Labor force participation rate in Botswana
Botswana: Labor force participation rate was 68.8% in 2025. ▲ Rising
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
The most recent figure for labor force participation rate in Botswana is 68.8%, measured in 2025. That is the highest value across all 36 years on record.
Compared with earlier readings it is up 0.3% on the previous year and up 10.6% over ten years.
Over the whole period, labor force participation rate in Botswana peaked at 68.8% in 2025 and was at its lowest, 58.6%, in 2000.
That places Botswana 32nd out of 186 countries with data for 2025, putting it in the top quarter.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 36 years of available data.
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 61.3% | 59.4% | 62.6% | 10 |
| 2000s | 60.0% | 58.6% | 62.7% | 10 |
| 2010s | 61.9% | 59.9% | 63.5% | 10 |
| 2020s | 65.9% | 61.3% | 68.8% | 6 |
Countries ranked near Botswana
More work & labour data for Botswana
- Legislation on sexual harassment in employment 0 (1=yes; 0=no) (2023)
- Criminal sanctions or compensation for workplace sexual harassment 0 (1=yes; 0=no) (2023)
- Women can take the same jobs as men 1 (1=yes; 0=no) (2023)
- Labor force participation rate, total (% of total population ages 15+) 68.8% (2025)
- Labor force participation rate, male (% of male population ages 15+) 74.0% (2025)
- Ratio of female to male labor force participation rate (%) 86.1% (2025)
- Labor force participation rate, female (% of female population ages 15 63.7% (2025)
- Labor force participation rate, total (% of total population ages 15-6 71.2% (2025)
- Labor force participation rate, male (% of male population ages 15-64) 75.7% (2025)
- Labor force participation rate, female (% of female population ages 15 66.7% (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is labor force participation rate in Botswana?
- Labor force participation rate in Botswana was 68.8% in 2025, according to ILO Modelled Estimates, via World Bank (2026) – processed by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest labor force participation rate recorded in Botswana?
- The highest recorded value was 68.8% in 2025.
- What is the lowest labor force participation rate recorded in Botswana?
- The lowest recorded value was 58.6% in 2000.
- How does Botswana rank for labor force participation rate?
- Botswana ranks 32nd out of 186 countries with data for 2025.
- Is labor force participation rate rising or falling in Botswana?
- Over the last ten years it is up 10.6%. 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 Labor force participation rate. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
CSV · JSON — 36 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 over) who are economically active (employed or unemployed).