Female labor force participation rate (Labour Force) in Botswana
Botswana: Female labor force participation rate (Labour Force) was 65.2% in 2024. ▲ Rising
Female labor force participation rate in Botswana, 1964–2024
Source: Labour Force Statistics, via World Bank (2026) – processed by Our World in Data. Measured in %.
Analysis
In 2024, female labor force participation rate in Botswana stood at 65.2%. That is the highest value across all 21 years on record.
The figure is up 3.4% on the previous year and up 3.1% over ten years.
Over the whole period, female labor force participation rate in Botswana peaked at 65.2% in 2024 and was at its lowest, 41.7%, in 1991.
Botswana ranks 30th of 194 countries on this measure, in the top quarter.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 21 years of available data.
Female labor force participation rate (Labour Force) in Botswana, year by year
| Year | % | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1964 | 44.9% | — |
| 1971 | 49.3% | +9.7% |
| 1981 | 44.7% | -9.4% |
| 1985 | 64.2% | +43.6% |
| 1991 | 41.7% | -35.0% |
| 1994 | 50.5% | +21.2% |
| 1996 | 45.7% | -9.5% |
| 1998 | 47.7% | +4.3% |
| 2000 | 48.5% | +1.8% |
| 2001 | 46.2% | -4.9% |
| 2006 | 52.7% | +14.3% |
| 2009 | 55.8% | +5.7% |
| 2010 | 52.9% | -5.2% |
| 2011 | 50.8% | -3.9% |
| 2013 | 63.2% | +24.4% |
| 2019 | 58.8% | -6.9% |
| 2020 | 60.9% | +3.5% |
| 2021 | 59.6% | -2.2% |
| 2022 | 60.1% | +0.8% |
| 2023 | 63.1% | +5.0% |
| 2024 | 65.2% | +3.4% |
Botswana compared with similar countries
- Botswana's 65.2% is above the median for upper middle income countries, which is 52.2%, 1.2× the median. (52 countries reporting)
- Botswana's 65.2% is above the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 57.6%, 1.1× the median. (41 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1960s | 44.9% | 44.9% | 44.9% | 1 |
| 1970s | 49.3% | 49.3% | 49.3% | 1 |
| 1980s | 54.4% | 44.7% | 64.2% | 2 |
| 1990s | 46.4% | 41.7% | 50.5% | 4 |
| 2000s | 50.8% | 46.2% | 55.8% | 4 |
| 2010s | 56.4% | 50.8% | 63.2% | 4 |
| 2020s | 61.8% | 59.6% | 65.2% | 5 |
Countries ranked near Botswana
More work & labour data for Botswana
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Both sexes, annual -0.146 % change on previous year (2100)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Male, annual growth -0.1401 % change on previous year (2100)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Female, annual growth -0.1516 % change on previous year (2100)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Rural population, annual growth rate -0.9387 % change on previous year (2050)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Urban population, annual growth rate 1.07 % change on previous year (2050)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Urban population 2,871 1000 No (2050)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Rural population 550.66 1000 No (2050)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Female 1,969 1000 No (2100)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Male 1,868 1000 No (2100)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Both sexes 3,837 1000 No (2100)
Frequently asked questions
- What is female labor force participation rate in Botswana?
- Female labor force participation rate in Botswana was 65.2% in 2024, according to Labour Force Statistics, via World Bank (2026) – processed by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest female labor force participation rate recorded in Botswana?
- The highest recorded value was 65.2% in 2024.
- What is the lowest female labor force participation rate recorded in Botswana?
- The lowest recorded value was 41.7% in 1991.
- How does Botswana rank for female labor force participation rate?
- Botswana ranks 30th out of 194 countries with data for 2024.
- Is female labor force participation rate rising or falling in Botswana?
- Over the last ten years it is up 3.1%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this Botswana data come from?
- The figures come from Labour Force Statistics, via World Bank (2026) – processed by Our World in Data, published as part of Female labor force participation rate. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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CSV · JSON — 21 observations, free to reuse under CC BY 4.0 (Our World in Data).
About this data
Share of the female working-age population who are economically active (employed or unemployed). Figures refer to national estimates and may not be fully comparable across countries.