Botswana vs South Africa: Unemployment, male (% of male labor force)
Botswana
21.5%
in 2025
South Africa
31.0%
in 2025
Botswana rank
4th
South Africa rank
2nd
Unemployment, male (% of male labor force) over time
- Botswana
- South Africa
How they compare
South Africa currently reports 31.0% against 21.5% in Botswana, a difference of 9.5%.
That makes South Africa's figure about 1.4 times Botswana's.
The two have swapped places 2 times across 35 shared years of data; in 1991 it was South Africa ahead.
Botswana ranks 4th and South Africa ranks 2nd of 187 countries.
South Africa has averaged higher in every one of the 4 decades both report.
Head to head by decade
| Decade | Botswana | South Africa | Difference | Ahead |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 17.4% | 20.4% | 3.0% | South Africa |
| 2000s | 16.5% | 20.0% | 3.4% | South Africa |
| 2010s | 16.4% | 23.9% | 7.4% | South Africa |
| 2020s | 20.6% | 30.4% | 9.8% | South Africa |
Averages of every year both report within each decade.
Frequently asked questions
- Which has higher unemployment, male (% of male labor force), Botswana or South Africa?
- South Africa, at 31.0% against 21.5% in Botswana as of 2025.
- What is the difference in unemployment, male (% of male labor force) between Botswana and South Africa?
- 9.5%, with South Africa ahead.
- How many years of comparable data are there for Botswana and South Africa?
- 35 years are reported by both, from 1991 to 2025.
- How do Botswana and South Africa rank globally for unemployment, male (% of male labor force)?
- Botswana ranks 4th and South Africa ranks 2nd of 187 countries.
- Where does this data come from?
- ILO Modelled Estimates database (ILOEST), International Labour Organization (ILO), published as Unemployment, male (% of male labor force) (modeled ILO estimate). Statizoid refreshes it automatically from the source and publishes the full history for both places.
Individual pages
About this data
Unemployment refers to the share of the labor force that is without work but available for and seeking employment.