Botswana ( Bechuanaland) is a country in Southern Africa, north of South Africa. Botswana geographic coordinates 22 00 S, 24 00 E; area 585,370 sq km; area comparative slightly smaller than Texas; land boundaries Namibia 1,360 km, South Africa 1,840 km, Zimbabwe 813 km; coastline 0 km (landlocked); maritime claims none (landlocked); climate semiarid; warm winters and hot summers; terrain predominantly flat to gently rolling tableland; Kalahari Desert in southwest; elevation extremes Tso; natural resources diamonds, copper, nickel, salt, soda ash, potash, coal, iron ore, silver; land use 99.34% (2001); irrigated land 10 sq km (1998 est.); natural hazards periodic droughts; seasonal August winds blow from the west, carrying sand and dust across the count; environment current issues overgrazing; desertification; limited fresh water resources; environment international agreements none of the selected agreements; geography note landlocked; population concentrated in eastern part of the country;

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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. government type parliamentary republic; capital Gaborone; administrative divisions 9 districts and 5 town councils*; Central, Francistown*, Gaborone*, Ghanzi, Jwaneng*, Kgalagadi, Kgatleng, Kweneng, Lobatse*, Northwest, Northeast, Selebi-Pikwe*, Southeast, Southern; independence 30 September 1966 (from UK); national holiday Independence Day (Botswana Day), 30 September (1966); constitution March 1965, effective 30 September 1966; legal system based on Roman-Dutch law and local customary law; judicial review limited to matters of interpretation; has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction; suffrage 18 years of age; universal;

people

Botswana population 1,640,115 estimates for this country explicit; age structure 3.8% (male 23,914/female 38,131) (2005 est.); median age 19.93 years (2005 est.); population growth rate 0% (2005 est.); birth rate 23.33 births/1,000 population (2005 est.); death rate 29.36 deaths/1,000 population (2005 est.); net migration rate 6.07 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2005 est.); sex ratio 0.96 male(s)/female (2005 est.); infant mortality rate 55.97 deaths/1,000 live births; life expectancy at birth 33.84 years (2005 est.); total fertility rate 2.85 children born/woman (2005 est.); hiv adult rate 37.3% (2003 est.); hiv people with aids 350,000 (2003 est.); hiv deaths 33,000 (2003 est.); major infectious diseases malaria (2004); nationality Motswana (singular), Bat; ethnic groups Tswana (or Setswana) 79%, Kalanga 11%, Basarwa 3%, other, including Kgalagadi and white 7%; religions indigenous beliefs 85%, Christian 15%; languages English (official), Setswana; literacy 82.4% (2003 est.);

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