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.
Labor force participation rate in Botswana, year by year
| Year | % | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1990 | 62.6% | — |
| 1991 | 62.3% | -0.4% |
| 1992 | 62.1% | -0.3% |
| 1993 | 61.9% | -0.3% |
| 1994 | 61.7% | -0.5% |
| 1995 | 61.3% | -0.6% |
| 1996 | 60.9% | -0.6% |
| 1997 | 60.5% | -0.7% |
| 1998 | 60.1% | -0.6% |
| 1999 | 59.4% | -1.2% |
| 2000 | 58.6% | -1.3% |
| 2001 | 58.8% | +0.4% |
| 2002 | 59.0% | +0.3% |
| 2003 | 59.2% | +0.3% |
| 2004 | 59.4% | +0.4% |
| 2005 | 59.7% | +0.4% |
| 2006 | 59.9% | +0.4% |
| 2007 | 60.9% | +1.6% |
| 2008 | 61.8% | +1.5% |
| 2009 | 62.7% | +1.5% |
| 2010 | 59.9% | -4.5% |
| 2011 | 60.6% | +1.2% |
| 2012 | 61.2% | +1.0% |
| 2013 | 61.6% | +0.7% |
| 2014 | 61.9% | +0.5% |
| 2015 | 62.2% | +0.4% |
| 2016 | 62.5% | +0.4% |
| 2017 | 62.8% | +0.5% |
| 2018 | 63.1% | +0.5% |
| 2019 | 63.5% | +0.6% |
| 2020 | 61.3% | -3.4% |
| 2021 | 64.0% | +4.4% |
| 2022 | 64.6% | +1.0% |
| 2023 | 68.3% | +5.7% |
| 2024 | 68.6% | +0.4% |
| 2025 | 68.8% | +0.3% |
Botswana compared with similar countries
- Botswana's 68.8% is above the median for upper middle income countries, which is 60.5%, 1.1× the median. (53 countries reporting)
- Botswana's 68.8% is above the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 64.3%, 1.1× the median. (47 countries reporting)
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
- 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 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).