Eswatini — Labor participation
Labor Force Participation Rate for Eswatini, 1990–2025.
Labor participation for Eswatini was 51.19% in 2025, according to the latest World Bank data. The series covers 36 years, from 1990 to 2025. The highest recorded value was 54.41% in 1990. The lowest was 49.49% in 2020 (about 1.0× the low point). Across that span the compound annual growth rate works out to -0.17% per year.
Eswatini ranks 158 of 187 economies on this measure (1 = highest), putting it in the top 84%. The median for Sub-Saharan Africa is 64.31%, so Eswatini sits below it. It peaked in 1990 and has fallen 6% since. Over the last decade (2015–2025) the figure moved down 0%. Within Sub-Saharan Africa it ranks 41 of 47 economies; Gabon (51.06%) is just below it.
Data highlights
World ranking. Slipped: 144th of 187 in 1990 → 146th of 187 in 2000 → 151st of 187 in 2010 → 158th of 187 in 2020 → 156th of 182 in 2025.
Key figures
Full history — 1990 to 2025
| Year | % of population ages 15+ | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 51.19% | -0.0 pp |
| 2024 | 51.2% | -0.0 pp |
| 2023 | 51.22% | +0.8 pp |
| 2022 | 50.43% | +0.7 pp |
| 2021 | 49.69% | +0.2 pp |
| 2020 | 49.49% | -0.7 pp |
| 2019 | 50.23% | -0.3 pp |
| 2018 | 50.53% | -0.3 pp |
| 2017 | 50.84% | -0.3 pp |
| 2016 | 51.14% | -0.1 pp |
| 2015 | 51.25% | -0.1 pp |
| 2014 | 51.38% | -0.1 pp |
| 2013 | 51.5% | -0.1 pp |
| 2012 | 51.6% | -0.1 pp |
| 2011 | 51.71% | -0.1 pp |
| 2010 | 51.84% | -0.1 pp |
| 2009 | 51.99% | -0.2 pp |
| 2008 | 52.15% | -0.2 pp |
| 2007 | 52.3% | -0.1 pp |
| 2006 | 52.41% | -0.1 pp |
| 2005 | 52.5% | -0.1 pp |
| 2004 | 52.6% | -0.1 pp |
| 2003 | 52.71% | -0.1 pp |
| 2002 | 52.86% | -0.2 pp |
| 2001 | 53.03% | -0.2 pp |
| 2000 | 53.24% | -0.2 pp |
| 1999 | 53.47% | -0.3 pp |
| 1998 | 53.73% | -0.3 pp |
| 1997 | 53.98% | -0.2 pp |
| 1996 | 54.19% | -0.2 pp |
| 1995 | 54.35% | +0.1 pp |
| 1994 | 54.23% | +0.2 pp |
| 1993 | 54.04% | -0.1 pp |
| 1992 | 54.11% | -0.1 pp |
| 1991 | 54.26% | -0.1 pp |
| 1990 | 54.41% | — |
Frequently asked questions
What was Eswatini’s Labor participation in 1991?
54.26% (1991). The full year-by-year table above lists every published year, most recent first.
Are changes in this series measured in percentage points?
Yes. The series is a share expressed in % of population ages 15+, so year-over-year movements in the Change column are percentage points (pp), not percent.
Is Eswatini’s Labor participation growing or shrinking?
Between 1990 and 2025 the series was shrinking overall: -5.9% in total — about 0.2% a year compounded.
Where does this data come from?
World Bank Open Data (CC BY-4.0), indicator SL.TLF.CACT.ZS. Values are reproduced as published; this page only computes summary statistics such as change, CAGR and extremes.
What are the most recent published figures?
The last five published years: 2025: 51.19%; 2024: 51.2%; 2023: 51.22%; 2022: 50.43%; 2021: 49.69%. Earlier years are in the full-history table below.
Related data
SL.TLF.CACT.ZS — Labor Force Participation Rate. Data licensed under CC BY 4.0. Values are reproduced as published; this page computes the summary statistics (change, CAGR, extremes) from the underlying annual series. View the original dataset on data.worldbank.org.