Botswana vs South Africa: Unemployment rate: young vs. older adults
Botswana
45.3%
in 2024
South Africa
60.2%
in 2024
Botswana rank
5th
South Africa rank
2nd
Unemployment rate: young vs. older adults over time
- Botswana
- South Africa
How they compare
South Africa currently reports 60.2% against 45.3% in Botswana, a difference of 14.9%.
That makes South Africa's figure about 1.3 times Botswana's.
The two have swapped places 2 times across 34 shared years of data; in 1991 it was South Africa ahead.
Botswana ranks 5th and South Africa ranks 2nd of 188 countries.
South Africa has averaged higher in every one of the 4 decades both report.
Head to head by decade
| Decade | Botswana | South Africa | Difference | Ahead |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 34.5% | 43.2% | 8.7% | South Africa |
| 2000s | 36.8% | 44.1% | 7.4% | South Africa |
| 2010s | 34.8% | 52.2% | 17.4% | South Africa |
| 2020s | 43.2% | 61.4% | 18.2% | South Africa |
Averages of every year both report within each decade.
Frequently asked questions
- Which has higher unemployment rate: young vs. older adults, Botswana or South Africa?
- South Africa, at 60.2% against 45.3% in Botswana as of 2024.
- What is the difference in unemployment rate: young vs. older adults between Botswana and South Africa?
- 14.9%, with South Africa ahead.
- How many years of comparable data are there for Botswana and South Africa?
- 34 years are reported by both, from 1991 to 2024.
- How do Botswana and South Africa rank globally for unemployment rate: young vs. older adults?
- Botswana ranks 5th and South Africa ranks 2nd of 188 countries.
- Where does this data come from?
- International Labour Organization (2026) – with major processing by Our World in Data, published as Unemployment rate: young vs. older adults. Statizoid refreshes it automatically from the source and publishes the full history for both places.
Individual pages
About this data
Share of the labor force aged 15-24 without work, but actively looking for a job and available to start soon.