Botswana pula

ISO 4217CodeBWP (numeric: 072)Subunit0.01Units of accountBase unitpulaSymbolP‎Subunit1⁄100thebeDenominationsBanknotes10, 20, 50, 100, 200 pulaCoins5, 10, 25, 50 thebe, 1, 2, 5 pulaDemographicsDate of introduction23 August 1976Official user(s)BotswanaUnofficial userZimbabweIssuanceCentral bankBank of Botswana Websitewww.bankofbotswana.bwValuationInflation2.50% (April 2020) SourceBank of Botswana, 7 July 2016 MethodCPI

The pula 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— playing a major role in rites of traditional Tswana belief; therefore valuable and the word extends its meaning as "blessing" or "fortune". The word also serves as the national motto of the country.

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