English
Español
中文
हिन्दी
Français
Botswana
Botswana
Declare Your Relationship to Botswana
CountryReports Community
- Studying2
- From Botswana1
- Botswana heritage1
- Visited1
- Want to visit1
Customs and Culture
Customs and Culture
About the People
Attitudes Society is founded on traditional law, with the community as the core of Tswana life and the chief as the symbol of unity. Each individual is expected to benefit the community. The more a person achieves, the greater that person’s status with the group. Anything that can benefit the group is valued. Working family members are expected to support those without jobs, and people are expected to house traveling relatives for as long as necessary.
Cultural Attributes
Individuals are expected to contribute to society rather than have the government support them. Cleanliness and neatness are important throughout the country.
Land of the Kalahari's Keepers
Greetings, Gestures & Visiting
Formal verbal greetings, accompanied by shaking the right hand while supporting one's elbow with the left hand, are used among Setswana acquaintances and when greeting an elder or one of higher social status. Elders and those approaching greet first. Greeting customs vary for other ethnic groups. For example, among the Kalanga the younger person always greets first.
Diet
Bogobe a porridge made from sorghum, maize, or millet in the northeast is a staple food. It is served soft and often soured for breakfast, and thickened for the midday and evening meals. A popular relish is made of onions, chicken stock, and tomato sauce. Goats and chickens are raised for meat. Cattle are slaughtered for special occasions such as weddings and funerals.
Family
With high unemployment few men work in South Africa, and a continuous search for employment keeps families separate. For instance, married couples who are teachers might work across the country from one another. With men so often absent, women remain primarily responsible for the family and often pursue a home-based business to supplement income.
Dating Customs
Living away from home villages (for work or schooling) has dramatically changed the way young people interact. It was once rather restricted, but the youth now meet at discos and other sites.
Recreation
One of the most popular traditional games is called stalking, which is ideally meant to teach children how to be hunters. It is usually played by eight or more players and all that is needed are two blindfolds. It sharpens listening skills and reflexes, as kids pretend to be a hunter or the springbok (an African antelope) the hunter is pursuing.
Student Life
Generally, people wake in the morning to a thinner version of porridge leftover from the previous day's meal, sometimes the porridge is enriched with soured milk and/or sugar, and tea. A thicker version of the porridge, known as bogobe, anchors the substantial midday meal, accompanied by a stew of meat and/or cabbage, spinach (or wild greens), or beans. People also use rice, but it is considered more expensive and associated with Europeans.
Holidays
Independence Day
9/30Independence Day
Dates of Interest
- September 30th
How do people greet each other in Botswana?
Formal verbal greetings are common, with a right-handed handshake while supporting your right elbow with your left hand, especially with acquaintances, elders, or people of higher social status.
Do
- Shake with the right hand while supporting your elbow with the left hand
- As an elder or someone approaching, greet first among Setswana speakers
Good to know
- Greeting customs vary by ethnic group — among the Kalanga, the younger person always greets first
What are the dining customs in Botswana?
Sharing is central to meals, with most families eating from common bowls or plates, though each person has their own cup.
Do
- Leave a little food behind to show the meal was filling
- Expect to eat with the family if you arrive at mealtime, and often help prepare the meal
Don’t
- Don't share drinks — each person has their own cup
- Don't smell food before eating it, as this implies something is wrong with it
Good to know
- Bogobe, a sorghum, maize, or millet porridge, is a staple — soured and soft for breakfast, thickened for later meals
- Phane worms dried in hot ashes are a delicacy in the northeast
- Leftovers may be kept for later or given to departing guests
What etiquette should travelers know in Botswana?
Community is at the heart of Tswana life, and cleanliness and neatness are valued throughout the country.
Do
- Value contributions that benefit the community
- Welcome unannounced visitors, especially relatives, offering water or a drink first
Good to know
- Working family members are expected to support relatives without jobs and to house traveling relatives
What should I wear in Botswana?
Western dress is common; despite the heat, urban men wear business suits with ties and women wear dresses or blouses.
Good to know
- Rural women often wear a wrap over their dresses to protect them from dirt
- Married women cover their heads with a kerchief
- Both sexes typically have very short hair
What gestures should I be aware of in Botswana?
Public displays of affection are inappropriate, and respect for elders in conversation is shown by looking toward the ground.
Don’t
- Don't show affection publicly
Good to know
- Several different gestures are used to communicate 'No thank you'
- Look toward the ground to show respect to elders during conversation
What is family life like in Botswana?
High unemployment and the search for work often keep families separated, so women remain primarily responsible for the family and often run home-based businesses.
Good to know
- Married couples may work far apart from one another
- When a couple becomes engaged, the two families negotiate the bogadi (bride price)
What do people do for recreation in Botswana?
A popular traditional game is 'stalking,' where blindfolded children play a hunter chasing a springbok to sharpen listening skills and reflexes.
Good to know
- Stalking is played by eight or more players and needs only two blindfolds
- A hunter and a springbok are blindfolded, spun, and placed in a circle for timed rounds
Last updated: 2026-07-12 · Sources: CountryReports
Photos of Botswana
Photos of Botswana
Travel and Tourism
Travel and Tourism
- Travel Alert Status
- Level 1: Exercise Normal Precautions
- Currency
- 10.21
- Time Difference
- UTC+2 (7 hours ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time)
- Climate
- Most of its area is an inhospitable semi-desert known as the Kalahari. Even the most arable sections of eastern Botswana are subject to periodic drought and unpredictable rains. Botswana straddles the Tropic of Capricorn and has an average elevation of 3,300 feet. Daily high temperatures during the hottest month, January, average in the upper 90's to over 100°F. Winter daytime temperatures generally reach 70 degrees, but with little cloud cover and no humidity to hold warmth in the air, they plummet to 30 or 40°F at night.
- Airports
- 85
- Recommended Vaccinations
- How important is it to do your research about vaccinations? It might just save your life! Make yourself aware of the different types of vaccinations and which ones you may need to travel to your destination. Schedule an appointment with your doctor at least four to six weeks before you travel to ensure you receive all important shots. Be sure that you and your family are up to date on your routine vaccinations. Which vaccinations you need will depend on a number of factors including your destination, whether you will be spending time in rural areas, the season of the year you are traveling, your age, health status, and previous immunizations.
Read the full travel guide — health, safety, vaccinations, disease risk, sanitation, and transit details.
View full travel guideRecipes
Recipes
History
History
Historical Eras
Pre-colonial Era
200 BCE – 1885
San (Bushmen) hunter-gatherers inhabited the region for millennia before Bantu-speaking Tswana peoples migrated into the area, establishing herding and farming communities under tribal chieftainships. In the early 19th century, the Mfecane — the upheavals driven by Zulu expansion — displaced and reshaped Batswana communities. Tensions with Boer settlers from the Transvaal in the 1870s and 1880s prompted Batswana chiefs to seek British protection.
Bechuanaland Protectorate
1885 – 1966
Britain formally declared Bechuanaland a protectorate in 1885, administering the northern territory directly from a seat of government in Mafikeng. Advisory councils for Africans and Europeans were established in 1920, and proclamations in 1934 regularized tribal governance. Despite pressure from South Africa to absorb the territory, Bechuanaland's inhabitants successfully resisted inclusion in the Union of South Africa, preserving a path toward independent nationhood.
Independence & Nation-Building
1966 – 1980
Botswana gained independence on 30 September 1966, with Seretse Khama — founder of the Bechuanaland Democratic Party and heir to the Bamangwato chieftainship — elected as the country's first president. The discovery of diamonds at Orapa in 1967 transformed the economic outlook of one of the world's poorest nations. Khama established democratic institutions, a nonracial constitution, and a foreign policy of principled opposition to apartheid South Africa, serving until his death in office in 1980.
Consolidation & Growth
1980 – 1999
Vice President Ketumile Masire assumed the presidency after Khama's death and guided Botswana through sustained diamond-led economic expansion, earning it one of the world's highest GDP growth rates. The Botswana Defence Force, established in 1977, was strengthened as regional instability persisted. Multiparty elections held in 1984, 1989, and 1994 reinforced the country's reputation for stable, civilian democratic governance on a continent marked by coups and conflict.
Modern Botswana
1999 – present
President Festus Mogae, who took office in 1998 and was elected in his own right in 1999, oversaw Botswana's response to a devastating HIV/AIDS epidemic — one of the world's worst — through a landmark antiretroviral treatment program. Diamond revenues funded expanded public services, though global demand fluctuations exposed economic vulnerability, prompting efforts to diversify into tourism and conservation. Landmark court victories for the San people in 2006 highlighted ongoing tensions over indigenous land rights and resource access.
Overview
The Batswana, a term also used to denote all citizens of Botswana, refers to the country’s major ethnic group (the "Tswana" in South Africa), which came into the area from South Africa during the Zulu wars of the early 1800s. Prior to European contact, the Batswana lived as herders and farmers under tribal rule.
Timeline of Key Events
1867
European gold prospectors arrive, mining begins.
European gold prospectors arrive, mining begins.
1885
British proclaim a protectorate called Bechuanaland.
British proclaim a protectorate called Bechuanaland.
1959
Copper mines are established.
Copper mines are established.
1960
Bechuanaland People’s Party (BPP) is established.
Bechuanaland People’s Party (BPP) is established.
1962
Seretse Khama founds Bechuanaland Democratic Party (BDP)
Seretse Khama founds Bechuanaland Democratic Party (BDP), later to become Botswana Democratic Party.
1966
Bechuanaland is granted independence and becomes Republic of Botswana.
Bechuanaland is granted independence and becomes Republic of Botswana with Seretse Khama as president.
1966
Joins the United Nations.
Joins the United Nations.
Read the full history profile — narrative overview, defining eras, and the complete timeline in one place.
View expanded historyInteresting Facts
Interesting Facts
When a child loses a tooth they throw their tooth on the roof and say “Mr. Moon, Mr. Moon, please bring me a new tooth.”
African elephants are different from Indian elephants. They are larger, and both male and female have tusks.
San (The San are the original inhabitants of the land and have been living there for as long as 50,000 years) gatherers carry water in ostrich eggs.
Diamonds were discovered in Botswana in 1967. It took 4 years for mining to start.
See every fact — trivia, oddities, and curious tidbits gathered from across the country.
View all interesting factsGeography and Environment
Geography and Environment
- Terrain
- predominantly flat to gently rolling tableland; Kalahari Desert in southwest
- Climate
- Most of its area is an inhospitable semi-desert known as the Kalahari. Even the most arable sections of eastern Botswana are subject to periodic drought and unpredictable rains. Botswana straddles the Tropic of Capricorn and has an average elevation of 3,300 feet. Daily high temperatures during the hottest month, January, average in the upper 90’s to over 100 degrees Fahrenheit. Winter daytime temperatures generally reach 70 degrees, but with little cloud cover and no humidity to hold warmth in the air, they plummet to 30 or 40 degrees Fahrenheit at night.
- Natural Hazards
- periodic droughts; seasonal August winds blow from the west, carrying sand and dust across the country, which can obscure visibility
- Current Environmental Issues
- overgrazing; desertification; limited fresh water resources
Read the full geography and environment profile — terrain, climate, natural resources, hazards, land use, and international agreements.
View full geographyPeople & Demographics
People & Demographics
Religion
Languages Spoken
English (official), Setswana
- English
Population
- Population
- 2,029,307
- Population in Major Urban Areas
- GABORONE (capital) 202,000
- Nationality Noun
- Motswana (singular), Batswana (plural)
- Ethnic Groups
- Tswana (or Setswana) 79%, Kalanga 11%, Basarwa 3%, other (including Kgalagadi and white) 7%
- Language Note
- English is the official language while Setswana is considered the national language. Tjikalanga is commonly spoken in northeastern Botswana.
Education
- Literacy Definition
- Age 15 and over can read and write
Health Information
- Major Infectious Diseases — degree of risk
- High
Read the full people and society profile — demographics, health, education, religion, languages, and notable people.
View full people and societyGovernment & Politics
Government & Politics
Country Identity
- Country Name
- Botswana
- Full Country Name
- Republic of Botswana
- Local - Long
- Republic of Botswana
- Local - Short
- Botswana
- Former Name
- Bechuanaland
Government Structure
- Government Type
- parliamentary republic
- Legal System
- based on Roman-Dutch law and local customary law; judicial review limited to matters of interpretation; has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction
- Executive Branch
- chief of state: President Duma BOKO (since 1 November 2024); note - the president is both the chief of state and head of government head of government: President Duma BOKO (since 1 November 2024); note - the president is both the chief of state and head of government cabinet: Cabinet appointed by the president elections: president indirectly elected by the National Assembly for a five-year term; election last held on 30 October 2024 (next to be held in 2029); vice president appointed by the president election results: Duma BOKO elected president following his Umbrella for Democratic Change coalition's victory in the general election, ending the Botswana Democratic Party's nearly six decades in power
- Legislative Branch
- bicameral Parliament consists of the House of Chiefs (a largely advisory 15-member body consisting of the chiefs of the 8 principal tribes, 4 elected subchiefs, and 3 members selected by the other 12 members) and the National Assembly (61 seats, 57 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 30 October 2004 (next to be held October 2009) election results: percent of vote by party - BDP 52%, BNF 26%, BCP 17%, other 5%; seats by party - BDP 44, BNF 12, BCP 1
- Judicial Branch
- High Court; Court of Appeal; Magistrates' Courts (one in each district)
- Suffrage
- 18 years of age; universal
- Constitution
- March 1965, effective 30 September 1966
- Independence
- 30 September 1966 (from UK)
- National Holiday
- Independence Day (Botswana Day), 30 September (1966)
Capital City
- Capital Name
- Gaborone
- Capital - geographic coordinate
- 24 38 S, 25 54 E
- Capital Time Difference
- UTC+2 (7 hours ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time)
named after GABORONE (ca. 1825-1931), a revered kgosi (chief) of the Tlokwa tribe, part of the larger Tswana ethnic group
Military
Branches: Botswana Defense Force (BDF): Ground Forces Command, Air Wing Command, Defense Logistics Command, Special Forces Group
Embassy / Diplomatic Mission
The U.S. Embassy Gaborone is located on Embassy Drive in the Government Enclave.
Mailing address: P.O. Box 90, Gaborone, Botswana
Telephone: 267 395-3982
After-hours Emergency Telephone: 267 395-7111
Fax 267 318-0232
Read the full government profile — flag symbolism, national anthem, and other national symbols.
View full government detailsEconomy
Economy
Botswana has maintained one of the world's most impressive long-term economic growth records since independence in 1966. Through fiscal discipline and prudent management of resource wealth, the country transformed itself from one of the poorest nations in the world into an upper-middle-income economy, with per capita GDP estimated at roughly $7,700 in nominal terms and over $20,000 on a purchasing power parity basis. Major credit rating agencies continue to rank Botswana among the most creditworthy nations in Africa. Diamond mining remains the cornerstone of the economy, accounting for roughly a quarter of GDP, the bulk of export earnings, and a substantial share of government revenue, though efforts to diversify have gained momentum in recent years. Tourism, financial services, beef production, and subsistence farming are other important sectors. On the downside, the government continues to grapple with persistently high unemployment and pronounced income inequality. Official unemployment has climbed above 25 percent, with youth unemployment significantly higher, and informal estimates suggest the true rate may be considerably greater. HIV/AIDS remains a serious public health challenge, though Botswana has made notable strides in expanding antiretroviral treatment access and was among the first African countries to achieve key UNAIDS targets for epidemic control, sharply reducing new infections and AIDS-related mortality compared with earlier decades. Long-term prospects are shaped by the eventual depletion of diamond reserves and softening global demand amid competition from lab-grown stones, making diversification into tourism, technology, financial services, and value-added manufacturing an increasing priority for sustainable growth.
Snapshot
- Currency Name and Code
- Pula (BWP)
- GDP — official exchange rate
- $9,046,000,000 (USD)
- GDP Real Growth Rate
- 4.5%
- Gini Index
- 63
Banknotes
Budget & Public Finance
- Fiscal Year
- 1 April - 31 March
- Annual Budget
- $3,767,000,000 (USD)
- Public Debt (% of GDP)
- 7.3%
- External Debt
- $556,000,000 (USD)
- Investment (% of GDP)
- 23.6%
- Economic Aid
- $73,000,000 (USD)
- Current Account Balance
- $562,000,000 (USD)
- Reserves of Foreign Exchange
- $2,147,483,647 (USD)
Labor, Industry & Trade
- Labor Force by Occupation
- NA
- Industries
- diamonds, copper, nickel, salt, soda ash, potash; livestock processing; textiles
- Agriculture Products
- livestock, sorghum, maize, millet, beans, sunflowers, groundnuts
- Export Commodities
- diamonds, copper, nickel, soda ash, meat, textiles
- Export Partners
- European Free Trade Association (EFTA) 87%, Southern African Customs Union (SACU) 7%, Zimbabwe 4%
- Import Commodities
- foodstuffs, machinery, electrical goods, transport equipment, textiles, fuel and petroleum products, wood and paper products, metal and metal products
- Import Partners
- Southern African Customs Union (SACU) 74%, EFTA 17%, Zimbabwe 4%
Energy
- Oil Production
- 0 bbl/day
- Oil Consumption
- 12,000 bbl/day
- Oil Reserves
- 0 bbl/day
- Natural Gas Production
- 0 cu m
- Natural Gas Consumption
- 0 cu m
- Natural Gas Imports
- 0 cu m
- Natural Gas Exports
- 0 cu m
- Natural Gas Reserves
- 0 cu m
Communications
- Telephone System
- General Assessment: Botswana is participating in regional development efforts; expanding a fully digital system with fiber-optic cables linking the major population centers in the east as well as a system of open-wire lines, microwave radio relays links, and radiotelephone communication stations Domestic: fixed-line teledensity has declined in recent years and now stands at roughly 7 telephones per 100 persons; mobile-cellular teledensity now pushing 140 telephones per 100 persons 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)
- Internet Country Code
- .bw
News & Weather
News & Weather
Current Weather
Latest News
Botswana Says Citizens Recruited for Russia War at Alarming Rate - Bloomberg.com
Bloomberg.com · 3d ago
Botswana Unites With Zimbabwe, Mozambique, Namibia and Other Global Destinations as South Africa Tourism Arrivals Strengthen in 2026, With Nearly Two Million Road Movements Driving Regional Travel Growth, Cross-Border Connections, Overnight Sta - Travel And Tour World
Travel And Tour World · 1d ago
WATCH | Botswana imports Brazilian Girolando cattle to cut dairy imports - African Farming
African Farming · 3d ago
Russia’s Fake Job Offers Are Sending Botswana Citizens to Ukraine’s Front Lines at “Alarming Rate” - UNITED24 Media
UNITED24 Media · 2d ago
Botswana says citizens are increasingly being coerced into fighting for Russia against Ukraine – Bloomberg - Українська правда
Українська правда · 2d ago
Another African country has raised the alarm to its citizens concerning Russia's alleged deception - Business Insider Africa
Business Insider Africa · 16h ago
Botswana says 'alarming rise' in citizens lured to Russia's war - Yahoo
Yahoo · 3d ago
Botswana diamond slump hits miners living on the edge of survival - Al Jazeera
Al Jazeera · 42d ago
News via Google News
Climate Overview
Most of its area is an inhospitable semi-desert known as the Kalahari. Even the most arable sections of eastern Botswana are subject to periodic drought and unpredictable rains. Botswana straddles the Tropic of Capricorn and has an average elevation of 3,300 feet. Daily high temperatures during the hottest month, January, average in the upper 90's to over 100°F. Winter daytime temperatures generally reach 70 degrees, but with little cloud cover and no humidity to hold warmth in the air, they plummet to 30 or 40°F at night.
Videos
Videos
1 curated YouTube videos.
Source: YouTube
Frequently Asked Questions
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the population of Botswana?
How do people greet each other in Botswana?
What are the dining customs in Botswana?
What etiquette should travelers know in Botswana?
What should I wear in Botswana?
What gestures should I be aware of in Botswana?
What is family life like in Botswana?
What do people do for recreation in Botswana?
What is the capital of Botswana?
Where is Botswana located?
What countries border Botswana?
What religion is practiced in Botswana?
What is the currency of Botswana?
What language is spoken in Botswana?
What is the geography of Botswana like?
What is Botswana known for?
Last reviewed 2026