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Capital of Botswana: Gaborone — Facts & 5-Question Quiz

The capital of Botswana is Gaborone. Botswana sits in Africa, has a population of 2,630,296, and uses the BWP. Official languages include English, Tswana.

Quick facts

  • Capital: Gaborone
  • Continent: Africa
  • Population: ~2,630,296
  • Area: 581,730 km²
  • Population density: 4.5 people per km²
  • Official languages: English, Tswana
  • Currency: BWP
  • ISO code: BW

How big is Botswana?

By population, Botswana ranks 142nd in the world, holding roughly 0.03% of all people on Earth. By land area it ranks 47th.

Those two numbers rarely match, and the gap between them is the interesting part. Botswana has 4.5 people per square kilometre, which is far below the world average of 59.4. It is more spacious than its population alone would suggest.

Within Africa, Botswana is the 42th most populous country of 54.

Countries of a similar size

The two countries closest to Botswana in population are Namibia (2,567,012) and Qatar (2,695,122).

By land area, its closest counterparts are Kenya (580,367 km²) and Madagascar (587,041 km²).

Comparisons like these are worth more than raw figures when you are trying to remember them. A number on its own is hard to hold; a number next to a country you already have a feel for is much easier.

Language and currency

English is spoken officially in 58 countries in this dataset, including Antigua and Barbuda, Australia, Bahamas, Barbados and Belize, and 52 others.

Botswana uses the BWP, and it is the only country that does, which makes the currency name a reliable one-to-one clue.

How to remember Botswana

Pula means 'rain' in Setswana and is also the name of the currency, which matches the rain-blue of the flag. Gaborone is in the southeast, close to the South African border.

The flag of Botswana: light blue, black and white

🇧🇼 The flag is a light blue flag with a black horizontal stripe edged in white across the middle. Blue stands for water and rain, which is precious in a dry country. The black and white stripes stand for people of all backgrounds living together, and they look like the stripes of a zebra, the national animal.

Region and neighbours

Botswana is a landlocked country in southern Africa, much of it covered by the Kalahari Desert. It shares land borders with 4 countries: South Africa, Namibia, Zimbabwe and Zambia. Its border with Zambia, at a single point on the Zambezi River, is one of the shortest borders in the world. Botswana is landlocked, with no coast on the open ocean.

Three facts about Botswana

  1. The Okavango Delta, where a river spreads out into the Kalahari instead of reaching the sea, is a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
  2. Botswana has the largest population of African elephants of any country.
  3. Botswana became independent from Britain in 1966.

Sources: Wikipedia: Botswana, Wikipedia: Flag of Botswana, Wikipedia: Gaborone, CIA World Factbook.

Quiz yourself on Botswana

Botswana capital quiz

  1. What is the capital of Botswana 🇧🇼?

    • Gaborone
    • Brazzaville
    • Asmara
    • Bangui
    Show answer

    Gaborone

  2. What is the capital of Namibia 🇳🇦?

    • Tripoli
    • Luanda
    • Dodoma
    • Windhoek
    Show answer

    Windhoek

  3. What is the capital of Gambia 🇬🇲?

    • Banjul
    • Asmara
    • Dakar
    • Cairo
    Show answer

    Banjul

  4. What is the capital of Gabon 🇬🇦?

    • Libreville
    • Khartoum
    • Bissau
    • Malabo
    Show answer

    Libreville

  5. What is the capital of Lesotho 🇱🇸?

    • Dakar
    • Maseru
    • Lusaka
    • Yamoussoukro
    Show answer

    Maseru

Botswana in Africa

The largest countries by population sharing this continent are Nigeria, Ethiopia, Egypt and Democratic Republic of the Congo.

If you are learning capitals region by region — far more effective than working alphabetically — Africa is the block Botswana belongs to, and its neighbours are the ones worth learning alongside it.

Try the Country to Capital Quiz, or the harder reverse direction. There is also a full country profile for Botswana.

Frequently asked questions

What is the capital of Botswana?

The capital of Botswana is Gaborone.

What is the population of Botswana?

About 2,630,296, making it the 142nd most populous country in the world.

How big is Botswana?

581,730 square kilometres, ranking 47th by land area, at a density of 4.5 people per square kilometre.

What currency does Botswana use?

The BWP, which no other country uses.

What are the colours of the Botswana flag?

The flag of Botswana is a light blue flag with a black horizontal stripe edged in white across the middle. Blue stands for water and rain, which is precious in a dry country. The black and white stripes stand for people of all backgrounds living together, and they look like the stripes of a zebra, the national animal.

Which countries border Botswana?

Botswana shares land borders with South Africa, Namibia, Zimbabwe and Zambia. Its border with Zambia, at a single point on the Zambezi River, is one of the shortest borders in the world.

How can I remember the capital of Botswana?

Pula means 'rain' in Setswana and is also the name of the currency, which matches the rain-blue of the flag. Gaborone is in the southeast, close to the South African border.

More capitals to learn

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