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Eswatini vs South Africa statistics compared

Updated on by Georank team

Eswatini has a population of 1.24M (ranked 157/197), compared with 64M in South Africa (ranked 24/197). Eswatini's land area is 6,641 sq mi versus 468,377 sq mi for South Africa (ranked 154th vs. 24th).

By GDP, Eswatini ranks 162/197 ($4.86B) and South Africa ranks 40/197 ($401B). By GDP per capita, Eswatini ranks 131/197 ($3,910), while South Africa ranks 111/197 ($6,267).

Main facts and rankings

Eswatini South Africa
Population
1273390
65683993
Population rank 156/197 24/197
GDP
$4.86B
2024
$401B
2024
GDP rank 162/197 40/197
GDP per capita
$3,910
2024
$6,267
2024
GDP per capita rank 131/197 111/197
GDP per capita, PPP
$11,799
2024
$15,456
2024
Government debt
$1.93B
2024
$305B
2024
Debt-to-GDP ratio
39.8%
2024
76%
2024
Government debt per person
$1,554
2024
$4,761
2024
Government debt per person rank 130/185 83/185
Average annual personal income after taxes
$3,913
2026
$15,431
2026
Land area 6,641 sq mi 468,377 sq mi
Population density
191.2 ppl/mi²
2026
139.8 ppl/mi²
2026
Fertility rate
2.75
2023
2.22
2023
Median age
23.2 years
2024
29.5 years
2024
Life expectancy
64.5 years
2026
66.7 years
2026

Eswatini and South Africa: Comparison Charts

Eswatini and South Africa economies compared

GDP
Eswatini

South Africa
1x
Year GDP
Eswatini South Africa
2024 $4,858,885,841 $401,144,998,374
2023 $4,621,191,262 $381,440,724,491
2022 $4,746,660,274 $407,596,043,068
2021 $4,807,069,277 $419,986,284,375
2020 $4,134,677,810 $337,974,655,408
2019 $4,617,018,959 $389,330,032,224
2018 $4,643,751,059 $405,260,723,893
2017 $4,462,640,651 $381,448,814,653
2016 $3,722,306,117 $323,585,509,674
2015 $3,908,217,914 $346,709,790,459
2014 $4,285,065,665 $381,198,869,776
2013 $4,463,396,204 $400,886,013,596
2012 $4,747,813,067 $434,400,545,086
2011 $4,722,912,047 $458,199,494,831
2010 $4,360,714,359 $417,363,822,802
2009 $3,525,213,502 $329,754,060,647
2008 $3,235,921,171 $316,131,258,616
2007 $3,391,122,887 $333,077,117,254
2006 $3,215,307,901 $303,858,675,364
2005 $3,097,946,371 $288,867,217,197
2004 $2,710,331,785 $255,806,908,595
2003 $2,149,632,433 $197,018,965,309
2002 $1,393,945,031 $129,087,556,612
2001 $1,502,870,486 $135,429,905,923
2000 $1,697,161,558 $151,752,757,215
1999 $1,547,888,496 $151,516,957,079
1998 $1,576,908,856 $152,982,984,557
1997 $1,716,714,070 $168,978,057,328
1996 $1,602,741,834 $163,234,925,381
1995 $1,698,989,464 $171,735,933,897
1994 $1,419,294,254 $153,512,712,382
1993 $1,357,189,552 $147,194,747,566
1992 $1,284,759,928 $146,956,150,987
1991 $1,156,135,718 $135,203,698,238
1990 $1,114,694,041 $126,048,140,142
1989 $696,921,542 $108,055,624,082
1988 $692,026,455 $103,976,831,871
1987 $584,126,092 $96,535,763,418
1986 $449,140,318 $73,354,771,399
1985 $360,079,419 $64,459,376,087
1984 $494,483,409 $84,870,163,366
1983 $555,336,146 $96,204,110,942
1982 $537,568,059 $85,904,057,409
1981 $570,774,825 $93,141,472,164
1980 $541,976,853 $89,411,864,402
1979 $412,093,134 $63,038,658,089
1978 $340,630,085 $51,607,412,902
1977 $304,060,076 $45,328,411,332
1976 $272,550,068 $41,150,460,288
1975 $288,299,789 $42,906,905,672
1974 $264,320,941 $41,389,186,095
1973 $221,915,128 $33,262,772,008
1972 $146,736,479 $24,515,919,217
1971 $136,462,081 $23,411,076,638
1970 $112,139,955 $21,218,391,513
1969 $105,419,958 $19,256,992,297
1968 $79,799,968 $17,124,793,150
1967 $74,759,970 $15,821,393,671
1966 $76,859,969 $14,211,394,315
1965 $70,279,972 $13,068,994,772
1964 $64,980,554 $11,955,995,218
1963 $54,129,438 $10,854,195,658
1962 $45,927,962 $9,813,996,074
1961 $43,026,043 $9,225,996,310
1960 $35,076,846 $8,748,596,501

Data sources: World Bank | Economy & Growth (1960–2024, retrieved 2026-04-06).

GeoRank.org/facts/eswatini/south-africa | CC BY

Eswatini and South Africa economies compared

GDP per capita
Eswatini

South Africa
1x
Year GDP per capita
Eswatini South Africa
2024 $3,910 $6,267
2023 $3,756 $6,034
2022 $3,894 $6,534
2021 $3,984 $6,829
2020 $3,467 $5,581
2019 $3,913 $6,534
2018 $3,973 $6,914
2017 $3,853 $6,618
2016 $3,238 $5,651
2015 $3,420 $6,112
2014 $3,771 $6,857
2013 $3,950 $7,332
2012 $4,225 $8,077
2011 $4,225 $8,646
2010 $3,923 $7,973
2009 $3,190 $6,375
2008 $2,947 $6,185
2007 $3,109 $6,592
2006 $2,965 $6,077
2005 $2,871 $5,837
2004 $2,526 $5,221
2003 $2,015 $4,062
2002 $1,316 $2,688
2001 $1,430 $2,847
2000 $1,630 $3,218
1999 $1,502 $3,242
1998 $1,547 $3,310
1997 $1,705 $3,700
1996 $1,619 $3,618
1995 $1,751 $3,856
1994 $1,461 $3,489
1993 $1,397 $3,400
1992 $1,362 $3,462
1991 $1,273 $3,243
1990 $1,278 $3,093
1989 $832 $2,727
1988 $865 $2,702
1987 $765 $2,586
1986 $611 $2,027
1985 $510 $1,839
1984 $726 $2,504
1983 $843 $2,938
1982 $843 $2,717
1981 $925 $3,050
1980 $908 $3,029
1979 $714 $2,202
1978 $610 $1,852
1977 $563 $1,671
1976 $521 $1,559
1975 $568 $1,670
1974 $536 $1,656
1973 $463 $1,369
1972 $315 $1,038
1971 $301 $1,020
1970 $254.2 $952
1969 $245.2 $891
1968 $190.4 $817
1967 $182.8 $779
1966 $192.7 $722
1965 $181 $685
1964 $171.6 $646
1963 $146.4 $605
1962 $127.1 $563
1961 $121.8 $546
1960 $101.6 $532

Data sources: World Bank | Economy & Growth (1960–2024, retrieved 2026-04-06).

GeoRank.org/facts/eswatini/south-africa | CC BY

Eswatini vs. South Africa life expectancy calculator

Life expectancy
Eswatini

South Africa
1x
Year Life expectancy, years
Eswatini South Africa
2026 64.5 66.7
2025 64.4 66.5
2024 64.3 66.3
2023 64.1 66.1
2022 63 65.5
2021 58.2 62
2020 59.9 65.2
2019 59.8 66.1
2018 58.7 65.7
2017 57.6 65.4
2016 56.2 64.7
2015 54.9 64.1
2014 53.5 63.2
2013 52.1 62.4
2012 50.7 61.7
2011 49.1 60.6
2010 48.3 58.9
2009 46.9 57.4
2008 45.9 56
2007 45.2 54.9
2006 44.6 54.2
2005 44 53.9
2004 43.9 54
2003 44.6 54.2
2002 45.4 55.6
2001 46.3 57.2
2000 47.6 58.4
1999 48.8 59.2
1998 50.1 59.9
1997 51.7 60.5
1996 53.3 61.1
1995 55.1 61.6
1994 56.6 62.1
1993 58.1 62.6
1992 59.3 62.8
1991 60.4 63
1990 61.2 62.9
1989 61.7 63
1988 61.9 62.9
1987 61.9 62.7
1986 61.6 62.4
1985 61.2 62.2
1984 60.4 61.8
1983 58.4 61.4
1982 59.5 60.9
1981 58.8 60.4
1980 58.2 60
1979 57.5 59.5
1978 56.8 59
1977 56 58.5
1976 55.2 58
1975 54.4 57.6
1974 53.7 57.1
1973 53 56.7
1972 52.4 56.4
1971 51.8 56
1970 51.2 55.7
1969 50.6 55.4
1968 50.1 55.2
1967 49.5 55
1966 49 54.7
1965 48.4 54.4
1964 47.9 54.2
1963 47.5 53.9
1962 47.1 53.6
1961 46.7 53.1
1960 46.4 52.6
1959 46.1 51.9
1958 45.8 51.1
1957 45.4 50.2
1956 45.1 49.2
1955 44.8 48.2
1954 44.6 47.1
1953 44.3 46.1
1952 44 45
1951 43.7 44.1
1950 43.4 43.1

Data sources: United Nations | World Population Prospects (1950–2026, retrieved 2026-03-10).

GeoRank.org/facts/eswatini/south-africa | CC BY

Eswatini and South Africa population clocks and comparison

Population
Eswatini

South Africa
1x
Year Population
Eswatini South Africa
2024 1,242,822 64,007,187
2023 1,230,506 63,212,384
2022 1,218,917 62,378,410
2021 1,206,593 61,502,603
2020 1,192,729 60,562,381
2019 1,179,874 59,587,885
2018 1,168,929 58,613,001
2017 1,158,195 57,635,162
2016 1,149,507 57,259,551
2015 1,142,813 56,723,537
2014 1,136,299 55,594,838
2013 1,129,990 54,678,791
2012 1,123,863 53,782,567
2011 1,117,833 52,995,205
2010 1,111,650 52,344,051
2009 1,105,153 51,728,516
2008 1,098,091 51,114,599
2007 1,090,705 50,528,584
2006 1,084,436 49,998,277
2005 1,079,022 49,490,033
2004 1,073,159 48,991,421
2003 1,066,700 48,500,348
2002 1,059,441 48,019,415
2001 1,051,064 47,566,800
2000 1,041,414 47,159,719
1999 1,030,782 46,730,335
1998 1,019,653 46,223,880
1997 1,006,635 45,666,838
1996 989,841 45,123,018
1995 970,433 44,541,554
1994 971,212 44,004,139
1993 971,318 43,297,156
1992 943,416 42,443,509
1991 908,189 41,687,898
1990 872,428 40,746,268
1989 837,800 39,628,575
1988 799,798 38,480,649
1987 763,811 37,326,190
1986 734,732 36,180,515
1985 706,196 35,042,093
1984 680,783 33,892,788
1983 658,957 32,739,304
1982 637,652 31,615,339
1981 616,808 30,541,044
1980 596,644 29,518,857
1979 577,199 28,634,162
1978 558,446 27,869,507
1977 540,348 27,118,952
1976 523,330 26,395,450
1975 507,673 25,690,940
1974 492,988 24,989,108
1973 479,038 24,294,263
1972 465,788 23,609,456
1971 453,183 22,942,143
1970 441,216 22,279,984
1969 429,875 21,614,676
1968 419,147 20,957,287
1967 409,031 20,314,066
1966 398,766 19,690,087
1965 388,336 19,089,380
1964 378,656 18,511,361
1963 369,759 17,954,564
1962 361,365 17,418,522
1961 353,264 16,908,035
1960 345,337 16,440,172

Data sources: World Bank | Health (1960–2024, retrieved 2026-04-06).

GeoRank.org/facts/eswatini/south-africa | CC BY

Fertility rates in Eswatini and South Africa

Fertility rate
Eswatini

South Africa
1x
Year Fertility rate
Eswatini South Africa
2023 2.75 2.22
2022 2.8 2.23
2021 2.84 2.25
2020 2.89 2.26
2019 2.93 2.26
2018 2.97 2.27
2017 3.02 2.28
2016 3.07 2.26
2015 3.12 2.36
2014 3.18 2.42
2013 3.24 2.43
2012 3.27 2.45
2011 3.32 2.44
2010 3.38 2.44
2009 3.5 2.5
2008 3.57 2.68
2007 3.58 2.55
2006 3.63 2.55
2005 3.7 2.51
2004 3.76 2.44
2003 3.8 2.36
2002 3.85 2.32
2001 3.94 2.37
2000 4.03 2.41
1999 4.09 2.56
1998 4.13 2.63
1997 4.24 2.73
1996 4.38 2.99
1995 4.52 3.17
1994 4.66 3.26
1993 4.82 3.37
1992 4.98 3.48
1991 5.13 3.62
1990 5.3 3.72
1989 5.48 3.98
1988 5.69 4.18
1987 5.9 4.35
1986 6.11 4.41
1985 6.28 4.5
1984 6.36 4.57
1983 6.43 4.63
1982 6.49 4.7
1981 6.54 4.71
1980 6.57 4.78
1979 6.61 4.82
1978 6.65 4.85
1977 6.68 4.94
1976 6.7 5.07
1975 6.71 5.19
1974 6.71 5.3
1973 6.72 5.41
1972 6.72 5.49
1971 6.74 5.57
1970 6.75 5.63
1969 6.76 5.72
1968 6.76 5.78
1967 6.77 5.85
1966 6.8 5.91
1965 6.79 5.89
1964 6.79 5.96
1963 6.8 6.01
1962 6.79 6.05
1961 6.77 6.08
1960 6.75 6.11

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

GeoRank.org/facts/eswatini/south-africa | CC BY

Eswatini and South Africa demographics compared

Median age
Eswatini

South Africa
1x
Year Median age, years
Eswatini South Africa
2024 23.2 29.5
2023 23 29.2
2022 22.8 28.9
2021 22.6 28.6
2020 22.4 28.3
2019 22.1 27.9
2018 21.8 27.5
2017 21.5 27
2016 21.2 26.7
2015 21 26.4
2014 20.7 26
2013 20.5 25.7
2012 20.2 25.3
2011 19.9 25
2010 19.6 24.6
2009 19.4 24.3
2008 19.1 24
2007 18.9 23.8
2006 18.7 23.5
2005 18.6 23.3
2004 18.5 23.1
2003 18.3 22.8
2002 18.1 22.4
2001 17.8 22.2
2000 17.6 21.9
1999 17.3 21.6
1998 16.9 21.4
1997 16.6 21.2
1996 16.3 21.2
1995 16.1 21.5
1994 16.3 22
1993 16.7 21.9
1992 16.5 21.5
1991 16.3 21.5
1990 16.1 21.3
1989 15.9 21.1
1988 15.6 20.9
1987 15.3 20.7
1986 15.3 20.5
1985 15.2 20.4
1984 15.3 20.2
1983 15.3 20
1982 15.4 19.8
1981 15.5 19.6
1980 15.6 19.4
1979 15.7 19.3
1978 15.8 19.2
1977 15.9 19.1
1976 16 19
1975 16.1 18.9
1974 16.2 18.9
1973 16.2 18.8
1972 16.3 18.8
1971 16.3 18.8
1970 16.3 18.8
1969 16.2 18.8
1968 16.2 18.8
1967 16.1 18.8
1966 16.1 18.8
1965 16.1 18.8
1964 16.1 18.9
1963 16.1 18.9
1962 16.3 18.9
1961 16.4 19
1960 16.6 19

Data sources: World Bank | Health (1960–2024, retrieved 2026-04-06).

GeoRank.org/facts/eswatini/south-africa | CC BY

Interactive Maps

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National statistics comparison

Finance

Eswatini South Africa
GNI, Atlas method
$4.46B
2024
$391B
2024
Government expenditure, % of GDP
33.3%
2024
33%
2024
Education expenditure, % of GDP
6.03%
2024
6.02%
2024
Military expenditure, % of GDP
1.44%
2024
0.7%
2024
Armed forces personnel
3,000
1999
89,000
2020
Deficit/surplus, % of GDP
-1.36%
2024
-5.79%
2024
Unemployment rate
34.6%
2023
32.3%
2024
Services, % of GDP
51.4%
2024
63%
2024
Industry, % of GDP
34.7%
2024
24.3%
2024
Economic freedom index
57.5
2026
58.6
2026
Income share by richest 10%
42.7%
2016
50.5%
2014
Income share by poorest 10%
1.4%
2016
0.9%
2014
Number of millionaires n/a
90,595
2025
Percentage of millionaires n/a
0.22%
2025
Number of billionaires
1
2025
7
2025
Percentage of billionaires
0.0001%
2025
0.00002%
2025
Listed domestic companies
6
2007
220
2024
Market capitalization of domestic companies
$234M
2007
$986B
2024
Total reserves including gold
$479M
2023
$65.4B
2024
Personal remittances received
$33.3M
2024
$855M
2024
International tourist arrivals
345,299
2020
3,886,600
2020
International tourism as share of exports
0.4%
2020
2.89%
2020
Banked people share
65.1%
2024
81.1%
2024

Energy

Eswatini South Africa
Energy use, kg of oil equivalent per capita
959 kg
2022
1,939 kg
2023
GDP PPP per kg equivalent of energy use
$11.1
2022
$7.84
2023
Carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions
1.09 megatons
2024
440 megatons
2024
CO2 emissions per capita
0.88 tons
2024
6.88 tons
2024
Fossil fuel energy use share
0%
2022
93.3%
2022
Renewable energy use share
64.7%
2022
9.7%
2021
Alternative and nuclear energy use share
2.99%
2022
3.58%
2023
Net energy imports use share
20.6%
2022
-12.5%
2023
Electric power consumption per capita
1,137 kWh
2022
3,247 kWh
2023
Renewable electricity output share
83.1%
2021
6.45%
2021
Hydroelectric share
60.4%
2022
2.91%
2023
Nuclear share
0%
2021
3.73%
2023
Electricity access
86.4%
2023
87.7%
2023

Society

Eswatini South Africa
% of world population
0.02%
2024
0.79%
2024
Annual migration change
-5,775
2025
+146,370
2025
Urban population
26.2%
2024
63.7%
2024
Male:Female ratio
49.1:50.9
2024
48.7:51.3
2024
Average male height
5.56 ft
2025
5.56 ft
2025
Average female height
5.21 ft
2025
5.2 ft
2025
Quality of life index
33.2
2026
42.1
2026
Corruption Perceptions Index
23
2025
41
2025
Higher education index
22
2026
81
2026
Homicides per 100K people
12.7
2021
45.5
2022
Road traffic mortality per 100K people
33.5
2019
22.2
2019
Visa free countries
80
2025
109
2025
Adult literacy rate
90.8%
2022
91.2%
2024
English speaking
48.2%
2023
31%
2023
People using the Internet
57.6%
2023
75.7%
2023

Health

Eswatini South Africa
Government health expenditure per capita
$296
2023
$537
2023
Out-of-pocket health expenditure per capita
$32.6
2023
$35.9
2023
Life expectancy
64.5 years
2026
66.7 years
2026
Foreign aid share of health expenditure
28.4%
2023
2.06%
2023
Physicians per 1,000 people
0.56
2023
0.79
2022
Age at first childbirth
19.5 years
2017
n/a
Maternal mortality per 100K births
118
2023
118
2023
Mortality rate before reaching 5 years of age
45
2023
34.7
2023
Obesity rate
30.6%
2022
31.4%
2022
Diabetes prevalence
7.9%
2024
7.2%
2024
Air quality index
36
2026
39
2026
Tobacco use prevalence
9.5%
2022
20.7%
2022
Pure alcohol consumption per capita
6.79 liters
2020
7.13 liters
2020

Territory

Eswatini South Africa
% of world land
0.01%
2026
0.81%
2026
Land area per capita
5,343 sq mi
2024
7,318 sq mi
2024
Agricultural land area
4,614 sq mi
2026
371,975 sq mi
2026
Forest area
1,935 sq mi
2026
65,409 sq mi
2026
Roads length
2,342 mi
2019
466,028 mi
2016

In-depth comparisons

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Data sources:

  1. World Bank | Health (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-04-06)
  2. United Nations | World Population Prospects (1950–2026, retrieved 2026-03-10)
  3. U.S. Census Bureau (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-02-08)
  4. Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) (2000–2019, retrieved 2026-02-20)
  5. International Monetary Fund (IMF) | Fiscal Monitor (2024, retrieved 2026-02-20)
  6. LivingCost (2026, retrieved 2025-10-14)
  7. World Obesity Federation (2022, retrieved 2026-02-08)
  8. Passport Index (2025, retrieved 2026-02-08)
  9. Transparency International (2025, retrieved 2026-02-10)
  10. The Heritage Foundation | Economic Freedom Index (2026, retrieved 2026-03-09)
  11. EduRank (2026, retrieved 2025-10-13)

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