Botswana Pula

Overview

Economy

• Botswana is a member of SADC, AU, Commonwealth, SACU.
• Main industries include: Diamonds, Copper, Nickel, Salt, Soda ash, Potash, Coal, Iron ore, Silver, Beef processing, Textiles.
• Botswana is part of the World Trade Organization.
• Imports are foodstuffs, machinery, electrical goods, transport equipment, textiles, fuel, petroleum products.
• Major exports include diamonds, copper, nickel, beef, textiles.
• GDP: $20.4 billion (2023 est.).
• GDP per capita: $8,259 (2023 est.).
• Unemployment rate: 25.9% (2023 est.).
• Inflation rate: 7.8% (2023 est.).
• Main trading partners: Belgium, India, South Africa, Namibia, United Kingdom, Israel.
• Trade agreements: SADC Trade Protocol, SACU agreements, EPA with EU.

History

• Previous currencies used: South African rand, British pound (colonial period).
• The pula was introduced in 1976, replacing the South African rand. The name 'pula' means 'rain' in Setswana, reflecting its value in this arid country.
• 1976: BWP introduced, replacing South African rand
• 1976: Bank of Botswana established
• 1980: Crawling peg to basket of currencies adopted
• 1991: Financial sector liberalization
• 2005: Flexible exchange rate policy introduced
• Exchange rate peg: Basket of currencies with crawling peg.
• Currently pegged to Basket of currencies (SDR-based) at Crawling peg adjusted periodically.

General Information

• ISO 4217 Code: BWP
• Symbols: BWP/P
• Currency Subunits: 100 thebe
• Central Bank: Bank of Botswana
• Monetary Policy: Crawling peg to currency basket with inflation targeting. Focus on price stability and supporting diamond-dependent economy diversification.
• Bills: 10 pula, 20 pula, 50 pula, 100 pula, 200 pula
• Coins: 5 thebe, 10 thebe, 25 thebe, 50 thebe, 1 pula, 2 pula, 5 pula
• USD Exchange Rate: Variable (approximately 13.5 BWP per USD)
• Pegged To: Basket of currencies (SDR-based) at Crawling peg adjusted periodically
• Capital: Gaborone
• Population: 2,470,347 (2023 est.)
• Area: 581,730 km²
• Languages: English (official), Setswana (official), Kalanga, Sekgalagadi
• Time Zones: UTC+2 (Central Africa Time)
• Government Type: Parliamentary republic
• Head of Government: President (head of state and government)
• Independence: September 30, 1966 (from United Kingdom)
• Ethnic Groups: Tswana 79%, Kalanga 11%, Basarwa 3%, Other 7%
• Religions: Christian 79.1%, Badimo 4.1%, Other 1.4%, None 15.2%, Unspecified 0.3%
• Literacy Rate: 88.5% (2015 est.)
• Transport: Sir Seretse Khama International Airport, good road network, railway to South Africa
• Communications: Good telecommunications, 64% internet penetration, wide mobile coverage
• Energy: Coal 100%, developing solar and wind energy projects
• Countries Using This Currency: Botswana
• Data Sources: Central Bank: Bank of Botswana (bankofbotswana.bw), Economic Data: Statistics Botswana, World Bank, IMF, Trade Data: Botswana Unified Revenue Service, Demographic Data: Statistics Botswana, Geographic Data: Department of Meteorological Services, Historical Data: Bank of Botswana archives
• Last Updated: 2025