The first people in Botswana's territory were the Khoe and San people.[12] Botswana was first formed as the Bechuanaland Protectorate by theBritish Empire in 1885.[13][14]
People from Botswana are calledBatswana. Thepopulation of Botswana is about 2.2 million.[15] This is only 2.7 persons per km², a small number for a country of this size. This is because most of the country isdesert and very dry.
Botswana has two officiallanguages: Setswana and English. Setswana is the national language (also calledTswana).
Botswana is ademocracy. The people vote for their politicalleaders. Those leaders vote for the president. In 2008Ian Khama became the fourthpresident of Botswana.
President Khama won elections in 2009 and 2014. The current President of Botswana is Dr. Eric K. Mokgweetsi who took over from Dr. Ian Khama Seretse Khama in 2018.
Theeconomy of Botswana has been growing very fast since it became anindependent country in 1966. The people of Botswana have had the world's fastest growth instandard of living since that time.
Botswana's economy comes mostly frommining. This includesdiamonds,metals (includingcopper) andminerals (includingsalt). Botswana is the highest producer ofdiamonds by value in the world.[16] In 1999, Botswana produced over 30 millioncarats (6,000 kg) of diamonds from the three Debswana mines. That is about 25% of worldwide production. There has been an agreement withDe Beers since 1969. In 2023 a new agreement was made giving the country more of the diamonds - 30% in 2023, 40% from 2028 and 50% from 2033.[17]
Tourism is also important to the country. Many people come to Botswana each year to see itswildlife.
Thecurrency of Botswana is called thepula (which meansrain). It is made up of 100thebe (which meansshield). In 2017, one US dollar was about 10.32 pulas.[18]
TheNo. 1 Ladies' Detective Agency books by Alexander McCall Smith are set in Botswana. The HBO television series based on the books was filmed in Botswana.
↑Seabo, Batlang; Kesaobaka, Molebatsi."Botswana's Dominant Party System"(PDF).Electoral Institute for Sustainable Democracy in Africa. Retrieved9 April 2020.
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