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  • Title: Republic of Botswana. Country profile.
    Author: Tarver J.
    Journal: Int Demogr; 1985 Aug; 4(8):1-6. PubMed ID: 12280196.
    Abstract:
    A summary of Botswana's population characteristics, population distribution, labor force characteristics, health situation, and transportation and communication facilities is provided. 87% of the country's 941,027 inhabitants live in the catchment area of the Limpopo River in the eastern region of the country. Much of the remaining area is covered by the Kalahari Desert. The population is growing at an annual rate of 3.6%, the birth rate is 50 and the total fertility rate is 6.6. The government has no official population policy. Major ethnic groups are the cattle raising Tswanas, which make up 50% of the population, the Herero, and the Basarwa, or Bushmen, of the Kalahri Desert. Urban areas are officially defined as population centers which contain 5000 or more residents and in which at least 75% of the inhabitants are engaged in nonagricultural work. According to this classification, 84% of the population is rural; however, most rural inhabitants live in agrotowns and temporarily move to outlying cattle and land posts during part of the year. Some of the agrotowns have almost 25,000 inhabitants. Major urban centers include 1) Gaborone, the capital and major administrative center, with a popualtion of 59,657; 2) Francistown, a large commercial center, with a population of 31,065; 3) Selebi-Phikwe, a mining center, populated by 29,469; and 4) Lobatse, a livestock marketing and processing center, with 19,034 residents. The urban population increased from 54,416 to 150,021 between 1971-81. The population has a young age structure. A large number of working aged males migrate temporarily to the Republic of South Africa to work in the gold mines. 37% of the economically active population is engaged in government services, 26% in mining, manufacturing, and construction, 21% in trade and finance, 6% in transportation, utilities, and communication, and 4.5% in agriculture. Only 1.3% of the land is cultivatable. The working age population is expected to double by the end of the 20th century. Per capita income is US$392 (1982). English is the official language, but Setswana is the national language. 35% of the population, 10 years of age or older, is literate. Education is not compulsory, and 40% of those 5 years of age or older have no schooling. Recently, school enrollments increased, and 1/2 of those aged 5-19 years are currently enrolled in school. There are 170,000 housing units. In urban areas, most housing units have piped water, 1/3 have flush toilets, and 27% have either electircity or gas for lighting and cooking. In 1983, there were 15 hospitals, 7 health centers, 127 clinics, 684 health posts or mobile units, 146 doctors, 9 dentists, and 1440 nurses. The infant mortality rate declined from 102-79 between 1971-84, and life expectancy increased from 53-56 between 1971-81. The government places a high priority on improving the health status of the population, and hospital facilities are being expanded. Botswana has 13,500 kilometers of roads, of which 23% are paved. There is 1 daily newspaper with a circulation of 25,000 and a weekly newspaper with a circulation of 14,000. In 1983, the country imported 38,000 radios and televisions. There are 6,800 telephone subscribers in the country. Government sources of statistical information on Botswana are listed and an age and sex distribution pyramid is provided.
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