Unemployment, youth female (% of female labor force ages 15-24) in Eswatini
Eswatini: Unemployment, youth female (% of female labor force ages 15-24) was 57.7% in 2025. ▲ Rising
Unemployment, youth female (% of female labor force ages 15-24) in Eswatini, 1991–2025
Source: ILO Modelled Estimates database (ILOEST), International Labour Organization (ILO).
Analysis
The most recent figure for unemployment, youth female (% of female labor force ages 15-24) in Eswatini is 57.7%, measured in 2025.
That represents a change of down 0.9% on the previous year and up 13.6% over ten years.
Over the whole period, unemployment, youth female (% of female labor force ages 15-24) in Eswatini peaked at 61.7% in 2022 and was at its lowest, 42.0%, in 1991.
That places Eswatini 5th out of 187 countries with data for 2025, putting it in the top 10%.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 35 years of available data.
Unemployment, youth female (% of female labor force ages 15-24) in Eswatini, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1991 | 42.0% | — |
| 1992 | 43.0% | +2.5% |
| 1993 | 44.7% | +3.8% |
| 1994 | 44.3% | -0.8% |
| 1995 | 43.9% | -0.9% |
| 1996 | 46.4% | +5.7% |
| 1997 | 49.0% | +5.4% |
| 1998 | 50.4% | +2.9% |
| 1999 | 51.7% | +2.7% |
| 2000 | 53.1% | +2.6% |
| 2001 | 54.4% | +2.5% |
| 2002 | 55.4% | +1.8% |
| 2003 | 56.3% | +1.6% |
| 2004 | 57.1% | +1.5% |
| 2005 | 58.0% | +1.6% |
| 2006 | 58.9% | +1.5% |
| 2007 | 60.1% | +2.0% |
| 2008 | 59.5% | -1.0% |
| 2009 | 58.8% | -1.1% |
| 2010 | 57.6% | -2.0% |
| 2011 | 56.2% | -2.5% |
| 2012 | 54.5% | -3.0% |
| 2013 | 53.2% | -2.5% |
| 2014 | 51.9% | -2.4% |
| 2015 | 50.8% | -2.1% |
| 2016 | 49.3% | -3.0% |
| 2017 | 50.6% | +2.8% |
| 2018 | 52.2% | +3.0% |
| 2019 | 53.4% | +2.4% |
| 2020 | 61.7% | +15.4% |
| 2021 | 59.1% | -4.2% |
| 2022 | 61.7% | +4.5% |
| 2023 | 58.2% | -5.7% |
| 2024 | 58.2% | +0.1% |
| 2025 | 57.7% | -0.9% |
Eswatini compared with similar countries
- Eswatini's 57.7% is above the median for lower middle income countries, which is 11.3%, 5.1× the median. (46 countries reporting)
- Eswatini's 57.7% is above the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 9.5%, 6.1× the median. (47 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 46.2% | 42.0% | 51.7% | 9 |
| 2000s | 57.2% | 53.1% | 60.1% | 10 |
| 2010s | 53.0% | 49.3% | 57.6% | 10 |
| 2020s | 59.4% | 57.7% | 61.7% | 6 |
Countries ranked near Eswatini
- 2 Libya 69.2% compare
- 3 Iraq 66.4% compare
- 4 South Africa 64.1% compare
- 6 Palestine, State of 56.6% compare
- 7 Botswana 51.7% compare
- 8 Syrian Arab Republic 50.9% compare
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, youth female (% of female labor force ages 15-24) in Eswatini?
- Unemployment, youth female (% of female labor force ages 15-24) in Eswatini was 57.7% in 2025, according to ILO Modelled Estimates database (ILOEST), International Labour Organization (ILO).
- What is the highest unemployment, youth female (% of female labor force ages 15-24) recorded in Eswatini?
- The highest recorded value was 61.7% in 2022.
- What is the lowest unemployment, youth female (% of female labor force ages 15-24) recorded in Eswatini?
- The lowest recorded value was 42.0% in 1991.
- How does Eswatini rank for unemployment, youth female (% of female labor force ages 15-24)?
- Eswatini ranks 5th out of 187 countries with data for 2025.
- Is unemployment, youth female (% of female labor force ages 15-24) rising or falling in Eswatini?
- Over the last ten years it is up 13.6%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this Eswatini data come from?
- The figures come from ILO Modelled Estimates database (ILOEST), International Labour Organization (ILO), published as part of Unemployment, youth female (% of female labor force ages 15-24) (modeled ILO estimate). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Youth unemployment refers to the share of the labor force ages 15-24 without work but available for and seeking employment.