Bordered by South Africa to its south, Botswana is a landlocked nation in Southern Africa. Botswana’s highest-value exported products are diamonds, nickel, ignition sets and beef according to the International Trade Centre. The total value of the country’s exports was US$15.9 billion in 2016.
Capital Facts for Gaborone, Botswana: Quick Reference
Geography
Capital landmarks: Three Chiefs’ Statues, National Museum and Art Gallery, National Botanical Garden, Gaborone International Convention Center, Krishna Balaram Palace, Sri Balaji Temple and Trinity Church
Famous People
Below, you will find 10 of the most famous people born in Gaborone, Botswana:
- Mpule Kwelagobe, Miss Universe 1999 & politician (born Nov. 14, 1979)
- Samantha Paxinos, Olympic swimmer (born Feb. 25, 1988)
- John Kamyuka, Olympic swimmer (born Jan. 11, 1989)
- Modiri Marumo, soccer player/footballer (born Jul. 6, 1976)
- Karabo Motlhanka, cricket player (born Apr. 17, 1992)
- Naomi Ruele, Olympic swimmer (born Jan. 13, 1997)
- Joel Mogorosi, soccer player/footballer (born Aug. 2, 1982)
- Sheillah Molelekwa, Miss Universe 2012 contestant (born Nov. 26, 1992)
- Alister Walker, professional squash player (born Sep. 19, 1982)
- Tsaone Macheng, Miss Universe 2013 contestant (born Oct. 1, 1989)
Note: Data for our Famous People tab was sourced from Google searches mostly targeting published Wikipedia articles specific to each person’s name.
Population
Demonym for a resident of Botswana: Motswana (singular), Batswana (plural)
Population: 430,000 (Gaborone built-up urban area)
Density: 5,059 people per square mile (1,953 per square kilometer)
Population: 2,209,208 (Botswana)
Density: 10 people per square mile (4 per square kilometer)
Financial
GDP: US$36.51 billion in 2016 (for Botswana, per CIA World Factbook)
GDP per person: $16,900
Note: The above country-level GDP metrics are on a Purchasing Power Parity basis and are in U.S. dollars. Credible city GDP statistics for Gaborone were unavailable.
Official currency used in Gaborone: Botswana pula
Research
Research Sources:
Brookings Institution, Global Metro Monitor Report (includes GDP data). Accessed on January 15, 2017
Demographia, World Urban Area, 12th Annual Edition. Accessed on January 15, 2017
International Trade Centre, Trade Map. Accessed on January 15, 2017
Mercer, 2016 Worldwide Cost of Living Survey City Rankings, News Release. Accessed on January 15, 2017
Official Government Website, Republic of Botswana – Government portal. Accessed on January 15, 2017
The World Factbook, Africa: Botswana, Central Intelligence Agency. Accessed on January 15, 2017
Wikimedia Commons, City Flags. Accessed on January 15, 2017
Note: Some city flags were unavailable. If so, attribution belongs to Wikimedia Commons for pertinent country flags.
Wikipedia, Botswana. Accessed on January 15, 2017
Wikipedia, Gaborone. Accessed on January 15, 2017
World Population Review, Population of Cities in Botswana (2016). Accessed on January 15, 2017
Encompassing municipal city limits plus nearby communities, Gaborone’s built-up urban land area measures 85 square miles (220 square kilometers) with an estimated population of 430,000 residents in 2015. Strictly within city limits, Gaborone’s population count is 208,411 according to the World Population Review.
At the country level, Botswana has a land area of 218,816 square miles (566,730 square kilometers) which serves as home to 2.2 million inhabitants as of July 2016.
Population density is much more concentrated within Botswana’s capital city Gaborone with an average 5,100 residents per square mile (2,000 per square kilometer).
One of the world’s most sparsely populated nations, Botswana has a much lower population density dropping dramatically to an average 10 people per square mile (4 per square kilometer).
Botswana won its independence from the United Kingdom on September 30, 1966. Fittingly named as Botswana’s Independence Day, each September 30 is celebrated as a national holiday.