Unemployment, male (% of male labor force) in Botswana
Botswana: Unemployment, male (% of male labor force) was 21.5% in 2025. ▲ Rising
Unemployment, male (% of male labor force) in Botswana, 1991–2025
Source: ILO Modelled Estimates database (ILOEST), International Labour Organization (ILO).
Analysis
In 2025, unemployment, male (% of male labor force) in Botswana stood at 21.5%.
The figure is up 4.7% on the previous year and up 29.2% over ten years.
Over the whole period, unemployment, male (% of male labor force) in Botswana peaked at 21.6% in 2003 and was at its lowest, 11.6%, in 1991.
That places Botswana 4th 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, male (% of male labor force) in Botswana, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1991 | 11.6% | — |
| 1992 | 14.4% | +24.1% |
| 1993 | 17.1% | +19.1% |
| 1994 | 19.9% | +16.2% |
| 1995 | 19.8% | -0.5% |
| 1996 | 19.7% | -0.5% |
| 1997 | 19.0% | -3.4% |
| 1998 | 18.7% | -1.6% |
| 1999 | 16.6% | -11.3% |
| 2000 | 14.8% | -11.0% |
| 2001 | 15.7% | +6.1% |
| 2002 | 18.7% | +19.4% |
| 2003 | 21.6% | +15.3% |
| 2004 | 19.6% | -9.2% |
| 2005 | 17.8% | -9.4% |
| 2006 | 15.8% | -11.2% |
| 2007 | 14.7% | -7.0% |
| 2008 | 13.7% | -6.8% |
| 2009 | 13.1% | -4.0% |
| 2010 | 14.7% | +12.1% |
| 2011 | 15.1% | +2.5% |
| 2012 | 15.2% | +0.6% |
| 2013 | 15.6% | +2.7% |
| 2014 | 16.1% | +3.0% |
| 2015 | 16.6% | +3.6% |
| 2016 | 17.2% | +3.4% |
| 2017 | 17.7% | +2.9% |
| 2018 | 17.9% | +1.0% |
| 2019 | 18.5% | +3.3% |
| 2020 | 19.6% | +6.2% |
| 2021 | 20.4% | +4.2% |
| 2022 | 21.5% | +5.2% |
| 2023 | 20.1% | -6.3% |
| 2024 | 20.5% | +1.9% |
| 2025 | 21.5% | +4.7% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 17.4% | 11.6% | 19.9% | 9 |
| 2000s | 16.5% | 13.1% | 21.6% | 10 |
| 2010s | 16.4% | 14.7% | 18.5% | 10 |
| 2020s | 20.6% | 19.6% | 21.5% | 6 |
Countries ranked near Botswana
- 1 Eswatini 32.5% compare
- 2 South Africa 31.0% compare
- 3 Djibouti 21.8% compare
- 5 Palestine, State of 20.2% compare
- 6 Namibia 20.1% compare
- 7 Saint Vincent and the Grenadines 19.5% compare
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 unemployment, male (% of male labor force) in Botswana?
- Unemployment, male (% of male labor force) in Botswana was 21.5% in 2025, according to ILO Modelled Estimates database (ILOEST), International Labour Organization (ILO).
- What is the highest unemployment, male (% of male labor force) recorded in Botswana?
- The highest recorded value was 21.6% in 2003.
- What is the lowest unemployment, male (% of male labor force) recorded in Botswana?
- The lowest recorded value was 11.6% in 1991.
- How does Botswana rank for unemployment, male (% of male labor force)?
- Botswana ranks 4th out of 187 countries with data for 2025.
- Is unemployment, male (% of male labor force) rising or falling in Botswana?
- Over the last ten years it is up 29.2%. 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, male (% of male labor force) (modeled ILO estimate). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Unemployment refers to the share of the labor force that is without work but available for and seeking employment.