Labor force, total in Botswana
Botswana: Labor force, total was 1.20 million in 2025. ▲ Rising
Labor force, total in Botswana, 1990–2025
Source: International Labour Organization (ILO), type: estimates based on external database.
Analysis
In 2025, labor force, total in Botswana stood at 1.20 million. That is the highest value across all 36 years on record.
The figure is up 2.2% on the previous year and up 33.3% over ten years.
Over the whole period, labor force, total in Botswana peaked at 1.20 million in 2025 and was at its lowest, 448,456, in 1990.
Botswana ranks 142nd of 187 countries on this measure, in the bottom quarter.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 36 years of available data.
Labor force, total in Botswana, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1990 | 448,456 | — |
| 1991 | 462,465 | +3.1% |
| 1992 | 478,227 | +3.4% |
| 1993 | 495,609 | +3.6% |
| 1994 | 513,293 | +3.6% |
| 1995 | 530,690 | +3.4% |
| 1996 | 547,728 | +3.2% |
| 1997 | 564,216 | +3.0% |
| 1998 | 581,158 | +3.0% |
| 1999 | 593,811 | +2.2% |
| 2000 | 605,662 | +2.0% |
| 2001 | 627,315 | +3.6% |
| 2002 | 647,894 | +3.3% |
| 2003 | 667,858 | +3.1% |
| 2004 | 688,033 | +3.0% |
| 2005 | 708,319 | +2.9% |
| 2006 | 728,696 | +2.9% |
| 2007 | 758,634 | +4.1% |
| 2008 | 789,289 | +4.0% |
| 2009 | 820,510 | +4.0% |
| 2010 | 802,345 | -2.2% |
| 2011 | 828,613 | +3.3% |
| 2012 | 849,151 | +2.5% |
| 2013 | 865,462 | +1.9% |
| 2014 | 882,070 | +1.9% |
| 2015 | 899,557 | +2.0% |
| 2016 | 918,682 | +2.1% |
| 2017 | 939,892 | +2.3% |
| 2018 | 962,977 | +2.5% |
| 2019 | 987,878 | +2.6% |
| 2020 | 973,488 | -1.5% |
| 2021 | 1.04 million | +6.4% |
| 2022 | 1.07 million | +2.8% |
| 2023 | 1.15 million | +7.6% |
| 2024 | 1.17 million | +2.3% |
| 2025 | 1.20 million | +2.2% |
Botswana compared with similar countries
- Botswana's 1.20 million is below the median for upper middle income countries, which is 3.32 million, 36% of the median. (53 countries reporting)
- Botswana's 1.20 million is below the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 6.13 million, 20% of the median. (47 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 521,565 | 448,456 | 593,811 | 10 |
| 2000s | 704,221 | 605,662 | 820,510 | 10 |
| 2010s | 893,663 | 802,345 | 987,878 | 10 |
| 2020s | 1.10 million | 973,488 | 1.20 million | 6 |
Countries ranked near Botswana
More education data for Botswana
- Teachers in secondary education, both sexes (number), gaps filled 15,284 (2021)
- Repeaters in primary education, all grades, both sexes (number), gaps 9,590 (2022)
- Enrolment in pre-primary education, male (number), gaps filled 20,760 (2022)
- Enrolment in pre-primary education, female (number), gaps filled 20,779 (2022)
- Secondary education, pupils, gaps filled 175,513 (2021)
- Primary education, duration (years), annual growth rate 0 % change on previous year (2025)
- Primary education, pupils, gaps filled 381,674 (2022)
- Primary education, pupils, annual growth rate 4.49 % change on previous year (2022)
- Primary education, pupils, per unit of GDP 0 units per US$ of GDP (2022)
- Primary education, pupils, per capita 0.1564 units per person (2022)
Frequently asked questions
- What is labor force, total in Botswana?
- Labor force, total in Botswana was 1.20 million in 2025, according to International Labour Organization (ILO), type: estimates based on external database.
- What is the highest labor force, total recorded in Botswana?
- The highest recorded value was 1.20 million in 2025.
- What is the lowest labor force, total recorded in Botswana?
- The lowest recorded value was 448,456 in 1990.
- How does Botswana rank for labor force, total?
- Botswana ranks 142nd out of 187 countries with data for 2025.
- Is labor force, total rising or falling in Botswana?
- Over the last ten years it is up 33.3%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this Botswana data come from?
- The figures come from International Labour Organization (ILO), type: estimates based on external database, published as part of Labor force, total. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
CSV · JSON — 36 observations, free to reuse under CC BY 4.0 (World Bank Open Data).
About this data
Labor force comprises people ages 15 and older who supply labor for the production of goods and services during a specified period. It includes people who are currently employed and people who are unemployed but seeking work as well as first-time job-seekers. Not everyone who works is included, however. Unpaid workers, family workers, and students are often omitted, and some countries do not count members of the armed forces. Labor force size tends to vary during the year as seasonal workers enter and leave.