Unemployment, youth male (% of male labor force ages 15-24) in Eswatini
Eswatini: Unemployment, youth male (% of male labor force ages 15-24) was 50.9% in 2025. ▲ Rising
Latest (2025)
50.9%
Change on year
up 0.8%
World rank
3rd
of 187 countries
All-time high
55.6%
in 2020
All-time low
40.2%
in 1991
Years of data
35
1991–2025
Unemployment, youth male (% of male labor force ages 15-24) in Eswatini, 1991–2025
Source: ILO Modelled Estimates database (ILOEST), International Labour Organization (ILO).
Analysis
In 2025, unemployment, youth male (% of male labor force ages 15-24) in Eswatini stood at 50.9%.
The figure is up 0.8% on the previous year and up 10.8% over ten years.
Over the whole period, unemployment, youth male (% of male labor force ages 15-24) in Eswatini peaked at 55.6% in 2020 and was at its lowest, 40.2%, in 1991.
Eswatini ranks 3rd of 187 countries on this measure, in the top 10%.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 35 years of available data.
Unemployment, youth male (% of male labor force ages 15-24) in Eswatini, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1991 | 40.2% | — |
| 1992 | 41.2% | +2.5% |
| 1993 | 42.8% | +3.8% |
| 1994 | 42.2% | -1.3% |
| 1995 | 41.6% | -1.4% |
| 1996 | 41.0% | -1.5% |
| 1997 | 40.5% | -1.2% |
| 1998 | 42.1% | +3.9% |
| 1999 | 43.6% | +3.6% |
| 2000 | 45.2% | +3.6% |
| 2001 | 46.8% | +3.5% |
| 2002 | 48.1% | +2.8% |
| 2003 | 49.3% | +2.5% |
| 2004 | 50.3% | +2.2% |
| 2005 | 51.4% | +2.2% |
| 2006 | 52.4% | +1.9% |
| 2007 | 53.5% | +2.1% |
| 2008 | 53.0% | -1.0% |
| 2009 | 52.4% | -1.1% |
| 2010 | 51.5% | -1.8% |
| 2011 | 50.3% | -2.3% |
| 2012 | 48.9% | -2.8% |
| 2013 | 47.8% | -2.2% |
| 2014 | 46.8% | -2.1% |
| 2015 | 45.9% | -1.8% |
| 2016 | 44.7% | -2.7% |
| 2017 | 46.1% | +3.2% |
| 2018 | 47.7% | +3.4% |
| 2019 | 49.0% | +2.8% |
| 2020 | 55.6% | +13.5% |
| 2021 | 54.3% | -2.4% |
| 2022 | 55.3% | +1.9% |
| 2023 | 50.3% | -9.0% |
| 2024 | 50.4% | +0.2% |
| 2025 | 50.9% | +0.8% |
Eswatini compared with similar countries
- Eswatini's 50.9% is above the median for lower middle income countries, which is 9.6%, 5.3× the median. (46 countries reporting)
- Eswatini's 50.9% is above the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 9.0%, 5.7× the median. (47 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 41.7% | 40.2% | 43.6% | 9 |
| 2000s | 50.2% | 45.2% | 53.5% | 10 |
| 2010s | 47.9% | 44.7% | 51.5% | 10 |
| 2020s | 52.8% | 50.3% | 55.6% | 6 |
Countries ranked near Eswatini
- 1 Djibouti 76.1% compare
- 2 South Africa 56.5% compare
- 4 Saint Vincent and the Grenadines 42.3% compare
- 5 Libya 41.9% compare
- 6 Congo 41.6% 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 male (% of male labor force ages 15-24) in Eswatini?
- Unemployment, youth male (% of male labor force ages 15-24) in Eswatini was 50.9% in 2025, according to ILO Modelled Estimates database (ILOEST), International Labour Organization (ILO).
- What is the highest unemployment, youth male (% of male labor force ages 15-24) recorded in Eswatini?
- The highest recorded value was 55.6% in 2020.
- What is the lowest unemployment, youth male (% of male labor force ages 15-24) recorded in Eswatini?
- The lowest recorded value was 40.2% in 1991.
- How does Eswatini rank for unemployment, youth male (% of male labor force ages 15-24)?
- Eswatini ranks 3rd out of 187 countries with data for 2025.
- Is unemployment, youth male (% of male labor force ages 15-24) rising or falling in Eswatini?
- Over the last ten years it is up 10.8%. 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 male (% of male 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.