Highest rate of unemployment (country)

The country with the highest total unemployment rate is the small African kingdom of Eswatini, located on the border between South Africa and Mozambique. According to International Labour Organization estimates from May 2024, Eswatini had a total unemployment rate of 40.4%.

The youth unemployment rate, representing individuals aged 15 to 24, stood out at 64.99%, though slightly improved from 65.42% in 2022. Eswatini’s economy is heavily dependent on subsistence agriculture and other low-value-added sectors, which contribute to the persistently high levels of unemployment and poverty. According to UNICEF, approximately 59% of the population lives below the national poverty line, and 20.1% are in extreme poverty. Despite being classified as a lower-middle-income country, Eswatini faces significant socio-economic challenges, including widespread poverty, corruption and one of the highest unemployment rates in the world.