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Key
Facts
 Official
Name: Republic of Botswana
Location:
Central southern Africa.
Time:
GMT + 2 hours
International
Dialing Code: +267
Geography
- Area: 582,000
sq. km. (224,710 sq. mi.), about the size of Texas.
- Capital
City (2001 census): Gaborone (pronounced ha-bo-ro-neh), pop.
186,007.
- Other Urban
Centers: Francistown (pop. 105,000); Lobatse (pop. 60,000),
Selebi-Phikwe (pop. 50,000), Ghanzi, Mahalapye, Maun, and Kasane.
- Terrain:
Desert and savanna.
- Climate:
Mostly subtropical; semi-arid.
People
- Nationality:
Noun and adjective--Motswana (sing.), Batswana (pl.).
- Population
(est.): 1.84 million.
- Annual
population growth rate (2008): 1.434%.
- Ethnic
groups: Tswana 79%; Kalanga 11%; Kgalagadi, Herero, Bayeyi,
Hambukush, Basarwa ("San"), Khoi, whites 10%.
- Religions:
Christianity 70%, none 20%, indigenous beliefs 6%, other 4%.
- Primary
Languages: English (official), Setswana (widely spoken)
- Education:
Adult literacy--81%.
Government
- Independence:
September 30, 1966.
- Type: Republic,
parliamentary democracy.
- Head of
State: President Ian Khama Seretse Khama..
Economy
- Nominal
GDP (2007): $11.9 billion.
- Real GDP
growth rate (2007 est.): 4.8%.
- Per capita
nominal GDP (2007): $6,742.
- Key Industry
Sectors: Precious minerals mining, Tourism,. Agriculture, Construction,
Beef processing, Chemical products production, Food and beverage
production.
Electricity/voltage
Currency
- Pula. One
pula = 100 thebe.
Business
Hours
- Private
sector: Monday to Friday 8am – 5pm
- Government
offices: Monday to Friday 7:30am – 4:30pm
Public
Holidays
- 1 January:
New Year's Day
- 2 January:
Public Holiday
- March/April
(variable): Good Friday and Easter Monday
- 1 May:
Labor Day
- May (variable):
Ascension Day
- 1 July:
Sir Seretse Khama Day
- July (variable):
President Day and following day
- 30 September:
Botswana Independence Day
- 1 October:
Public Holiday
- 25 December:
Christmas Day
- 26 December:
Boxing Day
Embassy
of the Republic of Botswana in the USA
1531-33 New Hampshire Avenue NW,
Washington DC 20036, USA
Telephone: (202) 244 4990
Website: www.botswanaembassy.org
United
States Embassy in Botswana
Embassy Drive off Khama Crescent--
P.O. Box 90, Gaborone
Telephone: 267-353-982;
Fax 267-356-947
Web site: www.botswana.usembassy.gov
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