Female labor force participation rate in Botswana
Botswana: Female labor force participation rate was 63.7% in 2025. ▲ Rising
Female labor force participation rate in Botswana, 1990–2025
Source: ILO Modelled Estimates, via World Bank (2026) – processed by Our World in Data. Measured in %.
Analysis
Botswana recorded 63.7% for female labor force participation rate in 2025. That is the highest value across all 36 years on record.
Compared with earlier readings it is up 0.4% on the previous year and up 13.2% over ten years.
Over the whole period, female labor force participation rate in Botswana peaked at 63.7% in 2025 and was at its lowest, 48.7%, in 1990.
Botswana ranks 26th of 186 countries on this measure, in the top quarter.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 36 years of available data.
Female labor force participation rate in Botswana, year by year
| Year | % | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1990 | 48.7% | — |
| 1991 | 48.7% | +0.1% |
| 1992 | 48.8% | +0.1% |
| 1993 | 48.8% | +0.1% |
| 1994 | 48.9% | +0.1% |
| 1995 | 49.0% | +0.1% |
| 1996 | 49.0% | +0.1% |
| 1997 | 49.1% | +0.1% |
| 1998 | 49.1% | +0.1% |
| 1999 | 49.3% | +0.3% |
| 2000 | 49.5% | +0.5% |
| 2001 | 50.1% | +1.2% |
| 2002 | 50.7% | +1.1% |
| 2003 | 51.3% | +1.2% |
| 2004 | 51.9% | +1.3% |
| 2005 | 52.6% | +1.3% |
| 2006 | 53.3% | +1.3% |
| 2007 | 54.2% | +1.7% |
| 2008 | 55.1% | +1.7% |
| 2009 | 56.0% | +1.7% |
| 2010 | 53.3% | -4.7% |
| 2011 | 54.2% | +1.5% |
| 2012 | 54.9% | +1.3% |
| 2013 | 55.4% | +1.0% |
| 2014 | 55.9% | +0.8% |
| 2015 | 56.3% | +0.7% |
| 2016 | 56.7% | +0.7% |
| 2017 | 57.1% | +0.7% |
| 2018 | 57.6% | +0.8% |
| 2019 | 58.0% | +0.8% |
| 2020 | 56.1% | -3.3% |
| 2021 | 58.9% | +5.0% |
| 2022 | 59.9% | +1.7% |
| 2023 | 63.4% | +5.8% |
| 2024 | 63.5% | +0.0% |
| 2025 | 63.7% | +0.4% |
Botswana compared with similar countries
- Botswana's 63.7% is above the median for upper middle income countries, which is 51.1%, 1.2× the median. (53 countries reporting)
- Botswana's 63.7% is above the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 57.3%, 1.1× the median. (47 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 48.9% | 48.7% | 49.3% | 10 |
| 2000s | 52.5% | 49.5% | 56.0% | 10 |
| 2010s | 55.9% | 53.3% | 58.0% | 10 |
| 2020s | 60.9% | 56.1% | 63.7% | 6 |
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 63.7% in 2025, according to ILO Modelled Estimates, 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 63.7% in 2025.
- What is the lowest female labor force participation rate recorded in Botswana?
- The lowest recorded value was 48.7% in 1990.
- How does Botswana rank for female labor force participation rate?
- Botswana ranks 26th out of 186 countries with data for 2025.
- Is female labor force participation rate rising or falling in Botswana?
- Over the last ten years it is up 13.2%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- 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 Female labor force participation rate. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Share of the female working-age population (ages 15 and over) who are economically active (employed or unemployed).