Main page Compare countries Index countries Index fields

Query:
##ciekawa_strona##

Compare Botswana (2008) - British Indian Ocean Territory (2008)

Compare Botswana (2008) z British Indian Ocean Territory (2008)

 Botswana (2008)British Indian Ocean Territory (2008)
 BotswanaBritish Indian Ocean Territory
Administrative divisions 9 districts and 5 town councils*; Central, Francistown*, Gaborone*, Ghanzi, Jwaneng*, Kgalagadi, Kgatleng, Kweneng, Lobatse*, Northeast, Northwest, Selebi-Pikwe*, Southeast, Southern -
Age structure 0-14 years: 35.8% (male 330,377/female 319,376)


15-64 years: 60.3% (male 549,879/female 545,148)


65 years and over: 3.9% (male 28,725/female 42,003) (2007 est.)
-
Agriculture - products livestock, sorghum, maize, millet, beans, sunflowers, groundnuts -
Airports 85 (2007) 1 (2007)
Airports - with paved runways total: 11


2,438 to 3,047 m: 2


1,524 to 2,437 m: 7


914 to 1,523 m: 2 (2007)
total: 1


over 3,047 m: 1 (2007)
Airports - with unpaved runways total: 74


1,524 to 2,437 m: 3


914 to 1,523 m: 54


under 914 m: 17 (2007)
-
Area total: 600,370 sq km


land: 585,370 sq km


water: 15,000 sq km
total: 54,400 sq km


land: 60 sq km; Diego Garcia 44 sq km


water: 54,340 sq km


note: includes the entire Chagos Archipelago of 55 islands
Area - comparative slightly smaller than Texas land area is about 0.3 times the size of Washington, DC
Background Formerly the British protectorate of Bechuanaland, Botswana adopted its new name upon independence in 1966. Four decades of uninterrupted civilian leadership, progressive social policies, and significant capital investment have created one of the most dynamic economies in Africa. Mineral extraction, principally diamond mining, dominates economic activity, though tourism is a growing sector due to the country's conservation practices and extensive nature preserves. Botswana has one of the world's highest known rates of HIV/AIDS infection, but also one of Africa's most progressive and comprehensive programs for dealing with the disease. Established as a territory of the UK in 1965, a number of the British Indian Ocean Territory (BIOT) islands were transferred to the Seychelles when it attained independence in 1976. Subsequently, BIOT has consisted only of the six main island groups comprising the Chagos Archipelago. The largest and most southerly of the islands, Diego Garcia, contains a joint UK-US naval support facility. All of the remaining islands are uninhabited. Former agricultural workers, earlier residents in the islands, were relocated primarily to Mauritius but also to the Seychelles, between 1967 and 1973. In 2000, a British High Court ruling invalidated the local immigration order that had excluded them from the archipelago, but upheld the special military status of Diego Garcia.
Birth rate 23.17 births/1,000 population (2007 est.) -
Budget revenues: $4.886 billion


expenditures: $3.756 billion (2007 est.)
-
Capital name: Gaborone


geographic coordinates: 24 45 S, 25 55 E


time difference: UTC+2 (7 hours ahead of Washington, DC during Standard Time)
-
Climate semiarid; warm winters and hot summers tropical marine; hot, humid, moderated by trade winds
Coastline 0 km (landlocked) 698 km
Constitution March 1965, effective 30 September 1966 -
Country name conventional long form: Republic of Botswana


conventional short form: Botswana


local long form: Republic of Botswana


local short form: Botswana


former: Bechuanaland
conventional long form: British Indian Ocean Territory


conventional short form: none


abbreviation: BIOT
Death rate 13.63 deaths/1,000 population (2007 est.) -
Debt - external $513 million (31 December 2007 est.) -
Dependency status - overseas territory of the UK; administered by a commissioner, resident in the Foreign and Commonwealth Office in London
Diplomatic representation from the US chief of mission: Ambassador Katherine H. CANAVAN


embassy: address NA, Gaborone


mailing address: Embassy Enclave, P. O. Box 90, Gaborone


telephone: [267] 395-3982


FAX: [267] 395-6947
none (overseas territory of the UK)
Diplomatic representation in the US chief of mission: Ambassador Lapologang Caesar LEKOA


chancery: 1531-1533 New Hampshire Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20036


telephone: [1] (202) 244-4990


FAX: [1] (202) 244-4164
none (overseas territory of the UK)
Disputes - international the alignment of the boundary with Namibia in the Kwando/Linyanti/Chobe River, including the Situngu marshlands, was resolved amicably in 2003; concerns from international experts and local populations over the ecology of the Okavango Delta in Botswana and human displacement scuttled Namibian plans to construct a hydroelectric dam at Popavalle (Popa Falls) along the Angola-Namibia border; Botswana has built electric fences to stem the thousands of Zimbabweans who flee to find work and escape political persecution; Namibia has long supported, and in 2004 Zimbabwe dropped objections to, plans between Botswana and Zambia to build a bridge over the Zambezi River, thereby de facto recognizing the short, but not clearly delimited, Botswana-Zambia boundary Mauritius and Seychelles claim the Chagos Archipelago including Diego Garcia; in 2001, the former inhabitants of the Chagos Archipelago, evicted in 1967 and 1973 and now residing chiefly in Mauritius, were granted UK citizenship and the right to repatriation; in May 2006, the High Court of London reversed U.K. Government's 2004 orders of council that banned habitation on the islands; a small group of Chagossians visited Diego Garcia in April 2006; repatriation is complicated by the exclusive US military lease of Diego Garcia that restricts access to the largest viable island in the chain
Economic aid - recipient $70.89 million (2005) -
Economy - overview Botswana has maintained one of the world's highest economic growth rates since independence in 1966, though growth slowed to 4.7% annually in 2006-07. Through fiscal discipline and sound management, Botswana has transformed itself from one of the poorest countries in the world to a middle-income country with a per capita GDP of more than $11,000 in 2006. 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 and for 70-80% of export earnings. Tourism, financial services, subsistence farming, and cattle raising are other key sectors. On the downside, the government must deal with high rates of unemployment and poverty. Unemployment officially was 23.8% in 2004, but unofficial estimates place it closer to 40%. HIV/AIDS infection rates are the second highest in the world and threaten Botswana's impressive economic gains. An expected leveling off in diamond mining production overshadows long-term prospects. All economic activity is concentrated on the largest island of Diego Garcia, where a joint UK-US military facility is located. Construction projects and various services needed to support the military installation are performed by military and contract employees from the UK, Mauritius, the Philippines, and the US. There are no industrial or agricultural activities on the islands. When the native Ilois return, they plan to reestablish sugarcane production and fishing. The territory makes money by selling fishing licenses and postage stamps.
Electricity - consumption 2.602 billion kWh (2005) NA kWh
Electricity - exports 0 kWh (2005) -
Electricity - imports 1.754 billion kWh (2005) -
Electricity - production 912 million kWh (2005) NA kWh; note - electricity supplied by the US military
Elevation extremes lowest point: junction of the Limpopo and Shashe Rivers 513 m


highest point: Tsodilo Hills 1,489 m
lowest point: Indian Ocean 0 m


highest point: unnamed location on Diego Garcia 15 m
Environment - current issues overgrazing; desertification; limited fresh water resources NA
Environment - international agreements party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Ozone Layer Protection, Wetlands


signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements
-
Ethnic groups Tswana (or Setswana) 79%, Kalanga 11%, Basarwa 3%, other, including Kgalagadi and white 7% -
Exchange rates pulas per US dollar - 6.2035 (2007), 5.8447 (2006), 5.1104 (2005), 4.6929 (2004), 4.9499 (2003) -
Executive branch chief of state: President Festus G. MOGAE (since 1 April 1998); Vice President Seretse Khama Ian KHAMA (since 13 July 1998); note - the president is both the chief of state and head of government


head of government: President Festus G. MOGAE (since 1 April 1998); Vice President Seretse Khama Ian KHAMA (since 13 July 1998);


cabinet: Cabinet appointed by the president


elections: president indirectly elected for a five-year term (eligible for a second term); election last held 20 October 2004 (next to be held in 2009); vice president appointed by the president


election results: Festus G. MOGAE elected president; percent of National Assembly vote - 52%
chief of state: Queen ELIZABETH II (since 6 February 1952)


head of government: Commissioner Leigh TURNER (since July 2006); Administrator Tony HUMPHRIES (since February 2005); note - both reside in the UK and are represented by the officer commanding British Forces on Diego Garcia


cabinet: NA


elections: none; the monarch is hereditary; commissioner and administrator appointed by the monarch
Exports 0 bbl/day (2004) -
Exports - commodities diamonds, copper, nickel, soda ash, meat, textiles -
Exports - partners European Free Trade Association (EFTA) 87%, Southern African Customs Union (SACU) 7%, Zimbabwe 4% (2006) -
Fiscal year 1 April - 31 March -
Flag description light blue with a horizontal white-edged black stripe in the center white with six blue wavy horizontal stripes; the flag of the UK is in the upper hoist-side quadrant; the striped section bears a palm tree and yellow crown centered on the outer half of the flag
GDP - composition by sector agriculture: 1.6%


industry: 51.5% (including 36% mining)


services: 46.9% (2006 est.)
-
GDP - real growth rate 4.7% (2007 est.) -
Geographic coordinates 22 00 S, 24 00 E 6 00 S, 71 30 E; note - Diego Garcia 7 20 S, 72 25 E
Geography - note landlocked; population concentrated in eastern part of the country archipelago of 55 islands; Diego Garcia, largest and southernmost island, occupies strategic location in central Indian Ocean; island is site of joint US-UK military facility
Household income or consumption by percentage share lowest 10%: NA%


highest 10%: NA%
-
Imports 13,490 bbl/day (2004) -
Imports - commodities foodstuffs, machinery, electrical goods, transport equipment, textiles, fuel and petroleum products, wood and paper products, metal and metal products -
Imports - partners Southern African Customs Union (SACU) 74%, EFTA 17%, Zimbabwe 4% (2006) -
Independence 30 September 1966 (from UK) -
Industrial production growth rate 4.5% (2007 est.) -
Industries diamonds, copper, nickel, salt, soda ash, potash; livestock processing; textiles -
Infant mortality rate total: 43.97 deaths/1,000 live births


male: 45.02 deaths/1,000 live births


female: 42.9 deaths/1,000 live births (2007 est.)
-
Inflation rate (consumer prices) 7.2% (2007 est.) -
International organization participation ACP, AfDB, AU, C, FAO, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICCt, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, Interpol, IOC, IPU, ISO, ITSO, ITU, ITUC, MIGA, NAM, OPCW, SACU, SADC, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UNMIS, UNWTO, UPU, WCO, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO -
Irrigated land 10 sq km (2003) 0 sq km
Judicial branch High Court; Court of Appeal; Magistrates' Courts (one in each district) -
Labor force 288,400 formal sector employees (2004) -
Labor force - by occupation agriculture: NA%


industry: NA%


services: NA%
-
Land boundaries total: 4,013 km


border countries: Namibia 1,360 km, South Africa 1,840 km, Zimbabwe 813 km
0 km
Land use arable land: 0.65%


permanent crops: 0.01%


other: 99.34% (2005)
arable land: 0%


permanent crops: 0%


other: 100% (2005)
Languages Setswana 78.2%, Kalanga 7.9%, Sekgalagadi 2.8%, English 2.1% (official), other 8.6%, unspecified 0.4% (2001 census) -
Legal system based on Roman-Dutch law and local customary law; judicial review limited to matters of interpretation; accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction, with reservations the laws of the UK, where applicable, apply
Legislative branch bicameral Parliament consists of the House of Chiefs (a largely advisory 15-member body with 8 permanent members consisting of the chiefs of the principal tribes, and 7 non-permanent members serving 5-year terms, consisting of 4 elected subchiefs and 3 members selected by the other 12 members) and the National Assembly (63 seats, 57 members are directly elected by popular vote, 4 are appointed by the majority party, and 2, the President and Attorney-General, serve as ex-officio members; members serve five-year terms)


elections: National Assembly elections last held 30 October 2004 (next to be held in October 2009)


election results: percent of vote by party - BDP 51.7%, BNF 26.1%, BCP 16.6%, other 5%; seats by party - BDP 44, BNF 12, BCP 1
-
Life expectancy at birth total population: 50.58 years


male: 51.55 years


female: 49.58 years (2007 est.)
-
Literacy definition: age 15 and over can read and write


total population: 81.2%


male: 80.4%


female: 81.8% (2003 est.)
-
Location Southern Africa, north of South Africa archipelago in the Indian Ocean, south of India, about one-half the way from Africa to Indonesia
Map references Africa Political Map of the World
Maritime claims none (landlocked) territorial sea: 3 nm


exclusive fishing zone: 200 nm
Military - note - defense is the responsibility of the UK; the US lease on Diego Garcia expires in 2016
Military branches Botswana Defense Force (includes an air wing) (2006) -
Military expenditures - percent of GDP 3.3% (2006) -
National holiday Independence Day (Botswana Day), 30 September (1966) -
Nationality noun: Motswana (singular), Batswana (plural)


adjective: Motswana (singular), Batswana (plural)
-
Natural hazards periodic droughts; seasonal August winds blow from the west, carrying sand and dust across the country, which can obscure visibility NA
Natural resources diamonds, copper, nickel, salt, soda ash, potash, coal, iron ore, silver coconuts, fish, sugarcane
Net migration rate 5.49 migrant(s)/1,000 population


note: there is an increasing flow of Zimbabweans into South Africa and Botswana in search of better economic opportunities (2007 est.)
-
Political parties and leaders Botswana Alliance Movement or BAM [Ephraim Lepetu SETSHWAELO]; Botswana Congress Party or BCP [Otlaadisa KOOSALETSE]; Botswana Democratic Party or BDP [Festus G. MOGAE]; Botswana National Front or BNF [Otswoletse MOUPO]; Botswana Peoples Party or BPP; MELS Movement of Botswana or MELS; New Democratic Front or NDF


note: a number of minor parties joined forces in 1999 to form the BAM but did not capture any parliamentary seats - includes the United Action Party [Ephraim Lepetu SETSHWAELO]; the Independence Freedom Party or IFP [Motsamai MPHO]; the Botswana Progressive Union [D. K. KWELE]
-
Political pressure groups and leaders NA -
Population 1,815,508


note: estimates for this country explicitly take into account the effects of excess mortality due to AIDS; this can result in lower life expectancy, higher infant mortality and death rates, lower population and growth rates, and changes in the distribution of population by age and sex than would otherwise be expected (July 2007 est.)
no indigenous inhabitants


note: approximately 1,200 former agricultural workers resident in the Chagos Archipelago, often referred to as Chagossians or Ilois, were relocated to Mauritius and the Seychelles in the 1960s and 1970s; in November 2000 they were granted the right of return by a British High Court ruling, though no timetable has been set; in November 2004, there were approximately 4,000 UK and US military personnel and civilian contractors living on the island of Diego Garcia
Population below poverty line 30.3% (2003) -
Population growth rate 1.503% (2007 est.) -
Radio broadcast stations AM 8, FM 13, shortwave 4 (2001) AM 1, FM 2, shortwave 0 (1998)
Railways total: 888 km


narrow gauge: 888 km 1.067-m gauge (2006)
-
Religions Christian 71.6%, Badimo 6%, other 1.4%, unspecified 0.4%, none 20.6% (2001 census) -
Sex ratio at birth: 1.03 male(s)/female


under 15 years: 1.034 male(s)/female


15-64 years: 1.009 male(s)/female


65 years and over: 0.684 male(s)/female


total population: 1.003 male(s)/female (2007 est.)
-
Suffrage 18 years of age; universal -
Telephone system general assessment: the system is expanding with the growth of mobile-cellular service and participation in regional development; system is fully digital with fiber-optic cables linking the major population centers in the east; fixed-line connections declined in recent years and now stand at 8 per 100 persons; mobile-cellular telephone density currently is about 60 per 100 persons


domestic: small system of open-wire lines, microwave radio relay links, and a few radiotelephone communication stations; mobile-cellular service is growing fast


international: country code - 267; international calls are made via satellite, using international direct dialing; 2 international exchanges; digital microwave radio relay links to Namibia, Zambia, Zimbabwe, and South Africa; satellite earth station - 1 Intelsat (Indian Ocean) (2007)
general assessment: separate facilities for military and public needs are available


domestic: all commercial telephone services are available, including connection to the Internet


international: country code (Diego Garcia) - 246; international telephone service is carried by satellite (2000)
Telephones - main lines in use 136,900 (2006) NA
Telephones - mobile cellular 979,800 (2006) -
Television broadcast stations 2 (1 state-owned, 1 private) 1 (1997)
Terrain predominantly flat to gently rolling tableland; Kalahari Desert in southwest flat and low (most areas do not exceed two meters in elevation)
Total fertility rate 2.73 children born/woman (2007 est.) -
Unemployment rate 23.8% (2004) -
Sitemap: Compare countries listing (map site) | Country listing (map site)
Links: Add to favorites | Information about this website | Stats | Polityka prywatnosci
This page was generated in ##czas## s. Size this page: ##rozmiar_strony## kB.