Botswana pula facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Botswana pula |
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| ISO 4217 Code | BWP | ||||
| Official user(s) |  Botswana |
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| Unofficial user(s) |  Zimbabwe |
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| Inflation | 2.50% (April 2020) | ||||
| Source | Bank of Botswana, 7 July 2016 | ||||
| Method | CPI | ||||
| Subunit | |||||
| 1⁄100 | thebe | ||||
| Symbol | P | ||||
| Coins | 5, 10, 25, 50 thebe, 1, 2, 5 pula | ||||
| Banknotes | 10, 20, 50, 100, 200 pula | ||||
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The pula is the official money used in Botswana, a country in southern Africa. Its special code is BWP. One pula is made up of 100 smaller units called thebe.
The word pula means "rain" in the local language, Setswana. Rain is very rare and important in Botswana because much of the country is covered by the Kalahari Desert. So, "pula" is seen as a valuable gift and a blessing. It's also the national motto of Botswana!
The smaller unit, thebe, means "shield". This name was chosen to represent protection and defence for the country. The public helped choose both these names.
Contents
History of the Pula
The pula was first used on 23 August 1976. This day is even known as "Pula Day"! Before the pula, Botswana used the South African rand. The pula replaced the rand at the same value. About 100 days after the pula was introduced, the rand was no longer accepted as official money in Botswana.
Coins of Botswana
When the pula was introduced in 1976, coins came in values of 1, 5, 10, 25, and 50 thebe. There was also a 1 pula coin. Over the years, the materials used to make the coins changed. For example, some coins started as bronze and later became bronze-plated steel.
New coins were introduced in 1981, like the 2 thebe coin, but it was later stopped. In 1994, a 2 pula coin was added. A special 5 pula coin was introduced in 2000. It had two different metals and showed a mopane caterpillar on it!
In 2013, a completely new set of coins was released. All the older coins were taken out of circulation by August 2014. However, people could still exchange their old coins for new ones for five years.
You might see the word "Ipelegeng" on the coins. This word means "to carry your own weight" or "to be self-sufficient" in the Tswana language. It has many meanings, but it generally encourages independence.
Banknotes of Botswana
The Bank of Botswana first released banknotes (paper money) on 23 August 1976. These were in values of 1, 2, 5, and 10 pula. A 20 pula note was added in 1978.
Over time, some banknotes were replaced by coins. For example, the 1, 2, and 5 pula notes were changed into coins. Higher value notes, like the 50 and 100 pula, were introduced in the 1990s.
A new series of banknotes came out in 2009. This series included a 200 pula banknote for the first time.
In recent years, the 10 pula banknote has been updated. In 2018, a new 10 pula note made of polymer (a type of plastic) was released. This makes the note more durable. In 2020, an even newer 10 pula polymer note was issued, featuring an image of the current President of Botswana, Mokgweetsi Masisi.
Pula in Zimbabwe
Because of very high inflation (when money loses its value quickly) in Zimbabwe from 2006 to 2008, the Zimbabwean government allowed people to use foreign money. The Zimbabwean dollar stopped being used in 2009. Today, several different currencies are used in Zimbabwe, including the South African rand and the Botswana pula.
Pula in Lesotho
The word pula is also important in the country of Lesotho. It's part of their national motto. Just like in Botswana, "pula" means "rain" in the Sotho language and is seen as a symbol of blessing.
See also
- Economy of Botswana
Images for kids
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Obverse of 2 pula (1980s)
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Reverse of 2 pula (1980s)
