Unemployment, total (% of total labor force) in Botswana
Botswana: Unemployment, total (% of total labor force) was 24.5% in 2025. ▲ Rising
Unemployment, total (% of total labor force) in Botswana, 1991–2025
Source: ILO Modelled Estimates database (ILOEST), International Labour Organization (ILO).
Analysis
The most recent figure for unemployment, total (% of total labor force) in Botswana is 24.5%, measured in 2025. That is the highest value across all 35 years on record.
Compared with earlier readings it is up 2.8% on the previous year and up 29.4% over ten years.
Over the whole period, unemployment, total (% of total labor force) in Botswana peaked at 24.5% in 2025 and was at its lowest, 13.8%, in 1991.
That places Botswana 4th out of 186 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, total (% of total labor force) in Botswana, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1991 | 13.8% | — |
| 1992 | 16.3% | +18.2% |
| 1993 | 18.8% | +14.9% |
| 1994 | 21.2% | +13.0% |
| 1995 | 21.4% | +0.9% |
| 1996 | 21.6% | +0.9% |
| 1997 | 21.0% | -2.6% |
| 1998 | 20.9% | -0.8% |
| 1999 | 18.2% | -12.6% |
| 2000 | 15.9% | -12.9% |
| 2001 | 18.5% | +16.8% |
| 2002 | 21.3% | +14.8% |
| 2003 | 23.8% | +11.9% |
| 2004 | 21.8% | -8.6% |
| 2005 | 19.9% | -8.7% |
| 2006 | 17.8% | -10.4% |
| 2007 | 17.0% | -4.5% |
| 2008 | 16.3% | -4.0% |
| 2009 | 16.2% | -0.8% |
| 2010 | 17.9% | +10.5% |
| 2011 | 18.0% | +1.1% |
| 2012 | 17.9% | -0.7% |
| 2013 | 18.2% | +1.4% |
| 2014 | 18.5% | +1.7% |
| 2015 | 18.9% | +2.3% |
| 2016 | 19.3% | +2.2% |
| 2017 | 19.7% | +1.8% |
| 2018 | 19.7% | -0.0% |
| 2019 | 20.1% | +2.2% |
| 2020 | 21.0% | +4.6% |
| 2021 | 23.1% | +9.9% |
| 2022 | 23.6% | +2.2% |
| 2023 | 23.4% | -1.0% |
| 2024 | 23.8% | +1.8% |
| 2025 | 24.5% | +2.8% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 19.2% | 13.8% | 21.6% | 9 |
| 2000s | 18.8% | 15.9% | 23.8% | 10 |
| 2010s | 18.8% | 17.9% | 20.1% | 10 |
| 2020s | 23.2% | 21.0% | 24.5% | 6 |
Countries ranked near Botswana
More education data for Botswana
- Enrolment in primary education, female (number), gaps filled 187,709 (2022)
- Enrolment in primary education, female (number), annual growth rate 4.91 % change on previous year (2022)
- Enrolment in primary education, female (number), per capita 0.0769 units per person (2022)
- Enrolment in primary education, male (number), gaps filled 193,965 (2022)
- Enrolment in primary education, male (number), annual growth rate 4.07 % change on previous year (2022)
- Enrolment in primary education, male (number), per capita 0.0795 units per person (2022)
- Enrolment in secondary education, both sexes (number), gaps filled 175,513 (2021)
- Enrolment in secondary education, both sexes (number), annual growth -5.66 % change on previous year (2008)
- Teachers in primary education, both sexes (number), gaps filled 16,622 (2022)
- Teachers in primary education, both sexes (number), annual growth rate 16.13 % change on previous year (2022)
Frequently asked questions
- What is unemployment, total (% of total labor force) in Botswana?
- Unemployment, total (% of total labor force) in Botswana was 24.5% in 2025, according to ILO Modelled Estimates database (ILOEST), International Labour Organization (ILO).
- What is the highest unemployment, total (% of total labor force) recorded in Botswana?
- The highest recorded value was 24.5% in 2025.
- What is the lowest unemployment, total (% of total labor force) recorded in Botswana?
- The lowest recorded value was 13.8% in 1991.
- How does Botswana rank for unemployment, total (% of total labor force)?
- Botswana ranks 4th out of 186 countries with data for 2025.
- Is unemployment, total (% of total labor force) rising or falling in Botswana?
- Over the last ten years it is up 29.4%. 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, total (% of total labor force) (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
Unemployment refers to the share of the labor force that is without work but available for and seeking employment.