Botswana Profile

This and other articles, provide a Botswana country profile including a social and economic profile together with details of daily life in Botswana, news and video. The country, with its population of 2.56 million (2025), is the 47th largest nation in the world, although some 70% of its land is covered by the Kalahari Desert. Formerly known as the British colony of Bechuanaland, Botswana gained its independence in 1966, and has maintained a stable and democratic government since that time allowing its economy to grow uninterrupted by war and conflict. This stability has led to much needed foreign investment creating one of the best performing economies in Africa. Its outputs include minerals, principally diamonds, and it has a growing tourism sector mainly due to its extensive nature preserves. Botswana invests heavily in education which is free for all, and young people generally attend school for twelve years in total.