Unemployment rate — all countries

Unemployment rate — Eswatini

Unemployment rate in Eswatini in 2025 — 34.2%. Ranked 182 in the world out of 182. Since 1991, the indicator has risen by 13.68 pp.

2025 34.2% −0.44 pp vs 2024
World rank 182of 182
Period maximum 36.47%2022
Period minimum 20.52%1991

Trend over time

1991–2025 · % of labor force

Unemployment rate — Eswatini, 1991–2025202530354019911995199920032007201120152019202320251991: 20.52%1992: 20.95%1993: 21.76%1994: 21.73%1995: 21.65%1996: 22.07%1997: 22.5%1998: 23.21%1999: 23.87%2000: 24.55%2001: 25.24%2002: 25.77%2003: 26.26%2004: 26.72%2005: 27.22%2006: 27.69%2007: 28.24%2008: 27.89%2009: 27.49%2010: 26.86%2011: 26.11%2012: 25.23%2013: 24.56%2014: 23.93%2015: 23.43%2016: 22.72%2017: 24.54%2018: 26.47%2019: 28.22%2020: 32.98%2021: 34.15%2022: 36.47%2023: 34.61%2024: 34.64%2025: 34.2%
Change over the period: +13.68 pp Annual average: 0.4 pp

Comparison, 2025

How the value compares with the world and the groups this territory belongs to: Eswatini

Eswatini 34.2%
World 4.79%
Southern Africa computed 31.14%
Unemployment rate — Eswatini, by year Eswatini All countries CSV XLSX
Year % Change, pp
2025 34.2 −0.44 pp
2024 34.64 +0.03 pp
2023 34.61 −1.86 pp
2022 36.47 +2.32 pp
2021 34.15 +1.18 pp
2020 32.98 +4.76 pp
2019 28.22 +1.75 pp
2018 26.47 +1.93 pp
2017 24.54 +1.83 pp
2016 22.72 −0.71 pp
2015 23.43 −0.5 pp
2014 23.93 −0.63 pp
2013 24.56 −0.67 pp
2012 25.23 −0.88 pp
2011 26.11 −0.75 pp
2010 26.86 −0.63 pp
2009 27.49 −0.4 pp
2008 27.89 −0.35 pp
2007 28.24 +0.55 pp
2006 27.69 +0.47 pp
2005 27.22 +0.5 pp
2004 26.72 +0.46 pp
2003 26.26 +0.49 pp
2002 25.77 +0.53 pp
2001 25.24 +0.69 pp
2000 24.55 +0.68 pp
1999 23.87 +0.65 pp
1998 23.21 +0.71 pp
1997 22.5 +0.43 pp
1996 22.07 +0.42 pp
1995 21.65 −0.08 pp
1994 21.73 −0.03 pp
1993 21.76 +0.81 pp
1992 20.95 +0.43 pp
1991 20.52

Southern Africa, 2025

The same indicator for neighboring countries — with links to their pages

About the indicator

The share of the labor force that is unemployed, on the ILO definition: a person counts as unemployed if they held no job in the reference period, actively looked for one and were available to start work. People who are not looking for work are not part of the labor force, so in countries with mass withdrawal from the labor force low unemployment does not mean high employment; the employment ratio and labor force participation fill in the rest of the picture.

Important: The data are ILO modeled estimates harmonized to a common definition; they can differ from the national figures of employment services.

Source: ILOSTAT (ILO), license CC BY 4.0.