Botswana
Gaborone · Southern Africa
Botswana is a country in Africa. Its capital city is Gaborone, the official currency is the Pula, and the main language is English.
With a population of roughly 2.7 million people spread over 581,730 km², Botswana is the 139th most populous country in the world and the 46th largest by area. That works out at about 5 people per square kilometre.
Botswana shares land borders with Namibia, South Africa, Zimbabwe and Zambia — 4 neighbours in all. Its largest urban centres are Gaborone, Francistown and Molepolole. The highest point in the country is Otse Hill, at 1,494 metres.
For scale, it covers almost exactly the same area as Kenya, while its population is closest to that of Qatar.
- Capital
- Gaborone
- Region
- Southern Africa
- Population
- 2,700,000
- Area
- 581,730 km²
- Currency
- Pula
- Main language
- English
- Highest point
- Otse Hill
1,494 m - Land borders
- 4
Botswana: things worth knowing
- The Kalahari covers around 70% of Botswana, a semi-arid sand basin rather than a true desert, and it supports grazing for much of the year.
- The Okavango Delta is a rare inland delta, emptying into the desert instead of the sea.
- Botswana went from one of the world's poorest countries at independence in 1966 to middle-income status, largely through diamonds.
Botswana in context
Africa has 54 sovereign countries in total. Botswana ranks 42nd among them by population.
See the full list of Africa countries, or browse all 195 countries.