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Botswana

• Full name: The Republic of Botswana
• Population: 1.8 million (UN, 2005)
• Capital: Gaborone
• Area: 581,730km² (224,607 miles²)
• Major languages: English (official), Setswana
• Major religions: Christianity, indigenous beliefs
• Life expectancy: 36 years (men), 37 years (women) (UN)
• Monetary unit: 1 Pula = 100 thebe
• Main exports: Diamonds, copper, nickel, beef
• GNI per capita: US$5,180 (World Bank, 2006)

Botswana, one of Africa's most stable countries, is the continent's longest continuous multi-party democracy. It is relatively free of corruption and has a good human rights record. Botswana protects some of Africa's largest areas of wilderness. It is sparsely populated, because it is so dry. The Kalahari desert, home to a dwindling band of Bushman hunter-gatherers, makes up much of the territory and most areas are too arid to sustain any agriculture other than cattle.

The only known minerals in the country at the time of independence were manganese and some gold and asbestos. Large nickel and copper deposits have since been found, as well as salt and soda ash. Vast coal deposits are also being worked, and antimony and sulfur are known to exist. Botswana's three diamond mines collectively make up one of the largest diamond reserves in the world, with stones mined by the government and a South African mining concern. Botswana is the world's largest diamond producer by value and hosts two of the world's largest diamond mines, Orapa and Jwaneng. This trade has transformed it into a middle-income nation. Deposits of plutonium and platinum have also been found.

Although Botswana's mineral wealth has made it one of the wealthiest nations in southern Africa, high unemployment remains a problem. Development of the tourist industry has been based partly on the attraction of the country's game reserves. Botswana, because of its landlocked position, remains heavily dependent on South Africa, which provides port facilities.