What every visitor should know about Botswana:

Money
The currency is the Botswana pula (BWP). 1 BWP is worth about US$0.15, or €0.11.
Crime
CrimeSafe Travel Score™: 3 out of 5 (Average)

Areas of concern:

  • Mugging
  • Pick-pocketing / bag-snatching
  • Armed robbery is frequent
Capital
Gaborone
Tap water
Not recommended. Water is usually drinkable in large cities, but quality is uneven.

Botswana facts and figures:

People

Population
1,990,876
Language
Setswana 78.2%, Kalanga 7.9%, Sekgalagadi 2.8%, English 2.1% (official), other 8.6%, unspecified 0.4%
Ethnicity
Tswana (or Setswana) 79%, Kalanga 11%, Basarwa 3%, other, including Kgalagadi and white 7%

Economy

GDP
US$15,800 (per capita)
Income equality
Low
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