Labor force participation rate in Eswatini
Eswatini: Labor force participation rate was 51.2% in 2025. ▼ Falling
Latest (2025)
51.2%
Change on year
down 0.0%
World rank
157th
of 186 countries
All-time high
54.4%
in 1990
All-time low
49.5%
in 2020
Years of data
36
1990–2025
Labor force participation rate in Eswatini, 1990–2025
Source: ILO Modelled Estimates, via World Bank (2026) – processed by Our World in Data. Measured in %.
Analysis
Eswatini recorded 51.2% for labor force participation rate in 2025.
The figure is down 0.1% over ten years.
Over the whole period, labor force participation rate in Eswatini peaked at 54.4% in 1990 and was at its lowest, 49.5%, in 2020.
Eswatini ranks 157th of 186 countries on this measure, in the bottom quarter.
The long-run direction has been consistently falling across the 36 years of available data.
Labor force participation rate in Eswatini, year by year
| Year | % | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1990 | 54.4% | — |
| 1991 | 54.3% | -0.3% |
| 1992 | 54.1% | -0.3% |
| 1993 | 54.0% | -0.1% |
| 1994 | 54.2% | +0.3% |
| 1995 | 54.4% | +0.2% |
| 1996 | 54.2% | -0.3% |
| 1997 | 54.0% | -0.4% |
| 1998 | 53.7% | -0.5% |
| 1999 | 53.5% | -0.5% |
| 2000 | 53.2% | -0.4% |
| 2001 | 53.0% | -0.4% |
| 2002 | 52.9% | -0.3% |
| 2003 | 52.7% | -0.3% |
| 2004 | 52.6% | -0.2% |
| 2005 | 52.5% | -0.2% |
| 2006 | 52.4% | -0.2% |
| 2007 | 52.3% | -0.2% |
| 2008 | 52.1% | -0.3% |
| 2009 | 52.0% | -0.3% |
| 2010 | 51.8% | -0.3% |
| 2011 | 51.7% | -0.3% |
| 2012 | 51.6% | -0.2% |
| 2013 | 51.5% | -0.2% |
| 2014 | 51.4% | -0.2% |
| 2015 | 51.3% | -0.2% |
| 2016 | 51.1% | -0.2% |
| 2017 | 50.8% | -0.6% |
| 2018 | 50.5% | -0.6% |
| 2019 | 50.2% | -0.6% |
| 2020 | 49.5% | -1.5% |
| 2021 | 49.7% | +0.4% |
| 2022 | 50.4% | +1.5% |
| 2023 | 51.2% | +1.6% |
| 2024 | 51.2% | -0.0% |
| 2025 | 51.2% | -0.0% |
Eswatini compared with similar countries
- Eswatini's 51.2% is below the median for lower middle income countries, which is 57.7%, 89% of the median. (46 countries reporting)
- Eswatini's 51.2% is below the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 64.3%, 80% of the median. (47 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 54.1% | 53.5% | 54.4% | 10 |
| 2000s | 52.6% | 52.0% | 53.2% | 10 |
| 2010s | 51.2% | 50.2% | 51.8% | 10 |
| 2020s | 50.5% | 49.5% | 51.2% | 6 |
Countries ranked near Eswatini
More work & labour data for Eswatini
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Both sexes, annual -0.6638 % change on previous year (2100)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Male, annual growth -0.6722 % change on previous year (2100)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Female, annual growth -0.6555 % change on previous year (2100)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Rural population, annual growth rate 0.286 % change on previous year (2050)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Urban population, annual growth rate 2.13 % change on previous year (2050)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Urban population 703.04 1000 No (2050)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Rural population 1,378 1000 No (2050)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Female 685.51 1000 No (2100)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Male 655.37 1000 No (2100)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Both sexes 1,341 1000 No (2100)
Frequently asked questions
- What is labor force participation rate in Eswatini?
- Labor force participation rate in Eswatini was 51.2% in 2025, according to ILO Modelled Estimates, via World Bank (2026) – processed by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest labor force participation rate recorded in Eswatini?
- The highest recorded value was 54.4% in 1990.
- What is the lowest labor force participation rate recorded in Eswatini?
- The lowest recorded value was 49.5% in 2020.
- How does Eswatini rank for labor force participation rate?
- Eswatini ranks 157th out of 186 countries with data for 2025.
- Is labor force participation rate rising or falling in Eswatini?
- Over the last ten years it is down 0.1%. 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 Labor force participation rate. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
CSV · JSON — 36 observations, free to reuse under CC BY 4.0 (Our World in Data).
About this data
Share of the working-age population (ages 15 and over) who are economically active (employed or unemployed).