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History Botswana Was a British Protectorate from 1885 Until It

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History Botswana Was a British Protectorate from 1885 Until It September 2000 History Botswana was a British Protectorate from 1885 until it achieved independence in 1966. Sir Seretse Khama was elected the country’s leader under the banner of the Botswana Democratic Party (BDP). He was succeeded in an orderly transition by Quett Ketemile Masire who retired in March 1998. The country’s current president is Festus Mogae. Most of Botswana's population is Tswana. Economy Botswana’s economic growth rate - averaging 7.3 percent between 1970 and 1995 - has been the highest in the developing world. The mining industry, particularly diamonds, currently contributes about 35 percent of Botswana’s GDP. At independence 32 years ago, mining contributed only 1 percent of GDP. Manufacturing, construction and agriculture each contribute about 3-6 percent of GDP, and there has been growth in financial, and government services in recent years. With a per capita GNP of US$3,600, Botswana is one of only a few African states classified as a lower middle-income country. The government has managed the country’s resources prudently and has kept its recurrent expenditure within its revenue, allowing for investment in human and physical capital. The government’s revenue from diamonds, as well as profits from large foreign exchange reserves of the Bank of Botswana, have largely cushioned Botswana from the recessions that have buffeted most countries in the region. Politics Botswana is a democratic republic with a 44 member national assembly, 40 of which are elected every five years on the basis of universal adult suffrage, and the other four members are appointed by the elected members of the assembly. The country’s president is elected by the National Assembly for a concurrent term of office, and the Vice President is appointed by the President. Botswana has four main political parties: the ruling Botswana Democratic Party (BDP), Botswana National Front (BNF), Botswana People’s Party (BPP) and United Action Party (UAP). Botswana’s political landscape is dominated by BDP, which in 1999 won 33 of the 40 elected parliamentary seats, but opposition parties operate freely and are represented in the National Assembly. The next parliamentary elections are due by October 2004. Development Picture/Donor Coordination There is no arrangement for donor coordination in Botswana. While Botswana has experienced extremely high rates of growth, it also experienced the most acute ravages of the HIV/AIDS epidemic, with an estimated 25 percent of the adult population infected. World Bank Role Botswana became a member of the World Bank and the International Development Association (IDA) in 1968, and is now a contributor to IDA. Cumulative commitments to Botswana include US$227 million from IBRD for 18 loans and US$16 million from IDA for 6 credits Currently there are no active Botswana Data Profile Click on the indicator to view a definition 1995 1998 1999 People Population, total 1.5 million 1.6 million 1.6 million Population density (people per sq km) 2.6 2.8 2.8 Population growth (annual %) 2.4 1.9 1.7 Life expectancy at birth, total (years) 50.0 .. 39.4 Fertility rate, total (births per woman) 4.6 .. 4.1 Mortality rate, infant (per 1,000 live births) 56.0 .. 58.1 Mortality rate, under-5 (per 1,000 live births) .. .. 95.0 Malnutrition prevalence (% of children under 5) .. .. .. Urban population (% of total) 47.7 49.3 49.8 Population density, rural (people per sq km) 222.6 231.0 .. Illiteracy rate, adult male (% of males 15+) 29.9 27.2 26.2 Illiteracy rate, adult female (% of females 15+) 25.0 21.8 21.1 School enrollment, primary (% net) 81.3 .. .. School enrollment, secondary (% net) 44.5 .. .. School enrollment, primary, female (% net) 83.2 .. .. School enrollment, secondary, female (% net) 48.7 .. .. Environment 581.7 581.7 581.7 Surface area (sq km) thousand thousand thousand Forest area (sq. km) .. .. .. Annual deforestation (% of change) .. .. .. Freshwater resources per capita (cubic meters) .. .. .. CO2 emissions, industrial (metric tons per capita) 2.4 .. .. Improved water source, urban (% of urban population with .. .. .. access) Improved sanitation facilities, urban (% of urban population .. .. .. with access) Commercial energy use (kg of oil equivalent per capita) .. .. .. Electric power consumption per capita (kwh) .. .. .. Economy GDP at market prices (current US$) 4.9 billion 4.9 billion 5.1 billion GDP growth (annual %) 5.1 6.0 5.9 GNI, Atlas method (current US$) 4.9 billion 5.1 billion 4.8 billion GNI per capita, Atlas method (current US$) 3,330.0 3,250.0 3,040.0 Inflation, GDP deflator (annual %) .. .. .. Agriculture, value added (% of GDP) 4.0 3.6 3.6 Industry, value added (% of GDP) 45.6 46.1 45.4 Services, etc., value added (% of GDP) 50.4 50.4 51.0 Exports of goods and services (% of GDP) 49.7 35.0 27.5 Imports of goods and services (% of GDP) 36.0 33.8 33.1 Gross capital formation (% of GDP) 26.9 20.6 19.7 Current revenue, excluding grants (% of GDP) 39.5 .. .. Overall budget deficit, including grants (% of GDP) 2.6 .. .. Money and quasi money growth (annual %) 12.3 39.4 26.3 Technology and infrastructure Telephone mainlines (per 1,000 people) 40.8 64.9 77.0 Telephone average cost of local call (US$ per three minutes) 0.0 .. 0.0 Personal computers (per 1,000 people) 10.3 25.5 31.0 Internet hosts (per 10,000 people) 0.2 3.7 6.0 Roads, paved (%) 48.0 56.0 55.0 Aircraft departures .. .. .. Trade and finance Trade in goods (% of PPP GDP) 47.5 42.3 44.0 Trade in goods as a share of goods GDP (%) .. .. .. High-technology exports (% of manufactured exports) .. .. .. Net barter terms of trade (1995=100) 100.0 91.4 .. Foreign direct investment, net inflows in reporting country 70.0 million 95.0 million 36.7 million (WDI, current US$) Present value of debt (current US$) 0.0 452.3 million 385.0 million Total debt service (TDS, current US$) 92.3 million 76.7 million 83.3 million Short-term debt outstanding (DOD, current US$) 10.2 million 7.4 million 19.7 million Aid per capita (current US$) 61.7 68.1 38.3 Source: World Development Indicators database, July 2000 Click here to query the database. .
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