Botswana is a country in Southern Africa, one of the 5 entries this site files under that subregion. In formal use it is Republic of Botswana. The capital is Gaborone.
Its territory runs to 582,000 km², which ranks it 48th of the 250 countries and territories in this dataset — just behind Madagascar and just ahead of Kenya. Put next to a country most people can picture, it is almost exactly the same size as Kenya.
Some 2.5 million people call it home, placing it 144th of 250 by population — between Gabon above it and Moldova below. Measured only against its own subregion, it is 3rd of 5 in size and 3rd in population.
Where Botswana is and what surrounds it
The coordinates the dataset gives are 22.0° S, 24.0° E, which puts it in the southern hemisphere, roughly 2,449 km from the equator, in what geographers would call tropical latitudes.
The Tropic of Capricorn passes across it. Paraguay, New Caledonia and Tonga sit at almost exactly the same latitude on other parts of the globe.
It borders 4 neighbours: Namibia, South Africa, Zambia and Zimbabwe. The largest of them by area is South Africa, which is also the most populous. Together those neighbours hold about 105.0 million people.
Botswana is landlocked. That is true of 45 of the 250 entries here, so all seaborne trade runs through a neighbour's ports. 2 of its neighbours, Zambia and Zimbabwe, are landlocked too. You can see the full picture on the landlocked countries page.
Map data © OpenStreetMap contributors
Population, density and language
Population divided by land area gives roughly 4.3 people per square kilometre, which makes it very thinly populated. For comparison, the median entry on this list sits near 90 per square kilometre.
People from Botswana are called Motswanas.
2 languages carry official status: English and Tswana. English, the first listed, is shared with 90 other entries worldwide.
Inside Africa it places 44th of 59 by population, and it accounts for 3.4% of everyone living in Southern Africa.
Currency, domain and dialling code
Money there is the Botswana pula (P, BWP). That currency appears nowhere else on this list.
If a quiz asks for the capital of Botswana, the answer is Gaborone.
Websites there use the .bw domain. To phone it from abroad you dial +267. Its ISO codes are bw and BWA, which is what most databases and flag files use.
As a sovereign state it is among the 193 UN members listed here. The other 57 entries are territories, dependencies or observers, which is why totals on this site run to 250 rather than the familiar 195.
Neighbouring countries
Botswana shares borders with 4 countries:
Fun facts about Botswana
- Ranked by land area, Botswana is 48th out of the 250 countries and territories on this site.
- In land area it is almost exactly the same size as Kenya.
- English is official here and in 90 other entries worldwide.
- Population density works out at roughly 4.3 people per square kilometre.
- The Botswana pula is used here and nowhere else on this list.
- It lies about 2,449 km from the equator, in tropical latitudes.
- The Tropic of Capricorn runs across or very near it.
Botswana — frequently asked questions
- What is the capital of Botswana?
- The capital of Botswana is Gaborone.
- What currency does Botswana use?
- Botswana uses the Botswana pula, written P (currency code BWP). No other entry in this dataset uses it.
- Which countries border Botswana?
- Botswana borders 4 countries: Namibia, South Africa, Zambia and Zimbabwe. South Africa is the largest of them by area.
- Is Botswana landlocked?
- Yes. Botswana has no sea coast, which makes it one of 45 landlocked entries in this dataset. Everything it imports or exports by sea has to cross a neighbour's territory first, and that transit dependency is a well-documented drag on trade costs.
- What language is spoken in Botswana?
- Botswana lists 2 official languages: English and Tswana.
- What is the population of Botswana?
- Botswana has a population of about 2.5 million, which makes it the 144th most populous of the 250 countries and territories listed on this site. Gabon sits just above it and Moldova just below.
- How big is Botswana?
- Botswana covers 582,000 km², ranking 48th of 250 by land area. That makes it almost exactly the same size as Kenya.
- Is Botswana a country?
- Yes. Botswana is a sovereign state and one of the 193 UN members listed on this site.
- Where is Botswana located?
- Botswana is in Southern Africa, part of Africa. Its reference coordinates are 22.0° south and 24.0° east, roughly 2,449 km from the equator in tropical latitudes.
