Employment rate in Botswana
Botswana: Employment rate was 52.0% in 2025. ▬ Flat
Latest (2025)
52.0%
Change on year
down 0.5%
World rank
129th
of 186 countries
All-time high
53.7%
in 1991
All-time low
45.1%
in 2003
Years of data
35
1991–2025
Employment rate in Botswana, 1991–2025
Source: ILO Modelled Estimates, via World Bank (2026) – processed by Our World in Data. Measured in %.
Analysis
The most recent figure for employment rate in Botswana is 52.0%, measured in 2025.
That represents a change of down 0.5% on the previous year and up 3.0% over ten years.
Over the whole period, employment rate in Botswana peaked at 53.7% in 1991 and was at its lowest, 45.1%, in 2003.
Botswana ranks 129th of 186 countries on this measure, in the middle of the range.
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 49.4% | 47.6% | 53.7% | 9 |
| 2000s | 48.7% | 45.1% | 52.5% | 10 |
| 2010s | 50.3% | 49.2% | 50.7% | 10 |
| 2020s | 50.6% | 48.4% | 52.3% | 6 |
Countries ranked near Botswana
More work & labour data for Botswana
- Criminal sanctions or compensation for workplace sexual harassment 0 (1=yes; 0=no) (2023)
- Legislation on sexual harassment in employment 0 (1=yes; 0=no) (2023)
- Women can take the same jobs as men 1 (1=yes; 0=no) (2023)
- Labor force participation rate for ages 15-24, female (%) 38.1% (2025)
- Labor force participation rate, male (% of male population ages 15+) 74.0% (2025)
- Labor force participation rate, total (% of total population ages 15+) 68.8% (2025)
- Ratio of female to male labor force participation rate (%) 86.1% (2025)
- Labor force participation rate for ages 15-24, male (%) 45.7% (2025)
- Labor force participation rate, female (% of female population ages 15 63.7% (2025)
- Labor force participation rate for ages 15-24, total (%) 41.9% (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is employment rate in Botswana?
- Employment rate in Botswana was 52.0% in 2025, according to ILO Modelled Estimates, via World Bank (2026) – processed by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest employment rate recorded in Botswana?
- The highest recorded value was 53.7% in 1991.
- What is the lowest employment rate recorded in Botswana?
- The lowest recorded value was 45.1% in 2003.
- How does Botswana rank for employment rate?
- Botswana ranks 129th out of 186 countries with data for 2025.
- Is employment rate rising or falling in Botswana?
- Over the last ten years it is up 3.0%. The long-run trend across the full record is flat.
- Where does this Botswana data come from?
- The figures come from ILO Modelled Estimates, via World Bank (2026) – processed by Our World in Data, published as part of Employment rate. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
CSV · JSON — 35 observations, free to reuse under CC BY 4.0 (Our World in Data).
About this data
Share of the working-age population (ages 15 and older) who are employed.