Unemployment rate (ILO modelled estimates) in Botswana

Botswana: Unemployment rate (ILO modelled estimates) was 24.77 in 2027. ▲ Rising

Latest (2027)
24.77
Change on year
down 0.1%
World rank
4th
of 188 countries
All-time high
24.8
in 2026
All-time low
13.82
in 1991
Years of data
37
1991–2027

Unemployment rate (ILO modelled estimates) in Botswana, 1991–2027

05101520251991200920271991: 13.81992: 16.31993: 18.81994: 21.21995: 21.41996: 21.61997: 211998: 20.91999: 18.22000: 15.92001: 18.52002: 21.32003: 23.82004: 21.82005: 19.92006: 17.82007: 172008: 16.32009: 16.22010: 17.92011: 182012: 17.92013: 18.22014: 18.52015: 18.92016: 19.32017: 19.72018: 19.72019: 20.12020: 212021: 23.12022: 23.62023: 23.42024: 23.82025: 24.52026: 24.82027: 24.8

Source: International Labour Organization.

Analysis

In 2027, unemployment rate (ilo modelled estimates) in Botswana stood at 24.77.

The figure is down 0.1% on the previous year and up 25.9% over ten years.

Over the whole period, unemployment rate (ilo modelled estimates) in Botswana peaked at 24.8 in 2026 and was at its lowest, 13.82, in 1991.

That places Botswana 4th out of 188 countries with data for 2027, putting it in the top 10%.

The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 37 years of available data.

Unemployment rate (ILO modelled estimates) in Botswana, year by year

Annual values for Unemployment rate (ILO modelled estimates) (15+) in Botswana, 1991 to 2027.
Year Value Change
1991 13.82
1992 16.33 +18.2%
1993 18.76 +14.9%
1994 21.2 +13.0%
1995 21.39 +0.9%
1996 21.59 +0.9%
1997 21.03 -2.6%
1998 20.86 -0.8%
1999 18.22 -12.6%
2000 15.88 -12.9%
2001 18.54 +16.8%
2002 21.28 +14.8%
2003 23.8 +11.9%
2004 21.75 -8.6%
2005 19.85 -8.7%
2006 17.78 -10.4%
2007 16.98 -4.5%
2008 16.29 -4.0%
2009 16.17 -0.8%
2010 17.86 +10.5%
2011 18.05 +1.1%
2012 17.92 -0.7%
2013 18.17 +1.4%
2014 18.48 +1.7%
2015 18.91 +2.3%
2016 19.33 +2.2%
2017 19.67 +1.8%
2018 19.66 -0.0%
2019 20.09 +2.2%
2020 21.02 +4.6%
2021 23.11 +9.9%
2022 23.61 +2.2%
2023 23.38 -1.0%
2024 23.81 +1.8%
2025 24.48 +2.8%
2026 24.8 +1.3%
2027 24.77 -0.1%

Averages by decade

DecadeAverage LowestHighest Years
1990s 19.25 13.82 21.59 9
2000s 18.83 15.88 23.8 10
2010s 18.81 17.86 20.09 10
2020s 23.62 21.02 24.8 8

Countries ranked near Botswana

  1. 1 Eswatini 33.65 compare
  2. 2 South Africa 32.59 compare
  3. 3 Djibouti 26.05 compare
  4. 5 Palestine, State of 24.42 compare
  5. 6 Gabon 20.15 compare
  6. 7 Congo 19.92 compare

See the full ranking of 276 places →

More work & labour data for Botswana

All data for Botswana →

Frequently asked questions

What is unemployment rate (ilo modelled estimates) in Botswana?
Unemployment rate (ilo modelled estimates) in Botswana was 24.77 in 2027, according to International Labour Organization.
What is the highest unemployment rate (ilo modelled estimates) recorded in Botswana?
The highest recorded value was 24.8 in 2026.
What is the lowest unemployment rate (ilo modelled estimates) recorded in Botswana?
The lowest recorded value was 13.82 in 1991.
How does Botswana rank for unemployment rate (ilo modelled estimates)?
Botswana ranks 4th out of 188 countries with data for 2027.
Is unemployment rate (ilo modelled estimates) rising or falling in Botswana?
Over the last ten years it is up 25.9%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
Where does this Botswana data come from?
The figures come from International Labour Organization, published as part of Unemployment rate (ILO modelled estimates) (15+). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.

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Unemployment rate (ILO modelled estimates) in Botswana. Statizoid, drawing on International Labour Organization. Retrieved 07 September 2026, from https://labour.statizoid.com/stat/unemployment-rate-ilo-modelled-estimates-15/botswana/

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About this data

Indicator
Unemployment rate (ILO modelled estimates) (15+)
Source
International Labour Organization
Licence
ILO Terms of Use (attribution required)
Coverage
276 places, 10,188 data points, 1991–2027
Last refreshed

Imputed observations are not based on national data, are subject to high uncertainty and should not be used for country comparisons or rankings. This series is based on the 13th ICLS definitions. The unemployment rate conveys the number of persons who are unemployed as a percent of the labour force (i.e., the employed plus the unemployed). The unemployed comprise all persons of working age who were: a) without work during the reference period, i.e. were not in paid employment or self-employment; b) currently available for work, i.e. were available for paid employment or self-employment during the reference period; and c) seeking work, i.e. had taken specific steps in a specified recent period to seek paid employment or self-employment. For more information, refer to the ILO Modelled Estimates (ILOEST) database description.