Labor force, total in Eswatini
Eswatini: Labor force, total was 430,869 in 2025. ▲ Rising
Labor force, total in Eswatini, 1990–2025
Source: International Labour Organization (ILO), type: estimates based on external database.
Analysis
In 2025, labor force, total in Eswatini stood at 430,869. That is the highest value across all 36 years on record.
The figure is up 1.6% on the previous year and up 16.4% over ten years.
Over the whole period, labor force, total in Eswatini peaked at 430,869 in 2025 and was at its lowest, 248,520, in 1990.
That places Eswatini 159th out of 187 countries with data for 2025, putting it in the bottom quarter.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 36 years of available data.
Labor force, total in Eswatini, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1990 | 248,520 | — |
| 1991 | 260,543 | +4.8% |
| 1992 | 272,483 | +4.6% |
| 1993 | 281,512 | +3.3% |
| 1994 | 279,033 | -0.9% |
| 1995 | 277,189 | -0.7% |
| 1996 | 284,883 | +2.8% |
| 1997 | 292,470 | +2.7% |
| 1998 | 299,615 | +2.4% |
| 1999 | 306,353 | +2.2% |
| 2000 | 312,687 | +2.1% |
| 2001 | 318,309 | +1.8% |
| 2002 | 323,143 | +1.5% |
| 2003 | 327,249 | +1.3% |
| 2004 | 330,788 | +1.1% |
| 2005 | 333,903 | +0.9% |
| 2006 | 336,690 | +0.8% |
| 2007 | 340,070 | +1.0% |
| 2008 | 344,385 | +1.3% |
| 2009 | 348,706 | +1.3% |
| 2010 | 352,683 | +1.1% |
| 2011 | 356,349 | +1.0% |
| 2012 | 359,714 | +0.9% |
| 2013 | 363,011 | +0.9% |
| 2014 | 366,547 | +1.0% |
| 2015 | 370,293 | +1.0% |
| 2016 | 373,981 | +1.0% |
| 2017 | 376,955 | +0.8% |
| 2018 | 380,669 | +1.0% |
| 2019 | 384,496 | +1.0% |
| 2020 | 385,559 | +0.3% |
| 2021 | 393,966 | +2.2% |
| 2022 | 406,038 | +3.1% |
| 2023 | 418,086 | +3.0% |
| 2024 | 424,113 | +1.4% |
| 2025 | 430,869 | +1.6% |
Eswatini compared with similar countries
- Eswatini's 430,869 is below the median for lower middle income countries, which is 5.00 million, 9% of the median. (46 countries reporting)
- Eswatini's 430,869 is below the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 6.13 million, 7% of the median. (47 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 280,260 | 248,520 | 306,353 | 10 |
| 2000s | 331,593 | 312,687 | 348,706 | 10 |
| 2010s | 368,470 | 352,683 | 384,496 | 10 |
| 2020s | 409,772 | 385,559 | 430,869 | 6 |
Countries ranked near Eswatini
More education data for Eswatini
- Teachers in secondary education, both sexes (number), gaps filled 7,225 (2022)
- Repeaters in primary education, all grades, both sexes (number), gaps 15,165 (2023)
- Enrolment in pre-primary education, male (number), gaps filled 12,768 (2015)
- Enrolment in pre-primary education, female (number), gaps filled 11,269 (2015)
- Secondary education, pupils, gaps filled 108,288 (2016)
- Primary education, duration (years), annual growth rate 0 % change on previous year (2025)
- Primary education, pupils, gaps filled 222,351 (2023)
- Primary education, pupils, annual growth rate -0.236 % change on previous year (2023)
- Primary education, pupils, per unit of GDP 0 units per US$ of GDP (2023)
- Primary education, pupils, per capita 0.1807 units per person (2023)
Frequently asked questions
- What is labor force, total in Eswatini?
- Labor force, total in Eswatini was 430,869 in 2025, according to International Labour Organization (ILO), type: estimates based on external database.
- What is the highest labor force, total recorded in Eswatini?
- The highest recorded value was 430,869 in 2025.
- What is the lowest labor force, total recorded in Eswatini?
- The lowest recorded value was 248,520 in 1990.
- How does Eswatini rank for labor force, total?
- Eswatini ranks 159th out of 187 countries with data for 2025.
- Is labor force, total rising or falling in Eswatini?
- Over the last ten years it is up 16.4%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this Eswatini data come from?
- The figures come from International Labour Organization (ILO), type: estimates based on external database, published as part of Labor force, total. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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CSV · JSON — 36 observations, free to reuse under CC BY 4.0 (World Bank Open Data).
About this data
Labor force comprises people ages 15 and older who supply labor for the production of goods and services during a specified period. It includes people who are currently employed and people who are unemployed but seeking work as well as first-time job-seekers. Not everyone who works is included, however. Unpaid workers, family workers, and students are often omitted, and some countries do not count members of the armed forces. Labor force size tends to vary during the year as seasonal workers enter and leave.