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Labor force — all countries

Labor force — Botswana

Labor force in Botswana in 2025 — 1,199,393 people. Ranked 137 in the world out of 182. Since 1990, the indicator has risen by 167.4%.

2025 1.2M people +2.22% vs 2024
World rank 137of 182
Period maximum 1.2M people2025
Period minimum 448,456 people1990

Trend over time

1990–2025 · people

Labor force — Botswana, 1990–2025400,000600,000800,0001M1.2M19901994199820022006201020142018202220251990: 448,456 people1991: 462,465 people1992: 478,227 people1993: 495,609 people1994: 513,293 people1995: 530,690 people1996: 547,728 people1997: 564,216 people1998: 581,158 people1999: 593,811 people2000: 605,662 people2001: 627,315 people2002: 647,894 people2003: 667,858 people2004: 688,033 people2005: 708,319 people2006: 728,696 people2007: 758,634 people2008: 789,289 people2009: 820,510 people2010: 802,345 people2011: 828,613 people2012: 849,151 people2013: 865,462 people2014: 882,070 people2015: 899,557 people2016: 918,682 people2017: 939,892 people2018: 962,977 people2019: 987,878 people2020: 973,488 people2021: 1,036,012 people2022: 1,065,472 people2023: 1,146,757 people2024: 1,173,288 people2025: 1,199,393 people
Change over the period: +750,937 (+167.45%) Average annual rate: 2.85 %

Comparison, 2025

How the value compares with the world and the groups this territory belongs to: Botswana

Botswana 1.2M people
World 3.74B people
Sub-Saharan Africa 527M people
Southern Africa computed 30.4M people
Upper-middle-income countries computed 1.38B people
Labor force — Botswana, by year Botswana All countries CSV XLSX
Year people Change Change, %
2025 1.2M +26,105 +2.22%
2024 1.17M +26,531 +2.31%
2023 1.15M +81,285 +7.63%
2022 1.07M +29,460 +2.84%
2021 1.04M +62,524 +6.42%
2020 973,488 −14,390 −1.46%
2019 987,878 +24,901 +2.59%
2018 962,977 +23,085 +2.46%
2017 939,892 +21,210 +2.31%
2016 918,682 +19,125 +2.13%
2015 899,557 +17,487 +1.98%
2014 882,070 +16,608 +1.92%
2013 865,462 +16,311 +1.92%
2012 849,151 +20,538 +2.48%
2011 828,613 +26,268 +3.27%
2010 802,345 −18,165 −2.21%
2009 820,510 +31,221 +3.96%
2008 789,289 +30,655 +4.04%
2007 758,634 +29,938 +4.11%
2006 728,696 +20,377 +2.88%
2005 708,319 +20,286 +2.95%
2004 688,033 +20,175 +3.02%
2003 667,858 +19,964 +3.08%
2002 647,894 +20,579 +3.28%
2001 627,315 +21,653 +3.58%
2000 605,662 +11,851 +2%
1999 593,811 +12,653 +2.18%
1998 581,158 +16,942 +3%
1997 564,216 +16,488 +3.01%
1996 547,728 +17,038 +3.21%
1995 530,690 +17,397 +3.39%
1994 513,293 +17,684 +3.57%
1993 495,609 +17,382 +3.63%
1992 478,227 +15,762 +3.41%
1991 462,465 +14,009 +3.12%
1990 448,456 — —

Southern Africa, 2025

The same indicator for neighboring countries — with links to their pages

ZA South Africa 26.73M BW Botswana 1.2M NA Namibia 1.15M LS Lesotho 889,530 SZ Eswatini 430,869
Full table for all countries

About the indicator

The economically active population — everyone aged 15 and over who either works or actively looks for work. It covers the employed, the unemployed and first-time job seekers; it leaves out students, homemakers and other people who do not offer their labor on the market. The size of the labor force is the basic constraint on the growth potential of an economy.

Source: ILOSTAT (ILO), license CC BY 4.0.

Other indicators for Botswana

Labor Labor productivity

How much output one employed person creates in a year — in constant PPP dollars.

Botswana by year Labor Female share of the labor force

What part of the labor force of a country is made up of women.

Botswana by year Labor Labor force participation rate

What share of the population aged 15 and over works or looks for work.

Botswana by year Labor Employment-to-population ratio

The share of the population aged 15 and over that actually works.

Botswana by year
All indicators for Botswana