Which country’s currency is the pula?

Botswana’s currency is the pula.

Botswana introduced the pula on 23 August 1976, replacing the South African rand as the country’s monetary unit. The Setswana word pula means “rain,” an especially meaningful name in a largely semi-arid country where rainfall is highly valued. The pula is divided into 100 thebe, a word meaning “shield.”

The Bank of Botswana issues the currency. Its banknotes and coins feature national themes, including wildlife, agriculture, water, and important public figures. The currency’s ISO 4217 code is BWP, and its symbol is commonly P.

The pula is sometimes confused with the currencies of neighboring southern African states, including the rand, loti, lilangeni, and kwacha. Botswana’s monetary history is distinct: the country established its own currency five years after independence, following an initial period in which the rand circulated.