Employment rate in Eswatini
Eswatini: Employment rate was 33.7% in 2025. ▼ Falling
Employment rate in Eswatini, 1991–2025
Source: ILO Modelled Estimates, via World Bank (2026) – processed by Our World in Data. Measured in %.
Analysis
The most recent figure for employment rate in Eswatini is 33.7%, measured in 2025.
Compared with earlier readings it is up 0.7% on the previous year and down 14.2% over ten years.
Over the whole period, employment rate in Eswatini peaked at 43.1% in 1991 and was at its lowest, 32.0%, in 2022.
That places Eswatini 179th out of 186 countries with data for 2025, putting it in the bottom quarter.
The long-run direction has been consistently falling across the 35 years of available data.
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 42.1% | 40.7% | 43.1% | 9 |
| 2000s | 38.5% | 37.5% | 40.2% | 10 |
| 2010s | 38.3% | 36.1% | 39.5% | 10 |
| 2020s | 33.1% | 32.0% | 33.7% | 6 |
Countries ranked near Eswatini
- 176 Iraq 35.1% compare
- 177 Sudan 34.7% compare
- 178 West Bank and Gaza 34.0% compare
- 180 Jordan 33.4% compare
- 181 Afghanistan 32.5% compare
- 182 Syrian Arab Republic 31.9% compare
More work & labour data for Eswatini
- Women can take the same jobs as men 0 (1=yes; 0=no) (2023)
- Criminal sanctions or compensation for workplace sexual harassment 0 (1=yes; 0=no) (2023)
- Legislation on sexual harassment in employment 0 (1=yes; 0=no) (2023)
- Labor force participation rate, total (% of total population ages 15+) 51.2% (2025)
- Labor force participation rate, male (% of male population ages 15+) 54.0% (2025)
- Ratio of female to male labor force participation rate (%) 89.8% (2025)
- Labor force participation rate for ages 15-24, female (%) 27.9% (2025)
- Labor force participation rate for ages 15-24, male (%) 27.2% (2025)
- Labor force participation rate, female (% of female population ages 15 51.2% (2025)
- Labor force participation rate, total (% of total population ages 15-6 53.7% (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is employment rate in Eswatini?
- Employment rate in Eswatini was 33.7% in 2025, according to ILO Modelled Estimates, via World Bank (2026) – processed by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest employment rate recorded in Eswatini?
- The highest recorded value was 43.1% in 1991.
- What is the lowest employment rate recorded in Eswatini?
- The lowest recorded value was 32.0% in 2022.
- How does Eswatini rank for employment rate?
- Eswatini ranks 179th out of 186 countries with data for 2025.
- Is employment rate rising or falling in Eswatini?
- Over the last ten years it is down 14.2%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this Eswatini data come from?
- The figures come from ILO Modelled Estimates, via World Bank (2026) – processed by Our World in Data, published as part of Employment rate. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Share of the working-age population (ages 15 and older) who are employed.