Area comparison map:

slightly smaller than Texas; almost four times the size of Illinois

Land boundaries:
total: 4,347.15 km
[see also: Land boundaries - total country ranks ]
border countries (4): Namibia 1544 km, South Africa 1969 km, Zambia 0.15 km, Zimbabwe 834 km

Coastline:
0 km (landlocked)
[see also: Coastline country ranks ]

Maritime claims:
none (landlocked)

Climate:
semiarid; warm winters and hot summers
More Climate Details

Terrain:
predominantly flat to gently rolling tableland; Kalahari Desert in southwest

Elevation:
mean elevation: 1,013 m
[see also: Elevation - mean elevation country ranks ]
lowest point: junction of the Limpopo and Shashe Rivers 513 m
highest point: Tsodilo Hills 1,489 m

Natural resources:
diamonds, copper, nickel, salt, soda ash, potash, coal, iron ore, silver

Land use:
agricultural land: 45.8% (2011 est.)
[see also: Land use - agricultural land country ranks ]
arable land: 0.6% (2011 est.)
[see also: Land use - arable land country ranks ]
permanent crops: 0% (2011 est.)
[see also: Land use - permanent crops country ranks ]
permanent pasture: 45.2% (2011 est.)
[see also: Land use - permanent pasture country ranks ]
forest: 19.8% (2011 est.)
[see also: Land use - forest country ranks ]
other: 34.4% (2011 est.)
[see also: Land use country ranks ]

Irrigated land:
20 sq km (2012)
[see also: Irrigated land country ranks ]

Population distribution:
the population is primarily concentrated in the east with a focus in and around the captial of Gaborone, and the far central-eastern city of Francistown; population density remains low in other areas in the country, especially in the Kalahari to the west

Natural hazards:
periodic droughts; seasonal August winds blow from the west, carrying sand and dust across the country, which can obscure visibility

Environment - current issues:
overgrazing; desertification; limited freshwater resources; air pollution

Environment - international agreements:
party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Ozone Layer Protection, Wetlands
signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements

Geography - note:
landlocked; population concentrated in the southern and eastern parts of the country