Unemployment rate in Botswana
Botswana: Unemployment rate was 24.5% in 2025. ▲ Rising
Unemployment rate in Botswana, 1991–2025
Source: ILO Modelled Estimates, via World Bank (2026) – processed by Our World in Data. Measured in %.
Analysis
The most recent figure for unemployment rate in Botswana is 24.5%, measured in 2025. That is the highest value across all 35 years on record.
The figure is up 2.8% on the previous year and up 29.4% over ten years.
Over the whole period, unemployment rate in Botswana peaked at 24.5% in 2025 and was at its lowest, 13.8%, in 1991.
That places Botswana 4th out of 186 countries with data for 2025, putting it in the top 10%.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 35 years of available data.
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 19.2% | 13.8% | 21.6% | 9 |
| 2000s | 18.8% | 15.9% | 23.8% | 10 |
| 2010s | 18.8% | 17.9% | 20.1% | 10 |
| 2020s | 23.2% | 21.0% | 24.5% | 6 |
Countries ranked near Botswana
More work & labour data for Botswana
- Legislation on sexual harassment in employment 0 (1=yes; 0=no) (2023)
- Criminal sanctions or compensation for workplace sexual harassment 0 (1=yes; 0=no) (2023)
- Women can take the same jobs as men 1 (1=yes; 0=no) (2023)
- Labor force participation rate, total (% of total population ages 15+) 68.8% (2025)
- Labor force participation rate, male (% of male population ages 15+) 74.0% (2025)
- Ratio of female to male labor force participation rate (%) 86.1% (2025)
- Labor force participation rate, female (% of female population ages 15 63.7% (2025)
- Labor force participation rate, total (% of total population ages 15-6 71.2% (2025)
- Labor force participation rate, male (% of male population ages 15-64) 75.7% (2025)
- Labor force participation rate, female (% of female population ages 15 66.7% (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is unemployment rate in Botswana?
- Unemployment rate in Botswana was 24.5% in 2025, according to ILO Modelled Estimates, via World Bank (2026) – processed by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest unemployment rate recorded in Botswana?
- The highest recorded value was 24.5% in 2025.
- What is the lowest unemployment rate recorded in Botswana?
- The lowest recorded value was 13.8% in 1991.
- How does Botswana rank for unemployment rate?
- Botswana ranks 4th out of 186 countries with data for 2025.
- Is unemployment rate rising or falling in Botswana?
- Over the last ten years it is up 29.4%. 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 Unemployment rate. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
CSV · JSON — 35 observations, free to reuse under CC BY 4.0 (Our World in Data).
About this data
Share of the labor force without work, but actively looking for a job and available to start soon.