Botswana is a landlocked country in Southern Africa that has undergone one of history's most remarkable development transformations, going from one of Africa's poorest nations at independence in 1966 to a middle-income country driven by diamond mining and stable governance. It is home to the Okavango Delta, one of the world's largest inland deltas, which floods seasonally to create an extraordinary wildlife-rich oasis in the Kalahari Desert. Botswana has maintained democratic governance since independence.
Population and area are rounded.
The light blue stands for water, especially rain, echoing the national motto “Pula”, which means rain in Setswana. The black and white stripes represent the harmony of people of different races, and also recall the coat of the zebra, the national animal. Adopted at independence from Britain in 1966, it is one of the few African flags that does not use the Pan-African colours.
Botswana, the former British protectorate of Bechuanaland, became independent on 30 September 1966. Its flag deliberately stands apart from the black, green and gold of many liberation movements, reflecting a peaceful transition to independence. Diamonds discovered soon after independence turned it from one of the poorest countries in the world into one of Africa's steadiest economies.
Horizontal light blue-white-black-white-light blue stripes.
Botswana transformed from one of the poorest countries to a middle-income nation in just one generation through diamond revenues.
Botswana's flag is often mixed up with these. Learn to tell them apart:
Every flag that has flown over Botswana, from today back through time.
First hoisted at independence in 1966. The light blue stands for water and rain (the national motto "Pula" means "let there be rain"); the black band with white edges symbolizes racial harmony. It has never been changed.
Botswana was the British Bechuanaland Protectorate from 1885 until independence in 1966, flying the Union Jack. Unusually, Britain never settled or heavily developed the territory — it was administered from Mafeking, a town actually outside its borders in South Africa — which left Botswana to chart its own course at independence.
Botswana shares a land border with 4 countries: Namibia, South Africa, Zambia and Zimbabwe.
One other national flag uses the same main colours as Botswana's.
Play Globalio and learn Botswana's flag
Lesotho
Namibia
South Africa
Zambia
Zimbabwe
Estonia