Economic overview: Botswana has maintained one of the highest levels of growth in the world since independence in 1966. Through fiscal discipline and good governance, Botswana has grown from one of the world’s poorest countries to a country with an average per capita income of $6,600 in 2000. Diamond mining has provided most of the economic growth and accounts for over a third of GDP and generates three-quarters of export earnings. Tourism, subsistence agriculture and pastoralism are other important sectors of the economy. The government needs to deal with high unemployment and poverty. Unemployment is officially 19%, but unofficial estimates are as high as 40%. Botswana ranks first in the world in terms of the proportion of people infected with HIV and AIDS, which threatens to undo economic gains. See businesscarriers.com to know more about Botswana Economics and Business. GDP: at purchasing power parity -] $10.4 billion (2000 est.). Real GDP growth rate: 6% (2000 est.). GDP per capita: Purchasing power parity, $6,600 (2000 est.). The composition of GDP by sectors of the economy: agriculture: 4%; industry: 46% (of which 36% is in the mining sector); services: 50% (1998 est.). Proportion of population below the poverty line: 47% (1999 est.). Percentage distribution of household income or consumption: for the poorest 10% of households: n/a; by top 10% of households: no data. Inflation rate at consumer prices: 8.6% (2000 est.). Work force: 235,000 (1995). Employment structure: 100,000 employed in the public sector; 135,000 employed in the private sector, including 14,300 people employed in various mining operations in South Africa; most of the rest are engaged in cattle breeding and farming. (1995 est.). Unemployment rate: 40% (2000 est.). Budget: Revenues: $1.6 billion Expenditures: $1.8 billion, including capital expenditures of $560 million (FY96-97). Spheres of economy: mining of diamonds, copper, nickel, coal industry, extraction of salt, soda ash, potash, production of meat products. Growth in industrial production: 6.2% (2000). Electricity generation: 610 million kWh (1999). Sources of electricity generation: fossil fuels: 100%; hydropower: 0%; nuclear fuel: 0%; others: 0% (1999). Electricity consumption: 1.517 billion kWh (1999) Electricity export: 0 kWh (1999). Electricity import: 950 million kWh (1999). Agricultural products: sorghum, corn, millet, legumes, peanuts, beans, cowpeas, sunflower seeds; livestock. Exports: $2.6 billion (free on board, 2000 est.) Export items: diamonds 72%, vehicles, copper, nickel, meat products (1998). Export partners: EU 77%, South African Customs Union 18%, Zimbabwe 3% (1998). Import: $2.2 billion (free on board, 2000 est.). Imports: foodstuffs, machinery and transport equipment, textiles, oil products. Import partners: South African Customs Union (SACU) 76%, Europe 10%, South Korea 5% (1996). External debt: $455 million (2000) Economic aid recipient: $73 million (1995) Economic aid donor: Currency: pula. Currency code: BWP. Exchange rate: BWP/USD – 5.4585 (January 2001), 5.1018 (2000), 4.6244 (1999), 4.2259 (1998), 3.6508 (1997), 3.3242 (1996). Fiscal year: April 1-March 31.
Telecommunications
Telecommunications Telephone lines: 86,000 (1997). Mobile cellular phones: no data available. Telephone system: loose; domestic: a small system of landlines, microwave radio relay and a few radiotelephone stations; international: two international call points; digital microwave radio link with Zambia, Zimbabwe and the Republic of South Africa; satellite ground stations – 1 Intelsat (Indian Ocean). Broadcast stations: AM -7, FM -15, shortwave – 5 (1998). Radio receivers: 237,000 (1997). Television broadcast stations: 0 (1997). TVs: 31,000 (1997). Internet country code: bw Internet Service Providers: 3 (2000). Number of users: 12,000 (2000).
Transport
Transport Railways: total length: 888 km; narrow gauge: 888 km (1.067 m gauge) (2000). Roads: total length: 18,482 km; coated: 4,343 km; unpaved: 14,139 km (1996 est.) Ports and harbours: none. Airports: 92 (2000 est.). Airports with paved runways: total: 11; from 2438 to 3047 m: 2; from 1524 to 2437 m:8; from 914 to 1523 m:1 (2000 est.). Airports with unpaved runways: total: 81; from 1524 to 2437 m:13; from 914 to 1523 m:56; less than 914 m: 22 (2000 est.).
Armed Forces
Branches of the Armed Forces: Botswana Defense Forces (includes Army and Air Force), Botswana National Police. Enlistment age: 18 years old. Total Military Manpower: Male 15 to 49: 380,152 (2001 est.). Eligible for military service: males aged 15 to 49: 199,995 (2001 est.). Number of persons reaching military age each year: male: 19,479 (2001 est.). Military spending in dollar terms: $61 million (FY99-2000) Military spending as part of GDP: 1.2% (FY99-2000)
