Eswatini vs South Africa: Female unemployment rate
Eswatini
36.0%
in 2025
South Africa
34.0%
in 2025
Eswatini rank
2nd
South Africa rank
4th
Female unemployment rate over time
- Eswatini
- South Africa
How they compare
Eswatini currently reports 36.0% against 34.0% in South Africa, a difference of 2.0%.
That makes Eswatini's figure about 1.1 times South Africa's.
The two have swapped places 5 times across 35 shared years of data; in 1991 it was South Africa ahead.
Eswatini ranks 2nd and South Africa ranks 4th of 186 countries.
Across the 4 decades both report, Eswatini averaged higher in 2 and South Africa in 2.
Head to head by decade
| Decade | Eswatini | South Africa | Difference | Ahead |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 24.3% | 26.7% | 2.3% | South Africa |
| 2000s | 29.9% | 25.8% | 4.1% | Eswatini |
| 2010s | 27.2% | 28.0% | 0.7% | South Africa |
| 2020s | 36.4% | 34.3% | 2.1% | Eswatini |
Averages of every year both report within each decade.
Frequently asked questions
- Which has higher female unemployment rate, Eswatini or South Africa?
- Eswatini, at 36.0% against 34.0% in South Africa as of 2025.
- What is the difference in female unemployment rate between Eswatini and South Africa?
- 2.0%, with Eswatini ahead.
- How many years of comparable data are there for Eswatini and South Africa?
- 35 years are reported by both, from 1991 to 2025.
- How do Eswatini and South Africa rank globally for female unemployment rate?
- Eswatini ranks 2nd and South Africa ranks 4th of 186 countries.
- Where does this data come from?
- ILO Modelled Estimates, via World Bank (2026) β processed by Our World in Data, published as Female unemployment rate. Statizoid refreshes it automatically from the source and publishes the full history for both places.
Individual pages
About this data
Share of the female labor force without work, but actively looking for a job and available to start soon.