Pula is the name of Botswana’s national currency.
Botswana introduced the pula on 23 August 1976, replacing the South African rand. The word pula means “rain” in Setswana, reflecting the great value of rainfall in a largely semi-arid country. Botswana’s currency is divided into 100 thebe, a word meaning “shield.”
The Bank of Botswana issues the country’s banknotes and coins. Pula banknotes and coins feature national symbols, wildlife, and important figures from Botswana’s history. The currency’s ISO code is BWP, and its symbol is commonly written as P.
The rand is the currency of South Africa and is also used in some neighbouring countries, which can cause confusion because Botswana has close regional economic ties. Kwacha currencies are used in countries including Zambia and Malawi, while shilling is used in several countries such as Kenya, Tanzania, and Uganda.