Botswana - Poverty and wealth



Living standards in Botswana are high by African standards, but vary considerably across the country. Ethnic minorities, such as the San, get little recognition or support from the government, and thus tend to practice a traditional lifestyle without much involvement with the formal economy. Botswana has recently come under criticism regarding alleged human rights violations against the San people, who were removed from their traditional lands in the Central Kalahari Game Reserve to develop tourism and mining. On the other hand, Botswana has

GDP per Capita (US$)
Country 1975 1980 1985 1990 1998
Botswana 1,132 1,678 2,274 3,124 3,611
United States 19,364 21,529 23,200 25,363 29,683
South Africa 4,574 4,620 4,229 4,113 3,918
Zimbabwe 686 638 662 706 703
SOURCE : United Nations. Human Development Report 2000; Trends in human development and per capita income.

Household Consumption in PPP Terms
Country All food Clothing and footwear Fuel and power a Health care b Education b Transport & Communications Other
Botswana 24 5 12 2 7 5 45
United States 13 9 9 4 6 8 51
South Africa N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A
Zimbabwe 20 10 21 3 15 9 22
Data represent percentage of consumption in PPP terms.
a Excludes energy used for transport.
b Includes government and private expenditures.
SOURCE : World Bank. World Development Indicators 2000.

been one of the most rapidly urbanizing nations in the world. With the obvious and major exception of the dramatic effect of AIDS on life expectancy in Botswana (32 years for men and women), living standards in urban centers are good. Botswana was ranked 122 on the Human Development Index in 1997, very high for an African country. In the urban centers, 91 percent of the population had access to sanitation and sewage disposal, and 100 percent had access to safe drinking water. The percentage having access to safe drinking water across the country as a whole was 70 percent.

Also read article about Botswana from Wikipedia

User Contributions:

1
Bagalatia Arone
What should be done to fight poverty in Botswana? What is your comment about the education system of Botswana? The narrow economic base may be a problem. The mismatch between the education system and the bussiness environment.
Good Day,

We offer private, commercial and personal loans with very minimal annual interest rates as low as 3% within 1 year to 30 years repayment duration period to any part of the world. We give out loans ranging from $5,000.00 to $500,000,000.00, CURRENCIES: USD, CAD, KWD, OMR, SGD, RUB, GBP, AUD, MYR, ZAR, IDR, UAH, PHP, EURO.

Our loans are well insured for maximum security is our priority, Are you losing sleep at night worrying how to get a legit loan lender? Are you in poverty? Do you need financial assistance to set-up a business? We can assist you financially.

Are you biting nails fast? Instead of beating yourself up, contact Mr. Lin Poh TODAY, Loan specialists who help stop Bad Credit History.

Interested Individual OR Companies should contact us via: Email: {linpohloanfirm@yahoo.com.sg}

Regards,

Lin Poh Loan Firm Team.
3
Bakang k Montsho
I hope there are no scams. And the are meant to improve the lives of those who applies for them.
4
Amy
I lived there for 2 years 1998-2000. Friendly people. Almost all speak English. Crime rate (mugging, theft and murder for money), HIV infection rates were high. Females are main work force. Barring personal security every thing was unbelievably good.. GUESS the system of governance is too good. Tribal chiefs have a say. Democratic elections have a say. State institutions do very well. Dealt with their many govt / quasi govt entities: telecom, airlines, railways, meat industry, supplis dept, vehicle registry, Land registry, GIS, Livestock,insurance and a few more. I never saw corruption at working level of govt employees. TO ME THAT MAKES BOTSWANA - THE CROWN JEWEL OF AFRICA OR AT LEST SOUTHERN AFRICA

Comment about this article, ask questions, or add new information about this topic: