Eswatini

**No major new government, ILO, or World Bank data releases on youth or male unemployment in Eswatini were identified in the last 60 days (roughly April–early June 2026).** Existing modeled estimates and project references remain consistent with the baseline.[[1]](https://www.worldbank.org/en/news/press-release/2025/05/12/new-world-bank-project-supports-job-creation-for-afe-eswatinis-youth)[[2]](https://fred.stlouisfed.org/series/SLUEM1524ZSSWZ)

- The World Bank’s May 12, 2025 press release on the Eswatini Youth Employment Opportunities Project (EYEOP) cited youth unemployment (15-24) at 49% overall (women 52.4%, men 45%), with ~25,000 annual labor market entrants vs. ~1,000 formal jobs created. It noted over 53% of youth as NEET. This predates the baseline but aligns closely with the reported 50.9% male youth rate (2025).[[1]](https://www.worldbank.org/en/news/press-release/2025/05/12/new-world-bank-project-supports-job-creation-for-afe-eswatinis-youth)
- FRED/ILO-modeled data shows total youth unemployment (15-24) at 54.329% for 2025 (updated Feb 2026). Broader total unemployment hovers around 34–35% in recent estimates.[[2]](https://fred.stlouisfed.org/series/SLUEM1524ZSSWZ)
- No fresher 2026 national estimates or ILO/WB updates appeared in searches.

**No significant political, security, or economic shocks affecting young men (18-35) were reported in the last 60 days.** References to protests or unrest primarily concern the 2021 crackdown or earlier periods, with no evidence of recent large-scale youth-led protests, coup attempts, militia recruitment, or acute economic crises (e.g., currency issues).[[3]](https://bti-project.org/en/reports/country-report/SWZ)[[4]](https://www.hrw.org/world-report/2026/country-chapters/eswatini)

- An April 18, 2026 social media reference noted government warnings to civil servants about planned (unspecified) protests that could disrupt services/salaries, but no youth-specific mobilization or outcomes were detailed.[[5]](https://www.facebook.com/100072019954167/videos/finance-minister-neal-rijkenberg-has-called-on-civil-servants-to-avoid-participa/792795270292277/)
- Broader reports (e.g., BTI 2026, HRW World Report 2026) highlight ongoing structural issues: high youth unemployment driving emigration (especially to South Africa), demands for democratic reform via social media/street action, impunity for past violations, and repression of dissent under laws like the Public Order Act. These reflect chronic pressures rather than new escalations.[[3]](https://bti-project.org/en/reports/country-report/SWZ)[[4]](https://www.hrw.org/world-report/2026/country-chapters/eswatini)
- Economic context remains challenging (high poverty, inequality, limited formal jobs), but no fresh shocks flagged. Cultural/tourism events (e.g., MTN Bushfire Festival late May 2026) proceeded normally.[[6]](https://www.thekingdomofeswatini.com/events-calendar/)

**Notable 2025 reports on Eswatini youth (published or covering 2025 data) include:**

- Afrobarometer Dispatch AD1064 (Oct 24, 2025): >50% of youth (15-35) report unemployment/job-seeking; over half have considered emigration; 54% view the country as heading in the “wrong direction.” Highlights mismatch between education levels and opportunities.[[7]](https://www.afrobarometer.org/publication/ad1064-eswatini-youth-intent-on-employment-cast-eyes-abroad-for-better-prospects/)
- BTI 2026 Country Report: Emphasizes youth-led pro-democracy pressure amid ~58% youth unemployment, brain drain, and limited political participation.[[3]](https://bti-project.org/en/reports/country-report/SWZ)
- Other references (e.g., World Vision, UNICEF Annual Report 2025) reiterate high youth joblessness and related vulnerabilities but add no new 2026 figures.[[8]](https://www.wvi.org/sites/default/files/2026-03/WVE%20Strategic%20Plan%20%282026-30%29%20-%20FINALDIGITAL%20%281%29.pdf)

**Internet/mobile infrastructure shows positive developments rather than disruptions:**

- Eswatini Mobile announced/confirmed enterprise connectivity upgrades to 1,000 Mbps (May 2026), approved for international events (e.g., OACPS-EU assembly).[[9]](https://www.facebook.com/sdnapp/posts/eswatini-mobiles-enterprise-connectivity-speeding-up-to-1000mbps-receives-intern/1537213928406511/)
- General 2026 coverage guides note reliable 4G in major areas/tourism zones; 5G mentions appear in operator updates. No shutdowns or coverage reductions reported (past 2021 incidents referenced in older articles).[[10]](https://sparkroam.com/eswatini-mobile-network-coverage/)

**Assessment vs. baseline:** No developments in the last 60 days appear to significantly shift the instability picture. Youth unemployment remains structurally very high (consistent with ~50%+ male youth rates and overall youth figures of ~49–54%), with chronic political/economic grievances but no acute flare-ups, new data spikes, or infrastructure setbacks. Ongoing World Bank-supported job initiatives and network improvements are mildly positive but unlikely to alter the near-term fuse score materially. Continued monitoring of any realized protests or fresh labor data is recommended.

**National Statistics Bureau (CSO Eswatini):**  
- **Central Statistical Office (CSO), Kingdom of Eswatini** — https://www.gov.sz/index.php/component/content/article/687-central-statistics-office (under Ministry of Economic Planning & Development). No public API or dedicated machine-readable data portal identified; data (including labor force, unemployment, and economic statistics from surveys/censuses) primarily available via PDF reports or requests. Update frequency: Irregular (e.g., censuses, periodic labor force surveys like the Integrated Labour Force Survey). Auth required: None (public reports) / contact for custom data.[[1]](https://www.gov.sz/index.php/component/content/article/687-central-statistics-office?catid=78:economic-planning-a-development&Itemid=258/)

**Central Bank or Finance Ministry:**  
- **Central Bank of Eswatini (CBE)** — https://www.centralbank.org.sz/. No public API or open data portal with structured/machine-readable downloads identified; economic indicators, monetary policy reports, annual economic reviews, and statistical releases (including youth-relevant macro data) available as PDFs/reports. Update frequency: Monthly/quarterly/annual (e.g., Monetary Policy Statements, Economic Reports). Auth required: None (public downloads).[[2]](https://www.centralbank.org.sz/)

**Regional Databases (Sub-Saharan Africa with country breakdowns):**  
- **African Development Bank (AfDB) Open Data for Africa / Statistical Data Portal** — https://dataportal.opendataforafrica.org/ (formerly Open Data for Africa). Yes (API Explorer available for programmatic access; SDMX/structured data support). Update frequency: Varies by dataset (economic, social, youth/employment indicators with Eswatini breakdowns). Auth required: None/free. Covers socio-economic data including labor market/youth metrics for African countries.[[3]](https://www.re3data.org/repository/r3d100011929)

**Local or Regional News RSS Feeds or APIs:**  
- **Global Voices Eswatini feed** — https://globalvoices.org/-/world/sub-saharan-africa/swaziland/ (RSS available). Partial (RSS feeds). Update frequency: As published (citizen media on regional issues including youth/instability). Auth required: None.  
- **Newsdata.io Eswatini News API** — https://newsdata.io/news-sources/eswatini-other-news-api. Yes (API for live headlines/updates from curated sources). Update frequency: Real-time/near real-time. Auth required: Free tier with API key (paid for higher volume).[[4]](https://newsdata.io/news-sources/eswatini-other-news-api)

**NGO or Think Tank Data APIs:**  
- **Humanitarian Data Exchange (HDX) – Eswatini datasets** — https://data.humdata.org/m/group/swz. Partial/yes (API access for many humanitarian/crisis/poverty datasets from multiple organizations, including youth-relevant indicators). Update frequency: Varies (event-driven or periodic updates from contributors like UN agencies). Auth required: None/free (registration may be needed for some downloads).[[5]](https://data.humdata.org/m/group/swz?groups=ind&vocab_Topics=education)

These are the most relevant accessible sources identified beyond the already-used ones (World Bank, ACLED, etc.). National/local sources in Eswatini appear limited in terms of modern APIs or open structured data; most rely on reports or aggregate to international databases. Regional options like AfDB provide stronger structured access for Sub-Saharan coverage. Always verify current status directly, as portals can evolve.