Labor force participation rate, total (% of total population ages 15+) in Botswana

Botswana: Labor force participation rate, total (% of total population ages 15+) was 69.1% in 2024. ▲ Rising

Latest (2024)
69.1%
Change on year
up 1.8%
World rank
41st
of 199 countries
All-time high
70.3%
in 1985
All-time low
46.2%
in 1964
Years of data
22
1964–2024

Labor force participation rate, total (% of total population ages 15+) in Botswana, 1964–2024

0204060801964199420241964: 46.21971: 47.41981: 60.81985: 70.31991: 57.41994: 60.61996: 52.41998: 57.92000: 57.42001: 552003: 53.52006: 58.92009: 62.22010: 59.12011: 58.72013: 69.62019: 63.92020: 66.32021: 64.22022: 64.62023: 67.82024: 69.1

Source: Labour Force Statistics database (LFS), International Labour Organization (ILO).

Analysis

In 2024, labor force participation rate, total (% of total population ages 15+) in Botswana stood at 69.1%.

That represents a change of up 1.8% on the previous year and down 0.8% over ten years.

Over the whole period, labor force participation rate, total (% of total population ages 15+) in Botswana peaked at 70.3% in 1985 and was at its lowest, 46.2%, in 1964.

Botswana ranks 41st of 199 countries on this measure, in the top quarter.

The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 22 years of available data.

Labor force participation rate, total (% of total population ages 15+) in Botswana, year by year

Annual values for Labor force participation rate, total (% of total population ages 15+) (national estimate) in Botswana, 1964 to 2024.
Year Value Change
1964 46.2%
1971 47.4% +2.7%
1981 60.8% +28.2%
1985 70.3% +15.6%
1991 57.4% -18.3%
1994 60.6% +5.6%
1996 52.4% -13.6%
1998 57.9% +10.5%
2000 57.4% -0.7%
2001 55.0% -4.2%
2003 53.5% -2.8%
2006 58.9% +10.0%
2009 62.2% +5.7%
2010 59.1% -4.9%
2011 58.7% -0.8%
2013 69.6% +18.6%
2019 63.9% -8.2%
2020 66.3% +3.7%
2021 64.2% -3.2%
2022 64.6% +0.7%
2023 67.8% +5.0%
2024 69.1% +1.8%

Averages by decade

DecadeAverage LowestHighest Years
1960s 46.2% 46.2% 46.2% 1
1970s 47.4% 47.4% 47.4% 1
1980s 65.5% 60.8% 70.3% 2
1990s 57.1% 52.4% 60.6% 4
2000s 57.4% 53.5% 62.2% 5
2010s 62.8% 58.7% 69.6% 4
2020s 66.4% 64.2% 69.1% 5

Countries ranked near Botswana

  1. 38 Vanuatu 69.6% compare
  2. 39 Belarus 69.6% compare
  3. 40 Malaysia 69.3% compare
  4. 42 Saint Lucia 68.9% compare
  5. 43 Saint Kitts and Nevis 68.8% compare
  6. 44 Kazakhstan 68.7% compare
  7. 44 Netherlands 68.7% compare

See the full ranking of 232 places →

More work & labour data for Botswana

All data for Botswana →

Frequently asked questions

What is labor force participation rate, total (% of total population ages 15+) in Botswana?
Labor force participation rate, total (% of total population ages 15+) in Botswana was 69.1% in 2024, according to Labour Force Statistics database (LFS), International Labour Organization (ILO).
What is the highest labor force participation rate, total (% of total population ages 15+) recorded in Botswana?
The highest recorded value was 70.3% in 1985.
What is the lowest labor force participation rate, total (% of total population ages 15+) recorded in Botswana?
The lowest recorded value was 46.2% in 1964.
How does Botswana rank for labor force participation rate, total (% of total population ages 15+)?
Botswana ranks 41st out of 199 countries with data for 2024.
Is labor force participation rate, total (% of total population ages 15+) rising or falling in Botswana?
Over the last ten years it is down 0.8%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
Where does this Botswana data come from?
The figures come from Labour Force Statistics database (LFS), International Labour Organization (ILO), published as part of Labor force participation rate, total (% of total population ages 15+) (national estimate). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.

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Labor force participation rate, total (% of total population ages 15+) in Botswana. Statizoid, drawing on Labour Force Statistics database (LFS), International Labour Organization (ILO). Retrieved 05 September 2026, from https://labour.statizoid.com/stat/labor-force-participation-rate-total-percent-of-total-population-ages-15-national-estimate/botswana/

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About this data

Indicator
Labor force participation rate, total (% of total population ages 15+) (national estimate)
Source
Labour Force Statistics database (LFS), International Labour Organization (ILO)
Licence
CC BY 4.0 (World Bank Open Data)
Coverage
232 places, 5,713 data points, 1960–2025
Last refreshed

Labor force participation rate is the proportion of the population ages 15 and older that is economically active: all people who supply labor for the production of goods and services during a specified period.