Botswana
Africa · 16 specs
Direct Answer
Botswana (BW / BWA / 072) operates on a 230 V, 50 Hz electrical grid using Type D, G, M sockets. Traffic drives on the left (LHT). The official currency is the Botswana Pula (BWP, P), country calling code is +267, emergency dispatch is 999 (Police) / 997 (Ambulance) / 998 (Fire), and paper standard is ISO 216 A4.
Source: National Standards / ISO 3166-1 / IEC World Plugs · Last reviewed Aug 28, 2026
Specs
| Official English Name | Botswana ISO 3166-1 |
| ISO 3166-1 Alpha-2 | BW |
| ISO 3166-1 Alpha-3 | BWA |
| ISO 3166-1 Numeric / UN M49 | 072 UN M49 (Code 002) |
| Country Calling Code | +267 ITU-T E.164 |
| International Exit Code (IDD) | 00 |
| Internet ccTLD | .bw IANA Registry |
| National Currency (ISO 4217) | Botswana Pula (BWP, P) |
| Mains Electricity Standard | 230 V, 50 Hz National Grid Standard |
| Electrical Plug Sockets | Type D, G, M |
| Road Traffic Driving Side | Left-Hand Traffic (LHT / RHD) Vienna/Geneva Conventions |
| Primary Measurement System | Metric (SI) Standard |
| Standard Office Paper Format | ISO 216 A4 (210 × 297 mm) Standard |
| Consolidated Emergency Number | 999 (Police) / 997 (Ambulance) / 998 (Fire) Emergency Dispatch |
| Postal Code Regex / Format | Postal system (Gaborone) National Postal Standard |
| Primary Time Zone | UTC+0 to UTC+4 (Africa Region) No DST |
Electrical Grid, Voltage & Plug Compatibility
- Nominal Grid Parameters: Operates on a single-phase standard of 230 V, 50 Hz.
- Plug & Socket Hardware: Type D, G, M. Botswana uses a mix of British-standard Type G (BS 1363) and older round-pin Type D sockets, plus South African-influenced Type M sockets near the border regions.
- International Traveler Guidance: Devices operating on 100–240 V (smartphones, laptops) require only a mechanical pin adapter. Single-voltage appliances from differing voltage regions require a certified step-down/step-up power transformer.
Telecommunications, Dialing & Emergency Dispatch
- International Dialing: The country calling code is +267. Outbound international calls from within the country require dial prefix 00 followed by the destination country code.
- Emergency Dispatch: Consolidated emergency services are reached at 999 (Police) / 997 (Ambulance) / 998 (Fire). Calls are automatically routed to local public safety answering points with emergency vehicle dispatch.
Transportation, Driving Standards & Road Regulations
- Traffic Flow: Road traffic drives on the left (LHT) with Right-Hand Drive (RHD) vehicles.
- Standard Speed Limits: General regulatory speed limits default to 50 km/h (31 mph) in built-up urban and residential zones, 80–100 km/h (50–62 mph) on undivided rural roads, and 110–130 km/h (68–81 mph) on grade-separated divided motorways/expressways (unless lower local limits are posted).
- Safety Requirements: Mandatory seatbelt compliance for all occupants, zero-distraction handheld mobile phone bans while driving, and mandatory in-vehicle warning triangles.
Commerce, Currency & Document Standards
- Official Currency: Legal tender is the Botswana Pula (BWP, P).
- Document & Paper Standards: Standard office printing, official government gazettes, and legal filings strictly utilize ISO 216 A4 (210 × 297 mm). Standard business correspondence pairs with standard business envelopes.
- National Time Zone: Regulated under UTC+0 to UTC+4 (Africa Region).
Postal Addressing & Administrative Divisions
- Postal Architecture: Postal delivery utilizes Postal system (Gaborone).
- Standard Address Format: Structured in standardized hierarchy: Recipient Name → Street Address / Building Unit → Postal Code + City/Town → Province/State → Botswana.