Botswana vs South Africa: SDG indicator 8.5.2: Unemployment rate (previous ILO definition)

Botswana
24.43
in 2024
South Africa
32.28
in 2024
Botswana rank
3rd
South Africa rank
1st

SDG indicator 8.5.2: Unemployment rate (previous ILO definition) over time

  • Botswana
  • South Africa
0102030200020122024

How they compare

South Africa currently reports 32.28 against 24.43 in Botswana, a difference of 7.85.

That makes South Africa's figure about 1.3 times Botswana's.

Across all 14 years both countries report, South Africa has been ahead every year.

Botswana ranks 3rd and South Africa ranks 1st of 179 countries.

South Africa has averaged higher in every one of the 3 decades both report.

Head to head by decade

Decade Botswana South Africa Difference Ahead
2000s 18.65 28.95 10.3 South Africa
2010s 19.49 25.59 6.1 South Africa
2020s 23.11 32.17 9.06 South Africa

Averages of every year both report within each decade.

Frequently asked questions

Which has higher sdg indicator 8.5.2: unemployment rate (previous ilo definition), Botswana or South Africa?
South Africa, at 32.28 against 24.43 in Botswana as of 2024.
What is the difference in sdg indicator 8.5.2: unemployment rate (previous ilo definition) between Botswana and South Africa?
7.85, with South Africa ahead.
How many years of comparable data are there for Botswana and South Africa?
14 years are reported by both, from 2000 to 2024.
How do Botswana and South Africa rank globally for sdg indicator 8.5.2: unemployment rate (previous ilo definition)?
Botswana ranks 3rd and South Africa ranks 1st of 179 countries.
Where does this data come from?
International Labour Organization, published as SDG indicator 8.5.2: Unemployment rate (previous ILO definition - ICLS13) (15+). Statizoid refreshes it automatically from the source and publishes the full history for both places.

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Botswana vs South Africa: SDG indicator 8.5.2: Unemployment rate (previous ILO definition). Statizoid, drawing on International Labour Organization. Retrieved 07 September 2026, from https://labour.statizoid.com/compare/sdg-indicator-8-5-2-unemployment-rate-previous-ilo-definition-icls13-15/botswana/south-africa/

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About this data

Indicator
SDG indicator 8.5.2: Unemployment rate (previous ILO definition - ICLS13) (15+)
Source
International Labour Organization
Licence
ILO Terms of Use (attribution required)
Coverage
266 places, 5,648 data points, 2000–2027
Last refreshed

Data may differ from nationally reported figures and the Global SDG Indicators Database due to differences in sources and/or reference years. The unemployment rate conveys the number of persons who are unemployed as a percent of the labour force (i.e., the employed plus the unemployed). The unemployed comprise all persons of working age who were: a) without work during the reference period, i.e. were not in paid employment or self-employment; b) currently available for work, i.e. were available for paid employment or self-employment during the reference period; and c) seeking work, i.e. had taken specific steps in a specified recent period to seek paid employment or self-employment. For more information, refer to the Labour Market-related SDG Indicators (ILOSDG) database description.