The 2008 CIA World Factbook. United States. Central Intelligence Agency

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 nearly $15,000 in 2007. 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 70–80% of export earnings. Tourism, financial services, 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 was 23.8% in 2004, but unofficial estimates place it closer to 40%. HIV/AIDS infection rates are the second highest in the world and threaten Botswana's impressive economic gains. An expected leveling off in diamond mining production overshadows long-term prospects.

      GDP (purchasing power parity):

      $26.04 billion (2007 est.)

      GDP (official exchange rate):

      $12.31 billion (2007 est.)

      GDP - real growth rate:

      4.8% (2007 est.)

      GDP - per capita (PPP):

      $14,300 (2007 est.)

      GDP - composition by sector:

      agriculture: 1.6% industry: 51.5% (including 36% mining) services: 46.9% (2006 est.)

      Labor force:

      288,400 formal sector employees (2004)

      Labor force - by occupation:

      agriculture: NA% industry: NA% services: NA%

      Unemployment rate:

      7.5% (2007 est.)

      Population below poverty line:

      30.3% (2003)

      Household income or consumption by percentage share:

      lowest 10%: NA% highest 10%: NA%

      Distribution of family income - Gini index:

      63 (1993)

      Investment (gross fixed):

      19.2% of GDP (2007 est.)

      Budget:

      revenues: $4.741 billion expenditures: $3.816 billion (2007 est.)

      Fiscal year:

      1 April - 31 March

      Public debt:

      5.4% of GDP (2007 est.)

      Inflation rate (consumer prices):

      7.1% (2007 est.)

      Central bank discount rate:

      14.5% (31 December 2007)

      Commercial bank prime lending rate:

      16.22% (31 December 2007)

      Stock of money:

      $1.026 billion (31 December 2007)

      Stock of quasi money:

      $4.336 billion (31 December 2007)

      Stock of domestic credit:

      NA

      Agriculture - products:

      livestock, sorghum, maize, millet, beans, sunflowers, groundnuts

      Industries:

      diamonds, copper, nickel, salt, soda ash, potash; livestock processing; textiles

      Industrial production growth rate:

      4.2% (2007 est.)

      Electricity - production:

      979 million kWh (2006 est.)

      Electricity - consumption:

      2.574 billion kWh (2006 est.)

      Electricity - exports:

      0 kWh (2007 est.)

      Electricity - imports:

      1.959 billion kWh (2007 est.)

      Electricity - production by source:

      fossil fuel: 100% hydro: 0% nuclear: 0% other: 0% (2001)

      Oil - production:

      0 bbl/day (2007 est.)

      Oil - consumption:

      11,640 bbl/day (2006 est.)

      Oil - exports:

      0 bbl/day (2005)

      Oil - imports:

      14,500 bbl/day (2005)

      Oil - proved reserves:

      0 bbl (1 January 2006 est.)

      Natural gas - production:

      0 cu m (2007 est.)

      Natural gas - consumption:

      0 cu m (2007 est.)

      Natural gas - exports:

      0 cu m (2007 est.)

      Natural gas - imports:

      0 cu m (2007 est.)

      Natural gas - proved reserves:

      0 cu m (1 January 2006 est.)

      Current account balance:

      $1.973 billion (2007 est.)

      Exports:

      $5.025 billion f.o.b. (2007 est.)

      Exports - commodities:

      diamonds, copper, nickel, soda ash, meat, textiles

      Exports - partners:

      European Free Trade Association (EFTA) 87%, Southern African Customs

       Union (SACU) 7%, Zimbabwe 4% (2006)

      Imports:

      $3.403 billion f.o.b. (2007 est.)

      Imports - commodities:

      foodstuffs, machinery, electrical goods, transport equipment, textiles, fuel and petroleum products, wood and paper products, metal and metal products

      Imports - partners:

      Southern African Customs Union (SACU) 74%, EFTA 17%, Zimbabwe 4% (2006)

      Economic aid - recipient:

      $70.89 million (2005)

      Reserves of foreign exchange and gold:

      $9.79 billion (31 December 2007 est.)

      Debt - external:

      $408 million (31 December 2007 est.)

      Market value of publicly traded shares:

      $3.947 billion (2006)

      Currency (code):

      pula (BWP)

      Currency code:

      BWP

      Exchange rates:

      pulas (BWP) per US dollar - 6.2035 (2007), 5.8447 (2006), 5.1104 (2005), 4.6929 (2004), 4.9499 (2003)

      Communications

       Botswana

      Telephones - main lines in use:

      136,900 (2006)

      Telephones - mobile cellular:

      1.427 million (2007)

      Telephone system:

      general assessment: the system is expanding with the growth of mobile-cellular service and participation