Unemployment, total (% of total labor force) in Eswatini

Eswatini: Unemployment, total (% of total labor force) was 34.3% in 2023. ▲ Rising

Latest (2023)
34.3%
Change on year
up 1.5%
World rank
1st
of 187 countries
All-time high
34.3%
in 2023
All-time low
21.7%
in 1995
Years of data
6
1995–2023

Unemployment, total (% of total labor force) in Eswatini, 1995–2023

01020301995200920231995: 21.71997: 22.52007: 28.22016: 22.72021: 33.82023: 34.3

Source: Labour Force Statistics database (LFS), International Labour Organization (ILO).

Analysis

The most recent figure for unemployment, total (% of total labor force) in Eswatini is 34.3%, measured in 2023. That is the highest value across all 6 years on record.

Compared with earlier readings it is up 1.5% on the previous year and up 50.8% over ten years.

Over the whole period, unemployment, total (% of total labor force) in Eswatini peaked at 34.3% in 2023 and was at its lowest, 21.7%, in 1995.

That places Eswatini 1st out of 187 countries with data for 2023, putting it in the top 10%.

Unemployment, total (% of total labor force) in Eswatini, year by year

Annual values for Unemployment, total (% of total labor force) (national estimate) in Eswatini, 1995 to 2023.
Year Value Change
1995 21.7%
1997 22.5% +3.9%
2007 28.2% +25.5%
2016 22.7% -19.6%
2021 33.8% +48.6%
2023 34.3% +1.5%

Averages by decade

DecadeAverage LowestHighest Years
1990s 22.1% 21.7% 22.5% 2
2000s 28.2% 28.2% 28.2% 1
2010s 22.7% 22.7% 22.7% 1
2020s 34.0% 33.8% 34.3% 2

Countries ranked near Eswatini

  1. 2 South Africa 32.3% compare
  2. 3 Palestine, State of 28.7% compare
  3. 4 Botswana 24.4% compare

See the full ranking of 220 places →

More work & labour data for Eswatini

All data for Eswatini →

Frequently asked questions

What is unemployment, total (% of total labor force) in Eswatini?
Unemployment, total (% of total labor force) in Eswatini was 34.3% in 2023, according to Labour Force Statistics database (LFS), International Labour Organization (ILO).
What is the highest unemployment, total (% of total labor force) recorded in Eswatini?
The highest recorded value was 34.3% in 2023.
What is the lowest unemployment, total (% of total labor force) recorded in Eswatini?
The lowest recorded value was 21.7% in 1995.
How does Eswatini rank for unemployment, total (% of total labor force)?
Eswatini ranks 1st out of 187 countries with data for 2023.
Is unemployment, total (% of total labor force) rising or falling in Eswatini?
Over the last ten years it is up 50.8%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
Where does this Eswatini data come from?
The figures come from Labour Force Statistics database (LFS), International Labour Organization (ILO), published as part of Unemployment, total (% of total labor force) (national estimate). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.

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Unemployment, total (% of total labor force) in Eswatini. Statizoid, drawing on Labour Force Statistics database (LFS), International Labour Organization (ILO). Retrieved 05 September 2026, from https://labour.statizoid.com/stat/unemployment-total-percent-of-total-labor-force-national-estimate/eswatini/

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About this data

Indicator
Unemployment, total (% of total labor force) (national estimate)
Source
Labour Force Statistics database (LFS), International Labour Organization (ILO)
Licence
CC BY 4.0 (World Bank Open Data)
Coverage
220 places, 6,054 data points, 1960–2025
Last refreshed

Unemployment refers to the share of the labor force that is without work but available for and seeking employment. Definitions of labor force and unemployment differ by country.