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| Regions with significant populations | |
|---|---|
| Gaborone,Francistown,Ghanzi,Serowe,Lobatse[citation needed] | |
| Languages | |
| English,Afrikaans,Swedish,Dutch[1] | |
| Religion | |
| Christianity,Judaism[2] | |
| Related ethnic groups | |
| White South Africans,White Namibians,White people in Zambia,White Zimbabweans |
White Africans account for around 3% of the population ofBotswana.[3]
Botswana became a British protectorate in 1885 and gained independence as aCommonwealth nation in 1966. White settlers in Botswana, mainly Afrikaners and a small number of English-speakers, began arriving in the 1860s and primarily settled on farms near the South African border. The White population in Botswana never exceeded 3,000 individuals. The English spoken by the local population is influenced by South African dialects.[4]
The present white population in Botswana is significantly smaller compared to its neighboring countries, with a considerable portion being non-permanent residents. This demographic trend is a result of Botswana's unique history as a protectorate rather than a colony. Many white Batswana can trace their ancestry back to colonial immigrants who arrived during British rule, although the majority are now citizens of Botswana rather than British. This demographic is typically affluent, with a significant number owning and operating their own businesses.[5]
![[icon]](/mt/?noimg=&dark=on&url=http%3a%2f%2fen.wikipedia.org%2fwiki%2fFile%3aWiki_letter_w_cropped.svg) |
European people began to immigrate into what is today the nation of Botswana in the 19th century, starting with theBoer people. TheDorsland Trek in the late 19th and early 20th centuries saw thousands of Boer families migrate fromSouth Africa to present-dayNamibia by way of Botswana. Many families stayed, especially inGhanzi, which is in theKalahari Desert. White people in Botswana are primarily ofBoer/Afrikaner descent, but smaller numbers are also of British/Rhodesian ancestry as well.[6]
Additionally, there is a fairly significantSerbian community in the country, mainly families of immigrants fromYugoslavia who came beginning in the 1950s. There is a Serbian Society in Gaborone, which regularly hosts a variety of cultural events. In 2016 construction began on the firstSerbian Orthodox church in Botswana, the St. Nicholas Church.[7]
St. Sava Serbian Orthodox Church operates inGaborone.[8]
White miners came to Botswana to minegold anddiamonds.[9]
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