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Highest unemployment rates

Eswatini has the highest unemployment rate in the latest data at 34.2% in 2025, with South Africa close behind at 32.4%.

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What the data shows

  • Eswatini ranks #1 with 34.2%, ahead of South Africa (32.4%) and Djibouti (26.0%).

About this chart

Eswatini and South Africa stand well apart from the rest of the world on unemployment, at 34.2% and 32.4% of the labor force in 2025. Djibouti follows at 26.0% and Botswana at 24.5%, while West Bank and Gaza shows 24.4% for 2022. Southern Africa dominates the top of the list, with Namibia (19.3%) and Lesotho (16.3%) also in the top 15.

The figures are the World Bank's modeled ILO estimates of unemployment as a share of the total labor force, meaning people without work who are available for and seeking a job. Because they are modeled, they can differ from national survey results. Each country appears at its most recent value from the last ten years, and only countries with more than 1 million people are included. Most entries are 2025 readings.

The data

Source: World Bank, World Development Indicators (SL.UEM.TOTL.ZS), unemployment, % of total labor force (modeled ILO estimate); countries over 1 million people. Retrieved November 4, 2026. Each country's most recent value from the last ten years.

Highest unemployment rates, % of the labor force (ILO estimate), Latest
Date🇸🇿 Eswatini🇿🇦 South Africa🇩🇯 Djibouti🇧🇼 Botswana🇵🇸 West Bank and Gaza🇬🇦 Gabon🇨🇬 Congo, Rep.🇳🇦 Namibia🇸🇴 Somalia, Fed. Rep.🇱🇾 Libya🇾🇪 Yemen🇯🇴 Jordan🇱🇸 Lesotho🇮🇶 Iraq🇹🇳 Tunisia
Latest34.2%32.4%26.0%24.5%24.4%20.2%19.9%19.3%18.9%18.8%17.3%16.5%16.3%15.5%15.1%

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Suggested caption: “One in three workers in Eswatini is unemployed. See who else tops the list.” Credit the source in your caption; it heads off the 'source?' comments.

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Frequently asked questions

Which country has the highest unemployment rate?

Eswatini has the highest unemployment rate in the latest data, at 34.2% of the labor force in 2025. South Africa is second at 32.4% and Djibouti third at 26.0%. These are modeled ILO estimates.

How is the unemployment rate measured here?

It is the percentage of the total labor force without work, using the World Bank's modeled estimate from the International Labour Organization. The labor force counts people who are working or actively looking for work, so people not seeking jobs are not included.

Are all of these figures from the same year?

Almost all are from 2025, but not every country is. West Bank and Gaza is shown at 24.4% in 2022, because the chart uses each country's latest value from the last ten years.

Where does this data come from?

World Bank, World Development Indicators (SL.UEM.TOTL.ZS), unemployment, % of total labor force (modeled ILO estimate); countries over 1 million people. Retrieved November 4, 2026. Each country's most recent value from the last ten years. You can download the full table as a CSV from this page.

Can I turn this chart into a video?

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