Botswana
Africa Β· Capital: Gaborone
How it is run: Botswana is a member of the United Nations, so it gets one vote in the General Assembly. Use the research links below to find out exactly who makes the laws there.
Botswana is home to 2.6 million people in Southern Africa, where people speak English, Tswana.
Numbers that tell a story π’
π₯ People
2.6 million people
That is about 316 people out of every million on Earth (counted in 2025).
πΊοΈ Land
582,000 kmΒ²
Bigger than Texas β a long road trip from one side to the other.
ποΈ How crowded
Only about 4.4 people per square kilometre β lots of wide open space between towns.
π Size in its region
44th most people in Africa
22nd largest by land in Africa.
π£οΈ Official languages
English, Tswana
More than one language is used for official business.
π° Money
Botswana pula (P)
Life here today π©Ί
These come from World Bank open data β the same numbers governments use when they argue about budgets.
β€οΈ How long people live
69.3 years on average
Doctors, clean water and food supply all change this number over time.
πΌ Money made per person each year
about US$7,778
A lower-middle-income country: incomes are rising, but many families still farm or work informally.
π’ Living in cities
68% of people
Many people still live in villages and farming towns.
π Kids under 15
32% of the population
A fairly balanced mix of young and old.
Everyday details π§
π Phone code
+267
Dial this before the number to call from another country.
π Websites end in
.bw
π§ People here are called
Motswana
π·οΈ Name at home
Botswana
Also written: Republic of Botswana, Lefatshe la Botswana.
π Coast or inland
Landlocked β no coastline
ποΈ UN voting group
African Group
Countries in the same group often plan votes together.
Neighbours & borders π€
Botswana is landlocked β it has no coastline, so anything arriving by sea must cross a neighbour's border first.
Say its name around the world π£οΈ
Countries have different names in different languages. Try these with a penpal.
Spanish
Botswana
French
Botswana
Arabic
Ψ¨ΩΨͺΨ³ΩΨ§ΩΨ§
Chinese
εθ¨η¦ηΊ³
Japanese
γγγ―γ
Russian
ΠΠΎΡΡΠ²Π°Π½Π°
Portuguese
Botswana
German
Botswana
Put it in perspective π
- Nigeria β the most populated country in Africa β has about 92.7Γ as many people as Botswana.
- Botswana covers roughly 5,543 times the area of Hong Kong Island.
- If everyone in Botswana lined up shoulder to shoulder, the line would stretch about 1,281 km.
Fast facts π§
Fact of the day: Botswana is an independent country, meaning it makes its own laws.
π·οΈ Official name
Republic of Botswana
ποΈ Capital
Gaborone
π Region
Africa Β· Southern Africa
π€ Country code
BW
ποΈ UN status
UN member state
π© Independence
Independent country
More about Botswana π
π§ Where on the map
22.0Β° S, 24.0Β° E
π Half of the world
Southern & Eastern hemisphere
π°οΈ Clock check
Roughly UTC+2 β when it is noon in London it is about 14:00 in Gaborone.
- The capital of Botswana is Gaborone β that's where the country's big decisions get made.
- Botswana is close to the line of 0Β° longitude, so its clocks are near the world's reference time (UTC).
- Botswana is a full member of the United Nations, so it gets one vote in the General Assembly β the same as every other member, big or small.
- Botswana sits in Southern Africa, in the southern and eastern half of the globe.
- Botswana lies in the tropics, between the Tropic of Cancer and the Tropic of Capricorn, so the sun gets very high overhead.
Countries nearby π€
Talk about it π¬
- Botswana has 2 official languages. How would your school day change if lessons were taught in more than one language?
- Being landlocked means paying neighbours to move goods to the sea. What deal would you offer a neighbour if you led Botswana?
- If Botswana spoke at the General Assembly tomorrow, what one problem should its delegate ask the world to help fix?
Quick quiz π§ͺ
Guess first, then tap to check your answer.
What is the capital of Botswana?
Gaborone
Which money do people spend in Botswana?
Botswana pula (P)
How many countries share a land border with Botswana?
4 β Namibia, South Africa, Zambia, Zimbabwe.
Roughly how many people live in Botswana?
2.6 million people
Keep researching π
Everything here is a starting point. These trusted sites, databases and libraries will take you further β and they are the kind of sources a teacher will accept in a report.
Start here β kid-friendly encyclopedias π
Short articles written for students, with maps and photos you can use in a report.
Official data & government sources ποΈ
Primary sources. Cite these when your teacher asks for real data.
News & current policy π°
Use two different outlets before you decide what you think.
Your library card π«
Libraries give you books, databases and librarians β all free.
Library tip: Ask your school or public librarian for their online databases (like Gale in Context or EBSCO Explora). Your library card unlocks them for free at home, and they are already checked by adults for school use.