World Factbook
Botswana
Republic of Botswana
Last updated: 2026-03-28 (today)
Flag
description: light blue with a horizontal white-edged black stripe across the middle meaning: the blue symbolizes rainwater, and the black and white bands represent racial harmony
Capital
name
Gaborone
etymology
named after GABORONE (ca. 1825-1931), a chief of the Tlokwa tribe, whose name means "it is not unbecoming"
time difference
UTC+2 (7 hours ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time)
geographic coordinates
24 38 S, 25 54 E
Suffrage
18 years of age; universal
Citizenship
citizenship by birth
no
citizenship by descent only
at least one parent must be a citizen of Botswana
dual citizenship recognized
no
residency requirement for naturalization
10 years
Constitution
history
previous 1960 (pre-independence); latest adopted March 1965, effective 30 September 1966
amendment process
proposed by the National Assembly; passage requires approval in two successive Assembly votes with at least two-thirds majority in the final vote; proposals to amend constitutional provisions on fundamental rights and freedoms, the structure and branches of government, and public services also requires approval by majority vote in a referendum and assent by the president of the republic
Country name
former
Bechuanaland
etymology
the name Botswana means "Land of the Tswana," referring to the country's largest ethnic group
local long form
Republic of Botswana
local short form
Botswana
conventional long form
Republic of Botswana
conventional short form
Botswana
Independence
30 September 1966 (from the UK)
Legal system
mixed legal system of civil law influenced by the Roman-Dutch model, including customary and common law
Government type
parliamentary republic
Judicial branch
highest court(s)
Court of Appeal, High Court (each consists of a chief justice and a number of other judges as prescribed by the Parliament)
subordinate courts
Industrial Court (with circuits scheduled monthly in the capital city and in 3 districts); Magistrates Courts (1 in each district); Customary Court of Appeal; Paramount Chief's Court/Urban Customary Court; Senior Chief's Representative Court; Chief's Representative’s Court; Headman's Court
judge selection and term of office
Court of Appeal and High Court chief justices appointed by the president and other judges appointed by the president upon the advice of the Judicial Service Commission; all judges appointed to serve until age 70
Executive branch
cabinet
Cabinet appointed by the president
chief of state
President Duma BOKO (since 1 November 2024)
election results
BOKO's UDC won 35 seats in the National Assembly, which then selected BOKO as president
head of government
President Duma BOKO (since 1 November 2024)
most recent election date
31 October 2024
election/appointment process
president indirectly elected by the National Assembly for a 5-year term (eligible for a second term); vice president appointed by the president
expected date of next election
October 2029
National holiday
Independence Day (Botswana Day), 30 September (1966)
National color(s)
light blue, white, black
National heritage
total World Heritage Sites
2 (1 cultural, 1 natural)
selected World Heritage Site locales
Tsodilo Hills (c); Okavango Delta (n)
Political parties
Alliance of Progressives or AP Botswana Congress Party or BCP Botswana Democratic Party or BDP Botswana National Front or BNF [Duma BOKO]Botswana Patriotic Front or BPF Botswana Peoples Party or BPP Botswana Republic Party or BRP Umbrella for Democratic Change or UDC (various times the coalition has included the BPP, BCP, BNF and other parties)
Legislative branch
note
note: the House of Chiefs (Ntlo ya Dikgosi), an advisory body to the National Assembly, consists of 35 members -- 8 hereditary chiefs from Botswana's principal tribes, 22 indirectly elected by the chiefs, and 5 appointed by the president; the House of Chiefs consults on issues including powers of chiefs, customary courts, customary law, tribal property, and constitutional amendments
chamber name
National Assembly
term in office
5 years
number of seats
69 (61 directly elected; 6 indirectly elected)
electoral system
plurality/majority
legislature name
Parliament
scope of elections
full renewal
legislative structure
unicameral
most recent election date
10/30/2024
expected date of next election
October 2029
percentage of women in chamber
9%
parties elected and seats per party
Umbrella for Democratic Change (UDC) (36); Botswana Congress Party (BCP) (15); Botswana Patriotic Front (BPF) (5); Botswana Democratic Party (BDP) (4); Other (1)
National anthem(s)
title
"Fatshe leno la rona" (Our Land)
history
adopted 1966
lyrics/music
Kgalemang Tumedisco MOTSETE
National symbol(s)
zebra
National coat of arms
the two zebras, the country’s national symbol, support an elephant tusk that represents the country's fauna and a head of sorghum that signifies agriculture; the three wavy blue bands stand for the country’s reliance on water, the cog wheels for industry, and the bull’s head for the cattle industry; the coat of arms also features the national colors of light blue, white, and black; the motto reflects the scarcity of rain in the country: pula means “let there be rain” in Setswana, the national language
Administrative divisions
10 districts and 6 town councils*; Central, Chobe, Francistown*, Gaborone*, Ghanzi, Jwaneng*, Kgalagadi, Kgatleng, Kweneng, Lobatse*, North East, North West, Selebi-Phikwe*, South East, Southern, Sowa Town*
Diplomatic representation in the US
FAX
[1] (202) 244-4164
chancery
1531-1533 New Hampshire Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20036
telephone
[1] (202) 244-4990
chief of mission
Ambassador Mpho Churchill MOPHUTING (since 18 September 2024)
email address and website
info@botswanaembassy.org http://www.botswanaembassy.org/
Diplomatic representation from the US
FAX
[267] 318-0232
embassy
Embassy Drive, Government Enclave (off Khama Crescent), Gaborone
telephone
[267] 395-3982
mailing address
2170 Gaborone Place, Washington DC 20521-2170
chief of mission
Ambassador Howard A. VAN VRANKEN (since 24 May 2023)
email address and website
ConsularGaborone@state.gov https://bw.usembassy.gov/
International organization participation
ACP, AfDB, AU, C, CD, FAO, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICCt, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU, ISO, ITSO, ITU, ITUC (NGOs), MIGA, MONUSCO, NAM, OPCW, SACU, SADC, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UNWTO, UPU, WCO, WFTU (NGOs), WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO
International law organization participation
accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction with reservations; accepts ICCt jurisdiction