10 districts, four town councils*, and two city councils**: Central, Chobe, Francistown**, Gaborone**, Ghanzi, Jwaneng*, Kgalagadi, Kgatleng, Kweneng, Lobatse*, North East, North West, Selebi-Phikwe*, South East, Southern, Sowa Town*.
Population:
1,815,508 (July 2007 est.) Estimates for this country explicitly take into account the effects of excess mortality due to AIDS, this can result in lower life expectancy, higher infant mortality and death rates, lower population and growth rates, and changes in the distribution of population by age and sex than would otherwise be expected.
Languages:
English (official), Setswana
Geographic coordinates:
22° 00' S, 24° 00' E
Area total:
600,370 sq. km
Land area:
585,370 sq. km
Water area:
15,000 sq. km
Total land boundaries:
4,013 km
Borders with neighbor countries:
Namibia 1,360 km, South Africa 1,840 km, Zimbabwe 813 km
Coastline:
0 km (landlocked)
Elevation extremes:
junction of the Limpopo and Shashe Rivers 513 m - Tsodilo Hills 1,489 m
Internet country code:
.bw
Currency:
pula (BWP)
Name - conventional long form:
Republic of Botswana
Name - conventional short form:
Botswana
Former name:
Bechuanaland
Independence:
30 September 1966 (from UK)
Constitution:
March 1965, effective 30 September 1966
Government type:
parliamentary republic
National holiday:
Independence Day (Botswana Day), 30 September (1966)