Unemployment rate in Eswatini
Eswatini: Unemployment rate was 34.2% in 2025. ▲ Rising
Unemployment 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 unemployment rate in Eswatini is 34.2%, measured in 2025.
The figure is down 1.3% on the previous year and up 46.0% over ten years.
Over the whole period, unemployment rate in Eswatini peaked at 36.5% in 2022 and was at its lowest, 20.5%, in 1991.
Eswatini ranks 1st of 186 countries on this measure, in the top 10%.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 35 years of available data.
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 22.0% | 20.5% | 23.9% | 9 |
| 2000s | 26.7% | 24.5% | 28.2% | 10 |
| 2010s | 25.2% | 22.7% | 28.2% | 10 |
| 2020s | 34.5% | 33.0% | 36.5% | 6 |
Countries ranked near Eswatini
More work & labour data for Eswatini
- Legislation on sexual harassment in employment 0 (1=yes; 0=no) (2023)
- Criminal sanctions or compensation for workplace sexual harassment 0 (1=yes; 0=no) (2023)
- Women can take the same jobs as men 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, female (% of female population ages 15 48.5% (2025)
- Labor force participation rate, total (% of total population ages 15-6 53.7% (2025)
- Labor force participation rate, male (% of male population ages 15-64) 56.2% (2025)
- Labor force participation rate, female (% of female population ages 15 51.2% (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is unemployment rate in Eswatini?
- Unemployment rate in Eswatini was 34.2% in 2025, according to ILO Modelled Estimates, via World Bank (2026) – processed by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest unemployment rate recorded in Eswatini?
- The highest recorded value was 36.5% in 2022.
- What is the lowest unemployment rate recorded in Eswatini?
- The lowest recorded value was 20.5% in 1991.
- How does Eswatini rank for unemployment rate?
- Eswatini ranks 1st out of 186 countries with data for 2025.
- Is unemployment rate rising or falling in Eswatini?
- Over the last ten years it is up 46.0%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- 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 Unemployment rate. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
CSV · JSON — 35 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.