Country profile
Botswana
Republic of Botswana · Southern Africa
👥 Population
2,562,122
World Bank · 2025
🏛 Capital
Gaborone
🗺 Area
582,000 km²
💹 GDP (nominal)
$19.93B
World Bank · 2025
📈 HDI
0.731
UNDP · 2023
📍 Pop. density
4 /km²
💱 Currency
BWP
Botswana pula
🗣 Languages
English, Tswana
About Botswana
Botswana (officially Republic of Botswana) is a country in Southern Africa, with Gaborone as its capital. It is home to roughly 2.56 million people, giving a population density of about 4 people per square kilometre. The country covers 582,000 km² of land and shares land borders with 4 neighbouring countries. Its economy is valued at approximately $19.93B in nominal GDP (2025), and it records a Human Development Index of 0.731. The official currency is the Botswana pula (BWP), and the main languages are English, Tswana.
Key indicators
Latest available data · World Bank & UNDP.
💹 Economy
GDP (PPP)
$51.78B
GDP/capita (PPP)
$20,538
GDP growth
-0.7%
Inflation
2.7%
Unemployment
24.5%
👥 People
Life expectancy
69.3 yrs
Fertility rate
2.7
Pop. growth
1.6%
Urban population
68.0%
Infant mortality /1k
32.1
🌍 Quality of Life
Internet users
57.5%
Literacy rate
81.2%
Physicians /1k
0.38
Renewable energy
27.4%
Travel & practical
Capital
Gaborone
Currency
BWP
Dialing code
+267
Internet TLD
.bw
Some links are affiliate links — we may earn a commission at no cost to you.
Fun facts about Botswana
- Botswana is the 140th most populous country in the world, with about 2.56 million people.
- By land area it is the 46th-largest country in the world, covering 582,000 km².
- It has the world's 133rd-largest economy by nominal GDP ($19.93B).
- Botswana shares land borders with 4 countries.
- It is classed by the UN as a country of high human development, with an HDI of 0.731.
- Botswana has a population density of about 4 people per square kilometre.
Namibia
South Africa
Zambia
Zimbabwe
Lesotho
Eswatini
Nigeria
Ethiopia
Egypt
DR Congo
Tanzania
Kenya