Unemployment rates: modeled vs. national estimates in Botswana
Botswana: Unemployment rates: modeled vs. national estimates was 24.4% in 2024. ▲ Rising
Unemployment rates: modeled vs. national estimates in Botswana, 1985–2024
Source: Labour Force Statistics, via World Bank (2026) – processed by Our World in Data. Measured in %.
Analysis
The most recent figure for unemployment rates: modeled vs. national estimates in Botswana is 24.4%, measured in 2024.
Compared with earlier readings it is up 4.5% on the previous year and up 22.2% over ten years.
Over the whole period, unemployment rates: modeled vs. national estimates in Botswana peaked at 25.7% in 1985 and was at its lowest, 13.8%, in 1991.
Botswana ranks 4th of 185 countries on this measure, in the top 10%.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 19 years of available data.
Unemployment rates: modeled vs. national estimates in Botswana, year by year
| Year | % | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1985 | 25.7% | — |
| 1991 | 13.8% | -46.2% |
| 1994 | 21.2% | +53.4% |
| 1996 | 21.6% | +1.9% |
| 1998 | 20.9% | -3.4% |
| 2000 | 15.9% | -23.9% |
| 2001 | 19.6% | +23.4% |
| 2003 | 23.8% | +21.5% |
| 2006 | 17.8% | -25.3% |
| 2009 | 16.2% | -9.1% |
| 2010 | 17.9% | +10.5% |
| 2011 | 20.0% | +12.0% |
| 2013 | 20.0% | -0.1% |
| 2019 | 20.1% | +0.5% |
| 2020 | 21.0% | +4.6% |
| 2021 | 23.1% | +9.9% |
| 2022 | 23.6% | +2.2% |
| 2023 | 23.4% | -1.0% |
| 2024 | 24.4% | +4.5% |
Botswana compared with similar countries
- Botswana's 24.4% is above the median for upper middle income countries, which is 5.8%, 4.2× the median. (52 countries reporting)
- Botswana's 24.4% is above the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 5.6%, 4.4× the median. (33 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1980s | 25.7% | 25.7% | 25.7% | 1 |
| 1990s | 19.4% | 13.8% | 21.6% | 4 |
| 2000s | 18.6% | 15.9% | 23.8% | 5 |
| 2010s | 19.5% | 17.9% | 20.1% | 4 |
| 2020s | 23.1% | 21.0% | 24.4% | 5 |
Countries ranked near Botswana
More reference data data for Botswana
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Manure applied to Soils 0.0472 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Manure left on Pasture 1.37 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - IPCC Agriculture 1.42 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Crop Residues 0.0078 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Agricultural Soils 1.42 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Manure applied to Soils 0.1582 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Manure Management 0.0825 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Manure left on Pasture 6.97 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - IPCC Agriculture 7.25 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Crop Residues 0.0424 (2050)
Frequently asked questions
- What is unemployment rates: modeled vs. national estimates in Botswana?
- Unemployment rates: modeled vs. national estimates in Botswana was 24.4% in 2024, according to Labour Force Statistics, via World Bank (2026) – processed by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest unemployment rates: modeled vs. national estimates recorded in Botswana?
- The highest recorded value was 25.7% in 1985.
- What is the lowest unemployment rates: modeled vs. national estimates recorded in Botswana?
- The lowest recorded value was 13.8% in 1991.
- How does Botswana rank for unemployment rates: modeled vs. national estimates?
- Botswana ranks 4th out of 185 countries with data for 2024.
- Is unemployment rates: modeled vs. national estimates rising or falling in Botswana?
- Over the last ten years it is up 22.2%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this Botswana data come from?
- The figures come from Labour Force Statistics, via World Bank (2026) – processed by Our World in Data, published as part of Unemployment rates: modeled vs. national estimates. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
CSV · JSON — 19 observations, free to reuse under CC BY 4.0 (Our World in Data).
About this data
Share of the labor force without work, but actively looking for a job and available to start soon. Figures refer to national estimates and may not be fully comparable across countries.