Republic of Botswana
President: Ian Khama (2008)

Land area: 226,012 sq mi (585,371 sq km); total area: 231,803 sq mi (600,370 sq km)

Population (2008 est.): 1,842,323 (growth rate: 1.4%); birth rate: 22.9/1000; infant mortality rate: 44.0/1000; life expectancy: 50.1; density per sq km: 3

Capital and largest city (2003 est.): Gaborone, 195,000

Monetary unit: Pula

Languages: English 2% (official), Setswana 78%, Kalanga 8%, Sekgalagadi 3%, other (2001)

Ethnicity/race: Tswana (or Setswana) 79%, Kalanga 11%, Basarwa 3%, other (including Kalagadi and white) 7%

National Holiday: Independence Day (Botswana Day), September 30

Religions: Christian 72%, Badimo 6%, none 21% (2001)

Literacy rate: 81.2% (2006 est.)

Botswana
The earliest inhabitants of the region were the San, who were followed by the Tswana. About half the country today is ethnic Tswana. The term for the country's people, Batswana, refers to national rather than ethnic origin.

Encroachment by the Zulu in the 1820s and by Boers from Transvaal in the 1870s and 1880s threatened the peace of the region. In 1885, Britain established the area as a protectorate, then known as Bechuanaland. In 1961, Britain granted a constitution to the country. Self-government began in 1965, and on September 30, 1966, the country became independent. Botswana is Africa's oldest democracy.

The new country maintained good relations with its white-ruled neighbors but gradually changed its policies, harboring rebel groups from South Rhodesia as well as some from South Africa.