Unemployment, total (% of total labor force) (modeled ILO estimate) in Botswana
Botswana: Unemployment, total (% of total labor force) (modeled ILO estimate) 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 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, total (% of total labor force) (modeled ILO estimate) 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% |
Botswana compared with similar countries
- Botswana's 24.5% is above the median for upper middle income countries, which is 5.6%, 4.3× the median. (53 countries reporting)
- Botswana's 24.5% is above the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 5.4%, 4.5× the median. (47 countries reporting)
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
- 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, 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 187 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.
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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.