Botswana
July 3, 2024
Botswana
Botswana, dubbed “an excellent democratic partner” by the
have taken a different view. Though the State Department
State Department, generally performs well on governance,
reports that international observers found the most recent
economic, and human development metrics. The arid,
elections, in 2019, to be generally free and fair, the
landlocked, and sparsely populated Southern African
Umbrella for Democratic Change (UDC) opposition
country is known for its unique ecosystems, which underpin
coalition sharply questioned the integrity of the voting
a thriving tourism industry. Issues for Congress may
process in public remarks and in an unsuccessful lawsuit.
include oversight of U.S. assistance programs, which have
historically centered on combatting HIV/AIDS and
Table 1. Botswana at a Glance
supporting wildlife conservation.
Size: Slightly smaller than Texas
Politics
Population: 2.4 mil ion; 1.4% growth; 73% urban
Botswana is a multi-party democracy and scores higher
Languages: Setswana (lingua franca), English (official), other
than many African nations on indices of freedom and
(local) (2011)
transparency, despite some challenges. Constitutional
Ethnic Groups: Tswana 79%, Kalanga 11%, Basarwa 3%,
checks and balances are relatively robust, though the
other 7%
executive branch holds significant power vis-à-vis the
Religions: Christian 79%, Badimo 4%, other/unspecified 2%,
legislature. In 2018, President Masisi’s assumption of direct
none 15% (2011)
control over Botswana’s two core security services spurred
Median Age: 26.8 years
concern over further executive power centralization.
Life Expectancy: 66 years (male: 64, female: 68)
Botswana ranks 39th out of 180 countries (third-best in
HIV/AIDS Adult Prevalence (ages 15-49):
Africa) on Transparency International’s Corruption
16.4% (men 11.8%, women 21.1%) (2022
Perceptions Index, and in 2021, the Financial Action Task
Literacy Rate: 88.5% (male 88%, female 89%) (2015)
Force removed Botswana from its grey list of jurisdictions
Key Exports: Diamonds, copper, wiring, beef (2022)
with poor money laundering protections. Anti-corruption
GDP: $20.8 bil ion (total), 3.8% growth, $7,758 per capita
agencies have recorded few successful prosecutions,
however, and reportedly face political interference.
Source: CRS graphic; data from CIA World Factbook, IMF, and
The Botswana Democratic Party (BDP) has maintained a
UNAIDS databases (2023 estimates unless otherwise noted)
legislative majority and, as the legislature elects the
president, controlled the executive branch since Botswana’s
Some critics have alleged that some state policies have
independence from Britain in 1966. The BDP has
threatened the cultural and economic survival of the
prioritized economic growth and incremental institution-
aboriginal San or Basarwa, who comprise about 3% of the
strengthening built around a national identity aligned with
population.
the ethnic majority Tswana people, an approach that some
Economy
analysts have labeled “developmental nationalism.”
Botswana’s economy, which is underpinned by a free
Historically, the BDP has retained power and sought to
market system and an open investment regime, has long
project unity in part by selecting its presidential successors
enjoyed moderate but steady growth fueled by diamond
well before elections, avoiding election-year intra-party
export revenues, which have been used to decrease poverty
tensions. In 2018, then-President Ian Khama resigned in
and fund free education and healthcare. Per capita incomes
line with that model, and U.S.-educated then-Vice President
are high by regional standards, but Botswana faces
Mokgweetsi Masisi, 62, succeeded him. The two have since
extensive unemployment and has among the most unequal
engaged in public disputes, however, driven in part by
income distribution rates globally. Botswana’s heavy
Masisi’s reversal of some Khama policies (e.g., a hunting
reliance on diamonds (about 86% of total exports) leaves
ban). In 2019, BDP dissidents, including Khama, formed a
the country susceptible to global commodity price shocks.
new party, the Botswana Patriotic Front (BPF). Batswana
The COVID-19 pandemic contributed to a 8.7% GDP
authorities (Batswana is a plural adjective and noun for
contraction in 2020, leading to the first-ever World Bank
Botswana and its people) charged Khama with theft, illegal
budget aid program in Botswana. The economy recovered,
arms possession, and money laundering and seek Khama’s
expanding by 11.9% in 2021, though growth has since
extradition from South Africa, where he lives in exile.
moderated, to 5.8% in 2022 and 3.8% in 2023.
Tensions between the two leaders could hurt BDP prospects
Botswana’s diamond reserves are gradually being depleted,
in elections slated for October 2024, as could high youth
prompting state efforts to diversify the economy. These
unemployment (44% in 2023), a gradual loss of voter
efforts focus on exploiting the country’s coal reserves,
support in recent elections, and the emergence of Khama’s
exporting other mined commodities (e.g., copper) and
BPF. While Batswana elections historically have been
potentially critical minerals (e.g., manganese, nickel, and
described as free and fair, opposition parties sometimes
cobalt); and further developing local value-added
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Botswana
processing of diamonds. In 2023, Namibian and Batswana
China (PRC), which regularly provides loans, mostly for
officials reaffirmed a longstanding joint plan to build a rail
infrastructure or housing, and varied development grants.
line to service Batswana coal exports by sea.
Botswana has installed PRC firm-supplied “safe cities”
Conservation
infrastructure, including surveillance technology, and PRC
Botswana’s
firm Huawei has a training agreement with Botswana’s
government considers wildlife conservation
government. A 2022 Afrobarometer survey found that
and protection important, both for biological diversity
protection reasons, and to support ecotourism’s
Botswana was among the few Africa countries in which
significant
respondents ranked the PRC more favorably as a
contribution to the economy. About 45% of Batswana land
developmental partner and positive influence than the
is subject to conservation measures. The Okavango Delta, a
United States, albeit by relatively small margins.
large, uniquely biodiverse, wildlife-rich inland delta that
floods each year, hosts major wildlife migration routes. The
The world’s number two diamond producer after Russia,
Kalahari Desert also holds a range of unique species. Both
Botswana could gain market share as a result of G7
are draws for tourism, which contributes one in 11 jobs.
sanctions on Russian diamonds. Batswana officials,
however, have expressed opposition to these G7 measures
Threats to Botswana’s biodiversity include habitat and
over concerns that they were imposed without adequate
water source damage and loss, barriers to wildlife
consultation with Botswana; could increase the cost of
movement, invasive species, and reported climate change
Batswana diamonds; and might undermine Botswana’s
impacts. Some stakeholders assert that Botswana’s current
diamond processing industry by requiring certain diamonds
biodiversity policies and institutions are inadequate. In
be routed through Europe. Botswana voted to condemn
2014, the Khama government banned hunting, citing
Russia’s 2022 expansion of its war of aggression on
declining wildlife populations. The decision drew criticism
Ukraine at the U.N. General Assembly (UNGA), but
from some communities reliant on hunting tourism revenue
abstained from later votes on Russia’s actions.
or concerned over human-wildlife conflict and damage to
crops by animals, notably elephants. Some stakeholders
Botswana contributed to the multi-dimensional Southern
have argued that the elephant population exceeds the
African Development Community (SADC) Mission in
environment’s capacity to sustain that population. In 2019,
Mozambique (SAMIM), a military-civilian mission to
citing such concerns, President Masisi lifted the hunting
combat an Islamic State terrorist insurgency in northern
ban to permit regulated hunting, including of several
Mozambique, a U.S.-supported goal.
hundred elephants annually. The Batswana government also
Botswana opposed a 2021 African Union (AU) decision to
has pushed back against European efforts since 2022 to ban
grant Israel AU observer status. After Hamas’s October
wildlife trophy imports.
2023 attacks on Israel and Israel’s subsequent military
Botswana also has long faced challenges from organized
operation in Gaza, Botswana voted in favor of UNGA
criminal poaching, which often targets iconic, high-value
resolutions in 2023 calling for a “humanitarian truce” and a
species (e.g., rhinos, lions, and elephants). Botswana has
“humanitarian ceasefire” in the Gaza Strip.
made a concerted effort to halt poaching through
U.S. Relations and Assistance
conservation programs, law enforcement wildlife protection
The State Department views bilateral ties as “strong and
efforts, and measures to reduce human-wildlife conflicts.
grounded in a shared commitment to good governance and
HIV/AIDS
inclusion.” Botswana hosts a U.S. Agency for Global
At 16.4% in 2022 (latest UNAIDS data), Botswana has the
Media broadcasting station, a U.S. regional C-12 transport
fourth highest adult HIV/AIDS prevalence rate globally, but
aircraft, and a U.S.-funded International Law Enforcement
HIV/AIDS control is improving. In the 2000s, adult
Academy, which trains selected police from across Africa.
prevalence rates exceeded 25%, tens of thousands of
In June 2024, Botswana co-hosted with the United States
children were orphaned, and the workforce was depleted.
the U.S-facilitated African Chiefs of Defense Conference.
Care is now widely accessible and anti-retroviral therapy
U.S. bilateral aid for Botswana administered by the State
free. Botswana reportedly was the first country to achieve
the UNAIDS “95
Department and U.S. Agency for International
-95-95” HIV target (i.e., that 95% of HIV-
Development totaled $52.4 million in FY2023 (most recent
positive persons know their HIV status, of whom 95%
full-year data), with $50.6 million requested for FY2025.
receive treatment, and that 95% of this group achieve viral
Such aid has been devoted almost entirely to PEPFAR,
suppression). Incidence rates (new infections), a key
apart from a U.S. International Military Education and
epidemic control metric, declined to 3.3 new infections per
Training program. Botswana, which also benefits from U.S.
1,000 adults in 2022, down from 28.9 in 2000. Some
global or regional programs, participates in U.S. initiatives
populations are at higher risk; young women aged 15-19,
such as Prosper Africa, a trade and investment effort, and
for instance, reportedly face incidence rates almost 700%
the Young African Leaders Initiative. A minor bilateral
higher than their male counterparts. About a third of
Botswana’s
U.S. trading partner, Botswana is eligible for U.S. duty-free
national HIV/AIDS response is funded by the
U.S. President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief
African Growth and Opportunity Act trade benefits, though
its AGOA-eligible exports annually averaged a low 0.6% of
(PEPFAR); the Batswana government funds roughly 60%.
its total exports to the United States, 2014-2023
Foreign Relations
Note: Former CRS Research Assistant Abigail Martin co-
Botswana shares close economic and cultural ties with
authored this In Focus.
neighboring South Africa, its largest trading partner and a
source of employment for many Batswana. Botswana also
Nicolas Cook, Specialist in African Affairs
maintains friendly relations with the People’s Republic of
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Botswana
IF12706
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