FACTS

Location: Southern Africa, north of South Africa

Area (only Total) total: 600,370 sq km

Climate: semiarid; warm winters and hot summers

Terrain: predominantly flat to gently rolling tableland; Kalahari Desert in southwest

Population: 1,842,323

Main Language (only first): Setswana

Government type: parliamentary republic

Capital (Name): Gaborone

Capital (Time Difference): UTC+2

Independence: 30 September 1966 (from UK)

National holiday: Independence Day (Botswana Day), 30 September (1966)