Botswana is the world’s No.1 diamond producing country in terms of value

Diamond is one of the most interesting things to know about Botswana. The exploration began in Botswana in the 1950s, with mining beginning in 1971. By the mid-1980s, Botswana had discovered some of the world's highest-yielding mine The diamonds mined in Africa are generally larger and of higher quality than those mined in Russia. They also account for roughly 25% of Botswana's GDP and 60% of its exports.

In terms of value, Botswana leads the list of the world’s top diamond-producing countries, despite being the second by volume. Botswana mined 23.2 million carats worth $3.63 billion in in one year. The Karowe Diamond Mine, owned by Canada’s Lucara Diamond Corp, recently produced the world’s second-biggest gem at 1,758 carats. Botswana is home to seven world-class mines, including the world's two most productive diamond mines, Orapa and Jwaneng. Jwaneng, located in the Naledi River Valley in southern Botswana, is the world's richest diamond mine, producing 12.5 to 15 million carats each year. The exceptional grade of rough diamonds produced here is one of the reasons why this industry is so important to the country's economy.