Botswana gained independence from the UK in 1966. It has a population of around 2 million people and its economy relies heavily on mining, especially diamonds which account for over 25% of the world's production. Botswana has the second highest HIV prevalence rate in Africa at 24% of the population. The country is largely covered by the Kalahari Desert and has continued working to improve its education and health systems to support its developing workforce.

1. Botswana

2. Political
aspects

3. Independence in 1966 from the UK
Source: https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/geos/bc.html

4. 3 reforms in 2007-2008
Source: http://www.xprt-consulting.com/xing/Doingbusiness2009.pdf

5. Economic
aspects

6. Copper Diamonds
1/3 of GDP
90% of export earnings
Gold
Natural Manganese
resources
Uranium
Oil
Coal
Source: https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/geos/gh.html

7. Debswana
Leading producer of diamonds by value in the world.
Controls all diamond mining in Botswana.
Joint venture betweeen De Beers and the government.
Combined production of the company's 4 mines
totaled 30 million carats (6,000 kg), nearly 25% of the
world's annual production of around 130 million carats
(26,000 kg).
The operations of De Beers account for around 1/3
of Botwana’s GDP.
Sources: http://www.afdiamonds.com/wad/view/wad/en/page499

8. Source: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=153F3dE3X5Q

9. Percentage of enterprises owned by women
Source: http://www.weforum.org/pdf/gcr/africa/1.4.pdf

10. World’s 4th most unequal country
Source
https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/rankorder/2172rank.html?countryName=Botswana&countryCode=bc&regionCode=af&rank=4#bc

11. Lowest corruption in Africa
Botswana
Source: http://www.transparency.org/news_room/in_focus/2008/cpi2008#dnld

12. Botswana is rated as the country with the lowest
corruption in Africa (22nd out of 134 countries). Over
past years, the transparency and accountability of public
institutions have contributed to a stable macroeconomic
environment, and this is one key area of improvement.
The government has been running a healthy budget
surplus, which is allowing it to reduce debt levels, and
inflation has come down from its peak in 2006 as well.
Source: http://www.weforum.org/documents/GCR0809/index.html, page 34.

13. Culture and
health aspects

14. Population 2 million people
Life expectancy 62 years
Languages Setswana 80%
English 2%
HIV / AIDS 11,000 people died of AIDS in 2007
24% of the population live with HIV / AIDS
Sources
https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/geos/bc.html
https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-
factbook/rankorder/2157rank.html?countryName=Botswana&countryCode=bc&regionCode=af&rank=28#bc
https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-
factbook/rankorder/2155rank.html?countryName=Botswana&countryCode=bc&regionCode=af&rank=2#bc

15. % of population in Africa with HIV / AIDS
Botswana
Sources
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Image:Africa_HIV-AIDS.svg
https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/rankorder/2155rank.html?countryName=Botswana&countryCode=bc&regionCode=af&rank=2#bc

16. By far the biggest obstacle facing Botswana in its
efforts to improve its competitiveness is the health
situation in the country. Botswana has the highest
HIV prevalence rate of all countries covered, as
well as very high malaria (111th)‫ ‏‬and tuberculosis
(128th) incidence.
However, these rates are for the most part coming
down, leading to an improvement in life expectancy
from 40 to 52 years by the most recent estimate.
priorities for the government for some time.
Source: http://www.weforum.org/documents/GCR0809/index.html, page 34.

17. Continuing to improve the health and educational
levels of the workforce will remain the main priorities
for the government for some time.
Source: http://www.weforum.org/documents/GCR0809/index.html, page 34.

18. Botswana’s primary weaknesses are related to the
country’s human resources base. Despite high
spending on education, educational attainment rates
at all levels of the educational ladder remain low by
international standards, and the quality of the
educational system receives mediocre marks.
Source: http://www.weforum.org/documents/GCR0809/index.html, page 34.

19. Geograhical
aspects

20. Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Botswana

21. Country size
581,730 km2
14 times larger than Switzerland
Source: https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/geos/bc.html

22. The Kalahari Desert covers 70% of Botswana
Source: http://images.encarta.msn.com/xrefmedia/aencmed/targets/maps/map/T028797A.gif

23. The Kalahari Desert
Source: http://blog.beliefnet.com/pontifications/imgs/Kalahari%20Desert.jpg