Botswana vs South Africa: Employment in agriculture vs. urban population

Botswana
18.0%
in 2023
South Africa
18.8%
in 2023
Botswana rank
86th
South Africa rank
84th

Employment in agriculture vs. urban population over time

  • Botswana
  • South Africa
0102030199120072023

How they compare

South Africa currently reports 18.8% against 18.0% in Botswana, a difference of 0.8%.

The two have swapped places 4 times across 33 shared years of data; in 1991 it was South Africa ahead.

Botswana ranks 86th and South Africa ranks 84th of 186 countries.

Across the 4 decades both report, Botswana averaged higher in 2 and South Africa in 2.

Head to head by decade

Decade Botswana South Africa Difference Ahead
1990s 16.9% 21.6% 4.7% South Africa
2000s 23.9% 18.4% 5.5% Botswana
2010s 19.0% 16.0% 3.0% Botswana
2020s 18.2% 20.2% 2.0% South Africa

Averages of every year both report within each decade.

Frequently asked questions

Which has higher employment in agriculture vs. urban population, Botswana or South Africa?
South Africa, at 18.8% against 18.0% in Botswana as of 2023.
What is the difference in employment in agriculture vs. urban population between Botswana and South Africa?
0.8%, with South Africa ahead.
How many years of comparable data are there for Botswana and South Africa?
33 years are reported by both, from 1991 to 2023.
How do Botswana and South Africa rank globally for employment in agriculture vs. urban population?
Botswana ranks 86th and South Africa ranks 84th of 186 countries.
Where does this data come from?
ILO via World Bank – processed by Our World in Data, published as Employment in agriculture vs. urban population. Statizoid refreshes it automatically from the source and publishes the full history for both places.

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Botswana vs South Africa: Employment in agriculture vs. urban population. Statizoid, drawing on ILO via World Bank – processed by Our World in Data. Retrieved 02 September 2026, from https://labour.statizoid.com/compare/employment-in-agri-vs-urban-pop/botswana/south-africa/

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About this data

Indicator
Employment in agriculture vs. urban population
Unit
%
Source
ILO via World Bank – processed by Our World in Data
Licence
CC BY 4.0 (Our World in Data)
Coverage
186 places, 6,134 data points, 1991–2023
Last refreshed

The share of people employed in agriculture includes working-age people with a job in farming, forestry, fishing, and related activities, including those temporarily absent.