Ratio of female to male labor force participation rates in Botswana
Botswana: Ratio of female to male labor force participation rates was 86.1% in 2025. ▲ Rising
Ratio of female to male labor force participation rates in Botswana, 1990–2025
Source: International Labour Organization (ILOEST/ILOSTAT) and World Bank staff estimates (2026) – processed by Our World in Data. Measured in %.
Analysis
Botswana recorded 86.1% for ratio of female to male labor force participation rates in 2025.
Compared with earlier readings it is up 0.1% on the previous year and up 4.5% over ten years.
Over the whole period, ratio of female to male labor force participation rates in Botswana peaked at 86.7% in 2023 and was at its lowest, 62.4%, in 1990.
That places Botswana 52nd out of 186 countries with data for 2025, putting it in the middle of the range.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 36 years of available data.
Ratio of female to male labor force participation rates in Botswana, year by year
| Year | % | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1990 | 62.4% | — |
| 1991 | 62.9% | +0.8% |
| 1992 | 63.4% | +0.8% |
| 1993 | 64.0% | +0.9% |
| 1994 | 64.6% | +1.1% |
| 1995 | 65.5% | +1.3% |
| 1996 | 66.4% | +1.4% |
| 1997 | 67.3% | +1.5% |
| 1998 | 68.2% | +1.2% |
| 1999 | 70.1% | +2.8% |
| 2000 | 72.4% | +3.3% |
| 2001 | 73.5% | +1.5% |
| 2002 | 74.6% | +1.5% |
| 2003 | 75.8% | +1.6% |
| 2004 | 77.0% | +1.6% |
| 2005 | 78.3% | +1.7% |
| 2006 | 79.7% | +1.8% |
| 2007 | 79.8% | +0.1% |
| 2008 | 80.0% | +0.3% |
| 2009 | 80.3% | +0.4% |
| 2010 | 80.0% | -0.4% |
| 2011 | 80.5% | +0.7% |
| 2012 | 81.0% | +0.7% |
| 2013 | 81.5% | +0.6% |
| 2014 | 82.0% | +0.6% |
| 2015 | 82.4% | +0.5% |
| 2016 | 82.9% | +0.5% |
| 2017 | 83.3% | +0.5% |
| 2018 | 83.7% | +0.5% |
| 2019 | 84.1% | +0.5% |
| 2020 | 84.4% | +0.3% |
| 2021 | 85.3% | +1.1% |
| 2022 | 86.4% | +1.3% |
| 2023 | 86.7% | +0.3% |
| 2024 | 86.0% | -0.7% |
| 2025 | 86.1% | +0.1% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 65.5% | 62.4% | 70.1% | 10 |
| 2000s | 77.1% | 72.4% | 80.3% | 10 |
| 2010s | 82.1% | 80.0% | 84.1% | 10 |
| 2020s | 85.8% | 84.4% | 86.7% | 6 |
Countries ranked near Botswana
- 49 France 86.4% compare
- 50 Malawi 86.4% compare
- 51 Bolivia, Plurinational State of 86.3% compare
- 53 Macau, China 85.7% compare
- 54 Kazakhstan 85.4% compare
- 55 Timor-Leste 85.4% compare
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 ratio of female to male labor force participation rates in Botswana?
- Ratio of female to male labor force participation rates in Botswana was 86.1% in 2025, according to International Labour Organization (ILOEST/ILOSTAT) and World Bank staff estimates (2026) – processed by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest ratio of female to male labor force participation rates recorded in Botswana?
- The highest recorded value was 86.7% in 2023.
- What is the lowest ratio of female to male labor force participation rates recorded in Botswana?
- The lowest recorded value was 62.4% in 1990.
- How does Botswana rank for ratio of female to male labor force participation rates?
- Botswana ranks 52nd out of 186 countries with data for 2025.
- Is ratio of female to male labor force participation rates rising or falling in Botswana?
- Over the last ten years it is up 4.5%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this Botswana data come from?
- The figures come from International Labour Organization (ILOEST/ILOSTAT) and World Bank staff estimates (2026) – processed by Our World in Data, published as part of Ratio of female to male labor force participation rates. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
This ratio is calculated by dividing the labor force participation rate among women by the corresponding rate for men. The labor force participation rate is the share of the working-age population (ages 15 and over) who are economically active (employed or unemployed).