Unemployment, total (% of total labor force) in Eswatini
Eswatini: Unemployment, total (% of total labor force) was 34.2% in 2025. ▲ Rising
Unemployment, total (% of total labor force) in Eswatini, 1991–2025
Source: ILO Modelled Estimates database (ILOEST), International Labour Organization (ILO).
Analysis
In 2025, unemployment, total (% of total labor force) in Eswatini stood at 34.2%.
That represents a change of down 1.3% on the previous year and up 46.0% over ten years.
Over the whole period, unemployment, total (% of total labor force) in Eswatini peaked at 36.5% in 2022 and was at its lowest, 20.5%, in 1991.
Eswatini ranks 1st of 186 countries on this measure, in the top 10%.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 35 years of available data.
Unemployment, total (% of total labor force) in Eswatini, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1991 | 20.5% | — |
| 1992 | 20.9% | +2.1% |
| 1993 | 21.8% | +3.9% |
| 1994 | 21.7% | -0.2% |
| 1995 | 21.6% | -0.3% |
| 1996 | 22.1% | +2.0% |
| 1997 | 22.5% | +1.9% |
| 1998 | 23.2% | +3.2% |
| 1999 | 23.9% | +2.8% |
| 2000 | 24.5% | +2.8% |
| 2001 | 25.2% | +2.8% |
| 2002 | 25.8% | +2.1% |
| 2003 | 26.3% | +1.9% |
| 2004 | 26.7% | +1.7% |
| 2005 | 27.2% | +1.9% |
| 2006 | 27.7% | +1.7% |
| 2007 | 28.2% | +2.0% |
| 2008 | 27.9% | -1.2% |
| 2009 | 27.5% | -1.4% |
| 2010 | 26.9% | -2.3% |
| 2011 | 26.1% | -2.8% |
| 2012 | 25.2% | -3.4% |
| 2013 | 24.6% | -2.7% |
| 2014 | 23.9% | -2.5% |
| 2015 | 23.4% | -2.1% |
| 2016 | 22.7% | -3.0% |
| 2017 | 24.5% | +8.0% |
| 2018 | 26.5% | +7.9% |
| 2019 | 28.2% | +6.6% |
| 2020 | 33.0% | +16.9% |
| 2021 | 34.2% | +3.6% |
| 2022 | 36.5% | +6.8% |
| 2023 | 34.6% | -5.1% |
| 2024 | 34.6% | +0.1% |
| 2025 | 34.2% | -1.3% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 22.0% | 20.5% | 23.9% | 9 |
| 2000s | 26.7% | 24.5% | 28.2% | 10 |
| 2010s | 25.2% | 22.7% | 28.2% | 10 |
| 2020s | 34.5% | 33.0% | 36.5% | 6 |
Countries ranked near Eswatini
More education data for Eswatini
- 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)
- Secondary education, duration (years), annual growth rate 0 % change on previous year (2025)
- Enrolment in primary education, both sexes (number), gaps filled 222,351 (2023)
- Enrolment in primary education, both sexes (number), annual growth -0.236 % change on previous year (2023)
- Enrolment in primary education, both sexes (number), per unit of GDP 0 units per US$ of GDP (2023)
- Enrolment in primary education, both sexes (number), per capita 0.1807 units per person (2023)
- Enrolment in primary education, female (number), gaps filled 107,218 (2023)
Frequently asked questions
- What is unemployment, total (% of total labor force) in Eswatini?
- Unemployment, total (% of total labor force) in Eswatini was 34.2% in 2025, according to ILO Modelled Estimates database (ILOEST), International Labour Organization (ILO).
- What is the highest unemployment, total (% of total labor force) recorded in Eswatini?
- The highest recorded value was 36.5% in 2022.
- What is the lowest unemployment, total (% of total labor force) recorded in Eswatini?
- The lowest recorded value was 20.5% in 1991.
- How does Eswatini rank for unemployment, total (% of total labor force)?
- Eswatini ranks 1st out of 186 countries with data for 2025.
- Is unemployment, total (% of total labor force) rising or falling in Eswatini?
- Over the last ten years it is up 46.0%. 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, total (% of total 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.