Unemployment, female (% of female labor force) in Botswana

Botswana: Unemployment, female (% of female labor force) was 26.4% in 2024. ▲ Rising

Latest (2024)
26.4%
Change on year
down 1.8%
World rank
6th
of 181 countries
All-time high
30.8%
in 1985
All-time low
17.2%
in 1991
Years of data
19
1985–2024

Unemployment, female (% of female labor force) in Botswana, 1985–2024

01020301985200420241985: 30.81991: 17.21994: 22.81996: 241998: 23.62000: 17.22001: 23.92003: 26.32006: 202009: 19.62010: 21.42011: 22.52013: 22.32019: 21.92020: 22.62021: 25.92022: 25.92023: 26.92024: 26.4

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

Analysis

In 2024, unemployment, female (% of female labor force) in Botswana stood at 26.4%.

That represents a change of down 1.8% on the previous year and up 18.3% over ten years.

Over the whole period, unemployment, female (% of female labor force) in Botswana peaked at 30.8% in 1985 and was at its lowest, 17.2%, in 1991.

Botswana ranks 6th of 181 countries on this measure, in the top 10%.

The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 19 years of available data.

Unemployment, female (% of female labor force) in Botswana, year by year

Annual values for Unemployment, female (% of female labor force) (national estimate) in Botswana, 1985 to 2024.
Year Value Change
1985 30.8%
1991 17.2% -44.3%
1994 22.8% +32.7%
1996 24.0% +5.1%
1998 23.6% -1.6%
2000 17.2% -26.8%
2001 23.9% +38.6%
2003 26.3% +10.0%
2006 20.0% -24.0%
2009 19.6% -1.9%
2010 21.4% +9.3%
2011 22.5% +4.8%
2013 22.3% -0.6%
2019 21.9% -2.0%
2020 22.6% +3.1%
2021 25.9% +15.0%
2022 25.9% -0.1%
2023 26.9% +3.7%
2024 26.4% -1.8%

Averages by decade

DecadeAverage LowestHighest Years
1980s 30.8% 30.8% 30.8% 1
1990s 21.9% 17.2% 24.0% 4
2000s 21.4% 17.2% 26.3% 5
2010s 22.0% 21.4% 22.5% 4
2020s 25.5% 22.6% 26.9% 5

Countries ranked near Botswana

  1. 3 South Africa 34.4% compare
  2. 4 Palestine, State of 29.7% compare
  3. 5 Iraq 28.3% compare
  4. 7 Yemen 26.1% compare
  5. 8 Jordan 25.0% compare
  6. 9 French Polynesia 22.8% compare

See the full ranking of 205 places →

More work & labour data for Botswana

All data for Botswana →

Frequently asked questions

What is unemployment, female (% of female labor force) in Botswana?
Unemployment, female (% of female labor force) in Botswana was 26.4% in 2024, according to Labour Force Statistics database (LFS), International Labour Organization (ILO).
What is the highest unemployment, female (% of female labor force) recorded in Botswana?
The highest recorded value was 30.8% in 1985.
What is the lowest unemployment, female (% of female labor force) recorded in Botswana?
The lowest recorded value was 17.2% in 1991.
How does Botswana rank for unemployment, female (% of female labor force)?
Botswana ranks 6th out of 181 countries with data for 2024.
Is unemployment, female (% of female labor force) rising or falling in Botswana?
Over the last ten years it is up 18.3%. 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 Unemployment, female (% of female labor force) (national estimate). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.

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Unemployment, female (% of female labor force) in Botswana. Statizoid, drawing on Labour Force Statistics database (LFS), International Labour Organization (ILO). Retrieved 11 September 2026, from https://labour.statizoid.com/stat/unemployment-female-percent-of-female-labor-force-national-estimate/botswana/

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About this data

Indicator
Unemployment, female (% of female labor force) (national estimate)
Source
Labour Force Statistics database (LFS), International Labour Organization (ILO)
Licence
CC BY 4.0 (World Bank Open Data)
Coverage
205 places, 5,402 data points, 1960–2025
Last refreshed

Unemployment refers to the share of the labor force that is without work but available for and seeking employment. Definitions of labor force and unemployment differ by country.