Share of workers in vulnerable employment in Botswana
Botswana: Share of workers in vulnerable employment was 25.6% in 2025. ▲ Rising
Share of workers in vulnerable employment in Botswana, 1991–2025
Source: International Labour Organization (ILOEST/ILOSTAT) and World Bank staff estimates (2026) – processed by Our World in Data. Measured in %.
Analysis
Botswana recorded 25.6% for share of workers in vulnerable employment in 2025.
The figure is down 0.2% on the previous year and down 8.2% over ten years.
Over the whole period, share of workers in vulnerable employment in Botswana peaked at 28.4% in 2013 and was at its lowest, 17.0%, in 1996.
Botswana ranks 99th of 186 countries on this measure, in the middle of the range.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 35 years of available data.
Share of workers in vulnerable employment in Botswana, year by year
| Year | % | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1991 | 17.8% | — |
| 1992 | 17.5% | -1.6% |
| 1993 | 17.4% | -0.8% |
| 1994 | 17.3% | -0.5% |
| 1995 | 17.1% | -0.8% |
| 1996 | 17.0% | -0.9% |
| 1997 | 17.5% | +3.2% |
| 1998 | 18.1% | +3.2% |
| 1999 | 18.6% | +2.7% |
| 2000 | 19.1% | +2.7% |
| 2001 | 19.6% | +3.0% |
| 2002 | 20.3% | +3.2% |
| 2003 | 21.0% | +3.4% |
| 2004 | 21.7% | +3.7% |
| 2005 | 22.6% | +3.9% |
| 2006 | 23.4% | +3.8% |
| 2007 | 24.8% | +6.0% |
| 2008 | 26.2% | +5.6% |
| 2009 | 27.7% | +5.7% |
| 2010 | 27.9% | +0.8% |
| 2011 | 28.1% | +0.4% |
| 2012 | 28.3% | +0.7% |
| 2013 | 28.4% | +0.4% |
| 2014 | 28.1% | -1.0% |
| 2015 | 27.9% | -0.6% |
| 2016 | 27.7% | -0.8% |
| 2017 | 27.5% | -0.8% |
| 2018 | 27.2% | -0.8% |
| 2019 | 27.0% | -0.7% |
| 2020 | 26.6% | -1.6% |
| 2021 | 26.1% | -1.9% |
| 2022 | 25.9% | -0.7% |
| 2023 | 25.8% | -0.6% |
| 2024 | 25.7% | -0.4% |
| 2025 | 25.6% | -0.2% |
Botswana compared with similar countries
- Botswana's 25.6% is below the median for upper middle income countries, which is 29.8%, 86% of the median. (53 countries reporting)
- Botswana's 25.6% is below the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 67.6%, 38% of the median. (47 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 17.6% | 17.0% | 18.6% | 9 |
| 2000s | 22.6% | 19.1% | 27.7% | 10 |
| 2010s | 27.8% | 27.0% | 28.4% | 10 |
| 2020s | 25.9% | 25.6% | 26.6% | 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 share of workers in vulnerable employment in Botswana?
- Share of workers in vulnerable employment in Botswana was 25.6% 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 share of workers in vulnerable employment recorded in Botswana?
- The highest recorded value was 28.4% in 2013.
- What is the lowest share of workers in vulnerable employment recorded in Botswana?
- The lowest recorded value was 17.0% in 1996.
- How does Botswana rank for share of workers in vulnerable employment?
- Botswana ranks 99th out of 186 countries with data for 2025.
- Is share of workers in vulnerable employment rising or falling in Botswana?
- Over the last ten years it is down 8.2%. 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 Share of workers in vulnerable employment. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Share of employed population who are working as independent own-account workers (self-employed without staff), or contributing family workers (self-employed in a household business or farm).