Dimplomacy file
Policy, management and organization
10 December 2020
, MUN assignment 1
Fact Sheet
Botswana
Gather all the facts to fill out this sheet. The document should be 2 pages maximum; no references are needed.
I added references so I can easily find back the information and the source of information
General Facts
Population:
2,303,697 in 2019 (data from the world bank) 1
Religious/Ethnic Composition:
Christian: 79,1%, Badimo 4,1%, other 1,4% (includes Baha’i, Hindu, Muslim, Rastafarian), none
15,2%, unspecified 0,3% (2011)2
Type of Government:
Parliamentary republic. Framework of a parliamentary representative democratic republic, whereby the
President of Botswana is both head of state and head of government.
Membership of International Organizations: (in 2019)19
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.
As shown, Botswana is also a member of the United Nations which is the largest and most familiar
intergovernmental organisation with the aim to avoid future wars.
International Policy
Internal and external conflicts:
Botswana has no history of civil war or other serious internal conflicts. 3 Botswana is the oldest
democracy in Africa and has never fought a conventional war, whereas all her neighbours have been
involved in some form of war.
Alliances:
Botswana maintains friendly diplomatic relations with most African nations, as well as with many
European and Arab nations. 4
Role in the region:
Since its independence Botswana has enjoyed a strong and stable growth. Botswana has sizable
fiscal buffers and prudent policies playing a key role in shielding the economy. 18
Economics
GDP:
18.34 billion USD yearly in 20195
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, Main trading partners: In 2017, the major trading partner countries for exports were Belgium, India,
United Arab Emirates, South Africa and Singapore. For imports they were South Africa, Canada,
Namibia, India and United Arab Emirates.6
There has been a steady growth of trade and services between India and Botswana.
Level of education: Education in Botswana is free, but not compulsory.
Seven years of primary education, three years of junior secondary education and two years of senior
secondary education. The system was implemented in 1995. 7 About 87% of school-age children
attend public schools, about 10% attend private schools and, roughly 3% are home-schooled 8.
Pharmaceutical industry:
The pharmaceutical industry of Botswana comprises three firms producing a number of
pharmaceutical product. Regulation of the import, export and manufacture of drugs is undertaken by
the Drug Regulatory Unit (DRU)9
Health and Development
Description of the health system (role of public and private, etc.)
The health system in Botswana is delivered through a decentralized model with primary health care
being the pillar of delivery systems.10 Botswana provides universal healthcare to all citizens through a
public healthcare system, however private healthcare is also available. Public sector healthcare
services are almost free for citizens. The government operates 98% of all medical facilities. 11
Major Health Problems
The top 3 causes of death in Botswana are: HIV/AIDS, Ischemic heart disease and stroke 12
Life expectancy:
The life expectancy at birth for females is 65 years and for males: 61 years 12
Under 5 mortality rate:
41,6 per 1000 live births in 201913
HIV prevalence (% aged 15-49)
20,7 percent, which is the fourth highest in the world (data from 2019) 14
Incidence of Malaria
0,588 per 1000 population at risk in 201815
Incidence of Tuberculosis
Incidence rate of 275 per 100000 in 201816
Place on the Human Development Index
0,728 in 2018, position 94 out of 189 countries and territories. 17
Other important facts with regard to health and development (optional)
The life expectancy in Botswana has increased from 55.6 years in 2001 to 68 years in 2011. The
universal coverage with ARVs and PMTCT for HIV/AIDS partly account for this increase. Botswana
has a dual epidemic of both communicable and non-communicable diseases. Maternal and neonatal
mortality reduction remain a challenge for Botswana Focus on the social determinant of health and
overall heal systems needs to be strengthened.20
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