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Botswana · Employment & wages

Unemployment, participation, employment, youth, wages and hours.

19 indicators · 12 with data

Unemployment

Unemployment

% of labour force

182nd of 185 · 43rd in Sub-Saharan Africa
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UnemploymentBotswana's unemployment rose from 21.6 % in 1996 to 24.5 % in 2025.20002005201020152020202514%16%18%20%22%24%26%24.5 %

Botswana's unemployment rose from 21.6 % in 1996 to 24.5 % in 2025.

Youth unemployment

% of labour force ages 15–24

179th of 183 · 43rd in Sub-Saharan Africa
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Youth unemploymentBotswana's youth unemployment rose from 36.8 % in 1996 to 46.0 % in 2025.20002005201020152020202530%35%40%45%50%46.0 %

Botswana's youth unemployment rose from 36.8 % in 1996 to 46.0 % in 2025.

Participation

Participation

% of population ages 15+

31st of 182 · 14th in Sub-Saharan Africa
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ParticipationBotswana's participation rose from 60.9 % in 1996 to 68.8 % in 2025.20002005201020152020202560%65%70%68.8 %

Botswana's participation rose from 60.9 % in 1996 to 68.8 % in 2025.

Labour force participation rate, female (ages 15+)

% of female population ages 15+

25th of 182 · 15th in Sub-Saharan Africa
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Labour force participation rate, female (ages 15+)Botswana's labour force participation rate, female (ages 15+) rose from 49.0 % in 1996 to 63.7 % in 2025.20002005201020152020202545%50%55%60%65%63.7 %

Botswana's labour force participation rate, female (ages 15+) rose from 49.0 % in 1996 to 63.7 % in 2025.

Employment

Employment to population ratio (ages 15+)

% of population ages 15+

129th of 182 · 32nd in Sub-Saharan Africa
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Employment to population ratio (ages 15+)Botswana's employment to population ratio (ages 15+) rose from 47.7 % in 1996 to 52.0 % in 2025.20002005201020152020202544%46%48%50%52%54%52.0 %

Botswana's employment to population ratio (ages 15+) rose from 47.7 % in 1996 to 52.0 % in 2025.

Labour force, total

people

137th of 182 · 34th in Sub-Saharan Africa
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Labour force, totalBotswana's labour force, total rose from 547,728 in 1996 to 1.2M in 2025.200020052010201520202025400k600k800k1M1.2M1.4M1.2M

Botswana's labour force, total rose from 547,728 in 1996 to 1.2M in 2025.

Self-employed (% of total employment)

% of employment

102nd of 182 · 42nd in Sub-Saharan Africa
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Self-employed (% of total employment)Botswana's self-employed (% of total employment) rose from 19.7 % in 1996 to 28.1 % in 2025.20002005201020152020202520%25%30%28.1 %

Botswana's self-employed (% of total employment) rose from 19.7 % in 1996 to 28.1 % in 2025.

Vulnerable employment (% of total employment)

% of employment

86th of 182 · 4th in Sub-Saharan Africa
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Vulnerable employment (% of total employment)Botswana's vulnerable employment (% of total employment) rose from 17.0 % in 1996 to 25.6 % in 2025.20002005201020152020202520%25%30%25.6 %

Botswana's vulnerable employment (% of total employment) rose from 17.0 % in 1996 to 25.6 % in 2025.

Structure

Employment in agriculture (% of total employment)

% of employment

81st of 182 · 40th in Sub-Saharan Africa
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Employment in agriculture (% of total employment)Botswana's employment in agriculture (% of total employment) rose from 11.2 % in 1996 to 18.0 % in 2025.2000200520102015202020250%5%10%15%20%25%18.0 %

Botswana's employment in agriculture (% of total employment) rose from 11.2 % in 1996 to 18.0 % in 2025.

Employment in industry (% of total employment)

% of employment

134th of 182 · 19th in Sub-Saharan Africa
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Employment in industry (% of total employment)Botswana's employment in industry (% of total employment) fell from 21.9 % in 1996 to 15.8 % in 2025.20002005201020152020202512%14%16%18%20%22%24%15.8 %

Botswana's employment in industry (% of total employment) fell from 21.9 % in 1996 to 15.8 % in 2025.

Employment in services (% of total employment)

% of employment

73rd of 182 · 4th in Sub-Saharan Africa
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Employment in services (% of total employment)Botswana's employment in services (% of total employment) fell from 67.0 % in 1996 to 66.2 % in 2025.20002005201020152020202564%66%68%70%66.2 %

Botswana's employment in services (% of total employment) fell from 67.0 % in 1996 to 66.2 % in 2025.

Productivity

GDP per person employed (constant 2021 PPP $)

constant 2021 PPP $

76th of 168 · 3rd in Sub-Saharan Africa
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GDP per person employed (constant 2021 PPP $)Botswana's gdp per person employed (constant 2021 ppp $) rose from intl $42.3k in 1996 to intl $50k in 2025.200020052010201520202025intl $35kintl $40kintl $45kintl $50kintl $55kintl $60kintl $50k

Botswana's gdp per person employed (constant 2021 ppp $) rose from intl $42.3k in 1996 to intl $50k in 2025.

›No data available (7)

These indicators exist in the registry but no source reports a value for Botswana.

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