Botswana

Botswana is a landlocked country in Southern Africa. It is bordered by Namibia to the west and north, Zambia to the northwest along the Zambezi River, Zimbabwe to the northeast, and South Africa to the south and southeast. The country covers about 581,730 square kilometers and lies largely within the Kalahari Desert; the Okavango Delta, one of the world's largest inland deltas, is in the northwest.

Gaborone is the capital and largest city. Other major towns include Francistown and Maun. The official language is English, while Setswana is the national language and widely spoken.

Botswana is a constitutional republic with a president who serves as head of state and government, and a multi-party parliamentary system. Botswana gained independence from the United Kingdom on 30 September 1966. Since independence, the Botswana Democratic Party has been the dominant political party.

The economy is one of the most stable and fastest-growing in Africa, with diamond mining forming the foundation of foreign exchange earnings. Debswana, a joint venture between De Beers and the government, accounts for a large share of production. Tourism, particularly wildlife and wilderness experiences in areas such as the Okavango Delta and Chobe National Park, also contributes significantly. The currency is the pula (BWP). The country has a relatively high literacy rate and a comprehensive social sector, with improvements in life expectancy and HIV management in recent decades.