Introduction to Botswana

Book excerpt: Botswana is a landlocked country located in southern Africa. It shares borders with South Africa, Namibia, and Zimbabwe. The country has a population of approximately 2.3 million people, and the official languages are English and Setswana. Botswana has a unique history, having been one of the poorest countries in the world at independence in 1966, yet achieving significant economic growth over the following decades. The country has a high-income economy and is classified as an upper-middle-income country by the World Bank. Botswana is known for its diamond industry, which has been a major contributor to the country's economic growth. Despite its economic progress, Botswana also faces challenges such as high unemployment, income inequality, and an HIV/AIDS epidemic that affects a significant portion of the population.