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Compare Western Sahara (2004) - Botswana (2003)

Compare Western Sahara (2004) z Botswana (2003)

 Western Sahara (2004)Botswana (2003)
 Western SaharaBotswana
Administrative divisions none (under de facto control of Morocco) 9 districts and four town councils*; Central, Francistown*, Gaborone*, Ghanzi, Kgalagadi, Kgatleng, Kweneng, Lobatse*, Northwest, Northeast, Selebi-Pikwe*, Southeast, Southern
Age structure 0-14 years: NA


15-64 years: NA


65 years and over: NA
0-14 years: 39.5% (male 314,764; female 307,024)


15-64 years: 56% (male 424,726; female 455,967)


65 years and over: 4.5% (male 30,599; female 40,187) (2003 est.)
Agriculture - products fruits and vegetables (grown in the few oases); camels, sheep, goats (kept by nomads) livestock, sorghum, maize, millet, beans, sunflowers, groundnuts
Airports 11 (2003 est.) 86 (2002)
Airports - with paved runways total: 3


2,438 to 3,047 m: 3 (2004 est.)
total: 10


2,438 to 3,047 m: 2


1,524 to 2,437 m: 7


914 to 1,523 m: 1 (2002)
Airports - with unpaved runways total: 8


1,524 to 2,437 m: 1


914 to 1,523 m: 4


under 914 m: 3 (2004 est.)
total: 76


1,524 to 2,437 m: 3


914 to 1,523 m: 55


under 914 m: 18 (2002)
Area total: 266,000 sq km


land: 266,000 sq km


water: 0 sq km
total: 600,370 sq km


land: 585,370 sq km


water: 15,000 sq km
Area - comparative about the size of Colorado slightly smaller than Texas
Background Morocco virtually annexed the northern two-thirds of Western Sahara (formerly Spanish Sahara) in 1976, and the rest of the territory in 1979, following Mauritania's withdrawal. A guerrilla war with the Polisario Front contesting Rabat's sovereignty ended in a 1991 UN-brokered cease-fire; a UN-organized referendum on final status has been repeatedly postponed. 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 the world's highest known rate of HIV/AIDS infection, but also one of Africa's most progressive and comprehensive programs for dealing with the disease.
Birth rate NA births/1,000 population 25.5 births/1,000 population (2003 est.)
Budget revenues: NA


expenditures: NA, including capital expenditures of NA
revenues: $2.3 billion


expenditures: $2.4 billion, including capital expenditures of $NA (FY 01/02)
Capital none Gaborone
Climate hot, dry desert; rain is rare; cold offshore air currents produce fog and heavy dew semiarid; warm winters and hot summers
Coastline 1,110 km 0 km (landlocked)
Constitution - March 1965, effective 30 September 1966
Country name conventional long form: none


conventional short form: Western Sahara


former: Spanish Sahara
conventional long form: Republic of Botswana


conventional short form: Botswana


former: Bechuanaland
Currency Moroccan dirham (MAD) pula (BWP)
Death rate NA deaths/1,000 population 31 deaths/1,000 population (2003 est.)
Debt - external NA $360 million (2002)
Diplomatic representation from the US none chief of mission: Ambassador Joseph HUGGINS


embassy: address NA, Gaborone


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


telephone: [267] 353982


FAX: [267] 312782
Diplomatic representation in the US none 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
Disputes - international Morocco claims and administers Western Sahara, whose sovereignty remains unresolved - UN-administered cease-fire has remained in effect since September 1991 but attempts to hold a referendum have failed and parties thus far have rejected all brokered proposals established a commission with Namibia to resolve small residual disputes along the Caprivi Strip, including the Situngu marshlands along the Linyanti River; downstream Botswana residents protest Namibia's planned construction of the Okavango hydroelectric dam on Popa Falls; dormant dispute remains where Botswana, Namibia, Zambia, and Zimbabwe boundaries converge
Economic aid - recipient NA $73 million (1995)
Economy - overview Western Sahara depends on pastoral nomadism, fishing, and phosphate mining as the principal sources of income for the population. The territory lacks sufficient rainfall for sustainable agricultural production, and most of the food for the urban population must be imported. All trade and other economic activities are controlled by the Moroccan Government. Moroccan energy interests in 2001 signed contracts to explore for oil off the coast of Western Sahara, which has angered the Polisario. Incomes and standards of living in Western Sahara are substantially below the Moroccan level. Botswana has maintained one of the world's highest growth rates since independence in 1966. 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 $9,500 in 2002. 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 nine-tenths of export earnings. Tourism, 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 is 21%, but unofficial estimates place it closer to 40%. HIV/AIDS infection rates are the highest in the world and threaten Botswana's impressive economic gains. Long-term prospects are overshadowed by the prospects of a leveling off in diamond mining production.
Electricity - consumption 83.7 million kWh (2001) 1.564 billion kWh (2001)
Electricity - exports 0 kWh (2001) 0 kWh (2001)
Electricity - imports 0 kWh (2001) 1.183 billion kWh (2001)
Electricity - production 90 million kWh (2001) 409.8 million kWh (2001)
Electricity - production by source - fossil fuel: 100%


hydro: 0%


nuclear: 0%


other: 0% (2001)
Elevation extremes lowest point: Sebjet Tah -55 m


highest point: unnamed location 463 m
lowest point: junction of the Limpopo and Shashe Rivers 513 m


highest point: Tsodilo Hills 1,489 m
Environment - current issues sparse water and lack of arable land overgrazing; desertification; limited fresh water resources
Environment - international agreements party to: none of the selected agreements


signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements
party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Wetlands


signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements
Ethnic groups Arab, Berber Tswana (or Setswana) 79%, Kalanga 11%, Basarwa 3%, other, including Kgalagadi and white 7%
Exchange rates Moroccan dirhams per US dollar - 9.574 (2003), 11.584 (2002), 11.303 (2001), 10.626 (2000), 9.804 (1999) pulas per US dollar - 6.33 (2002), 5.84 (2001), 5.1 (2000), 4.62 (1999), 4.23 (1998)
Executive branch none chief of state: President Festus MOGAE (since 1 April 1998) and Vice President Seretse Ian KHAMA (since 13 July 1998); note - the president is both the chief of state and head of government


head of government: President Festus MOGAE (since 1 April 1998) and Vice President Seretse Ian KHAMA (since 13 July 1998); note - the president is both the chief of state and head of government


cabinet: Cabinet appointed by the president


elections: president elected by the National Assembly for a five-year term; election last held 16 October 1999 (next to be held NA October 2004); vice president appointed by the president


election results: Festus MOGAE elected president; percent of National Assembly vote - 54.3%
Exports NA (2001) NA (2001)
Exports - commodities phosphates 62% diamonds 90%, copper, nickel, soda ash, meat, textiles
Exports - partners Morocco claims and administers Western Sahara, so trade partners are included in overall Moroccan accounts European Free Trade Association (EFTA) 87%, Southern African Customs Union (SACU) 7%, Zimbabwe 4% (2000)
Fiscal year calendar year 1 April - 31 March
Flag description - light blue with a horizontal white-edged black stripe in the center
GDP purchasing power parity - NA purchasing power parity - $13.48 billion (2002 est.)
GDP - composition by sector agriculture: NA


industry: NA


services: 40% (1996 est.)
agriculture: 4%


industry: 44% (including 36% mining)


services: 52% (2001 est.)
GDP - per capita purchasing power parity - NA purchasing power parity - $8,500 (2002 est.)
GDP - real growth rate NA 4.2% (2002 est.)
Geographic coordinates 24 30 N, 13 00 W 22 00 S, 24 00 E
Geography - note the waters off the coast are particularly rich fishing areas landlocked; population concentrated in eastern part of the country
Highways total: 6,200 km


paved: 1,350 km


unpaved: 4,850 km (1991 est)
total: 10,217 km


paved: 5,619 km


unpaved: 4,598 km (1999)
Household income or consumption by percentage share lowest 10%: NA


highest 10%: NA
lowest 10%: NA%


highest 10%: NA%
Imports NA (2001) NA (2001)
Imports - commodities fuel for fishing fleet, foodstuffs foodstuffs, machinery, electrical goods, transport equipment, textiles, fuel and petroleum products, wood and paper products, metal and metal products
Imports - partners Morocco claims and administers Western Sahara, so trade partners are included in overall Moroccan accounts (2000) Southern African Customs Union (SACU) 74%, EFTA 17%, Zimbabwe 4% (2000)
Independence - 30 September 1966 (from UK)
Industrial production growth rate NA 2.4% (2001 est.)
Industries phosphate mining, handicrafts diamonds, copper, nickel, salt, soda ash, potash; livestock processing; textiles
Infant mortality rate total: NA


male: NA


female: NA
total: 67.34 deaths/1,000 live births


male: 68.36 deaths/1,000 live births


female: 66.28 deaths/1,000 live births (2003 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices) NA 8.1% (2002 est.)
International organization participation none ACP, AfDB, C, ECA, FAO, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICCt, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, Interpol, IOC, ISO, ITU, NAM, OAU, OPCW, SACU, SADC, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WCO, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTrO
Internet Service Providers (ISPs) - 11 (2001)
Irrigated land NA sq km 10 sq km (1998 est.)
Judicial branch - High Court; Court of Appeal; Magistrates' Courts (one in each district)
Labor force 12,000 264,000 formal sector employees (2000)
Labor force - by occupation animal husbandry and subsistence farming 50% NA
Land boundaries total: 2,046 km


border countries: Algeria 42 km, Mauritania 1,561 km, Morocco 443 km
total: 4,013 km


border countries: Namibia 1,360 km, South Africa 1,840 km, Zimbabwe 813 km
Land use arable land: 0.02%


permanent crops: 0%


other: 99.98% (2001)
arable land: 0.61%


permanent crops: 0.01%


other: 99.38% (1998 est.)
Languages Hassaniya Arabic, Moroccan Arabic English (official), Setswana
Legal system - based on Roman-Dutch law and local customary law; judicial review limited to matters of interpretation; has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction
Legislative branch - bicameral Parliament consists of the House of Chiefs (a largely advisory 15-member body consisting of the chiefs of the eight principal tribes, four elected subchiefs, and three members selected by the other 12 members) and the National Assembly (44 seats, 40 members are directly elected by popular vote and 4 are appointed by the majority party; members serve five-year terms)


elections: National Assembly elections last held 16 October 1999 (next to be held NA October 2004)


election results: percent of vote by party - BDP 54.3%, BNF 24.7%, other 21%; seats by party - BDP 33, BNF 6, other 1
Life expectancy at birth total population: NA years


male: NA years


female: NA years
total population: 32.26 years


male: 32.2 years


female: 32.32 years (2003 est.)
Literacy definition: NA


total population: NA


male: NA


female: NA
definition: age 15 and over can read and write


total population: 79.8%


male: 76.9%


female: 82.4% (2003 est.)
Location Northern Africa, bordering the North Atlantic Ocean, between Mauritania and Morocco Southern Africa, north of South Africa
Map references Africa Africa
Maritime claims contingent upon resolution of sovereignty issue none (landlocked)
Military branches - Botswana Defense Force (including Army and Air Wing), Botswana National Police
Military expenditures - dollar figure NA $207.3 million (FY02)
Military expenditures - percent of GDP NA 3.5% (FY02)
Military manpower - availability - males age 15-49: 381,056 (2003 est.)
Military manpower - fit for military service - males age 15-49: 201,402 (2003 est.)
Military manpower - military age - 18 years of age (2003 est.)
Military manpower - reaching military age annually - males: 20,476 (2003 est.)
National holiday - Independence Day (Botswana Day), 30 September (1966)
Nationality noun: Sahrawi(s), Sahraoui(s)


adjective: Sahrawi,Sahrawian, Sahraouian
noun: Motswana (singular), Batswana (plural)


adjective: Motswana (singular), Batswana (plural)
Natural hazards hot, dry, dust/sand-laden sirocco wind can occur during winter and spring; widespread harmattan haze exists 60% of time, often severely restricting visibility periodic droughts; seasonal August winds blow from the west, carrying sand and dust across the country, which can obscure visibility
Natural resources phosphates, iron ore diamonds, copper, nickel, salt, soda ash, potash, coal, iron ore, silver
Net migration rate - 0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2003 est.)
Political parties and leaders - Botswana Democratic Party or BDP [Festus MOGAE]; Botswana National Front or BNF [Otswoletse MOUPO]; Botswana Congress Party or BCP [Mokgweetsi KGOSIPULA]; Botswana Alliance Movement or BAM [Ephraim Lepetu SETSHWAELO]


note: a number of minor parties joined forces in 1999 to form the BAM but did not capture any parliamentary seats; the BAM parties are: the United Action Party [Ephraim Lepetu SETSHWAELO], the Independence Freedom Party or IFP [Motsamai MPHO], and the Botswana Progressive Union [D. K. KWELE]
Political pressure groups and leaders none NA
Population 267,405 (July 2004 est.) 1,573,267


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 2003 est.)
Population below poverty line NA 47%
Population growth rate NA -0.55% (2003 est.)
Ports and harbors Ad Dakhla, Cabo Bojador, Laayoune (El Aaiun) none
Radio broadcast stations AM 2, FM 0, shortwave 0 (1998) AM 8, FM 13, shortwave 4 (2001)
Railways - total: 888 km


narrow gauge: 888 km 1.067-m gauge (2002)
Religions Muslim indigenous beliefs 85%, Christian 15%
Sex ratio NA at birth: 1.03 male(s)/female


under 15 years: 1.03 male(s)/female


15-64 years: 0.93 male(s)/female


65 years and over: 0.76 male(s)/female


total population: 0.96 male(s)/female (2003 est.)
Suffrage none; a UN-sponsored voter identification campaign not yet completed 18 years of age; universal
Telephone system general assessment: sparse and limited system


domestic: NA


international: country code - 212; tied into Morocco's system by microwave radio relay, tropospheric scatter, and satellite; satellite earth stations - 2 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean) linked to Rabat, Morocco
general assessment: the system is expanding with the growth of mobile cellular service and participation in regional development


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


international: two international exchanges; digital microwave radio relay links to Namibia, Zambia, Zimbabwe, and South Africa; satellite earth station - 1 Intelsat (Indian Ocean)
Telephones - main lines in use about 2,000 (1999 est.) 131,000 (September 2001)
Telephones - mobile cellular 0 (1999) 270,000 (September 2001)
Television broadcast stations NA 1 (2001)
Terrain mostly low, flat desert with large areas of rocky or sandy surfaces rising to small mountains in south and northeast predominantly flat to gently rolling tableland; Kalahari Desert in southwest
Total fertility rate NA children born/woman 3.27 children born/woman (2003 est.)
Unemployment rate NA 40% (official rate is 21%) (2001 est.)
Waterways - none
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