Eswatini Unemployment Rate
Unemployment as % of total labor force SL.UEM.TOTL.ZS
Eswatini's unemployment rate was 34.20% in 2025, ranked 181st globally. This represents a 1.3% decrease from 2024. Data from World Bank, covering 1991–2025.
Overview
Eswatini's unemployment rate stood at 34.20% in 2025, a decline of +0.44pp from 2024. Eswatini ranked 181st globally.
Eswatini’s unemployment rate has risen sharply over the past three and a half decades, climbing from a trough of 20.52 % in 1991 to an all‑time peak of 36.47 % in 2022 before easing slightly to 34.20 % in 2025, placing the kingdom at 181st in the world ranking. The upward trajectory reflects structural constraints in a small, land‑locked economy heavily dependent on sugar and manufacturing, combined with limited formal sector job creation and persistent rural‑urban migration. By contrast, neighboring South Africa recorded a lower rate of 32.39 % in the same year, while Botswana’s unemployment stood at 24.48 %, underscoring regional disparities in labour market performance. The modest decline from the 2022 peak suggests that recent policy measures aimed at expanding vocational training and attracting foreign direct investment may be beginning to bear fruit. Sustained improvements will likely depend on diversifying the economic base, enhancing productivity, and strengthening social safety nets to curb the persistent high unemployment levels.
Data & projection
| Year | Unemployment Rate | YoY change | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 34.20% | −0.44pp | #181 |
| 2024 | 34.64% | +0.03pp | #187 |
| 2023 | 34.61% | −1.86pp | #189 |
| 2022 | 36.47% | +2.32pp | #191 |
| 2021 | 34.15% | +1.18pp | #191 |
| 2020 | 32.98% | +4.76pp | #191 |
| 2019 | 28.22% | +1.75pp | #190 |
| 2018 | 26.47% | +1.93pp | #190 |
| 2017 | 24.54% | +1.83pp | #188 |
| 2016 | 22.72% | −0.71pp | #184 |
| 2015 | 23.43% | −0.50pp | #186 |
| 2014 | 23.93% | −0.63pp | #185 |
| 2013 | 24.56% | −0.67pp | #185 |
| 2012 | 25.23% | −0.88pp | #188 |
| 2011 | 26.11% | −0.75pp | #188 |
Detected Pattern
Analysis
Eswatini matched the Export Boom Cycle pattern in 2012. Historically, 71% of countries showing this pattern (546 out of 768) saw unemployment rate improve within 24 months. View full analysis →
Frequently Asked Questions
Eswatini's unemployment rate was 34.20% in 2025. Ranked 181st globally. This represents a 1.3% decrease from the previous year.
Eswatini's unemployment rate peaked at 36.47% in 2022.
The lowest unemployment rate in Eswatini was 20.52% in 1991.
Eswatini ranks 181st globally in unemployment rate as of 2025.
The World Bank indicator code is SL.UEM.TOTL.ZS. Data sourced from World Bank.
The unemployment rate of Eswatini in 2025 was 34.20%. This ranks 181st in the world.
Cite this page
@misc{historysaid_eswatini_unemployment-rate,
title = {Eswatini Unemployment Rate},
url = {https://historysaid.com/eswatini/unemployment-rate/},
publisher = {HistorySaid},
year = {2026}
}