lites)
other: diamond mining companies

International organization participation:

ACP, AfDB, AU, C, FAO, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICCt, ICRM, IDA,
IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, Interpol, IOC, IPU, ISO, ITSO, ITU,
ITUC, MIGA, NAM, OPCW, SACU, SADC, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UNMIS,
UNWTO, UPU, WCO, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO

Diplomatic representation in the US:

chief of mission: Ambassador Lapologang Caesar LEKOA
chancery: 1531-1533 New Hampshire Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20036
telephone: [1] (202) 244-4990
FAX: [1] (202) 244-4164

Diplomatic representation from the US:

chief of mission: Ambassador Stephen J. NOLAN
embassy: Embassy Enclave (off Khama Crescent), Gaborone
mailing address: Embassy Enclave, P. O. Box 90, Gaborone
telephone: [267] 395-3982
FAX: [267] 395-6947

Flag description:

light blue with a horizontal white-edged black stripe in the center

Economy
Botswana

Economy - overview:

Botswana has maintained one of the world's highest economic growth
rates since independence in 1966, though growth slowed to 4.7%
annually in 2006-07. Through fiscal discipline and sound management,
Botswana has transformed itself from one of the poorest countries in
the world to a middle-income country with a per capita GDP of nearly
$15,000 in 2007. Two major investment services rank Botswana as the
best credit risk in Africa. Diamond mining has fueled much of the
expansion and currently accounts for more than one-third of GDP and
for 70-80% of export earnings. Tourism, financial services,
subsistence farming, and cattle raising are other key sectors. On
the downside, the government must deal with high rates of
unemployment and poverty. Unemployment officially was 23.8% in 2004,
but unofficial estimates place it closer to 40%. HIV/AIDS infection
rates are the second highest in the world and threaten Botswana's
impressive economic gains. An expected leveling off in diamond
mining production overshadows long-term prospects.

GDP (purchasing power parity):

$26.04 billion (2007 est.)

GDP (official exchange rate):

$12.31 billion (2007 est.)

GDP - real growth rate:

4.8% (2007 est.)

GDP - per capita (PPP):

$14,300 (2007 est.)

GDP - composition by sector:

agriculture: 1.6%
industry: 51.5% (including 36% mining)
services: 46.9% (2006 est.)

Labor force:

288,400 formal sector employees (2004)

Labor force - by occupation:

agriculture: NA%
industry: NA%
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