Eswatini birth & fertility rate decline on charts

Eswatini has a birth rate of 24.1 (annual births per 1,000 people) and a fertility rate of 2.75 (the average number of children a woman is expected to have over her lifetime based on current age-specific birth rates).

In 1960, the fertility rate in Eswatini was 6.75 children per woman — 2.45 times higher than in 2023.

Eswatini birth rate statistics:

Eswatini is ranked 57/196 by birth rate now and was ranked 52/194 in 1960.
The mean age at childbearing (for all the births, not just the first) is 27.8, a change from 28.6 in 1990.
Annual births per 1,000 women ages 15-19 (adolescent birth rate or teenage mother rate) changed from 143.2 in 1960 to 68.7 in 2023.
27.1% of the population in 2024 is composed of women of reproductive age (15-49), a change from 22.6% in 1960.

Fertility rate in Eswatini by year

1x

Year	Fertility rate	Rank
2023	2.75	61
2022	2.8	62
2021	2.84	63
2020	2.89	64
2019	2.93	62
2018	2.97	63
2017	3.02	62
2016	3.07	64
2015	3.12	62
2014	3.18	61
2013	3.24	61
2012	3.27	62
2011	3.32	62
2010	3.38	61
2009	3.5	59
2008	3.57	60
2007	3.58	59
2006	3.63	58
2005	3.7	56
2004	3.76	57
2003	3.8	59
2002	3.85	59
2001	3.94	61
2000	4.03	60
1999	4.09	63
1998	4.13	65
1997	4.24	64
1996	4.38	64
1995	4.52	65
1994	4.66	67
1993	4.82	67
1992	4.98	66
1991	5.13	64
1990	5.3	61
1989	5.48	58
1988	5.69	55
1987	5.9	53
1986	6.11	49
1985	6.28	46
1984	6.36	46
1983	6.43	45
1982	6.49	43
1981	6.54	42
1980	6.57	43
1979	6.61	41
1978	6.65	41
1977	6.68	43
1976	6.7	45
1975	6.71	47
1974	6.71	47
1973	6.72	47
1972	6.72	45
1971	6.74	45
1970	6.75	46
1969	6.76	45
1968	6.76	47
1967	6.77	49
1966	6.8	48
1965	6.79	51
1964	6.79	53
1963	6.8	53
1962	6.79	55
1961	6.77	53
1960	6.75	52

Data sources: World Bank | Health (1960–2023, retrieved 2026-04-06).

GeoRank.org/birth-rate/eswatini | CC BY

According to the latest birth rate data available, the fertility rate in Eswatini is 2.75, which is above the replacement level of 2.1 children per woman. In 1993, the fertility rate was 4.82 — a 42.8% decline in 30 years.

Check population clock for a dynamic visualization of the changing population.

The chart above shows the historical changes in fertility rate and ranking compared to other countries, where a lower rank number indicates a higher relative fertility rate.

Births, deaths, and natural population change by year

1x

Year	People
Year	Natural change	Births	Deaths
2023	20,147	29,621	9,474
2022	20,125	29,998	9,873
2021	17,314	30,112	12,798
2020	18,899	30,283	11,384
2019	19,488	30,545	11,057
2018	19,392	30,873	11,481
2017	19,278	31,185	11,907
2016	19,233	31,752	12,519
2015	19,223	32,350	13,127
2014	19,107	32,975	13,868
2013	18,903	33,499	14,596
2012	18,308	33,661	15,353
2011	17,645	33,984	16,339
2010	17,652	34,313	16,661
2009	17,656	35,242	17,586
2008	17,275	35,446	18,171
2007	16,595	35,080	18,485
2006	16,133	34,953	18,820
2005	15,945	35,105	19,160
2004	15,979	34,938	18,959
2003	16,396	34,489	18,093
2002	16,924	34,163	17,239
2001	17,824	34,096	16,272
2000	18,830	33,939	15,109
1999	19,420	33,488	14,068
1998	19,762	32,788	13,026
1997	20,686	32,597	11,911
1996	21,858	32,794	10,936
1995	23,029	32,973	9,944
1994	26,703	36,255	9,552
1993	28,046	36,817	8,771
1992	28,446	36,488	8,042
1991	28,497	35,886	7,389
1990	28,349	35,272	6,923
1989	28,257	34,859	6,602
1988	27,396	33,717	6,321
1987	27,285	33,525	6,240
1986	27,096	33,336	6,240
1985	26,835	33,096	6,261
1984	26,149	32,540	6,391
1983	24,883	31,894	7,011
1982	24,742	31,204	6,462
1981	23,973	30,509	6,536
1980	23,153	29,715	6,562
1979	22,299	28,913	6,614
1978	21,466	28,142	6,676
1977	20,609	27,346	6,737
1976	19,734	26,522	6,788
1975	18,849	25,674	6,825
1974	17,971	24,820	6,849
1973	17,145	23,995	6,850
1972	16,353	23,192	6,839
1971	15,615	22,422	6,807
1970	14,873	21,643	6,770
1969	14,164	20,895	6,731
1968	13,449	20,140	6,691
1967	12,773	19,440	6,667
1966	12,282	18,915	6,633
1965	11,719	18,324	6,605
1964	11,266	17,849	6,583
1963	10,929	17,488	6,559
1962	10,601	17,107	6,506
1961	10,262	16,728	6,466
1960	9,947	16,366	6,419

Data sources: World Bank | Health (1960–2023, retrieved 2026-04-06).

GeoRank.org/birth-rate/eswatini | CC BY

Over the past 10 years, the natural population change in Eswatini (from births and deaths only, excluding migration) has been +1.63% annually. On average, 19,220 more people were born each year than died.

Excluding migration, the natural population change due to births and deaths from 2022 to 2023 was 1.64% — 20,147 more people were born than died.

In 2023, Eswatini ranks 108/196 for absolute natural population change and 60/196 for natural change rate, where a lower rank number indicates faster natural growth and a higher number indicates greater decline.

Birth rates in Eswatini compared to other countries

	Eswatini	Rank
Fertility rate	2.75	61/196
Birth rate	24.1	57/196
Population change due to births and deaths	+20,147	108/196
Natural population change rate	+1.64%	60/196
Population growth	+1%	101/197
Age at first childbirth	19.5 years	122/137
Average age at childbearing	27.8 years	164/197
Annual births per 1,000 women ages 15-19	67.1	40/197
Annual births per 1,000 women ages 20-29	134.3	65/197
Annual births per 1,000 women ages 30+	36.5	66/197
Female of reproductive age (15-49), share of population	27.1%	17/196
Any modern method of contraceptive prevalence among married women ages 15-49	57%	47/179
Share of births attended by skilled health staff	88.3%	138/191
Maternal mortality per live birth	0.12%	59/193
Neonatal mortality rate (before reaching 28 days of age)	2.45%	27/193
Infant mortality rate (before reaching 1 year of age)	4.35%	22/196
Mortality rate before reaching 5 years of age	4.5%	32/192
Life expectancy	64.5 years	173/197

Birth rates by women's age

Annual births per 1,000 women

1x

Year	Annual births per 1,000 women
Year	Total	15-19	20-29	30+
2026	44.9	67.1	134.3	36.5
2025	45.6	67.9	135.5	37.7
2024	46.4	68.5	137	38.8
2023	47.2	69.3	138.3	39.9
2022	48.2	70.4	140.6	41
2021	48.9	71.3	142.4	41.9
2020	49.7	72.4	144.7	42.9
2019	50.7	73.6	146.3	43.8
2018	51.6	74.6	148.3	44.7
2017	52.5	75.2	150.3	45.7
2016	53.8	75.9	152.5	46.8
2015	55	77.5	155.4	47.9
2014	56.3	79.4	158.1	49
2013	57.4	80.8	160.5	49.9
2012	57.8	80.7	161.5	50.4
2011	58.5	82.3	163.4	51
2010	59.2	84.1	165.7	51.7
2009	61	87.8	171.2	53.5
2008	61.6	91	173.3	54.2
2007	61.2	93.2	173.2	54.1
2006	61.3	95.7	174.4	55
2005	62	100.3	177.5	55.9
2004	62.1	102.9	179.3	57
2003	61.8	104.6	179.6	58
2002	61.7	106.8	180.4	59.6
2001	62.1	109.7	183.4	61.6
2000	62.5	112	186.5	63.6
1999	62.4	112.5	188.8	65.4
1998	61.8	111.1	189.2	67.3
1997	62.3	113	193	70.2
1996	63.8	118.1	198.8	73
1995	65.4	122.8	204	76.1
1994	71.8	126.8	208.6	81.3
1993	72.8	131.7	214.5	84.5
1992	74.2	136.4	221.7	87.2
1991	75.7	138.6	230.8	89
1990	77.3	142	238.5	91.5
1989	79.4	146.1	247.3	94.3
1988	80.2	150.5	256.3	97.4
1987	83.4	155.6	265.1	100.9
1986	86	160.7	273.3	104.5
1985	88.7	169.9	279.8	106.6
1984	90.3	177.2	282.2	106.6
1983	91.4	181	283.8	106.9
1982	92.3	185.2	284.1	106.8
1981	93.1	190.8	283.9	105.9
1980	93.7	190.7	285	105
1979	94	190.2	285.8	103.9
1978	94.4	188.2	288.3	103.1
1977	94.7	184.7	290.4	102.5
1976	94.7	181	292.1	102.2
1975	94.3	177.6	293	101.6
1974	93.9	174.3	293.8	101.1
1973	93.5	171	294.7	101
1972	93	168	295.7	101.1
1971	92.5	165.3	297.2	101.6
1970	91.9	162.4	298.4	102.1
1969	91.2	159.8	299.2	102.8
1968	90.3	157	298.2	103.3
1967	89.5	153.1	298.6	104
1966	89.4	150.9	300	105
1965	88.9	148.2	299.9	105.4
1964	88.9	148.4	299.4	105.7
1963	89.3	147.7	299.7	106.4
1962	89.6	147.3	299	106.7
1961	89.8	146.6	298	106.9
1960	90	145.8	296.9	107.1

Data sources: United Nations | World Population Prospects (1960–2026, retrieved 2026-03-10); World Bank | Health (1960–2024, retrieved 2026-04-06).

GeoRank.org/birth-rate/eswatini | CC BY

Above is a chart displaying birth rates in Eswatini by maternal age. In 2026, of all live births, 15.1% will be to women under age 20, 52.4% to women ages 20-29, and 32.5% to women ages 30 and above. The respective shares in 1990 were 18.9%, 50%, and 31.1%.

Children 0-14 years as share of population by year

1x

Year	Children 0-14 as share of population
Year	Eswatini	World
2100	17.1%	16.5%
2099	17.2%	16.6%
2098	17.3%	16.6%
2097	17.4%	16.7%
2096	17.4%	16.8%
2095	17.5%	16.8%
2094	17.6%	16.9%
2093	17.7%	17%
2092	17.8%	17%
2091	17.9%	17.1%
2090	18%	17.2%
2089	18.1%	17.2%
2088	18.2%	17.3%
2087	18.3%	17.4%
2086	18.4%	17.4%
2085	18.5%	17.5%
2084	18.6%	17.5%
2083	18.7%	17.6%
2082	18.8%	17.7%
2081	19%	17.7%
2080	19.1%	17.8%
2079	19.2%	17.8%
2078	19.3%	17.9%
2077	19.4%	17.9%
2076	19.6%	18%
2075	19.7%	18%
2074	19.8%	18.1%
2073	20%	18.2%
2072	20.1%	18.2%
2071	20.3%	18.3%
2070	20.4%	18.3%
2069	20.6%	18.4%
2068	20.7%	18.5%
2067	20.9%	18.6%
2066	21.1%	18.6%
2065	21.2%	18.7%
2064	21.4%	18.8%
2063	21.6%	18.9%
2062	21.8%	19.1%
2061	22%	19.2%
2060	22.3%	19.3%
2059	22.5%	19.4%
2058	22.7%	19.5%
2057	23%	19.6%
2056	23.2%	19.8%
2055	23.5%	19.9%
2054	23.7%	20%
2053	24%	20.1%
2052	24.2%	20.2%
2051	24.5%	20.3%
2050	24.7%	20.4%
2049	25%	20.5%
2048	25.3%	20.6%
2047	25.5%	20.7%
2046	25.8%	20.8%
2045	26.1%	20.9%
2044	26.4%	20.9%
2043	26.7%	21%
2042	27%	21.1%
2041	27.3%	21.2%
2040	27.6%	21.2%
2039	27.9%	21.3%
2038	28.2%	21.4%
2037	28.6%	21.5%
2036	28.9%	21.6%
2035	29.3%	21.8%
2034	29.7%	22%
2033	30.1%	22.2%
2032	30.5%	22.4%
2031	30.8%	22.7%
2030	31.2%	23%
2029	31.6%	23.3%
2028	32%	23.6%
2027	32.4%	23.9%
2026	32.8%	24.2%
2025	33.2%	24.6%
2024	33.4%	24.7%
2023	33.7%	25%
2022	34%	25.3%
2021	34.3%	25.6%
2020	34.7%	25.8%
2019	35.1%	26%
2018	35.6%	26.2%
2017	36%	26.4%
2016	36.4%	26.5%
2015	36.8%	26.6%
2014	37.2%	26.8%
2013	37.6%	26.9%
2012	38%	27%
2011	38.4%	27.1%
2010	38.8%	27.3%
2009	39.3%	27.5%
2008	39.9%	27.6%
2007	40.4%	27.9%
2006	40.8%	28.1%
2005	41.1%	28.5%
2004	41.4%	28.8%
2003	41.8%	29.2%
2002	42.3%	29.6%
2001	42.9%	30%
2000	43.6%	30.4%
1999	44.4%	30.8%
1998	45.3%	31.1%
1997	46.2%	31.5%
1996	46.9%	31.8%
1995	47.4%	32.1%
1994	47%	32.3%
1993	46.4%	32.5%
1992	46.6%	32.7%
1991	47.1%	32.9%
1990	47.6%	33%
1989	48.1%	33.2%
1988	48.7%	33.4%
1987	49.3%	33.6%
1986	49.4%	33.8%
1985	49.5%	34%
1984	49.4%	34.3%
1983	49.3%	34.6%
1982	49.2%	34.9%
1981	48.9%	35.2%
1980	48.7%	35.5%
1979	48.5%	35.9%
1978	48.3%	36.3%
1977	48.1%	36.7%
1976	47.9%	36.9%
1975	47.7%	37.1%
1974	47.5%	37.2%
1973	47.4%	37.3%
1972	47.3%	37.5%
1971	47.2%	37.6%
1970	47.2%	37.7%
1969	47.2%	37.8%
1968	47.3%	37.9%
1967	47.5%	38%
1966	47.7%	38%
1965	47.7%	38%
1964	47.8%	38%
1963	47.7%	37.8%
1962	47.4%	37.6%
1961	47.2%	37.5%
1960	46.9%	37.4%

Data sources: World Bank | Health (1960–2024, retrieved 2026-04-06); United Nations | World Population Prospects (2025–2100, retrieved 2026-03-10).

GeoRank.org/birth-rate/eswatini | CC BY

The share of children aged 0-14 in Eswatini was 46.9% in 1960, 46.6% in 1992, and 33.4% as of the latest data in 2024.

More about the demographics of Eswatini.

Fertility rates around the globe

1x

Data sources: World Bank | Health (1960–2023, retrieved 2026-04-06).

GeoRank.org/birth-rate/eswatini | CC BY

Maternal mortality by year

1x

Year	Maternal mortality per 100K births
Year	Eswatini	World
2023	118	197
2022	112	203
2021	219	242
2020	102	211
2019	96	207
2018	133	211
2017	151	215
2016	213	220
2015	283	228
2014	369	231
2013	491	235
2012	613	239
2011	765	247
2010	752	253
2009	855	258
2008	766	264
2007	647	269
2006	511	276
2005	529	283
2004	451	291
2003	392	301
2002	331	311
2001	307	321
2000	361	328
1999	409	340
1998	475	360
1997	550	358
1996	604	366
1995	612	371
1994	645	382
1993	609	389
1992	580	395
1991	545	395
1990	520	391
1989	505	401
1988	494	414
1987	521	429
1986	548	438
1985	580	460

Data sources: World Bank | Gender (1985–2023, retrieved 2026-04-06).

GeoRank.org/birth-rate/eswatini | CC BY

The maternal mortality rate in Eswatini was 118 deaths per 100,000 live births in 2023 — a 0.12% chance of dying during childbirth or within 42 days of pregnancy termination. This is a 67.3% decrease compared to the year 2000.

Under-five mortality by year

Probability that a newborn baby will die before reaching age five

1x

Year	Under 5 mortality rate
Year	Eswatini	World
2023	4.5%	2.49%
2022	4.62%	2.59%
2021	4.76%	2.66%
2020	4.98%	2.75%
2019	5.16%	2.86%
2018	5.1%	2.97%
2017	5.43%	3.11%
2016	5.53%	3.22%
2015	5.86%	3.35%
2014	6.17%	3.48%
2013	6.16%	3.61%
2012	6.38%	3.77%
2011	6.81%	3.97%
2010	8.18%	4.11%
2009	9.25%	4.31%
2008	9.82%	4.5%
2007	10%	4.7%
2006	10.5%	4.92%
2005	11.6%	5.16%
2004	11.6%	5.43%
2003	11.6%	5.65%
2002	11.4%	5.94%
2001	11.3%	6.21%
2000	10.9%	6.48%
1999	10.4%	6.75%
1998	9.87%	7.05%
1997	9.3%	7.28%
1996	8.71%	7.52%
1995	8.12%	7.76%
1994	7.62%	7.98%
1993	7.17%	8.19%
1992	6.85%	8.46%
1991	6.72%	8.66%
1990	6.75%	8.81%
1989	6.93%	9.02%
1988	7.2%	9.31%
1987	7.54%	9.47%
1986	7.93%	9.81%
1985	8.37%	10.1%
1984	8.85%	10.4%
1983	10.4%	10.6%
1982	9.89%	10.8%
1981	10.4%	11%
1980	10.9%	11.4%
1979	11.5%	11.7%
1978	12%	12.2%
1977	12.6%	12.6%
1976	13.2%	13%
1975	13.7%	13.4%
1974	14.3%	13.8%
1973	14.9%	14.1%
1972	15.4%	14.5%
1971	16%	15.1%
1970	16.5%	15.2%
1969	17%	15.4%
1968	17.4%	15.6%
1967	17.9%	15.9%
1966	18.3%	16.1%
1965	18.8%	16.4%
1964	19.2%	16.6%
1963	19.6%	16.5%
1962	20%	16.7%
1961	20.4%	17%
1960	20.7%	17.2%

Data sources: World Bank | Health (1960–2023, retrieved 2026-04-06).

GeoRank.org/birth-rate/eswatini | CC BY

The under-5 mortality rate in Eswatini was 45 deaths per 1,000 live births in 2023 — a 4.5% chance that a newborn baby will die before reaching age five. This is down from 109.1 deaths per 1,000 live births in 2000.