Here are some fast facts about South Africa and Botswana:
South Africa
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Flag of South Africa |
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Official Name |
The Republic of South Africa |
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Capital Cities |
Pretoria is the Administrative Capital; Cape Town is the Legislative Capital; Bloemfontein is the Judicial Capital |
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Major Cities |
Johannesburg; eThekweni (the Durban complex); Nelson Mandela (the Port Elizabeth complex) |
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Surface Area |
471,428 square miles - almost twice as large as Texas (261,797 square miles) |
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Population |
43.4 million |
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Ethnic Groups |
Black 75.2%; White 13.6%; Colored (mixed race) 8.6%; Indian 2.6% |
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Religions |
Christian 68%; Muslin 2%; Hindu 1.5%; Indigenous beliefs/animist 28.5% |
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Languages |
11 official languages - English (most widely spoken), Afrikaans, Ndebele, Pedi, Sotho, Swazi, Tsonga, Tswana, Venda, Xhosa, Zulu |
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Land Use |
About 15% is considered arable, although vast stretches are suitable for stock ranching |
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Currency |
Rand (ZAR) - 100 cents = 1 Rand; 1.00 USD = 8.48 ZAR -or- 1.00 ZAR = 0.12 USD (as of 4/30/09) |
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Government |
Constitutional democracy with a three-tier system: executive, legislative and independent judiciary
President: Jacob Zuma (elected April 2009) |
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Time |
GMT +2 hours
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Botswana
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Flag of Botswana |
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Official Name |
The Republic of Botswana (The country is Botswana, the language is Setswana, the people are Batswana and an individual is Motswana!) |
| Capital City |
Gaborone |
| Major Towns |
Francistown, Lobatse, Mahalapye, Palapye, Selebi-Phikwe, Ghanzi, Maun, Kasane |
| Surface Area |
224,607 square miles, roughly the size of Texas (261,797 square miles) |
| Population |
1.8 million |
| Ethnic Groups |
Tswana (Setswana) 79%, Kalaga 11%, Babawara 3%, Other 7% |
| Religions |
Christian 71.6%, Badino 6%, Other 1.4%, Unspecified .4%, None 20.6% |
| Languages |
National Language is Setswana, Official Common Language is English |
| Terrain |
Generally flat. Dry desert plateau of woodlands, thorn scrub, and grasslands |
| Currency |
Pula (BWP) - 100 Thebe = 1 Pula; 1.00 USD = 7.49 BWP -or- 1.00 BWP = 0.13 USD (as of 4/30/09) |
| Government |
Parlimentary democracy
President: Seretse Khama |
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Time |
GMT +2 hours |
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