Ambassador Botsweletse Kingsley SEBELE; Chancery at Suite 7M, 3400International Drive NW, Washington, DC 20008; telephone (202) 244-4990 or
4991
US:
Ambassador Davie PASSAGE; Embassy at Gaborone (mailing address is P. O. Box
90, Gaborone); telephone [267] 353-982; FAX [267] 356-947
Flag:
light blue with a horizontal white-edged black stripe in the center
:Botswana Economy
Overview:
The economy has historically been based on cattle raising and crops.
Agriculture today provides a livelihood for more than 80% of the population,
but produces only about 50% of food needs. The driving force behind the
rapid economic growth of the 1970s and 1980s has been the mining industry.
This sector, mostly on the strength of diamonds, has gone from generating
25% of GDP in 1980 to over 50% in 1989. No other sector has experienced such
growth, especially not agriculture, which is plagued by erratic rainfall and
poor soils. The unemployment rate remains a problem at 25%. Although diamond
production remained level in FY91, substantial gains in coal output and
manufacturing helped boost the economy
GDP:
purchasing power equivalent - $3.6 billion, per capita $2,800; real growth
rate 6.3% (1991 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices):
12.6% (1991)
Unemployment rate:
25% (1989)
Budget:
revenues $1,935 million; expenditures $1,885 million, including capital
expenditures of $658 million (FY93)
Exports:
$1.8 billion (f.o.b. 1990)
commodities:
diamonds 80%, copper and nickel 9%, meat 4%, cattle, animal products
partners:
Switzerland, UK, SACU (Southern African Customs Union)
Imports:
$1.6 billion (c.i.f., 1990 est.)
commodities:
foodstuffs, vehicles and transport equipment, textiles, petroleum products
partners:
Switzerland, SACU (Southern African Customs Union), UK, US
External debt:
$780 million (December 1990 est.)
Industrial production:
growth rate 16.8% (FY86); accounts for about 57% of GDP, including mining
Electricity:
220,000 kW capacity; 630 million kWh produced 858 kWh per capita (1991)
Industries:
mining of diamonds, copper, nickel, coal, salt, soda ash, potash; livestock
processing
Agriculture:
accounts for only 3% of DGP; subsistence farming predominates; cattle
raising supports 50% of the population; must import large share of food
needs
Economic aid:
US commitments, including Ex-Im (FY70-89), $257 million; Western (non-US)
countries, ODA and OOF bilateral commitments (1970-89), $1,875 million; OPEC
bilateral aid (1979-89), $43 million; Communist countries (1970-89), $29
million
Currency:
pula (plural - pula); 1 pula (P) = 100 thebe
Exchange rates:
pula (P) per US$1 - 2.1683 (March 1992), 2.0173 (1991), 1.8601 (1990),
2.0125 (1989), 1.8159 (1988), 1.6779 (1987)
Fiscal year:
1 April - 31 March
:Botswana Communications
Railroads:
712 km 1.067-meter gauge
Highways:
11,514 km total; 1,600 km paved; 1,700 km crushed stone or gravel, 5,177 km
improved earth, 3,037 km unimproved earth
Civil air:
5 major transport aircraft
Airports:
100 total, 87 unable; 8 with permanent-surface runways; none with runways
over 3,659 m; 1 with runways 2,440-3,659 m; 27 with runways 1,220-2,439 m
Telecommunications:
the small system is a combination of open-wire lines, radio relay links, and
a few radio-communications stations; 26,000 telephones; broadcast stations -
7 AM, 13 FM, no TV; 1 Indian Ocean INTELSAT earth station
:Botswana Defense Forces
Branches:
Botswana Defense Force (including Army and Air Wing); Botswana National
Police
Manpower availability:
males 15-49, 271,511; 142,947 fit for military service; 14,473 reach
military age (18) annually
Defense expenditures:
exchange rate conversion - $136.4 million, 4.4% of GDP (FY92)
:Bouvet Island Geography
Total area:
58 km2
