Botswana Unemployment Rate
Unemployment as % of total labor force SL.UEM.TOTL.ZS
Botswana's unemployment rate was 24.48% in 2025, ranked 178th globally. This represents a 2.8% increase from 2024. Data from World Bank, covering 1991–2025.
Overview
Botswana's unemployment rate stood at 24.48% in 2025, a rise of +0.67pp from 2024. Botswana ranked 178th globally.
Botswana's unemployment rate has experienced a significant increase over the past 35 years, with the latest available value standing at 24.48% in 2025, ranking 178 globally. This represents an all-time peak for the country, surpassing the 1991 trough of 13.82%. Compared to its peer countries, Botswana's unemployment rate is higher than Gabon's 20.15%, but lower than Djibouti's 26.02%. The country's unemployment rate has been on a steady upward trajectory since the early 1990s, mirroring a broader trend in many African nations. As the global economy continues to evolve, changes in the country's mining sector, a significant contributor to its GDP, could have a profound impact on Botswana's unemployment rate. A decline in diamond prices, for instance, could lead to job losses, exacerbating the unemployment issue, while investments in emerging sectors such as renewable energy could potentially create new opportunities and alter the trajectory of Botswana's unemployment rate.
Data & projection
| Year | Unemployment Rate | YoY change | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 24.48% | +0.67pp | #178 |
| 2024 | 23.81% | +0.43pp | #184 |
| 2023 | 23.38% | −0.23pp | #186 |
| 2022 | 23.62% | +0.51pp | #186 |
| 2021 | 23.11% | +2.09pp | #187 |
| 2020 | 21.02% | +0.92pp | #184 |
| 2019 | 20.09% | +0.43pp | #185 |
| 2018 | 19.67% | −0.01pp | #183 |
| 2017 | 19.67% | +0.34pp | #181 |
| 2016 | 19.33% | +0.41pp | #178 |
| 2015 | 18.92% | +0.43pp | #177 |
| 2014 | 18.48% | +0.32pp | #175 |
| 2013 | 18.17% | +0.25pp | #173 |
| 2012 | 17.92% | −0.13pp | #174 |
| 2011 | 18.05% | +0.19pp | #173 |
Detected Pattern
Analysis
Botswana matched the Export Boom Cycle pattern in 2023. Historically, 71% of countries showing this pattern (546 out of 768) saw unemployment rate improve within 24 months. View full analysis →
Frequently Asked Questions
Botswana's unemployment rate was 24.48% in 2025. Ranked 178th globally. This represents a 2.8% increase from the previous year.
Botswana's unemployment rate peaked at 24.48% in 2025.
The lowest unemployment rate in Botswana was 13.82% in 1991.
Botswana ranks 178th globally in unemployment rate as of 2025.
The World Bank indicator code is SL.UEM.TOTL.ZS. Data sourced from World Bank.
The unemployment rate of Botswana in 2025 was 24.48%. This ranks 178th in the world.
Cite this page
@misc{historysaid_botswana_unemployment-rate,
title = {Botswana Unemployment Rate},
url = {https://historysaid.com/botswana/unemployment-rate/},
publisher = {HistorySaid},
year = {2026}
}