Botswana pula

Botswana pula
Obverse of 2 pula (1980s)Reverse of 2 pula (1980s)
ISO 4217
CodeBWP (numeric: 072)
Subunit0.01
Unit
Unitpula
SymbolP
Denominations
Subunit
1100thebe
Banknotes10, 20, 50, 100, 200 pula
Coins5, 10, 25, 50 thebe, 1, 2, 5 pula
Demographics
Date of introduction23 August 1976
Official user(s) Botswana
Unofficial user(s) Zimbabwe
Issuance
Central bankBank of Botswana
 Websitewww.bankofbotswana.bw
Valuation
Inflation2.50% (April 2020)
 SourceBank of Botswana, 7 July 2016
 MethodCPI

The pula (also known as the Botswana dollar) is the currency of Botswana. It has the ISO 4217 code BWP and is subdivided into 100 thebe. Pula literally means "rain" in Setswana, because rain is very scarce in Botswana—home to much of the Kalahari Desert—and therefore valuable and a blessing.[1][2] The word also serves as the national motto of the country.

A sub-unit of the currency is known as thebe, or "shield",[3] and represents defence.[4] The names were picked with the help of the public.[4]

  1. ^ "Pula currency". FactRepublic.com. 2018-11-09. Retrieved 2020-05-26.
  2. ^ "History of Botswana Currency | Bank of Botswana". www.bankofbotswana.bw. Retrieved 2020-05-26.
  3. ^ Masire, Ketumile (2006). Very brave or very foolish?. Macmillan Botswana. p. 81. ISBN 978-99912-404-8-0. Pula (rain) was an easy choice for the currency, and the decimal coins were called thebe (shield). (Memoirs of a former president of Botswana)
  4. ^ a b Standard Chartered Review. Standard Chartered Bank. 1976. p. 9. The new names pula and thebe were chosen following an invitation to the public to submit a their suggestions [...] The meaning of "thebe" is shield — the traditional means of defence.