Unemployment, female (% of female labor force) in Eswatini
Eswatini: Unemployment, female (% of female labor force) was 36.0% in 2025. ▲ Rising
Unemployment, female (% of female labor force) in Eswatini, 1991–2025
Source: ILO Modelled Estimates database (ILOEST), International Labour Organization (ILO).
Analysis
In 2025, unemployment, female (% of female labor force) in Eswatini stood at 36.0%.
The figure is down 2.7% on the previous year and up 42.2% over ten years.
Over the whole period, unemployment, female (% of female labor force) in Eswatini peaked at 38.6% in 2022 and was at its lowest, 22.1%, in 1991.
That places Eswatini 2nd 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, female (% of female labor force) in Eswatini, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1991 | 22.1% | — |
| 1992 | 22.5% | +2.0% |
| 1993 | 23.4% | +3.8% |
| 1994 | 23.3% | -0.1% |
| 1995 | 23.3% | -0.3% |
| 1996 | 24.6% | +5.8% |
| 1997 | 25.9% | +5.4% |
| 1998 | 26.6% | +2.7% |
| 1999 | 27.3% | +2.4% |
| 2000 | 27.9% | +2.4% |
| 2001 | 28.6% | +2.4% |
| 2002 | 29.1% | +1.7% |
| 2003 | 29.5% | +1.5% |
| 2004 | 29.9% | +1.4% |
| 2005 | 30.4% | +1.5% |
| 2006 | 30.8% | +1.4% |
| 2007 | 31.3% | +1.6% |
| 2008 | 30.8% | -1.6% |
| 2009 | 30.3% | -1.8% |
| 2010 | 29.5% | -2.6% |
| 2011 | 28.6% | -3.1% |
| 2012 | 27.5% | -3.6% |
| 2013 | 26.7% | -2.9% |
| 2014 | 26.0% | -2.8% |
| 2015 | 25.3% | -2.4% |
| 2016 | 24.5% | -3.3% |
| 2017 | 26.3% | +7.2% |
| 2018 | 28.1% | +7.2% |
| 2019 | 29.8% | +6.0% |
| 2020 | 34.4% | +15.3% |
| 2021 | 35.5% | +3.2% |
| 2022 | 38.6% | +8.6% |
| 2023 | 37.0% | -4.0% |
| 2024 | 37.0% | +0.1% |
| 2025 | 36.0% | -2.7% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 24.3% | 22.1% | 27.3% | 9 |
| 2000s | 29.9% | 27.9% | 31.3% | 10 |
| 2010s | 27.2% | 24.5% | 29.8% | 10 |
| 2020s | 36.4% | 34.4% | 38.6% | 6 |
Countries ranked near Eswatini
- 1 Palestine, State of 40.0% compare
- 3 Djibouti 35.4% compare
- 4 South Africa 34.0% compare
- 5 Yemen 30.3% compare
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 unemployment, female (% of female labor force) in Eswatini?
- Unemployment, female (% of female labor force) in Eswatini was 36.0% in 2025, according to ILO Modelled Estimates database (ILOEST), International Labour Organization (ILO).
- What is the highest unemployment, female (% of female labor force) recorded in Eswatini?
- The highest recorded value was 38.6% in 2022.
- What is the lowest unemployment, female (% of female labor force) recorded in Eswatini?
- The lowest recorded value was 22.1% in 1991.
- How does Eswatini rank for unemployment, female (% of female labor force)?
- Eswatini ranks 2nd out of 187 countries with data for 2025.
- Is unemployment, female (% of female labor force) rising or falling in Eswatini?
- Over the last ten years it is up 42.2%. 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, female (% of female labor force) (modeled ILO estimate). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Unemployment refers to the share of the labor force that is without work but available for and seeking employment.