This entry lists a country's mineral, petroleum, hydropower, and other resources of commercial importance, such as rare earth elements (REEs). In general, products appear only if they make a significant contribution to the economy, or are likely to do so in the future.

Topic: Afghanistannatural gas, petroleum, coal, copper, chromite, talc, barites, sulfur, lead, zinc, iron ore, salt, precious and semiprecious stones, arable land

Topic: Albaniapetroleum, natural gas, coal, bauxite, chromite, copper, iron ore, nickel, salt, timber, hydropower, arable land

Topic: Algeriapetroleum, natural gas, iron ore, phosphates, uranium, lead, zinc

Topic: American Samoapumice, pumicite

Topic: Andorrahydropower, mineral water, timber, iron ore, lead

Topic: Angolapetroleum, diamonds, iron ore, phosphates, copper, feldspar, gold, bauxite, uranium

Topic: Anguillasalt, fish, lobster

Topic: Antarcticairon ore, chromium, copper, gold, nickel, platinum and other minerals, and coal and hydrocarbons have been found in small noncommercial quantities; mineral exploitation except for scientific research is banned by the Environmental Protocol to the Antarctic Treaty; krill, icefish, toothfish, and crab have been taken by commercial fisheries, which are managed through the Commission for the Conservation of Antarctic Living Marine Resources (CCAMLR)

Topic: Antigua and BarbudaNEGL; pleasant climate fosters tourism

Topic: Arctic Oceansand and gravel aggregates, placer deposits, polymetallic nodules, oil and gas fields, fish, marine mammals (seals and whales)

Topic: Argentinafertile plains of the pampas, lead, zinc, tin, copper, iron ore, manganese, petroleum, uranium, arable land

Topic: Armeniasmall deposits of gold, copper, molybdenum, zinc, bauxite

Topic: ArubaNEGL; white sandy beaches foster tourism

Topic: Ashmore and Cartier Islandsfish

Topic: Atlantic Oceanoil and gas fields, fish, marine mammals (seals and whales), sand and gravel aggregates, placer deposits, polymetallic nodules, precious stones

Topic: Australiaalumina, coal, iron ore, copper, tin, gold, silver, uranium, nickel, tungsten, rare earth elements, mineral sands, lead, zinc, diamonds, natural gas, petroleum; note - Australia is the world's largest net exporter of coal accounting for 29% of global coal exports

Topic: Austriaoil, coal, lignite, timber, iron ore, copper, zinc, antimony, magnesite, tungsten, graphite, salt, hydropower

Topic: Azerbaijanpetroleum, natural gas, iron ore, nonferrous metals, bauxite

Topic: Bahamas, Thesalt, aragonite, timber, arable land

Topic: Bahrainoil, associated and nonassociated natural gas, fish, pearls

Topic: Bangladeshnatural gas, arable land, timber, coal

Topic: Barbadospetroleum, fish, natural gas

Topic: Belarustimber, peat deposits, small quantities of oil and natural gas, granite, dolomitic limestone, marl, chalk, sand, gravel, clay

Topic: Belgiumconstruction materials, silica sand, carbonates, arable land

Topic: Belizearable land potential, timber, fish, hydropower

Topic: Beninsmall offshore oil deposits, limestone, marble, timber

Topic: Bermudalimestone, pleasant climate fostering tourism

Topic: Bhutantimber, hydropower, gypsum, calcium carbonate

Topic: Boliviatin, natural gas, petroleum, zinc, tungsten, antimony, silver, iron, lead, gold, timber, hydropower

Topic: Bosnia and Herzegovinacoal, iron ore, antimony, bauxite, copper, lead, zinc, chromite, cobalt, manganese, nickel, clay, gypsum, salt, sand, timber, hydropower

Topic: Botswanadiamonds, copper, nickel, salt, soda ash, potash, coal, iron ore, silver

Topic: Bouvet Islandnone

Topic: Brazilalumina, bauxite, beryllium, gold, iron ore, manganese, nickel, niobium, phosphates, platinum, tantalum, tin, rare earth elements, uranium, petroleum, hydropower, timber

Topic: British Indian Ocean Territorycoconuts, fish, sugarcane

Topic: British Virgin IslandsNEGL; pleasant climate, beaches foster tourism

Topic: Bruneipetroleum, natural gas, timber

Topic: Bulgariabauxite, copper, lead, zinc, coal, timber, arable land

Topic: Burkina Fasogold, manganese, zinc, limestone, marble, phosphates, pumice, salt

Topic: Burmapetroleum, timber, tin, antimony, zinc, copper, tungsten, lead, coal, marble, limestone, precious stones, natural gas, hydropower, arable land

Topic: Burundinickel, uranium, rare earth oxides, peat, cobalt, copper, platinum, vanadium, arable land, hydropower, niobium, tantalum, gold, tin, tungsten, kaolin, limestone

Topic: Cabo Verdesalt, basalt rock, limestone, kaolin, fish, clay, gypsum

Topic: Cambodiaoil and gas, timber, gemstones, iron ore, manganese, phosphates, hydropower potential, arable land

Topic: Cameroonpetroleum, bauxite, iron ore, timber, hydropower

Topic: Canadabauxite, iron ore, nickel, zinc, copper, gold, lead, uranium, rare earth elements, molybdenum, potash, diamonds, silver, fish, timber, wildlife, coal, petroleum, natural gas, hydropower

Topic: Cayman Islandsfish, climate and beaches that foster tourism

Topic: Central African Republicdiamonds, uranium, timber, gold, oil, hydropower

Topic: Chadpetroleum, uranium, natron, kaolin, fish (Lake Chad), gold, limestone, sand and gravel, salt

Topic: Chilecopper, timber, iron ore, nitrates, precious metals, molybdenum, hydropower

Topic: Chinacoal, iron ore, helium, petroleum, natural gas, arsenic, bismuth, cobalt, cadmium, ferrosilicon, gallium, germanium, hafnium, indium, lithium, mercury, tantalum, tellurium, tin, titanium, tungsten, antimony, manganese, magnesium, molybdenum, selenium, strontium, vanadium, magnetite, aluminum, lead, zinc, rare earth elements, uranium, hydropower potential (world's largest), arable land

Topic: Christmas Islandphosphate, beaches

Topic: Clipperton Islandfish

Topic: Cocos (Keeling) Islandsfish

Topic: Colombiapetroleum, natural gas, coal, iron ore, nickel, gold, copper, emeralds, hydropower

Topic: Comorosfish

Topic: Congo, Democratic Republic of thecobalt, copper, niobium, tantalum, petroleum, industrial and gem diamonds, gold, silver, zinc, manganese, tin, uranium, coal, hydropower, timber

Topic: Congo, Republic of thepetroleum, timber, potash, lead, zinc, uranium, copper, phosphates, gold, magnesium, natural gas, hydropower

Topic: Cook Islandscoconuts (copra)

Topic: Coral Sea Islandsfish

Topic: Costa Ricahydropower

Topic: Cote d'Ivoirepetroleum, natural gas, diamonds, manganese, iron ore, cobalt, bauxite, copper, gold, nickel, tantalum, silica sand, clay, cocoa beans, coffee, palm oil, hydropower

Topic: Croatiaoil, some coal, bauxite, low-grade iron ore, calcium, gypsum, natural asphalt, silica, mica, clays, salt, hydropower

Topic: Cubacobalt, nickel, iron ore, chromium, copper, salt, timber, silica, petroleum, arable land

Topic: Curacaocalcium phosphates, protected harbors, hot springscalcium phosphates, protected harbors, hot springs

Topic: Cypruscopper, pyrites, asbestos, gypsum, timber, salt, marble, clay earth pigment

Topic: Czechiahard coal, soft coal, kaolin, clay, graphite, timber, arable land

Topic: Denmarkpetroleum, natural gas, fish, arable land, salt, limestone, chalk, stone, gravel and sand

Topic: Djiboutipotential geothermal power, gold, clay, granite, limestone, marble, salt, diatomite, gypsum, pumice, petroleum

Topic: Dominicatimber, hydropower, arable land

Topic: Dominican Republicnickel, bauxite, gold, silver, arable land

Topic: Ecuadorpetroleum, fish, timber, hydropower

Topic: Egyptpetroleum, natural gas, iron ore, phosphates, manganese, limestone, gypsum, talc, asbestos, lead, rare earth elements, zinc

Topic: El Salvadorhydropower, geothermal power, petroleum, arable land

Topic: Equatorial Guineapetroleum, natural gas, timber, gold, bauxite, diamonds, tantalum, sand and gravel, clay

Topic: Eritreagold, potash, zinc, copper, salt, possibly oil and natural gas, fish

Topic: Estoniaoil shale, peat, rare earth elements, phosphorite, clay, limestone, sand, dolomite, arable land, sea mud

Topic: Eswatiniasbestos, coal, clay, cassiterite, hydropower, forests, small gold and diamond deposits, quarry stone, and talc

Topic: Ethiopiasmall reserves of gold, platinum, copper, potash, natural gas, hydropower

Topic: European Unioniron ore, natural gas, petroleum, coal, copper, lead, zinc, bauxite, uranium, potash, salt, hydropower, arable land, timber, fish

Topic: Falkland Islands (Islas Malvinas)fish, squid, wildlife, calcified seaweed, sphagnum moss

Topic: Faroe Islandsfish, whales, hydropower, possible oil and gas

Topic: Fijitimber, fish, gold, copper, offshore oil potential, hydropower

Topic: Finlandtimber, iron ore, copper, lead, zinc, chromite, nickel, gold, silver, limestone

Topic: Francemetropolitan France: coal, iron ore, bauxite, zinc, uranium, antimony, arsenic, potash, feldspar, fluorspar, gypsum, timber, arable land, fish, French Guiana, gold deposits, petroleum, kaolin, niobium, tantalum, clay

Topic: French Polynesiatimber, fish, cobalt, hydropower

Topic: French Southern and Antarctic Landsfish, crayfish, note, Glorioso Islands and Tromelin Island (Iles Eparses) have guano, phosphates, and coconuts

note - in the 1950's and 1960's, several species of trout were introduced to Iles Kerguelen of which two, Brown trout and Brook trout, survived to establish wild populations; reindeer were also introduced to Iles Kerguelen in 1956 as a source of fresh meat for whaling crews, the herd today, one of two in the Southern Hemisphere, is estimated to number around 4,000

Topic: Gabonpetroleum, natural gas, diamond, niobium, manganese, uranium, gold, timber, iron ore, hydropower

Topic: Gambia, Thefish, clay, silica sand, titanium (rutile and ilmenite), tin, zircon

Topic: Gaza Striparable land, natural gas

Topic: Georgiatimber, hydropower, manganese deposits, iron ore, copper, minor coal and oil deposits; coastal climate and soils allow for important tea and citrus growth

Topic: Germanycoal, lignite, natural gas, iron ore, copper, nickel, uranium, potash, salt, construction materials, timber, arable land

Topic: Ghanagold, timber, industrial diamonds, bauxite, manganese, fish, rubber, hydropower, petroleum, silver, salt, limestone

Topic: Gibraltarnone

Topic: Greecelignite, petroleum, iron ore, bauxite, lead, zinc, nickel, magnesite, marble, salt, hydropower potential

Topic: Greenlandcoal, iron ore, lead, zinc, molybdenum, diamonds, gold, platinum, niobium, tantalite, uranium, fish, seals, whales, hydropower, possible oil and gas

Topic: Grenadatimber, tropical fruit

Topic: Guamaquatic wildlife (supporting tourism), fishing (largely undeveloped)

Topic: Guatemalapetroleum, nickel, rare woods, fish, chicle, hydropower

Topic: Guernseycropland

Topic: Guineabauxite, iron ore, diamonds, gold, uranium, hydropower, fish, salt

Topic: Guinea-Bissaufish, timber, phosphates, bauxite, clay, granite, limestone, unexploited deposits of petroleum

Topic: Guyanabauxite, gold, diamonds, hardwood timber, shrimp, fish

Topic: Haitibauxite, copper, calcium carbonate, gold, marble, hydropower, arable land

Topic: Heard Island and McDonald Islandsfish

Topic: Holy See (Vatican City)none

Topic: Hondurastimber, gold, silver, copper, lead, zinc, iron ore, antimony, coal, fish, hydropower

Topic: Hong Kongoutstanding deepwater harbor, feldspar

Topic: Hungarybauxite, coal, natural gas, fertile soils, arable land

Topic: Icelandfish, hydropower, geothermal power, diatomite

Topic: Indiacoal (fourth-largest reserves in the world), antimony, iron ore, lead, manganese, mica, bauxite, rare earth elements, titanium ore, chromite, natural gas, diamonds, petroleum, limestone, arable land

Topic: Indian Oceanoil and gas fields, fish, shrimp, sand and gravel aggregates, placer deposits, polymetallic nodules

Topic: Indonesiapetroleum, tin, natural gas, nickel, timber, bauxite, copper, fertile soils, coal, gold, silver

Topic: Iranpetroleum, natural gas, coal, chromium, copper, iron ore, lead, manganese, zinc, sulfur

Topic: Iraqpetroleum, natural gas, phosphates, sulfur

Topic: Irelandnatural gas, peat, copper, lead, zinc, silver, barite, gypsum, limestone, dolomite

Topic: Isle of Mannone

Topic: Israeltimber, potash, copper ore, natural gas, phosphate rock, magnesium bromide, clays, sand

Topic: Italycoal, antimony, mercury, zinc, potash, marble, barite, asbestos, pumice, fluorspar, feldspar, pyrite (sulfur), natural gas and crude oil reserves, fish, arable land

Topic: Jamaicabauxite, alumina, gypsum, limestone

Topic: Jan Mayennone

Topic: Japannegligible mineral resources, fish, note, with virtually no natural energy resources, Japan is the world's largest importer of coal and liquefied natural gas, as well as the second largest importer of oil

Topic: Jerseyarable land

Topic: Jordanphosphates, potash, shale oil

Topic: Kazakhstanmajor deposits of petroleum, natural gas, coal, iron ore, manganese, chrome ore, nickel, cobalt, copper, molybdenum, lead, zinc, bauxite, gold, uranium

Topic: Kenyalimestone, soda ash, salt, gemstones, fluorspar, zinc, diatomite, gypsum, wildlife, hydropower

Topic: Kiribatiphosphate (production discontinued in 1979), coconuts (copra), fish

Topic: Korea, Northcoal, iron ore, limestone, magnesite, graphite, copper, zinc, lead, precious metals, hydropower

Topic: Korea, Southcoal, tungsten, graphite, molybdenum, lead, hydropower potential

Topic: Kosovonickel, lead, zinc, magnesium, lignite, kaolin, chrome, bauxite

Topic: Kuwaitpetroleum, fish, shrimp, natural gas

Topic: Kyrgyzstanabundant hydropower; gold, rare earth metals; locally exploitable coal, oil, and natural gas; other deposits of nepheline, mercury, bismuth, lead, and zinc

Topic: Laostimber, hydropower, gypsum, tin, gold, gemstones

Topic: Latviapeat, limestone, dolomite, amber, hydropower, timber, arable land

Topic: Lebanonlimestone, iron ore, salt, water-surplus state in a water-deficit region, arable land

Topic: Lesothowater, agricultural and grazing land, diamonds, sand, clay, building stone

Topic: Liberiairon ore, timber, diamonds, gold, hydropower

Topic: Libyapetroleum, natural gas, gypsum

Topic: Liechtensteinhydroelectric potential, arable land

Topic: Lithuaniapeat, arable land, amber

Topic: Luxembourgiron ore (no longer exploited), arable land

Topic: MacauNEGL

Topic: Madagascargraphite, chromite, coal, bauxite, rare earth elements, salt, quartz, tar sands, semiprecious stones, mica, fish, hydropower

Topic: Malawilimestone, arable land, hydropower, unexploited deposits of uranium, coal, and bauxite

Topic: Malaysiatin, petroleum, timber, copper, iron ore, natural gas, bauxite

Topic: Maldivesfish

Topic: Maligold, phosphates, kaolin, salt, limestone, uranium, gypsum, granite, hydropower, note, bauxite, iron ore, manganese, tin, and copper deposits are known but not exploited

Topic: Maltalimestone, salt, arable land

Topic: Marshall Islandscoconut products, marine products, deep seabed minerals

Topic: Mauritaniairon ore, gypsum, copper, phosphate, diamonds, gold, oil, fish

Topic: Mauritiusarable land, fish

Topic: Mexicopetroleum, silver, antimony, copper, gold, lead, zinc, natural gas, timber

Topic: Micronesia, Federated States oftimber, marine products, deep-seabed minerals, phosphate

Topic: Moldovalignite, phosphorites, gypsum, limestone, arable land

Topic: Monaconone

Topic: Mongoliaoil, coal, copper, molybdenum, tungsten, phosphates, tin, nickel, zinc, fluorspar, gold, silver, iron

Topic: Montenegrobauxite, hydroelectricity

Topic: MontserratNEGL

Topic: Moroccophosphates, iron ore, manganese, lead, zinc, fish, salt

Topic: Mozambiquecoal, titanium, natural gas, hydropower, tantalum, graphite

Topic: Namibiadiamonds, copper, uranium, gold, silver, lead, tin, lithium, cadmium, tungsten, zinc, salt, hydropower, fish, note, suspected deposits of oil, coal, and iron ore

Topic: Nauruphosphates, fish

Topic: Navassa Islandguano (mining discontinued in 1898)

Topic: Nepalquartz, water, timber, hydropower, scenic beauty, small deposits of lignite, copper, cobalt, iron ore

Topic: Netherlandsnatural gas, petroleum, peat, limestone, salt, sand and gravel, arable land

Topic: New Caledonianickel, chrome, iron, cobalt, manganese, silver, gold, lead, copper

Topic: New Zealandnatural gas, iron ore, sand, coal, timber, hydropower, gold, limestone

Topic: Nicaraguagold, silver, copper, tungsten, lead, zinc, timber, fish

Topic: Nigeruranium, coal, iron ore, tin, phosphates, gold, molybdenum, gypsum, salt, petroleum

Topic: Nigerianatural gas, petroleum, tin, iron ore, coal, limestone, niobium, lead, zinc, arable land

Topic: Niuearable land, fish

Topic: Norfolk Islandfish

Topic: North Macedonialow-grade iron ore, copper, lead, zinc, chromite, manganese, nickel, tungsten, gold, silver, asbestos, gypsum, timber, arable land

Topic: Northern Mariana Islandsarable land, fish

Topic: Norwaypetroleum, natural gas, iron ore, copper, lead, zinc, titanium, pyrites, nickel, fish, timber, hydropower

Topic: Omanpetroleum, copper, asbestos, some marble, limestone, chromium, gypsum, natural gas

Topic: Pacific Oceanoil and gas fields, polymetallic nodules, sand and gravel aggregates, placer deposits, fish

Topic: Pakistanarable land, extensive natural gas reserves, limited petroleum, poor quality coal, iron ore, copper, salt, limestone

Topic: Palauforests, minerals (especially gold), marine products, deep-seabed minerals

Topic: Panamacopper, mahogany forests, shrimp, hydropower

Topic: Papua New Guineagold, copper, silver, natural gas, timber, oil, fisheries

Topic: Paracel Islandsnone

Topic: Paraguayhydropower, timber, iron ore, manganese, limestone

Topic: Perucopper, silver, gold, petroleum, timber, fish, iron ore, coal, phosphate, potash, hydropower, natural gas

Topic: Philippinestimber, petroleum, nickel, cobalt, silver, gold, salt, copper

Topic: Pitcairn Islandsmiro trees (used for handicrafts), fish, note, manganese, iron, copper, gold, silver, and zinc have been discovered offshore

Topic: Polandcoal, sulfur, copper, natural gas, silver, lead, salt, amber, arable land

Topic: Portugalfish, forests (cork), iron ore, copper, zinc, tin, tungsten, silver, gold, uranium, marble, clay, gypsum, salt, arable land, hydropower

Topic: Puerto Ricosome copper and nickel; potential for onshore and offshore oil

Topic: Qatarpetroleum, fish, natural gas

Topic: Romaniapetroleum (reserves declining), timber, natural gas, coal, iron ore, salt, arable land, hydropower

Topic: Russiawide natural resource base including major deposits of oil, natural gas, coal, and many strategic minerals, bauxite, reserves of rare earth elements, timber, note, formidable obstacles of climate, terrain, and distance hinder exploitation of natural resources

Topic: Rwandagold, cassiterite (tin ore), wolframite (tungsten ore), methane, hydropower, arable land

Topic: Saint Barthelemyfew natural resources; beaches foster tourism

Topic: Saint Helena, Ascension, and Tristan da Cunhafish, lobster

Topic: Saint Kitts and Nevisarable land

Topic: Saint Luciaforests, sandy beaches, minerals (pumice), mineral springs, geothermal potential

Topic: Saint Martinsalt

Topic: Saint Pierre and Miquelonfish, deepwater ports

Topic: Saint Vincent and the Grenadineshydropower, arable land

Topic: Samoahardwood forests, fish, hydropower

Topic: San Marinobuilding stone

Topic: Sao Tome and Principefish, hydropower

Topic: Saudi Arabiapetroleum, natural gas, iron ore, gold, copper

Topic: Senegalfish, phosphates, iron ore

Topic: Serbiaoil, gas, coal, iron ore, copper, zinc, antimony, chromite, gold, silver, magnesium, pyrite, limestone, marble, salt, arable land

Topic: Seychellesfish, coconuts (copra), cinnamon trees

Topic: Sierra Leonediamonds, titanium ore, bauxite, iron ore, gold, chromite

Topic: Singaporefish, deepwater ports

Topic: Sint Maartenfish, saltfish, salt

Topic: Slovakialignite, small amounts of iron ore, copper and manganese ore; salt; arable land

Topic: Slovenialignite, lead, zinc, building stone, hydropower, forests

Topic: Solomon Islandsfish, forests, gold, bauxite, phosphates, lead, zinc, nickel

Topic: Somaliauranium and largely unexploited reserves of iron ore, tin, gypsum, bauxite, copper, salt, natural gas, likely oil reserves

Topic: South Africagold, chromium, antimony, coal, iron ore, manganese, nickel, phosphates, tin, rare earth elements, uranium, gem diamonds, platinum, copper, vanadium, salt, natural gas

Topic: South Georgia and South Sandwich Islandsfish

Topic: South Sudanhydropower, fertile agricultural land, gold, diamonds, petroleum, hardwoods, limestone, iron ore, copper, chromium ore, zinc, tungsten, mica, silver

Topic: Southern Oceanprobable large oil and gas fields on the continental margin; manganese nodules, possible placer deposits, sand and gravel, fresh water as icebergs; squid, whales, and seals - none exploited; krill, fish

Topic: Spaincoal, lignite, iron ore, copper, lead, zinc, uranium, tungsten, mercury, pyrites, magnesite, fluorspar, gypsum, sepiolite, kaolin, potash, hydropower, arable land

Topic: Spratly Islandsfish, guano, undetermined oil and natural gas potential

Topic: Sri Lankalimestone, graphite, mineral sands, gems, phosphates, clay, hydropower, arable land

Topic: Sudanpetroleum; small reserves of iron ore, copper, chromium ore, zinc, tungsten, mica, silver, gold; hydropower

Topic: Surinametimber, hydropower, fish, kaolin, shrimp, bauxite, gold, and small amounts of nickel, copper, platinum, iron ore

Topic: Svalbardcoal, iron ore, copper, zinc, phosphate, wildlife, fish

Topic: Swedeniron ore, copper, lead, zinc, gold, silver, tungsten, uranium, arsenic, feldspar, timber, hydropower

Topic: Switzerlandhydropower potential, timber, salt

Topic: Syriapetroleum, phosphates, chrome and manganese ores, asphalt, iron ore, rock salt, marble, gypsum, hydropower

Topic: Taiwansmall deposits of coal, natural gas, limestone, marble, asbestos, arable land

Topic: Tajikistanhydropower, some petroleum, uranium, mercury, brown coal, lead, zinc, antimony, tungsten, silver, gold

Topic: Tanzaniahydropower, tin, phosphates, iron ore, coal, diamonds, gemstones (including tanzanite, found only in Tanzania), gold, natural gas, nickel

Topic: Thailandtin, rubber, natural gas, tungsten, tantalum, timber, lead, fish, gypsum, lignite, fluorite, arable land

Topic: Timor-Lestegold, petroleum, natural gas, manganese, marble

Topic: Togophosphates, limestone, marble, arable land

Topic: TokelauNEGL

Topic: Tongaarable land, fish

Topic: Trinidad and Tobagopetroleum, natural gas, asphalt

Topic: Tunisiapetroleum, phosphates, iron ore, lead, zinc, salt

Topic: Turkeycoal, iron ore, copper, chromium, antimony, mercury, gold, barite, borate, celestite (strontium), emery, feldspar, limestone, magnesite, marble, perlite, pumice, pyrites (sulfur), clay, arable land, hydropower

Topic: Turkmenistanpetroleum, natural gas, sulfur, salt

Topic: Turks and Caicos Islandsspiny lobster, conch

Topic: Tuvalufish, coconut (copra)

Topic: Ugandacopper, cobalt, hydropower, limestone, salt, arable land, gold

Topic: Ukraineiron ore, coal, manganese, natural gas, oil, salt, sulfur, graphite, titanium, magnesium, kaolin, nickel, mercury, timber, arable land

Topic: United Arab Emiratespetroleum, natural gas

Topic: United Kingdomcoal, petroleum, natural gas, iron ore, lead, zinc, gold, tin, limestone, salt, clay, chalk, gypsum, potash, silica sand, slate, arable land

Topic: United Statescoal, copper, lead, molybdenum, phosphates, rare earth elements, uranium, bauxite, gold, iron, mercury, nickel, potash, silver, tungsten, zinc, petroleum, natural gas, timber, arable land;

note 1: the US has the world's largest coal reserves with 491 billion short tons accounting for 27% of the world's total

note 2: the US is reliant on foreign imports for 100% of its needs for the following strategic resources - Arsenic, Cesium, Fluorspar, Gallium, Graphite, Indium, Manganese, Niobium, Rare Earths, Rubidium, Scandium, Tantalum, Yttrium; see Appendix H: Strategic Materials for further details

Topic: United States Pacific Island Wildlife Refugesterrestrial and aquatic wildlife

Topic: Uruguayarable land, hydropower, minor minerals, fish

Topic: Uzbekistannatural gas, petroleum, coal, gold, uranium, silver, copper, lead and zinc, tungsten, molybdenum

Topic: Vanuatumanganese, hardwood forests, fish

Topic: Venezuelapetroleum, natural gas, iron ore, gold, bauxite, other minerals, hydropower, diamonds

Topic: Vietnamantimony, phosphates, coal, manganese, rare earth elements, bauxite, chromate, offshore oil and gas deposits, timber, hydropower, arable land

Topic: Virgin Islandspleasant climate, beaches foster tourism

Topic: Wake Islandnone

Topic: Wallis and FutunaNEGL

Topic: West Bankarable land

Topic: Worldthe rapid depletion of nonrenewable mineral resources, the depletion of forest areas and wetlands, the extinction of animal and plant species, and the deterioration in air and water quality pose serious long-term problems

Topic: Yemenpetroleum, fish, rock salt, marble; small deposits of coal, gold, lead, nickel, and copper; fertile soil in west

Topic: Zambiacopper, cobalt, zinc, lead, coal, emeralds, gold, silver, uranium, hydropower

Topic: Zimbabwecoal, chromium ore, asbestos, gold, nickel, copper, iron ore, vanadium, lithium, tin, platinum group metals


Topic: Photos of Sao Tome and Principe

Topic: Introduction
Background: Portugal discovered and colonized the uninhabited islands in the late 15th century, setting up a sugar-based economy that gave way to coffee and cocoa in the 19th century - all grown with African plantation slave labor, a form of which lingered into the 20th century. While independence was achieved in 1975, democratic reforms were not instituted until the late 1980s. The country held its first free elections in 1991, but frequent internal wrangling between the various political parties precipitated repeated changes in leadership and four failed, non-violent coup attempts in 1995, 1998, 2003, and 2009. In 2012, three opposition parties combined in a no confidence vote to bring down the majority government of former Prime Minister Patrice TROVOADA, but in 2014, legislative elections returned him to the office. President Evaristo CARVALHO, of the same political party as Prime Minister TROVOADA, was elected in September 2016, marking a rare instance in which the positions of president and prime minister are held by the same party. Prime Minister TROVOADA resigned at the end of 2018 and was replaced by Jorge BOM JESUS. Carlos Vila NOVA was elected president in early September 2021 and was inaugurated 2 October 2021. New oil discoveries in the Gulf of Guinea may attract increased attention to the small island nation.Portugal discovered and colonized the uninhabited islands in the late 15th century, setting up a sugar-based economy that gave way to coffee and cocoa in the 19th century - all grown with African plantation slave labor, a form of which lingered into the 20th century. While independence was achieved in 1975, democratic reforms were not instituted until the late 1980s. The country held its first free elections in 1991, but frequent internal wrangling between the various political parties precipitated repeated changes in leadership and four failed, non-violent coup attempts in 1995, 1998, 2003, and 2009. In 2012, three opposition parties combined in a no confidence vote to bring down the majority government of former Prime Minister Patrice TROVOADA, but in 2014, legislative elections returned him to the office. President Evaristo CARVALHO, of the same political party as Prime Minister TROVOADA, was elected in September 2016, marking a rare instance in which the positions of president and prime minister are held by the same party. Prime Minister TROVOADA resigned at the end of 2018 and was replaced by Jorge BOM JESUS. Carlos Vila NOVA was elected president in early September 2021 and was inaugurated 2 October 2021. New oil discoveries in the Gulf of Guinea may attract increased attention to the small island nation.Visit the Definitions and Notes page to view a description of each topic.

Topic: Geography
Location: Central Africa, islands in the Gulf of Guinea, just north of the Equator, west of Gabon
Geographic coordinates: 1 00 N, 7 00 E
Map references: Africa
Area: total: 964 sq km

land: 964 sq km

water: 0 sq km
Area - comparative: more than five times the size of Washington, DC
Land boundaries: total: 0 km
Coastline: 209 km
Maritime claims: territorial sea: 12 nm

exclusive economic zone: 200 nm

measured from claimed archipelagic baselines
Climate: tropical; hot, humid; one rainy season (October to May)
Terrain: volcanic, mountainous
Elevation: highest point: Pico de Sao Tome 2,024 m

lowest point: Atlantic Ocean 0 m
Natural resources: fish, hydropower
Land use: agricultural land: 50.7% (2018 est.)

arable land: 9.1% (2018 est.)

permanent crops: 40.6% (2018 est.)

permanent pasture: 1% (2018 est.)

forest: 28.1% (2018 est.)

other: 21.2% (2018 est.)
Irrigated land: 100 sq km (2012)
Population distribution: Sao Tome, the capital city, has roughly a quarter of the nation's population; Santo Antonio is the largest town on Principe; the northern areas of both islands have the highest population densities as shown in this population distribution map
Natural hazards: flooding
Geography - note: the second-smallest African country (after the Seychelles); the two main islands form part of a chain of extinct volcanoes and both are mountainous

Topic: People and Society
Population: 217,164 (2022 est.)
Nationality: noun: Sao Tomean(s)

adjective: Sao Tomean
Ethnic groups: Mestico, Angolares (descendants of Angolan slaves), Forros (descendants of freed slaves), Servicais (contract laborers from Angola, Mozambique, and Cabo Verde), Tongas (children of servicais born on the islands), Europeans (primarily Portuguese), Asians (mostly Chinese)
Languages: Portuguese 98.4% (official), Forro 36.2%, Cabo Verdian 8.5%, French 6.8%, Angolar 6.6%, English 4.9%, Lunguie 1%, other (including sign language) 2.4%; note - shares sum to more than 100% because some respondents gave more than one answer on the census; other Portuguese-based Creoles are also spoken (2012 est.)
Religions: Catholic 55.7%, Adventist 4.1%, Assembly of God 3.4%, New Apostolic 2.9%, Mana 2.3%, Universal Kingdom of God 2%, Jehovah's Witness 1.2%, other 6.2%, none 21.2%, unspecified 1% (2012 est.)
Demographic profile: Sao Tome and Principe’s youthful age structure – more than 60% of the population is under the age of 25 – and high fertility rate ensure future population growth. Although Sao Tome has a net negative international migration rate, emigration is not a sufficient safety valve to reduce already high levels of unemployment and poverty. While literacy and primary school attendance have improved in recent years, Sao Tome still struggles to improve its educational quality and to increase its secondary school completion rate. Despite some improvements in education and access to healthcare, Sao Tome and Principe has much to do to decrease its high poverty rate, create jobs, and increase its economic growth.The population of Sao Tome and Principe descends primarily from the islands’ colonial Portuguese settlers, who first arrived in the late 15th century, and the much larger number of African slaves brought in for sugar production and the slave trade. For about 100 years after the abolition of slavery in 1876, the population was further shaped by the widespread use of imported unskilled contract laborers from Portugal’s other African colonies, who worked on coffee and cocoa plantations. In the first decades after abolition, most workers were brought from Angola under a system similar to slavery. While Angolan laborers were technically free, they were forced or coerced into long contracts that were automatically renewed and extended to their children. Other contract workers from Mozambique and famine-stricken Cape Verde first arrived in the early 20th century under short-term contracts and had the option of repatriation, although some chose to remain in Sao Tome and Principe.Today’s Sao Tomean population consists of mesticos (creole descendants of the European immigrants and African slaves that first inhabited the islands), forros (descendants of freed African slaves), angolares (descendants of runaway African slaves that formed a community in the south of Sao Tome Island and today are fishermen), servicais (contract laborers from Angola, Mozambique, and Cape Verde), tongas (locally born children of contract laborers), and lesser numbers of Europeans and Asians.Sao Tome and Principe’s youthful age structure – more than 60% of the population is under the age of 25 – and high fertility rate ensure future population growth. Although Sao Tome has a net negative international migration rate, emigration is not a sufficient safety valve to reduce already high levels of unemployment and poverty. While literacy and primary school attendance have improved in recent years, Sao Tome still struggles to improve its educational quality and to increase its secondary school completion rate. Despite some improvements in education and access to healthcare, Sao Tome and Principe has much to do to decrease its high poverty rate, create jobs, and increase its economic growth.The population of Sao Tome and Principe descends primarily from the islands’ colonial Portuguese settlers, who first arrived in the late 15th century, and the much larger number of African slaves brought in for sugar production and the slave trade. For about 100 years after the abolition of slavery in 1876, the population was further shaped by the widespread use of imported unskilled contract laborers from Portugal’s other African colonies, who worked on coffee and cocoa plantations. In the first decades after abolition, most workers were brought from Angola under a system similar to slavery. While Angolan laborers were technically free, they were forced or coerced into long contracts that were automatically renewed and extended to their children. Other contract workers from Mozambique and famine-stricken Cape Verde first arrived in the early 20th century under short-term contracts and had the option of repatriation, although some chose to remain in Sao Tome and Principe.Today’s Sao Tomean population consists of mesticos (creole descendants of the European immigrants and African slaves that first inhabited the islands), forros (descendants of freed African slaves), angolares (descendants of runaway African slaves that formed a community in the south of Sao Tome Island and today are fishermen), servicais (contract laborers from Angola, Mozambique, and Cape Verde), tongas (locally born children of contract laborers), and lesser numbers of Europeans and Asians.
Age structure: 0-14 years: 39.77% (male 42,690/female 41,277)

15-24 years: 21.59% (male 23,088/female 22,487)

25-54 years: 31.61% (male 32,900/female 33,834)

55-64 years: 4.17% (male 4,095/female 4,700)

65 years and over: 2.87% (male 2,631/female 3,420) (2020 est.)
Dependency ratios: total dependency ratio: 81

youth dependency ratio: 75.6

elderly dependency ratio: 5.4

potential support ratio: 18.4 (2020 est.)
Median age: total: 19.3 years

male: 18.9 years

female: 19.7 years (2020 est.)
Population growth rate: 1.48% (2022 est.)
Birth rate: 28.19 births/1,000 population (2022 est.)
Death rate: 6.2 deaths/1,000 population (2022 est.)
Net migration rate: -7.19 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2022 est.)
Population distribution: Sao Tome, the capital city, has roughly a quarter of the nation's population; Santo Antonio is the largest town on Principe; the northern areas of both islands have the highest population densities as shown in this population distribution map
Urbanization: urban population: 75.8% of total population (2022)

rate of urbanization: 2.96% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)
Major urban areas - population: 80,000 SAO TOME (capital) (2018)
Sex ratio: at birth: 1.03 male(s)/female

0-14 years: 1.03 male(s)/female

15-24 years: 1.03 male(s)/female

25-54 years: 0.97 male(s)/female

55-64 years: 0.88 male(s)/female

65 years and over: 0.7 male(s)/female

total population: 1 male(s)/female (2022 est.)
Mother's mean age at first birth: 19.4 years (2008/09 est.)

note: median age at first birth among women 25-29
Maternal mortality ratio: 130 deaths/100,000 live births (2017 est.)
Infant mortality rate: total: 44.38 deaths/1,000 live births

male: 47.82 deaths/1,000 live births

female: 40.84 deaths/1,000 live births (2022 est.)
Life expectancy at birth: total population: 67.06 years

male: 65.44 years

female: 68.72 years (2022 est.)
Total fertility rate: 3.56 children born/woman (2022 est.)
Contraceptive prevalence rate: 49.7% (2019)
Drinking water source: improved: urban: 100% of population

rural: 94% of population

total: 98.5% of population

unimproved: urban: 0% of population

rural: 6% of population

total: 1.5% of population (2020 est.)
Current Health Expenditure: 5.5% (2019)
Physicians density: 0.05 physicians/1,000 population (2017)
Hospital bed density: 2.9 beds/1,000 population (2011)
Sanitation facility access: improved: urban: 57.1% of population

rural: 42.8% of population

total: 53.4% of population

unimproved: urban: 42.9% of population

rural: 57.2% of population

total: 46.6% of population (2020 est.)
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate: 0.3% (2020)
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS: <1,000 (2020)
HIV/AIDS - deaths: <100 (2020)
Major infectious diseases: degree of risk: high (2020)

food or waterborne diseases: bacterial diarrhea, hepatitis A, and typhoid fever

vectorborne diseases: malaria and dengue fever

water contact diseases: schistosomiasis
Obesity - adult prevalence rate: 12.4% (2016)
Children under the age of 5 years underweight: 5.4% (2019)
Child marriage: women married by age 15: 5.4% (2019)

women married by age 18: 28% (2019)

men married by age 18: 3.1% (2019 est.)
Education expenditures: 5.9% of GDP (2019)
Literacy: definition: age 15 and over can read and write

total population: 92.8%

male: 96.2%

female: 89.5% (2018)
School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education): total: 12 years

male: 12 years

female: 13 years (2015)
Unemployment, youth ages 15-24: total: 20.8%

male: NA

female: NA (2012 est.)

Topic: Environment
Environment - current issues: deforestation and illegal logging; soil erosion and exhaustion; inadequate sewage treatment in cities; biodiversity preservation
Environment - international agreements: party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Climate Change-Paris Agreement, Desertification, Endangered Species, Environmental Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Wetlands, Whaling

signed, but not ratified: Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban
Air pollutants: particulate matter emissions: 25.66 micrograms per cubic meter (2016 est.)

carbon dioxide emissions: 0.12 megatons (2016 est.)

methane emissions: 0.04 megatons (2020 est.)
Climate: tropical; hot, humid; one rainy season (October to May)
Land use: agricultural land: 50.7% (2018 est.)

arable land: 9.1% (2018 est.)

permanent crops: 40.6% (2018 est.)

permanent pasture: 1% (2018 est.)

forest: 28.1% (2018 est.)

other: 21.2% (2018 est.)
Urbanization: urban population: 75.8% of total population (2022)

rate of urbanization: 2.96% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)
Revenue from forest resources: forest revenues: 1.9% of GDP (2018 est.)
Revenue from coal: coal revenues: 0% of GDP (2018 est.)
Major infectious diseases: degree of risk: high (2020)

food or waterborne diseases: bacterial diarrhea, hepatitis A, and typhoid fever

vectorborne diseases: malaria and dengue fever

water contact diseases: schistosomiasis
Waste and recycling: municipal solid waste generated annually: 25,587 tons (2014 est.)
Total water withdrawal: municipal: 14.7 million cubic meters (2017 est.)

industrial: 600,000 cubic meters (2017 est.)

agricultural: 25.6 million cubic meters (2017 est.)
Total renewable water resources: 2.18 billion cubic meters (2017 est.)

Topic: Government
Country name: conventional long form: Democratic Republic of Sao Tome and Principe

conventional short form: Sao Tome and Principe

local long form: Republica Democratica de Sao Tome e Principe

local short form: Sao Tome e Principe

etymology: Sao Tome was named after Saint THOMAS the Apostle by the Portuguese who discovered the island on 21 December 1470 (or 1471), the saint's feast day; Principe is a shortening of the original Portuguese name of "Ilha do Principe" (Isle of the Prince) referring to the Prince of Portugal to whom duties on the island's sugar crop were paid
Government type: semi-presidential republic
Capital: name: Sao Tome

geographic coordinates: 0 20 N, 6 44 E

time difference: UTC 0 (5 hours ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time)

etymology: named after Saint Thomas the Apostle
Administrative divisions: 6 districts (distritos, singular - distrito), 1 autonomous region* (regiao autonoma); Agua Grande, Cantagalo, Caue, Lemba, Lobata, Me-Zochi, Principe*
Independence: 12 July 1975 (from Portugal)
National holiday: Independence Day, 12 July (1975)
Constitution: history: approved 5 November 1975

amendments: proposed by the National Assembly; passage requires two-thirds majority vote by the Assembly; the Assembly can propose to the president of the republic that an amendment be submitted to a referendum; revised several times, last in 2006
Legal system: mixed legal system of civil law based on the Portuguese model and customary law
International law organization participation: has not submitted an ICJ jurisdiction declaration; non-party state to the ICCt
Citizenship: citizenship by birth: no

citizenship by descent only: at least one parent must be a citizen of Sao Tome and Principe

dual citizenship recognized: no

residency requirement for naturalization: 5 years
Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal
Executive branch: chief of state: President Carlos Manuel VILA NOVA (since 2 October 2021)

head of government: Prime Minister Jorge BOM JESUS (since 3 December 2018)

cabinet: Council of Ministers proposed by the prime minister, appointed by the president

elections/appointments: president directly elected by absolute majority popular vote in 2 rounds if needed for a 5-year term (eligible for a second term); election last held on 18 July 2021 and runoff on 5 September 2021 (next to be held in 2026); prime minister chosen by the National Assembly and approved by the president

election results:
2021: Carlos Manuel VILA NOVA elected president in the second round; percent of vote in the first round - Carlos Manuel VILA NOVA (IDA) 39.5%; Guilherme POSSER DA COSTA (MLSTP-PSD) 20.8%; Delfim NEVES (PCD-GR) 16.9%; Abel BOM JESUS (independent) 3.6%; Maria DAS NEVES (independent) 3.3%; other 15.9%; percent of the vote in the second round - Carlos Manuel VILA NOVA (IDA) 57.5%, Guilherme POSSER DA COSTA (MLSTP-PSD) 42.5%; note - VILA NOVA is scheduled to take office 29 September 2021

2016: Evaristo CARVALHO elected president; percent of vote - Evaristo CARVALHO (ADI) 49.8%, Manuel Pinto DA COSTA (independent) 24.8%, Maria DAS NEVES (MLSTP-PSD) 24.1%; note - first round results for CARVALHO were revised downward from just over 50%, prompting the 7 August runoff; however, on 1 August 2016 DA COSTA withdrew from the runoff, citing voting irregularities, and CARVALHO was declared the winner
Legislative branch: description: unicameral National Assembly or Assembleia Nacional (55 seats; members directly elected in multi-seat constituencies by closed party-list proportional representation vote to serve 4-year terms)

elections: last held on 7 October 2018 (next to be held in October 2022)

election results: percent of vote by party - ADI 41.8%, MLSTP/PSD 40.3%, PCD-GR 9.5%, MCISTP 2.1%, other 6.3%; seats by party - ADI 25, MLSTP-PSD 23, PCD-MDFM-UDD 5, MCISTP 2; composition - men 45, women 10, percent of women 18.2%
Judicial branch: highest courts: Supreme Court or Supremo Tribunal Justica (consists of 5 judges); Constitutional Court or Tribunal Constitucional (consists of 5 judges, 3 of whom are from the Supreme Court)

judge selection and term of office: Supreme Court judges appointed by the National Assembly; judge tenure NA; Constitutional Court judges nominated by the president and elected by the National Assembly for 5-year terms

subordinate courts: Court of First Instance; Audit Court
Political parties and leaders: Force for Democratic Change Movement or MDFM [Fradique Bandeira Melo DE MENEZES]
Independent Democratic Action or ADI [vacant]
Movement for the Liberation of Sao Tome and Principe-Social Democratic Party or MLSTP-PSD [Aurelio MARTINS]
Party for Democratic Convergence-Reflection Group or PCD-GR [Leonel Mario D'ALVA]
other small parties
International organization participation: ACP, AfDB, AOSIS, AU, CD, CEMAC, CPLP, EITI (candidate country), FAO, G-77, IBRD, ICAO, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, IOM (observer), IPU, ITU, ITUC (NGOs), MIGA, NAM, OIF, OPCW, PCA, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, Union Latina, UNWTO, UPU, WCO, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO (observer)
Diplomatic representation in the US: chief of mission: Ambassador Carlos Filomeno Azevedo Agostinho das NEVES (since 3 December 2013)

chancery: 675 Third Avenue, Suite 1807, New York, NY 10017

telephone: [1] (212) 651-8116

FAX: [1] (212) 651-8117

email address and website:
rdstppmun@gmail.com
Diplomatic representation from the US: embassy: the US does not have an embassy in Sao Tome and Principe; the US Ambassador to Gabon is accredited to Sao Tome and Principe

mailing address: 2290 Sao Tome Place, Washington DC  20521-2290
Flag description: three horizontal bands of green (top), yellow (double width), and green with two black five-pointed stars placed side by side in the center of the yellow band and a red isosceles triangle based on the hoist side; green stands for the country's rich vegetation, red recalls the struggle for independence, and yellow represents cocoa, one of the country's main agricultural products; the two stars symbolize the two main islands

note: uses the popular Pan-African colors of Ethiopia
National symbol(s): palm tree; national colors: green, yellow, red, black
National anthem: name: "Independencia total" (Total Independence)

lyrics/music: Alda Neves DA GRACA do Espirito Santo/Manuel dos Santos Barreto de Sousa e ALMEIDA

note: adopted 1975

Topic: Economy
Economic overview: The economy of São Tomé and Príncipe is small, based mainly on agricultural production, and, since independence in 1975, increasingly dependent on the export of cocoa beans. Cocoa production has substantially declined in recent years because of drought and mismanagement. Sao Tome depends heavily on imports of food, fuels, most manufactured goods, and consumer goods, and changes in commodity prices affect the country’s inflation rate. Maintaining control of inflation, fiscal discipline, and increasing flows of foreign direct investment into the nascent oil sector are major economic problems facing the country. In recent years the government has attempted to reduce price controls and subsidies. In 2017, several business-related laws were enacted that aim to improve the business climate.São Tomé and Príncipe has had difficulty servicing its external debt and has relied heavily on concessional aid and debt rescheduling. In April 2011, the country completed a Threshold Country Program with The Millennium Challenge Corporation to help increase tax revenues, reform customs, and improve the business environment. In 2016, Sao Tome and Portugal signed a five-year cooperation agreement worth approximately $64 million, some of which will be provided as loans. In 2017, China and São Tomé signed a mutual cooperation agreement in areas such as infrastructure, health, and agriculture worth approximately $146 million over five years.Considerable potential exists for development of tourism, and the government has taken steps to expand tourist facilities in recent years. Potential also exists for the development of petroleum resources in São Tomé and Príncipe's territorial waters in the oil-rich Gulf of Guinea, some of which are being jointly developed in a 60-40 split with Nigeria, but production is at least several years off.Volatile aid and investment inflows have limited growth, and poverty remains high. Restricteded capacity at the main port increases the periodic risk of shortages of consumer goods. Contract enforcement in the country’s judicial system is difficult. The IMF in late 2016 expressed concern about vulnerabilities in the country’s banking sector, although the country plans some austerity measures in line with IMF recommendations under their three year extended credit facility. Deforestation, coastal erosion, poor waste management, and misuse of natural resources also are challenging issues.The economy of São Tomé and Príncipe is small, based mainly on agricultural production, and, since independence in 1975, increasingly dependent on the export of cocoa beans. Cocoa production has substantially declined in recent years because of drought and mismanagement. Sao Tome depends heavily on imports of food, fuels, most manufactured goods, and consumer goods, and changes in commodity prices affect the country’s inflation rate. Maintaining control of inflation, fiscal discipline, and increasing flows of foreign direct investment into the nascent oil sector are major economic problems facing the country. In recent years the government has attempted to reduce price controls and subsidies. In 2017, several business-related laws were enacted that aim to improve the business climate.São Tomé and Príncipe has had difficulty servicing its external debt and has relied heavily on concessional aid and debt rescheduling. In April 2011, the country completed a Threshold Country Program with The Millennium Challenge Corporation to help increase tax revenues, reform customs, and improve the business environment. In 2016, Sao Tome and Portugal signed a five-year cooperation agreement worth approximately $64 million, some of which will be provided as loans. In 2017, China and São Tomé signed a mutual cooperation agreement in areas such as infrastructure, health, and agriculture worth approximately $146 million over five years.Considerable potential exists for development of tourism, and the government has taken steps to expand tourist facilities in recent years. Potential also exists for the development of petroleum resources in São Tomé and Príncipe's territorial waters in the oil-rich Gulf of Guinea, some of which are being jointly developed in a 60-40 split with Nigeria, but production is at least several years off.Volatile aid and investment inflows have limited growth, and poverty remains high. Restricteded capacity at the main port increases the periodic risk of shortages of consumer goods. Contract enforcement in the country’s judicial system is difficult. The IMF in late 2016 expressed concern about vulnerabilities in the country’s banking sector, although the country plans some austerity measures in line with IMF recommendations under their three year extended credit facility. Deforestation, coastal erosion, poor waste management, and misuse of natural resources also are challenging issues.
Real GDP (purchasing power parity): $890 million (2020 est.)

$860 million (2019 est.)

$840 million (2018 est.)

note: data are in 2017 dollars
Real GDP growth rate: 3.9% (2017 est.)

4.2% (2016 est.)

3.8% (2015 est.)
Real GDP per capita: $4,100 (2020 est.)

$4,000 (2019 est.)

$4,000 (2018 est.)

note: data are in 2017 dollars
GDP (official exchange rate): $0 (2018 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices): 7.8% (2018 est.)

5.6% (2017 est.)

5.7% (2017 est.)
GDP - composition, by sector of origin: agriculture: 11.8% (2017 est.)

industry: 14.8% (2017 est.)

services: 73.4% (2017 est.)
GDP - composition, by end use: household consumption: 81.4% (2017 est.)

government consumption: 17.6% (2017 est.)

investment in fixed capital: 33.4% (2017 est.)

investment in inventories: 0% (2017 est.)

exports of goods and services: 7.9% (2017 est.)

imports of goods and services: -40.4% (2017 est.)
Agricultural products: plantains, oil palm fruit, coconuts, taro, bananas, fruit, cocoa, yams, cassava, maize
Industries: light construction, textiles, soap, beer, fish processing, timber
Industrial production growth rate: 5% (2017 est.)
Labor force: 72,600 (2017 est.)
Labor force - by occupation: agriculture: 26.1%

industry: 21.4%

services: 52.5% (2014 est.)
Unemployment rate: 12.2% (2017 est.)

12.6% (2016 est.)
Unemployment, youth ages 15-24: total: 20.8%

male: NA

female: NA (2012 est.)
Population below poverty line: 66.7% (2017 est.)
Gini Index coefficient - distribution of family income: 56.3 (2017 est.)

32.1 (2000 est.)
Household income or consumption by percentage share: lowest 10%: NA

highest 10%: NA
Budget: revenues: 103 million (2017 est.)

expenditures: 112.4 million (2017 est.)
Budget surplus (+) or deficit (-): -2.4% (of GDP) (2017 est.)
Public debt: 88.4% of GDP (2017 est.)

93.1% of GDP (2016 est.)
Taxes and other revenues: 26.2% (of GDP) (2017 est.)
Fiscal year: calendar year
Current account balance: -$32 million (2017 est.)

-$23 million (2016 est.)
Exports: $50 million note: data are in current year dollars (2020 est.)

$70 million note: data are in current year dollars (2019 est.)

$100 million note: data are in current year dollars (2018 est.)
Exports - partners: Singapore 30%, Switzerland 24%, France 11%, Poland 7%, Belgium 7%, United States 5% (2019)
Exports - commodities: gas turbines, cocoa beans, aircraft parts, iron products, chocolate (2019)
Imports: $160 million note: data are in current year dollars (2020 est.)

$190 million note: data are in current year dollars (2019 est.)

$200 million note: data are in current year dollars (2018 est.)
Imports - partners: Portugal 41%, Angola 17%, China 8% (2019 )
Imports - commodities: refined petroleum, cars, rice, flavored water, postage stamps (2019)
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold: $58.95 million (31 December 2017 est.)

$61.5 million (31 December 2016 est.)
Debt - external: $292.9 million (31 December 2017 est.)

$308.5 million (31 December 2016 est.)
Exchange rates: dobras (STD) per US dollar -

22,689 (2017 est.)

21,797 (2016 est.)

22,149 (2015 est.)

22,091 (2014 est.)

18,466 (2013 est.)

Topic: Energy
Electricity access: electrification - total population: 71% (2019)

electrification - urban areas: 87% (2019)

electrification - rural areas: 25% (2019)
Electricity - production: 66 million kWh (2016 est.)
Electricity - consumption: 61.38 million kWh (2016 est.)
Electricity - exports: 0 kWh (2016)
Electricity - imports: 0 kWh (2016 est.)
Electricity - installed generating capacity: 18,100 kW (2016 est.)
Electricity - from fossil fuels: 88% of total installed capacity (2016 est.)
Electricity - from nuclear fuels: 0% of total installed capacity (2017 est.)
Electricity - from hydroelectric plants: 11% of total installed capacity (2017 est.)
Electricity - from other renewable sources: 1% of total installed capacity (2017 est.)
Crude oil - production: 0 bbl/day (2018 est.)
Crude oil - exports: 0 bbl/day (2015 est.)
Crude oil - imports: 0 bbl/day (2015 est.)
Crude oil - proved reserves: 0 bbl (1 January 2018)
Refined petroleum products - production: 0 bbl/day (2017 est.)
Refined petroleum products - consumption: 1,000 bbl/day (2016 est.)
Refined petroleum products - exports: 0 bbl/day (2015 est.)
Refined petroleum products - imports: 1,027 bbl/day (2015 est.)
Natural gas - production: 0 cu m (2017 est.)
Natural gas - consumption: 0 cu m (2017 est.)
Natural gas - exports: 0 cu m (2017 est.)
Natural gas - imports: 0 cu m (2017 est.)
Natural gas - proved reserves: 0 cu m (1 January 2014 est.)

Topic: Communications
Telephones - fixed lines: total subscriptions: 2,720 (2020)

subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 1.24 (2020 est.)
Telephones - mobile cellular: total subscriptions: 174,203 (2020)

subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 79.49 (2020 est.)
Telecommunication systems: general assessment: local telephone network of adequate quality with most lines connected to digital switches; mobile cellular superior choice to landland; dial-up quality low; broadband expensive (2018)

domestic: fixed-line roughly 1 per 100 and mobile-cellular teledensity roughly 79 telephones per 100 persons (2020)

international: country code - 239; landing points for the Ultramar GE and ACE submarine cables from South Africa to over 20 West African countries and Europe; satellite earth station - 1 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean) (2019)

note: the COVID-19 pandemic continues to have a significant impact on production and supply chains globally; since 2020, some aspects of the telecom sector have experienced downturn, particularly in mobile device production; many network operators delayed upgrades to infrastructure; progress towards 5G implementation was postponed or slowed in some countries; consumer spending on telecom services and devices was affected by large-scale job losses and the consequent restriction on disposable incomes; the crucial nature of telecom services as a tool for work and school from home became evident, and received some support from governments
Broadcast media: 1 government-owned TV station; 1 government-owned radio station; 3 independent local radio stations authorized in 2005 with 2 operating at the end of 2006; transmissions of multiple international broadcasters are available
Internet country code: .st
Internet users: total: 65,000 (2020 est.)

percent of population: 29.93% (2019 est.)
Broadband - fixed subscriptions: total: 2,512 (2021)

subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 1.15 (2021)

Topic: Transportation
National air transport system: number of registered air carriers: 1 (2020)

inventory of registered aircraft operated by air carriers: 1
Civil aircraft registration country code prefix: S9
Airports: total: 2 (2021)
Airports - with paved runways: total: 2

1,524 to 2,437 m: 1

914 to 1,523 m: 1 (2021)
Roadways: total: 1,300 km (2018)

paved: 230 km (2018)

unpaved: 1,070 km (2018)
Merchant marine: total: 22

by type: general cargo 13, oil tanker 2, other 7 (2021)
Ports and terminals: major seaport(s): Sao Tome

Topic: Military and Security
Military and security forces: Armed Forces of Sao Tome and Principe (Forcas Armadas de Sao Tome e Principe, FASTP): Army, Coast Guard of Sao Tome e Principe (Guarda Costeira de Sao Tome e Principe, GCSTP), Presidential Guard, National Guard (2021)
Military expenditures: Not available
Military and security service personnel strengths: the FASTP has approximately 400-500 personnel (2021)
Military equipment inventories and acquisitions: the FASTP is lightly and poorly armed (2021)
Military service age and obligation: 18 is the legal minimum age for compulsory military service; 17 is the legal minimum age for voluntary service (2021)
Military - note: the FASTP is one of the smallest militaries in Africa and consists of only a few companies of ground troops and a few small patrol boats; as of 2021, it did not have an air forcethe FASTP is one of the smallest militaries in Africa and consists of only a few companies of ground troops and a few small patrol boats; as of 2021, it did not have an air force
Maritime threats: the International Maritime Bureau reports the territorial and offshore waters in the Niger Delta and Gulf of Guinea remain a very high risk for piracy and armed robbery of ships; in 2021, there were 34 reported incidents of piracy and armed robbery at sea in the Gulf of Guinea region; although a significant decrease from the total number of 81 incidents in 2020, it included the one hijacking and three of five ships fired upon worldwide; while boarding and attempted boarding to steal valuables from ships and crews are the most common types of incidents, almost a third of all incidents involve a hijacking and/or kidnapping; in 2021, 57 crew members were kidnapped in seven separate incidents in the Gulf of Guinea, representing 100% of kidnappings worldwide; Nigerian pirates in particular are well armed and very aggressive, operating as far as 200 nm offshore; the Maritime Administration of the US Department of Transportation has issued a Maritime Advisory (2022-001 - Gulf of Guinea-Piracy/Armed Robbery/Kidnapping for Ransom) effective 4 January 2022, which states in part, "Piracy, armed robbery, and kidnapping for ransom continue to serve as significant threats to US-flagged vessels transiting or operating in the Gulf of Guinea"

Topic: Transnational Issues
Disputes - international: nonenone


Topic: Photos of Botswana

Topic: Introduction
Background: Seeking to stop the incorporation of their land into Rhodesia (Zimbabwe) or the Union of South Africa, in 1885, three tribal chiefs traveled to Great Britain and successfully lobbied the British Government to put "Bechuanaland" under UK protection. Upon independence in 1966, the British protectorate of Bechuanaland adopted the new name of Botswana. More than five decades of uninterrupted civilian leadership, progressive social policies, and significant capital investment have created one of the most stable economies in Africa. The ruling Botswana Democratic Party has won every national election since independence; President Mokgweetsi Eric MASISI assumed the presidency in April 2018 following the retirement of former President Ian KHAMA due to constitutional term limits. MASISI won his first election as president in October 2019, and he is Botswana’s fifth president since independence. Mineral extraction, principally diamond mining, dominates economic activity, though tourism is a growing sector due to the country's conservation practices and extensive nature preserves. Botswana has one of the world's highest rates of HIV/AIDS infection, but also one of Africa's most progressive and comprehensive programs for dealing with the disease.Visit the Definitions and Notes page to view a description of each topic.

Topic: Geography
Location: Southern Africa, north of South Africa
Geographic coordinates: 22 00 S, 24 00 E
Map references: Africa
Area: total: 581,730 sq km

land: 566,730 sq km

water: 15,000 sq km
Area - comparative: slightly smaller than Texas; almost four times the size of Illinois
Land boundaries: total: 4,347.15 km

border countries (4): Namibia 1,544 km; South Africa 1,969 km; Zambia 0.15 km; Zimbabwe 834 km
Coastline: 0 km (landlocked)
Maritime claims: none (landlocked)
Climate: semiarid; warm winters and hot summers
Terrain: predominantly flat to gently rolling tableland; Kalahari Desert in southwest
Elevation: highest point: Manyelanong Hill 1,495 m
note - the Factbook map is incorrect; it shows the wrong high elevation

lowest point: junction of the Limpopo and Shashe Rivers 513 m

mean elevation: 1,013 m
Natural resources: diamonds, copper, nickel, salt, soda ash, potash, coal, iron ore, silver
Land use: agricultural land: 45.8% (2018 est.)

arable land: 0.6% (2018 est.)

permanent crops: 0% (2018 est.)

permanent pasture: 45.2% (2018 est.)

forest: 19.8% (2018 est.)

other: 34.4% (2018 est.)
Irrigated land: 20 sq km (2012)
Major rivers (by length in km): Zambezi (shared with Zambia [s]), Angola, Namibia, Zimbabwe, and Mozambique [m]) - 2,740 km; Limpopo (shared with South Africa [s], Zimbabwe, and Mozambique [m]) - 1,800 km; Okavango river mouth (shared with Angola [s], and Namibia) - 1,600 km
note – [s] after country name indicates river source; [m] after country name indicates river mouthZambezi (shared with Zambia [s]), Angola, Namibia, Zimbabwe, and Mozambique [m]) - 2,740 km; Limpopo (shared with South Africa [s], Zimbabwe, and Mozambique [m]) - 1,800 km; Okavango river mouth (shared with Angola [s], and Namibia) - 1,600 km
note – [s] after country name indicates river source; [m] after country name indicates river mouth
Major watersheds (area sq km): Atlantic Ocean drainage: Orange (941,351 sq km)
Indian Ocean drainage: Zambezi (1,332,412 sq km)
Internal (endorheic basin) drainage: Okavango Basin (863,866 sq km)
Major aquifers: Lower Kalahari-Stampriet Basin, Upper Kalahari-Cuvelai-Upper Zambezi Basin
Population distribution: the population is primarily concentrated in the east with a focus in and around the captial of Gaborone, and the far central-eastern city of Francistown; population density remains low in other areas in the country, especially in the Kalahari to the west as shown in this population distribution map
Natural hazards: periodic droughts; seasonal August winds blow from the west, carrying sand and dust across the country, which can obscure visibility
Geography - note: landlocked; population concentrated in the southern and eastern parts of the country

Topic: People and Society
Population: 2,384,246 (2022 est.)

note: estimates for this country explicitly taken into account the impact of the HIV/AIDS epidemic
Nationality: noun: Motswana (singular), Batswana (plural)

adjective: Motswana (singular), Batswana (plural)
Ethnic groups: Tswana (or Setswana) 79%, Kalanga 11%, Basarwa 3%, other, including Kgalagadi and people of European ancestry 7%
Languages: Setswana 77.3%, Sekalanga 7.4%, Shekgalagadi 3.4%, English (official) 2.8%, Zezuru/Shona 2%, Sesarwa 1.7%, Sembukushu 1.6%, Ndebele 1%, other 2.8% (2011 est.)
Religions: Christian 79.1%, Badimo 4.1%, other 1.4% (includes Baha'i, Hindu, Muslim, Rastafarian), none 15.2%, unspecified 0.3% (2011 est.)
Demographic profile: Botswana has experienced one of the most rapid declines in fertility in Sub-Saharan Africa. The total fertility rate has fallen from more than 5 children per woman in the mid 1980s to approximately 2.4 in 2013. The fertility reduction has been attributed to a host of factors, including higher educational attainment among women, greater participation of women in the workforce, increased contraceptive use, later first births, and a strong national family planning program. Botswana was making significant progress in several health indicators, including life expectancy and infant and child mortality rates, until being devastated by the HIV/AIDs epidemic in the 1990s.Today Botswana has the third highest HIV/AIDS prevalence rate in the world at approximately 22%, however comprehensive and effective treatment programs have reduced HIV/AIDS-related deaths. The combination of declining fertility and increasing mortality rates because of HIV/AIDS is slowing the population aging process, with a narrowing of the youngest age groups and little expansion of the oldest age groups. Nevertheless, having the bulk of its population (about 60%) of working age will only yield economic benefits if the labor force is healthy, educated, and productively employed.Batswana have been working as contract miners in South Africa since the 19th century. Although Botswana’s economy improved shortly after independence in 1966 with the discovery of diamonds and other minerals, its lingering high poverty rate and lack of job opportunities continued to push workers to seek mining work in southern African countries. In the early 1970s, about a third of Botswana’s male labor force worked in South Africa (lesser numbers went to Namibia and Zimbabwe). Not until the 1980s and 1990s, when South African mining companies had reduced their recruitment of foreign workers and Botswana’s economic prospects had improved, were Batswana increasingly able to find job opportunities at home.Most Batswana prefer life in their home country and choose cross-border migration on a temporary basis only for work, shopping, visiting family, or tourism. Since the 1970s, Botswana has pursued an open migration policy enabling it to recruit thousands of foreign workers to fill skilled labor shortages. In the late 1990s, Botswana’s prosperity and political stability attracted not only skilled workers but small numbers of refugees from neighboring Angola, Namibia, and Zimbabwe.Botswana has experienced one of the most rapid declines in fertility in Sub-Saharan Africa. The total fertility rate has fallen from more than 5 children per woman in the mid 1980s to approximately 2.4 in 2013. The fertility reduction has been attributed to a host of factors, including higher educational attainment among women, greater participation of women in the workforce, increased contraceptive use, later first births, and a strong national family planning program. Botswana was making significant progress in several health indicators, including life expectancy and infant and child mortality rates, until being devastated by the HIV/AIDs epidemic in the 1990s.Today Botswana has the third highest HIV/AIDS prevalence rate in the world at approximately 22%, however comprehensive and effective treatment programs have reduced HIV/AIDS-related deaths. The combination of declining fertility and increasing mortality rates because of HIV/AIDS is slowing the population aging process, with a narrowing of the youngest age groups and little expansion of the oldest age groups. Nevertheless, having the bulk of its population (about 60%) of working age will only yield economic benefits if the labor force is healthy, educated, and productively employed.Batswana have been working as contract miners in South Africa since the 19th century. Although Botswana’s economy improved shortly after independence in 1966 with the discovery of diamonds and other minerals, its lingering high poverty rate and lack of job opportunities continued to push workers to seek mining work in southern African countries. In the early 1970s, about a third of Botswana’s male labor force worked in South Africa (lesser numbers went to Namibia and Zimbabwe). Not until the 1980s and 1990s, when South African mining companies had reduced their recruitment of foreign workers and Botswana’s economic prospects had improved, were Batswana increasingly able to find job opportunities at home.Most Batswana prefer life in their home country and choose cross-border migration on a temporary basis only for work, shopping, visiting family, or tourism. Since the 1970s, Botswana has pursued an open migration policy enabling it to recruit thousands of foreign workers to fill skilled labor shortages. In the late 1990s, Botswana’s prosperity and political stability attracted not only skilled workers but small numbers of refugees from neighboring Angola, Namibia, and Zimbabwe.
Age structure: 0-14 years: 30.54% (male 357,065/female 350,550)

15-24 years: 18.31% (male 208,824/female 215,462)

25-54 years: 39.67% (male 434,258/female 484,922)

55-64 years: 5.92% (male 59,399/female 77,886)

65 years and over: 5.56% (male 53,708/female 75,159) (2020 est.)
Dependency ratios: total dependency ratio: 61.1

youth dependency ratio: 53.8

elderly dependency ratio: 7.3

potential support ratio: 13.8 (2020 est.)
Median age: total: 25.7 years

male: 24.5 years

female: 26.7 years (2020 est.)
Population growth rate: 1.4% (2022 est.)
Birth rate: 20.28 births/1,000 population (2022 est.)
Death rate: 9.05 deaths/1,000 population (2022 est.)
Net migration rate: 2.81 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2022 est.)
Population distribution: the population is primarily concentrated in the east with a focus in and around the captial of Gaborone, and the far central-eastern city of Francistown; population density remains low in other areas in the country, especially in the Kalahari to the west as shown in this population distribution map
Urbanization: urban population: 72.2% of total population (2022)

rate of urbanization: 2.47% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)
Major urban areas - population: 269,000 GABORONE (capital) (2018)
Sex ratio: at birth: 1.03 male(s)/female

0-14 years: 1.02 male(s)/female

15-24 years: 0.96 male(s)/female

25-54 years: 0.9 male(s)/female

55-64 years: 0.79 male(s)/female

65 years and over: 0.6 male(s)/female

total population: 0.92 male(s)/female (2022 est.)
Maternal mortality ratio: 144 deaths/100,000 live births (2017 est.)
Infant mortality rate: total: 25.18 deaths/1,000 live births

male: 27.54 deaths/1,000 live births

female: 22.75 deaths/1,000 live births (2022 est.)
Life expectancy at birth: total population: 65.64 years

male: 63.6 years

female: 67.74 years (2022 est.)
Total fertility rate: 2.39 children born/woman (2022 est.)
Contraceptive prevalence rate: 67.4% (2017)
Drinking water source: improved: urban: 98.1% of population

rural: 96.9% of population

total: 99.4% of population

unimproved: urban: 0.2% of population

rural: 3.1% of population

total: 0.6% of population (2020 est.)
Current Health Expenditure: 6.1% (2019)
Physicians density: 0.53 physicians/1,000 population (2016)
Hospital bed density: 1.8 beds/1,000 population
Sanitation facility access: improved: urban: 94.9% of population

rural: 63% of population

total: 85.6% of population

unimproved: urban: 5.1% of population

rural: 37% of population

total: 14.4% of population (2020 est.)
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate: 19.9% (2020 est.)
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS: 370,000 (2020 est.)
HIV/AIDS - deaths: 5,100 (2020 est.)
Major infectious diseases: degree of risk: high (2020)

food or waterborne diseases: bacterial diarrhea, hepatitis A, and typhoid fever

vectorborne diseases: malaria
Obesity - adult prevalence rate: 18.9% (2016)
Children under the age of 5 years underweight: NA
Education expenditures: 6.9% of GDP (2019)
Literacy: definition: age 15 and over can read and write

total population: 88.5%

male: 88%

female: 88.9% (2015)
School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education): total: 13 years

male: 13 years

female: 13 years (2013)
Unemployment, youth ages 15-24: total: 46.2%

male: 44.9%

female: 47.8% (2020 est.)

Topic: Environment
Environment - current issues: overgrazing; desertification; limited freshwater resources; air pollution
Environment - international agreements: party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Climate Change-Paris Agreement, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Wetlands

signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements
Air pollutants: particulate matter emissions: 21.24 micrograms per cubic meter (2016 est.)

carbon dioxide emissions: 6.34 megatons (2016 est.)

methane emissions: 5.73 megatons (2020 est.)
Climate: semiarid; warm winters and hot summers
Land use: agricultural land: 45.8% (2018 est.)

arable land: 0.6% (2018 est.)

permanent crops: 0% (2018 est.)

permanent pasture: 45.2% (2018 est.)

forest: 19.8% (2018 est.)

other: 34.4% (2018 est.)
Urbanization: urban population: 72.2% of total population (2022)

rate of urbanization: 2.47% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)
Revenue from forest resources: forest revenues: 0.23% of GDP (2018 est.)
Revenue from coal: coal revenues: 0.45% of GDP (2018 est.)
Major infectious diseases: degree of risk: high (2020)

food or waterborne diseases: bacterial diarrhea, hepatitis A, and typhoid fever

vectorborne diseases: malaria
Waste and recycling: municipal solid waste generated annually: 210,854 tons (2010 est.)

municipal solid waste recycled annually: 2,109 tons (2005 est.)

percent of municipal solid waste recycled: 1% (2005 est.)
Major rivers (by length in km): Zambezi (shared with Zambia [s]), Angola, Namibia, Zimbabwe, and Mozambique [m]) - 2,740 km; Limpopo (shared with South Africa [s], Zimbabwe, and Mozambique [m]) - 1,800 km; Okavango river mouth (shared with Angola [s], and Namibia) - 1,600 km
note – [s] after country name indicates river source; [m] after country name indicates river mouthZambezi (shared with Zambia [s]), Angola, Namibia, Zimbabwe, and Mozambique [m]) - 2,740 km; Limpopo (shared with South Africa [s], Zimbabwe, and Mozambique [m]) - 1,800 km; Okavango river mouth (shared with Angola [s], and Namibia) - 1,600 km
note – [s] after country name indicates river source; [m] after country name indicates river mouth
Major watersheds (area sq km): Atlantic Ocean drainage: Orange (941,351 sq km)
Indian Ocean drainage: Zambezi (1,332,412 sq km)
Internal (endorheic basin) drainage: Okavango Basin (863,866 sq km)
Major aquifers: Lower Kalahari-Stampriet Basin, Upper Kalahari-Cuvelai-Upper Zambezi Basin
Total water withdrawal: municipal: 100.6 million cubic meters (2017 est.)

industrial: 23.4 million cubic meters (2017 est.)

agricultural: 69 million cubic meters (2017 est.)
Total renewable water resources: 12.24 billion cubic meters (2017 est.)

Topic: Government
Country name: conventional long form: Republic of Botswana

conventional short form: Botswana

local long form: Republic of Botswana

local short form: Botswana

former: Bechuanaland

etymology: the name Botswana means "Land of the Tswana" - referring to the country's major ethnic group
Government type: parliamentary republic
Capital: name: Gaborone

geographic coordinates: 24 38 S, 25 54 E

time difference: UTC+2 (7 hours ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time)

etymology: named after GABORONE (ca. 1825-1931), a revered kgosi (chief) of the Tlokwa tribe, part of the larger Tswana ethnic group
Administrative divisions: 10 districts and 6 town councils*; Central, Chobe, Francistown*, Gaborone*, Ghanzi, Jwaneng*, Kgalagadi, Kgatleng, Kweneng, Lobatse*, North East, North West, Selebi-Phikwe*, South East, Southern, Sowa Town*
Independence: 30 September 1966 (from the UK)
National holiday: Independence Day (Botswana Day), 30 September (1966)
Constitution: history: previous 1960 (preindependence); latest adopted March 1965, effective 30 September 1966

amendments: proposed by the National Assembly; passage requires approval in two successive Assembly votes with at least two-thirds majority in the final vote; proposals to amend constitutional provisions on fundamental rights and freedoms, the structure and branches of government, and public services also requires approval by majority vote in a referendum and assent by the president of the republic; amended several times, last in 2016
Legal system: mixed legal system of civil law influenced by the Roman-Dutch model and also customary and common law
International law organization participation: accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction with reservations; accepts ICCt jurisdiction
Citizenship: citizenship by birth: no

citizenship by descent only: at least one parent must be a citizen of Botswana

dual citizenship recognized: no

residency requirement for naturalization: 10 years
Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal
Executive branch: chief of state: President Mokgweetse Eric MASISI (since 1 April 2018); Vice President Slumber TSOGWANE (since 4 April 2018); note - the president is both chief of state and head of government

head of government: President Mokgweetse Eric MASISI (since 1 April 2018); Vice President Slumber TSOGWANE (since 4 April 2018); note - the president is both chief of state and head of government

cabinet: Cabinet appointed by the president

elections/appointments: president indirectly elected by the National Assembly for a 5-year term (eligible for a second term); election last held on 24 October 2014 (next to be held on 31 October 2019); vice president appointed by the president

election results: President Seretse Khama Ian KHAMA (since 1 April 2008) stepped down on 1 April 2018 having completed the constitutionally mandated 10-year term limit; upon his retirement, then Vice President MASISI became president; national elections held on 23 October 2019 gave MASISI'S BPD 38 seats in the National Assembly which then selected MASISI as President
Legislative branch: description: unicameral Parliament consists of the National Assembly (63 seats; 57 members directly elected in single-seat constituencies by simple majority vote, 4 nominated by the president and indirectly elected by simple majority vote by the rest of the National Assembly, and 2 ex-officio members - the president and attorney general; elected members serve 5-year terms); note - the House of Chiefs (Ntlo ya Dikgosi), an advisory body to the National Assembly, consists of 35 members - 8 hereditary chiefs from Botswana's principal tribes, 22 indirectly elected by the chiefs, and 5 appointed by the president; the House of Chiefs consults on issues including powers of chiefs, customary courts, customary law, tribal property, and constitutional amendments

elections: last held on 23 October 2019 (next to be held in October 2024)

election results: percent of vote by party - BDP 52.7%, UDC 35.9%, BPF 4.4%, AP 5.1%, other 1.7%; seats by party - BDP 38, UDC 15, BPF 3, AP 1; composition as of February 2022 - men 56, women 7, percent of women 11.1%
Judicial branch: highest courts: Court of Appeal, High Court (each consists of a chief justice and a number of other judges as prescribed by the Parliament)

judge selection and term of office: Court of Appeal and High Court chief justices appointed by the president and other judges appointed by the president upon the advice of the Judicial Service Commission; all judges appointed to serve until age 70

subordinate courts: Industrial Court (with circuits scheduled monthly in the capital city and in 3 districts); Magistrates Courts (1 in each district); Customary Court of Appeal; Paramount Chief's Court/Urban Customary Court; Senior Chief's Representative Court; Chief's Representative’s Court; Headman's Court
Political parties and leaders: Alliance of Progressives or AP [Ndaba GAOLATHE]
Botswana Congress Party or BCP [Dumelang SALESHANDO]
Botswana Democratic Party or BDP [Mokgweetsi MASISI]
Botswana Movement for Democracy or BMD [Sidney PILANE]
Botswana National Front or BNF [Duma BOKO]
Botswana Patriotic Front or BPF [Biggie BUTALE]
Botswana Peoples Party or BPP [Motlatsi MOLAPISI]
Real Alternative Party or RAP [Gaontebale MOKGOSI]
Umbrella for Democratic Change or UDC [Duma BOKO] (various times the collation has included the BMD, BPP, BCP and BNF) (2019)
International organization participation: ACP, AfDB, AU, C, CD, FAO, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICCt, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU, ISO, ITSO, ITU, ITUC (NGOs), MIGA, NAM, OPCW, SACU, SADC, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UNWTO, UPU, WCO, WFTU (NGOs), WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO
Diplomatic representation in the US: chief of mission: Ambassador Onkokame Kitso MOKAILA (since 17 September 2020)

chancery: 1531-1533 New Hampshire Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20036

telephone: [1] (202) 244-4990

FAX: [1] (202) 244-4164

email address and website:
info@botswanaembassy.org

http://www.botswanaembassy.org/

consulate(s) general: Atlanta
Diplomatic representation from the US: chief of mission: Ambassador Craig Lewis CLOUD (since 2 April 2019)

embassy: Embassy Drive, Government Enclave (off Khama Crescent), Gaborone

mailing address: 2170 Gabarone Place, Washington DC  20521-2170

telephone: [267] 395-3982

FAX: [267] 318-0232

email address and website:
ConsularGabarone@state.gov

https://bw.usembassy.gov/
Flag description: light blue with a horizontal white-edged black stripe in the center; the blue symbolizes water in the form of rain, while the black and white bands represent racial harmony
National symbol(s): zebra; national colors: blue, white, black
National anthem: name: "Fatshe leno la rona" (Our Land)

lyrics/music: Kgalemang Tumedisco MOTSETE

note: adopted 1966
National heritage: total World Heritage Sites: 2 (1 cultural, 1 natural)

selected World Heritage Site locales: Tsodilo Hills (c), Okavango Delta (n)

Topic: Economy
Economic overview: Until the beginning of the global recession in 2008, Botswana maintained one of the world's highest economic growth rates since its independence in 1966. Botswana recovered from the global recession in 2010, but only grew modestly until 2017, primarily due to a downturn in the global diamond market, though water and power shortages also played a role. Through fiscal discipline and sound management, Botswana has transformed itself from one of the poorest countries in the world five decades ago into a middle-income country with a per capita GDP of approximately $18,100 in 2017. Botswana also ranks as one of the least corrupt and best places to do business in Sub-Saharan Africa.   Because of its heavy reliance on diamond exports, Botswana’s economy closely follows global price trends for that one commodity. Diamond mining fueled much of Botswana’s past economic expansion and currently accounts for one-quarter of GDP, approximately 85% of export earnings, and about one-third of the government's revenues. In 2017, Diamond exports increased to the highest levels since 2013 at about 22 million carats of output, driving Botswana’s economic growth to about 4.5% and increasing foreign exchange reserves to about 45% of GDP. De Beers, a major international diamond company, signed a 10-year deal with Botswana in 2012 and moved its rough stone sorting and trading division from London to Gaborone in 2013. The move was geared to support the development of Botswana's nascent downstream diamond industry.   Tourism is a secondary earner of foreign exchange and many Batswana engage in tourism-related services, subsistence farming, and cattle rearing. According to official government statistics, unemployment is around 20%, but unofficial estimates run much higher. The prevalence of HIV/AIDS is second highest in the world and threatens the country's impressive economic gains.Until the beginning of the global recession in 2008, Botswana maintained one of the world's highest economic growth rates since its independence in 1966. Botswana recovered from the global recession in 2010, but only grew modestly until 2017, primarily due to a downturn in the global diamond market, though water and power shortages also played a role. Through fiscal discipline and sound management, Botswana has transformed itself from one of the poorest countries in the world five decades ago into a middle-income country with a per capita GDP of approximately $18,100 in 2017. Botswana also ranks as one of the least corrupt and best places to do business in Sub-Saharan Africa. Because of its heavy reliance on diamond exports, Botswana’s economy closely follows global price trends for that one commodity. Diamond mining fueled much of Botswana’s past economic expansion and currently accounts for one-quarter of GDP, approximately 85% of export earnings, and about one-third of the government's revenues. In 2017, Diamond exports increased to the highest levels since 2013 at about 22 million carats of output, driving Botswana’s economic growth to about 4.5% and increasing foreign exchange reserves to about 45% of GDP. De Beers, a major international diamond company, signed a 10-year deal with Botswana in 2012 and moved its rough stone sorting and trading division from London to Gaborone in 2013. The move was geared to support the development of Botswana's nascent downstream diamond industry. Tourism is a secondary earner of foreign exchange and many Batswana engage in tourism-related services, subsistence farming, and cattle rearing. According to official government statistics, unemployment is around 20%, but unofficial estimates run much higher. The prevalence of HIV/AIDS is second highest in the world and threatens the country's impressive economic gains.
Real GDP (purchasing power parity): $37.72 billion (2020 est.)

$40.95 billion (2019 est.)

$39.75 billion (2018 est.)

note: data are in 2017 dollars
Real GDP growth rate: 2.4% (2017 est.)

4.3% (2016 est.)

-1.7% (2015 est.)
Real GDP per capita: $16,000 (2020 est.)

$17,800 (2019 est.)

$17,600 (2018 est.)

note: data are in 2017 dollars
GDP (official exchange rate): $18.335 billion (2019 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices): 2.7% (2019 est.)

3.2% (2018 est.)

3.2% (2017 est.)
Credit ratings: Moody's rating: A2 (2020)

Standard & Poors rating: BBB+ (2020)
GDP - composition, by sector of origin: agriculture: 1.8% (2017 est.)

industry: 27.5% (2017 est.)

services: 70.6% (2017 est.)
GDP - composition, by end use: household consumption: 48.5% (2017 est.)

government consumption: 18.4% (2017 est.)

investment in fixed capital: 29% (2017 est.)

investment in inventories: -1.8% (2017 est.)

exports of goods and services: 39.8% (2017 est.)

imports of goods and services: -33.9% (2017 est.)
Agricultural products: milk, roots/tubers, vegetables, sorghum, beef, game meat, watermelons, cabbages, goat milk, onions
Industries: diamonds, copper, nickel, salt, soda ash, potash, coal, iron ore, silver; beef processing; textiles
Industrial production growth rate: -4.2% (2017 est.)
Labor force: 1.177 million (2017 est.)
Labor force - by occupation: agriculture: NA

industry: NA

services: NA
Unemployment rate: 20% (2013 est.)

17.8% (2009 est.)
Unemployment, youth ages 15-24: total: 46.2%

male: 44.9%

female: 47.8% (2020 est.)
Population below poverty line: 19.3% (2009 est.)
Gini Index coefficient - distribution of family income: 53.3 (2015 est.)

63 (1993)
Household income or consumption by percentage share: lowest 10%: NA

highest 10%: NA
Budget: revenues: 5.305 billion (2017 est.)

expenditures: 5.478 billion (2017 est.)
Budget surplus (+) or deficit (-): -1% (of GDP) (2017 est.)
Public debt: 14% of GDP (2017 est.)

15.6% of GDP (2016 est.)
Taxes and other revenues: 30.5% (of GDP) (2017 est.)
Fiscal year: 1 April - 31 March
Current account balance: $2.146 billion (2017 est.)

$2.147 billion (2016 est.)
Exports: $6.16 billion note: data are in current year dollars (2019 est.)

$7.53 billion note: data are in current year dollars (2018 est.)
Exports - partners: India 21%, Belgium 19%, United Arab Emirates 19%, South Africa 9%, Israel 7%, Hong Kong 6%, Singapore 5% (2019)
Exports - commodities: diamonds, insulated wiring, gold, beef, carbonates (2019)
Imports: $7.44 billion note: data are in current year dollars (2019 est.)

$7.31 billion note: data are in current year dollars (2018 est.)
Imports - partners: South Africa 58%, Namibia 9%, Canada 7% (2019)
Imports - commodities: diamonds, refined petroleum, cars, delivery trucks, electricity (2019)
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold: $7.491 billion (31 December 2017 est.)

$7.189 billion (31 December 2016 est.)
Debt - external: $2.187 billion (31 December 2017 est.)

$2.421 billion (31 December 2016 est.)
Exchange rates: pulas (BWP) per US dollar -

10.90512 (2020 est.)

10.81081 (2019 est.)

10.60446 (2018 est.)

10.1263 (2014 est.)

8.9761 (2013 est.)

Topic: Energy
Electricity access: electrification - total population: 59% (2019)

electrification - urban areas: 71% (2019)

electrification - rural areas: 29% (2019)
Electricity - production: 2.527 billion kWh (2016 est.)
Electricity - consumption: 3.636 billion kWh (2016 est.)
Electricity - exports: 0 kWh (2016 est.)
Electricity - imports: 1.673 billion kWh (2016 est.)
Electricity - installed generating capacity: 735,000 kW (2016 est.)
Electricity - from fossil fuels: 100% of total installed capacity (2016 est.)
Electricity - from nuclear fuels: 0% of total installed capacity (2017 est.)
Electricity - from hydroelectric plants: 0% of total installed capacity (2017 est.)
Electricity - from other renewable sources: 0% of total installed capacity (2017 est.)
Crude oil - production: 0 bbl/day (2018 est.)
Crude oil - exports: 0 bbl/day (2015 est.)
Crude oil - imports: 0 bbl/day (2015 est.)
Crude oil - proved reserves: 0 bbl (1 January 2018 est.)
Refined petroleum products - production: 0 bbl/day (2015 est.)
Refined petroleum products - consumption: 21,000 bbl/day (2016 est.)
Refined petroleum products - exports: 0 bbl/day (2015 est.)
Refined petroleum products - imports: 21,090 bbl/day (2015 est.)
Natural gas - production: 0 cu m (2017 est.)
Natural gas - consumption: 0 cu m (2017 est.)
Natural gas - exports: 0 cu m (2017 est.)
Natural gas - imports: 0 cu m (2017 est.)
Natural gas - proved reserves: 0 cu m (1 January 2014 est.)

Topic: Communications
Telephones - fixed lines: total subscriptions: 142,587 (2020)

subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 5.95 (2020 est.)
Telephones - mobile cellular: total subscriptions: 3,819,019 (2020)

subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 162.4 (2020 est.)
Telecommunication systems: general assessment: due to effective regulatory reform and active competition, Botswana’s telecom market is one of the most liberalized in the region; strategy to drive nationwide ICT penetration is slowed; one of the highest mobile penetration rates in Africa; operators developing 3G and LTE; Internet use rising due to lower prices; government has embraced digitalization, e-government and identity programs that require citizens to provide detailed personal information; previously dependent on satellites for international connectivity, country’s new submarine cable landings improved competition and tripled international Internet capacity; importer of broadcast equipment from Hong Kong and China (2020) (2020)

domestic: fixed-line teledensity has declined in recent years and now stands at roughly 6 telephones per 100 persons; mobile-cellular teledensity is roughly 162 telephones per 100 persons (2020)

international: country code - 267; international calls are made via satellite, using international direct dialing; 2 international exchanges; digital microwave radio relay links to Namibia, Zambia, Zimbabwe, and South Africa; satellite earth station - 1 Intelsat (Indian Ocean)

note: the COVID-19 pandemic continues to have a significant impact on production and supply chains globally; since 2020, some aspects of the telecom sector have experienced downturn, particularly in mobile device production; many network operators delayed upgrades to infrastructure; progress towards 5G implementation was postponed or slowed in some countries; consumer spending on telecom services and devices was affected by large-scale job losses and the consequent restriction on disposable incomes; the crucial nature of telecom services as a tool for work and school from home became evident, and received some support from governmentsdue to effective regulatory reform and active competition, Botswana’s telecom market is one of the most liberalized in the region; strategy to drive nationwide ICT penetration is slowed; one of the highest mobile penetration rates in Africa; operators developing 3G and LTE; Internet use rising due to lower prices; government has embraced digitalization, e-government and identity programs that require citizens to provide detailed personal information; previously dependent on satellites for international connectivity, country’s new submarine cable landings improved competition and tripled international Internet capacity; importer of broadcast equipment from Hong Kong and China (2020)
Broadcast media: 2 TV stations - 1 state-owned and 1 privately owned; privately owned satellite TV subscription service is available; 2 state-owned national radio stations; 4 privately owned radio stations broadcast locally (2019)
Internet country code: .bw
Internet users: total: 1.48 million (2022 est.)

percent of population: 61% (2022 est.)
Broadband - fixed subscriptions: total: 259,525 (2021)

subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 11.04 (2021)

Topic: Transportation
National air transport system: number of registered air carriers: 1 (2020)

inventory of registered aircraft operated by air carriers: 6

annual passenger traffic on registered air carriers: 253,417 (2018)

annual freight traffic on registered air carriers: 110,000 mt-km (2018)
Civil aircraft registration country code prefix: A2
Airports: total: 74 (2021)
Airports - with paved runways: total: 10

over 3,047 m: 2

2,438 to 3,047 m: 1

1,524 to 2,437 m: 6

914 to 1,523 m: 1 (2021)
Airports - with unpaved runways: total: 64

1,524 to 2,437 m: 5

914 to 1,523 m: 46

under 914 m: 13 (2021)
Railways: total: 888 km (2014)

narrow gauge: 888 km 1.067-m gauge (2014)
Roadways: total: 31,747 km (2017)

paved: 9,810 km (2017)

unpaved: 21,937 km (2017)

Topic: Military and Security
Military and security forces: Botswana Defense Force (BDF): Ground Forces Command, Air Arm Command, Defense Logistics Command (2021)

note - both the armed forces and the Botswana Police Service report to the Ministry of Defense, Justice, and Security
Military expenditures: 3% of GDP (2020 est.)

2.8% of GDP (approximately $760 million) (2019)

2.8% of GDP (approximately $730 million) (2018)

2.9% of GDP (approximately $740 million) (2017)

3.1% of GDP (approximately $760 million) (2016)
Military and security service personnel strengths: the Botswana Defense Force (BDF) has approximately 9,000 active personnel (2021)
Military equipment inventories and acquisitions: the BDF has a mix of foreign-supplied and mostly older weapons and equipment, largely from Europe (2021)
Military service age and obligation: 18 is the legal minimum age for voluntary military service (men and women); no conscription (2021)
Military - note: Bechuanaland/Botswana did not have a permanent military during colonial times, with the British colonial administrators relying instead on small, lightly armed constabularies such as the Bechuanaland Mounted Police, the Bechuanaland Border Police, and by the early 1960s, the Police Mobile Unit (PMU); after independence in 1966, Botswana militarized the PMU and gave it responsibility for the country’s defense rather than create a conventional military force; however, turmoil in neighboring countries and numerous cross-border incursions by Rhodesian and South African security forces demonstrated that the PMU was inadequate for defending the country and led to the establishment of the BDF in 1977; as of 2021, the BDF’s primary missions included securing territorial integrity/border security and internal duties such as disaster relief and anti-poaching as of 2021, the Army was comprised of approximately 4 small combat brigades (2 infantry, 1 light armored, 1 artillery), while the Air Force had 1 fighter/ground attack squadron; Botswana has no navy, but the Army has a marine unit with boats and other river craft for patrolling the country’s numerous waterways, particularly the Chobe River and Okavango swamps Botswana participates in the Southern African Development Community (SADC) Standby Force, and in 2021 contributed nearly 300 troops to the SADC’s effort to help the Mozambique Government suppress an insurgencyBechuanaland/Botswana did not have a permanent military during colonial times, with the British colonial administrators relying instead on small, lightly armed constabularies such as the Bechuanaland Mounted Police, the Bechuanaland Border Police, and by the early 1960s, the Police Mobile Unit (PMU); after independence in 1966, Botswana militarized the PMU and gave it responsibility for the country’s defense rather than create a conventional military force; however, turmoil in neighboring countries and numerous cross-border incursions by Rhodesian and South African security forces demonstrated that the PMU was inadequate for defending the country and led to the establishment of the BDF in 1977; as of 2021, the BDF’s primary missions included securing territorial integrity/border security and internal duties such as disaster relief and anti-poachingas of 2021, the Army was comprised of approximately 4 small combat brigades (2 infantry, 1 light armored, 1 artillery), while the Air Force had 1 fighter/ground attack squadron; Botswana has no navy, but the Army has a marine unit with boats and other river craft for patrolling the country’s numerous waterways, particularly the Chobe River and Okavango swampsBotswana participates in the Southern African Development Community (SADC) Standby Force, and in 2021 contributed nearly 300 troops to the SADC’s effort to help the Mozambique Government suppress an insurgency

Topic: Transnational Issues
Disputes - international: nonenone