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    Botswana Background

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    Just over 1. Million people live in Botswana. Life expectancy is around 30 years. 37% of the population is believed to have HIV / AIDS. Literacy rate is just over 79%.

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    Botswana Background

    Uploaded by

    api-98469116
    96 views2 pages
    Just over 1. Million people live in Botswana. Life expectancy is around 30 years. 37% of the population is believed to have HIV / AIDS. Literacy rate is just over 79%.

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    Just over 1. Million people live in Botswana. Life expectancy is around 30 years. 37% of the population is believed to have HIV / AIDS. Literacy rate is just over 79%.

    Copyright:

    Attribution Non-Commercial (BY-NC)
    Download as PDF, TXT or read online from Scribd
    Download as pdf or txt
    96 views2 pages

    Botswana Background

    Uploaded by

    api-98469116
    Just over 1. Million people live in Botswana. Life expectancy is around 30 years. 37% of the population is believed to have HIV / AIDS. Literacy rate is just over 79%.

    Copyright:

    Attribution Non-Commercial (BY-NC)
    Download as PDF, TXT or read online from Scribd
    Download as pdf or txt
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    Botswana

    Map and Basic Facts about Botswana

    Location: Botswana is in Southern Africa, north of South Africa. Land Boundaries: Namibia 1,360 km, South Africa 1,840 km and Zimbabwe 813 km. Geography: Size 600,370 sq km, slightly smaller than Texas, US. The terrain is predominantly flat to gently rolling tableland. The great Kalahari Desert lies in the southwest of the country. The climate is semi-arid with warm winters and hot summers. The lowest point in Botswana is at the junction of the Limpopo and Shashe Rivers which measures 513 m. The highest point is at the Tsodilo Hills at 1,489 m. Botswana is landlocked and most of its population lives in the east of the country. Population: Just over 1.5 million people live in Botswana. Life expectancy is around 30 years. Birth rate is on average 3.1 per woman. 37% of the population is believed to have HIV/AIDS. Literacy rate is just over 79%.

    Languages: English (official), Setswana is spoken by most people in Botswana and there are also some indigenous languages. Ethnic Groups: Tswana (or Setswana) 79%, Kalanga 11%, Basarwa 3%, other, including Kgalagadi and white 7%. Religion: Indigenous beliefs 85% and Christian 15%. Political History: Formerly the British protectorate of Bechuanaland, Botswana adopted its new name upon independence in 1966. Four decades of uninterrupted civilian leadership, progressive social policies, and significant capital investment have created one of the most dynamic economies in Africa. Mineral extraction, principally diamond mining, dominates economic activity, though tourism is a growing sector due to the country's conservation practices and extensive nature preserves. Botswana has one of the world's highest known rates of HIV/AIDS infection, but also one of Africa's most progressive and comprehensive programs for dealing with the disease. Economic Overview: Botswana has maintained one of the world's highest growth rates since independence in 1966. Through fiscal discipline and sound management, Botswana has transformed itself from one of the poorest countries in the world to a middle-income country with a per capita GDP of $8,800 in 2003. Two major investment services rank Botswana as the best credit risk in Africa. Diamond mining has fueled much of the expansion and currently accounts for more than one-third of GDP and for nine-tenths of export earnings. Tourism, subsistence farming, and cattle raising are other key sectors. On the downside, the government must deal with high rates of unemployment and poverty. Unemployment officially is 21%, but unofficial estimates place it closer to 40%. HIV/AIDS infection rates are the highest in the world and threaten Botswana's impressive economic gains. Long-term prospects are overshadowed by the expected leveling off in diamond mining production. Source: CIA World Factbook

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