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.
Unemployment rate in Eswatini, year by year
| Year | % | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1991 | 20.5% | — |
| 1992 | 20.9% | +2.1% |
| 1993 | 21.8% | +3.9% |
| 1994 | 21.7% | -0.2% |
| 1995 | 21.6% | -0.3% |
| 1996 | 22.1% | +2.0% |
| 1997 | 22.5% | +1.9% |
| 1998 | 23.2% | +3.2% |
| 1999 | 23.9% | +2.8% |
| 2000 | 24.5% | +2.8% |
| 2001 | 25.2% | +2.8% |
| 2002 | 25.8% | +2.1% |
| 2003 | 26.3% | +1.9% |
| 2004 | 26.7% | +1.7% |
| 2005 | 27.2% | +1.9% |
| 2006 | 27.7% | +1.7% |
| 2007 | 28.2% | +2.0% |
| 2008 | 27.9% | -1.2% |
| 2009 | 27.5% | -1.4% |
| 2010 | 26.9% | -2.3% |
| 2011 | 26.1% | -2.8% |
| 2012 | 25.2% | -3.4% |
| 2013 | 24.6% | -2.7% |
| 2014 | 23.9% | -2.5% |
| 2015 | 23.4% | -2.1% |
| 2016 | 22.7% | -3.0% |
| 2017 | 24.5% | +8.0% |
| 2018 | 26.5% | +7.9% |
| 2019 | 28.2% | +6.6% |
| 2020 | 33.0% | +16.9% |
| 2021 | 34.2% | +3.6% |
| 2022 | 36.5% | +6.8% |
| 2023 | 34.6% | -5.1% |
| 2024 | 34.6% | +0.1% |
| 2025 | 34.2% | -1.3% |
Eswatini compared with similar countries
- Eswatini's 34.2% is above the median for lower middle income countries, which is 5.1%, 6.8× the median. (46 countries reporting)
- Eswatini's 34.2% is above the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 5.4%, 6.3× the median. (47 countries reporting)
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
- 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 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
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About this data
Share of the labor force without work, but actively looking for a job and available to start soon.