Botswana Industry Employment
Employment in industry SL.IND.EMPL.ZS
Botswana's industry employment was 15.77% in 2025, ranked 48th globally. This represents a 0.1% increase from 2024. Data from World Bank, covering 1991–2025.
Overview
Botswana's industry employment stood at 15.77% in 2025, a rise of +0.02% from 2024. Based on recent trends, this figure is projected to reach 15.70% by 2026. Botswana ranked 48th globally.
Botswana’s share of workers employed in industry fell from an all‑time peak of 21.86 percent in 1996 to a trough of 13.50 percent in 2006, and after more than three decades of decline the 2025 figure stands at 15.77 percent, ranking 48th globally. The long‑term downward trajectory reflects structural shifts toward services and mining‑related activities that do not require large labor inputs, as well as modest growth in manufacturing capacity. Compared with peers of similar rank, Botswana’s industrial employment is close to the United Kingdom’s 15.91 percent and Bhutan’s 15.88 percent, indicating a convergence among economies that have limited domestic processing sectors. The 35‑year coverage shows that despite the recent modest rebound from the 2006 low, the share remains well below the 1990s peak, suggesting that without targeted policies to expand value‑added manufacturing, the proportion of industrial workers is likely to continue its gradual decline.
Data & projection
| Year | Industry Employment | YoY change | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2028* trend | 15.64% | - | - |
| 2027* trend | 15.67% | - | - |
| 2026* trend | 15.70% | - | - |
| 2025 | 15.77% | +0.02% | #48 |
| 2024 | 15.75% | −0.04% | #50 |
| 2023 | 15.79% | +0.09% | #53 |
| 2022 | 15.70% | −0.25% | #53 |
| 2021 | 15.95% | +0.91% | #56 |
| 2020 | 15.04% | −1.47% | #49 |
| 2019 | 16.51% | +0.09% | #64 |
| 2018 | 16.42% | +0.03% | #61 |
| 2017 | 16.39% | +0.04% | #62 |
| 2016 | 16.34% | +0.11% | #61 |
| 2015 | 16.24% | −0.04% | #59 |
| 2014 | 16.28% | +0.10% | #59 |
| 2013 | 16.18% | +0.15% | #59 |
| 2012 | 16.03% | +0.01% | #56 |
| 2011 | 16.02% | +0.21% | #55 |
Detected Pattern
Analysis
Botswana matched the Export Boom Cycle pattern in 2023. Historically, 71% of countries showing this pattern (546 out of 768) saw industry employment improve within 24 months. View full analysis →
Frequently Asked Questions
Botswana's industry employment was 15.77% in 2025. Ranked 48th globally. This represents a 0.1% increase from the previous year.
Botswana's industry employment peaked at 21.86% in 1996.
The lowest industry employment in Botswana was 13.50% in 2006.
Botswana ranks 48th globally in industry employment as of 2025.
The World Bank indicator code is SL.IND.EMPL.ZS. Data sourced from World Bank.
Botswana's industry employment is projected to reach 15.70% by 2026 based on trend extrapolation.
The industry employment of Botswana in 2025 was 15.77%. This ranks 48th in the world.
Cite this page
@misc{historysaid_botswana_industry-employment,
title = {Botswana Industry Employment},
url = {https://historysaid.com/botswana/industry-employment/},
publisher = {HistorySaid},
year = {2026}
}