Labour · Sub-Saharan Africa · Upper-middle income
Botswana: the labour market
Labour force is 1.2m (2025), 142nd of 187 in the world and 36th of 47 in Sub-Saharan Africa. Participation rate is 68.8% (2025), 32nd of 187 in the world and 15th of 47 in Sub-Saharan Africa. Women's participation is 63.7% (2025), 26th of 187 in the world and 16th of 47 in Sub-Saharan Africa.
Labour force
Botswana
Participation rate
BotswanaSub-Saharan AfricaUpper-middle incomeWorld
13 indicators
Labour: Botswana in detail
Latest reported value, world rank and rank within Sub-Saharan Africa; values around 2000, 2010, 2020; group and world columns are World Bank aggregates.
| Indicator | Latest | World rank | In region | ~2000 | ~2010 | ~2020 | 10-year change | Region | Income group | World | Since 2000 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Labour forceLabour force, total | 1.2m2025 | 142/187 | 36/47 | 605,662 | 802,345 | 973,488 | +33%since 2015 | 527m | 1.5bn | 3.7bn | |
| Participation rateLabour force participation, % of 15+ | 68.8%2025 | 32/187 | 15/47 | 58.6% | 59.9% | 61.3% | +6.6 ppsince 2015 | 70.3% | 62.7% | 61.0% | |
| Women's participationFemale labour force participation, % of women 15+ | 63.7%2025 | 26/187 | 16/47 | 49.5% | 53.3% | 56.1% | +7.4 ppsince 2015 | 65.2% | 53.4% | 48.9% | |
| Employment rateEmployment to population ratio, 15+ (ILO) | 52.0%2025 | 130/187 | 33/47 | 49.3% | 49.2% | 48.4% | +1.5 ppsince 2015 | 66.3% | 59.5% | 58.1% | |
| UnemploymentUnemployment, % of labour force (ILO) | 24.5%2025 | 4/187 | 3/47 | 15.9% | 17.9% | 21.0% | +5.6 ppsince 2015 | 5.7% | 5.2% | 4.8% | |
| Female unemploymentFemale unemployment, % of female labour force (ILO) | 27.9%2025 | 8/187 | 4/47 | 17.3% | 21.6% | 22.7% | +6.3 ppsince 2015 | 6.3% | 5.1% | 4.9% | |
| Youth unemploymentYouth unemployment, ages 15–24 (ILO) | 46.0%2025 | 5/187 | 3/47 | 32.1% | 35.1% | 40.4% | +11.3 ppsince 2015 | 10.1% | 15.6% | 13.4% | |
| Youth NEET rateYouth not in education, employment or training, % | 38.0%2024 | 14/170 | 8/44 | · | 35.7%2009 | 37.1% | +2.3 ppsince 2009 | — | 17.3% | — | |
| Wage workersWage and salaried workers, % of total employment | 71.9%2025 | 83/187 | 4/47 | 77.7% | 69.5% | 71.0% | +2.3 ppsince 2015 | 22.3% | 61.3% | 53.6% | |
| Vulnerable employmentVulnerable employment, % of total employment (ILO) | 25.6%2025 | 99/187 | 44/47 | 19.1% | 27.9% | 26.6% | −2.3 ppsince 2015 | 71.0% | 34.8% | 42.4% | |
| Jobs in agricultureEmployment in agriculture, % of total employment | 18.0%2025 | 83/187 | 42/47 | 14.8% | 18.4% | 19.4% | +1.5 ppsince 2015 | 49.3% | 19.8% | 25.8% | |
| Jobs in industryEmployment in industry, % of total employment | 15.8%2025 | 137/187 | 19/47 | 18.6% | 15.8% | 15.0% | −0.5 ppsince 2015 | 12.2% | 27.7% | 23.7% | |
| Jobs in servicesEmployment in services, % of total employment | 66.2%2025 | 74/187 | 4/47 | 66.6% | 65.8% | 65.5% | −1.0 ppsince 2015 | 38.5% | 52.4% | 50.6% |
Source: World Bank, World Development Indicators (CC BY 4.0)“·” — no value reported within two years of that date. World rank counts countries with a recent value.
Better than ten years ago
- Women's participation+7.4 pp63.7% in 2025
- Employment rate+1.5 pp52.0% in 2025
- Wage workers+2.3 pp71.9% in 2025
- Vulnerable employment−2.3 pp25.6% in 2025
Worse than ten years ago
- Unemployment+5.6 pp24.5% in 2025
- Female unemployment+6.3 pp27.9% in 2025
- Youth unemployment+11.3 pp46.0% in 2025
- Youth NEET rate+2.3 pp38.0% in 2024
Only indicators where higher or lower is clearly better are rated (for example, unemployment down is better, life expectancy up is better).
neighbours
Botswana and its neighbours
Countries sharing a land border with Botswana. Latest values since 2005; the highest in each row is marked.
| Indicator | Botswana | South Africa | Zambia | Zimbabwe | Namibia |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Labour force | 1.2m2025 | 26.7m2025 | 8.0m2025 | 6.9m2025 | 1.2m2025 |
| Participation rate | 68.8%2025 | 55.6%2025 | 61.9%2025 | 67.7%2025 | 58.8%2025 |
| Women's participation | 63.7%2025 | 49.9%2025 | 56.4%2025 | 62.2%2025 | 54.9%2025 |
| Employment rate | 52.0%2025 | 37.6%2025 | 58.3%2025 | 61.4%2025 | 47.5%2025 |
| Unemployment | 24.5%2025 | 32.4%2025 | 5.9%2025 | 9.3%2025 | 19.3%2025 |
| Female unemployment | 27.9%2025 | 34.0%2025 | 6.2%2025 | 9.4%2025 | 18.4%2025 |
| Youth unemployment | 46.0%2025 | 59.9%2025 | 10.5%2025 | 15.5%2025 | 38.0%2025 |
| Youth NEET rate | 38.0%2024 | 34.6%2024 | 26.7%2024 | 28.8%2025 | 31.6%2023 |
| Wage workers | 71.9%2025 | 82.7%2025 | 28.3%2025 | 29.2%2025 | 63.5%2025 |