscal discipline and sound management, Botswana transformed itself from one of the poorest countries in the world to a middle-income country with a per capita GDP of $13,100 in 2010. Two major investment services rank Botswana as the best credit risk in Africa. Diamond mining has fueled much of the expansion and currently accounts for more than one-third of GDP, 70–80% of export earnings, and about half of the government's revenues. Botswana's heavy reliance on a single luxury export was a critical factor in the sharp economic contraction of 2009. Tourism, financial services, subsistence farming, and cattle raising are other key sectors. Although unemployment was 7.5% in 2007 according to official reports, unofficial estimates place it closer to 40%. The prevalence of HIV/AIDS is second highest in the world and threatens Botswana's impressive economic gains. An expected leveling off in diamond mining production within the next two decades overshadows long-term prospects.
GDP (purchasing power parity):
$26.56 billion (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 112 $25.76 billion (2009 est.)
$27.23 billion (2008 est.)
note: data are in 2010 US dollars
GDP (official exchange rate):
$12.5 billion (2010 est.)
GDP - real growth rate:
3.1% (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 118 −5.4% (2009 est.)
2.9% (2008 est.)
GDP - per capita (PPP):
$13,100 (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 88 $12,900 (2009 est.)
$13,900 (2008 est.)
note: data are in 2010 US dollars
GDP - composition by sector:
agriculture: 2.3%
industry: 45.8%
services: 51.9% (2009 est.)
Labor force:
685,300 formal sector employees (2007) country comparison to the world: 151
Labor force - by occupation:
agriculture: NA%
industry: NA%
services: NA%
Unemployment rate:
7.5% (2007 est.) country comparison to the world: 77
Population below poverty line:
30.3% (2003)
Household income or consumption by percentage share:
lowest 10%: NA%
highest 10%: NA%
Distribution of family income - Gini index:
63 (1993) country comparison to the world: 4
Investment (gross fixed):
28.2% of GDP (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 24
Public debt:
22.6% of GDP (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 106 18.6% of GDP (2009 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices):
7.1% (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 179 8.1% (2009 est.)
Central bank discount rate:
10% (31 December 2009) country comparison to the world: 19 15% (31 December 2008)
Commercial bank prime lending rate:
13.76% (31 December 2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 35 16.54% (31 December 2008 est.)
Stock of narrow money:
$1.146 billion (31 December 2010 est) country comparison to the world: 136 $939.1 million (31 December 2009 est)
Stock of broad money:
$6.679 billion (31 December 2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 113 $5.357 billion (31 December 2009 est.)
Stock of domestic credit:
$1.361 billion (31 December 2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 139 $2.06 billion (31 December 2007 est.)
Market value of publicly traded shares:
$3.991 billion (31 December 2009) country comparison to the world: 86 $3.556 billion (31 December 2008)
$5.887 billion (31 December 2007)
Agriculture - products:
livestock, sorghum, maize, millet, beans, sunflowers, groundnuts
Industries:
diamonds, copper, nickel, salt, soda ash, potash, coal, iron ore, silver; livestock processing; textiles
Industrial production growth rate:
6.9% (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 43
Electricity - production:
1.052 billion kWh (2007 est.) country comparison to the world: 143
Electricity - consumption:
2.648 billion kWh (2007 est.) country comparison to the world: 130
Electricity - exports:
0 kWh (2008 est.)
Electricity
