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Botswana

Africa · 2.6 million

About Botswana

Botswana, officially the Republic of Botswana, is a sovereign country located in Africa, specifically within the Southern Africa subregion. Its capital and largest urban centre is Gaborone, and the country is home to approximately 2.4 million people. In its native languages, the country is known as “Botswana”, “Botswana”. English and Tswana are recognised as official or widely-spoken languages, shaping daily communication, education, government, and media throughout Botswana. The official currency in circulation is the Botswana pula (P), used for all domestic transactions and price-tagged goods. Botswana is widely recognised for the Okavango Delta, diamond mining and the world's largest elephant population. People from Botswana are referred to as Motswana.

Geography & climate

Botswana covers approximately 582,000 km² of territory, making it a large country by land area. It shares land borders with 4 neighbouring countries — a position that has historically influenced migration patterns, regional politics, and cross-border commerce. Geographically, Botswana sits in the Southern and Eastern Hemisphere, at roughly 22.0° S, 24.0° E. Standard civil time follows UTC+02:00 year-round, simplifying scheduling for residents and visitors alike. The prevailing climate of Botswana can be summarised as: kalahari & savanna with hot & semi-arid. Local weather patterns naturally vary by altitude, latitude, and proximity to oceans or mountain ranges.

People, language & society

With roughly 2.4 million inhabitants, Botswana is a modestly populated country. Linguistic life is plural here: English and Tswana are all in active use, with regional and minority tongues often adding further variety. Citizens are formally known in English as Motswana, a demonym that appears in passports, official documents, and international reporting. Economically, the Botswana pula (P) is the medium of exchange used by households and businesses, with exchange rates monitored by the country's central monetary authority.

Quick facts at a glance

Practical travel & daily-life info

Visitors planning a trip to Botswana should familiarise themselves with the capital, Gaborone, the local time zone (UTC+02:00), the local currency (Botswana pula). The international dialling prefix is +267, which is required when phoning a Botswana number from abroad. Vehicles drive on the left side of the road, an important detail for anyone renting a car or crossing a land border by vehicle. The country's top-level internet domain is .bw, used by local businesses, government sites, and many news organisations. The working week traditionally starts on Monday, which affects business hours, banking, and public holidays.

Government & global standing

Botswana is recognised internationally as a sovereign, independent state. It is a member state of the United Nations, participating in the General Assembly and various specialised UN agencies. On the global stage, Botswana is generally classified within the Africa region and more specifically the Southern Africa subregion, alongside neighbouring states with shared geographic, historical, or economic ties.

Bordering countries

Botswana shares land borders with 4 countries. Click any neighbour to read about it:

Did you know?

Nearly a third of Africa's remaining elephants — roughly 130,000 — roam here, alongside an inland delta that floods spectacularly in the heart of the Kalahari Desert.

Botswana in the GlobeIQ atlas

Inside the GlobeIQ game, Botswana appears as a tougher puzzle reserved for geography fans who can pick up subtler hints. When the daily puzzle selects this country, players progressively unlock six hints — silhouette, climate and terrain, number of land borders, region, "known for" tagline, and finally the capital city — before a flag reveal confirms the answer. On its trophy card, Botswana carries the personality tags “🐘 Elephant Kingdom” and “💎 Diamond Republic”, short flavour labels chosen to evoke the country's most recognisable cultural signatures. Adding Botswana to your personal atlas is one of 195 small wins on the road to a complete world map. Each correctly guessed nation also contributes to your running streak and unlocks milestone celebrations at 10, 25, 50, 100, and 150 collected countries.

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