Unemployment, youth male (% of male labor force ages 15-24) in Botswana
Botswana: Unemployment, youth male (% of male labor force ages 15-24) was 41.3% in 2025. ▲ Rising
Unemployment, youth male (% of male labor force ages 15-24) in Botswana, 1991–2025
Source: ILO Modelled Estimates database (ILOEST), International Labour Organization (ILO).
Analysis
The most recent figure for unemployment, youth male (% of male labor force ages 15-24) in Botswana is 41.3%, measured in 2025.
The figure is up 2.0% on the previous year and up 28.3% over ten years.
Over the whole period, unemployment, youth male (% of male labor force ages 15-24) in Botswana peaked at 42.5% in 2003 and was at its lowest, 20.1%, in 1991.
That places Botswana 7th out of 187 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.
Unemployment, youth male (% of male labor force ages 15-24) in Botswana, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1991 | 20.1% | — |
| 1992 | 24.6% | +22.5% |
| 1993 | 29.1% | +18.2% |
| 1994 | 33.6% | +15.5% |
| 1995 | 33.4% | -0.7% |
| 1996 | 33.2% | -0.6% |
| 1997 | 33.5% | +1.1% |
| 1998 | 34.6% | +3.1% |
| 1999 | 32.3% | -6.7% |
| 2000 | 30.2% | -6.3% |
| 2001 | 33.6% | +11.1% |
| 2002 | 38.4% | +14.4% |
| 2003 | 42.5% | +10.6% |
| 2004 | 37.1% | -12.7% |
| 2005 | 32.3% | -13.0% |
| 2006 | 27.5% | -14.8% |
| 2007 | 26.7% | -3.0% |
| 2008 | 26.0% | -2.5% |
| 2009 | 26.2% | +0.4% |
| 2010 | 29.1% | +11.4% |
| 2011 | 29.9% | +2.5% |
| 2012 | 30.1% | +0.6% |
| 2013 | 30.7% | +2.1% |
| 2014 | 31.4% | +2.2% |
| 2015 | 32.2% | +2.6% |
| 2016 | 33.0% | +2.5% |
| 2017 | 33.7% | +2.2% |
| 2018 | 33.9% | +0.7% |
| 2019 | 34.8% | +2.6% |
| 2020 | 38.4% | +10.2% |
| 2021 | 38.2% | -0.5% |
| 2022 | 36.8% | -3.7% |
| 2023 | 39.6% | +7.7% |
| 2024 | 40.5% | +2.2% |
| 2025 | 41.3% | +2.0% |
Botswana compared with similar countries
- Botswana's 41.3% is above the median for upper middle income countries, which is 14.4%, 2.9× the median. (53 countries reporting)
- Botswana's 41.3% is above the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 9.0%, 4.6× the median. (47 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 30.5% | 20.1% | 34.6% | 9 |
| 2000s | 32.1% | 26.0% | 42.5% | 10 |
| 2010s | 31.9% | 29.1% | 34.8% | 10 |
| 2020s | 39.1% | 36.8% | 41.3% | 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 unemployment, youth male (% of male labor force ages 15-24) in Botswana?
- Unemployment, youth male (% of male labor force ages 15-24) in Botswana was 41.3% in 2025, according to ILO Modelled Estimates database (ILOEST), International Labour Organization (ILO).
- What is the highest unemployment, youth male (% of male labor force ages 15-24) recorded in Botswana?
- The highest recorded value was 42.5% in 2003.
- What is the lowest unemployment, youth male (% of male labor force ages 15-24) recorded in Botswana?
- The lowest recorded value was 20.1% in 1991.
- How does Botswana rank for unemployment, youth male (% of male labor force ages 15-24)?
- Botswana ranks 7th out of 187 countries with data for 2025.
- Is unemployment, youth male (% of male labor force ages 15-24) rising or falling in Botswana?
- Over the last ten years it is up 28.3%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this Botswana data come from?
- The figures come from ILO Modelled Estimates database (ILOEST), International Labour Organization (ILO), published as part of Unemployment, youth male (% of male labor force ages 15-24) (modeled ILO estimate). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
CSV · JSON — 35 observations, free to reuse under CC BY 4.0 (World Bank Open Data).
About this data
Youth unemployment refers to the share of the labor force ages 15-24 without work but available for and seeking employment.