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Population density: Eswatini vs Rwanda compared

Updated on by Georank team

Eswatini has a population density of 191.2 people per square mile compared to 1,563 people in Rwanda. Eswatini has 150,387 sq ft of land per person vs 19,886 sq ft in Rwanda. Eswatini and Rwanda rank 118th and 13th by population density, respectively.

Population density is calculated as the ratio of population to land area. Eswatini has 0.02% of the world's population and 0.01% of all countries' land area, compared to 0.18% of the population and 0.02% of the land area for Rwanda, making the population density in Eswatini 87.8% lower than in Rwanda.

Population density by year

Eswatini
Rwanda

people per square mile

1x
Year Population density
Eswatini Rwanda
2026 191.2 1,563
2025 189.1 1,529
2024 187.1 1,497
2023 185.3 1,465
2022 183.5 1,433
2021 181.7 1,402
2020 179.6 1,372
2019 177.7 1,341
2018 176 1,311
2017 174.4 1,281
2016 173.1 1,251
2015 172.1 1,222
2014 171.1 1,193
2013 170.2 1,165
2012 169.2 1,137
2011 168.3 1,110
2010 167.4 1,083
2009 166.4 1,056
2008 165.4 1,029
2007 164.2 1,003
2006 163.3 976
2005 162.5 951
2004 161.6 926
2003 160.6 901
2002 159.5 882
2001 158.3 870
2000 156.8 862
1999 155.2 855
1998 153.5 848
1997 151.6 814
1996 149.1 704
1995 146.1 596
1994 146.2 713
1993 146.3 838
1992 142.1 807
1991 136.8 790
1990 131.4 774
1989 126.2 754
1988 120.4 732
1987 115 709
1986 110.6 686
1985 106.3 663
1984 102.5 641
1983 99.2 620
1982 96 600
1981 92.9 580
1980 89.8 562
1979 86.9 545
1978 84.1 529
1977 81.4 513
1976 78.8 498
1975 76.4 484
1974 74.2 470
1973 72.1 456
1972 70.1 443
1971 68.2 430
1970 66.4 418
1969 64.7 405
1968 63.1 393
1967 61.6 381
1966 60 370
1965 58.5 359
1964 57 350
1963 55.7 342
1962 54.4 334
1961 53.2 326

Data sources: World Bank | Agriculture & Rural Development (1961–2026, retrieved 2026-04-06); United Nations | World Population Prospects (2025–2026, retrieved 2026-03-10).

GeoRank.org/population-density/eswatini/rwanda | CC BY

From 2006 to 2026, population density in Eswatini increased by 17.1%, compared to a 60.1% growth in Rwanda.

In 2006, Eswatini ranked 114th by population density and is 118th now. Rwanda was 18th in 2006 and ranks 13th out of 197 currently.

Share of urban population by year

Eswatini
Rwanda
1x
Year Urban population
Eswatini Rwanda
2024 26.2% 29.9%
2023 25.8% 28.9%
2022 25.4% 27.8%
2021 25% 26.1%
2020 24.7% 24.5%
2019 24.3% 23%
2018 24.1% 21.5%
2017 23.8% 20.2%
2016 23.5% 19.1%
2015 23.3% 18.2%
2014 23% 17.5%
2013 22.8% 17.1%
2012 22.6% 16.9%
2011 22.5% 16.9%
2010 22.3% 16.9%
2009 22.2% 16.9%
2008 22.2% 16.9%
2007 22.1% 16.9%
2006 22.2% 16.9%
2005 22.2% 16.9%
2004 22.3% 16.9%
2003 22.4% 16.9%
2002 22.6% 16.9%
2001 22.7% 16.5%
2000 22.8% 15.8%
1999 23% 14.7%
1998 23% 13.3%
1997 23.1% 11.8%
1996 23.1% 10.3%
1995 23.1% 8.82%
1994 23% 7.48%
1993 23% 6.4%
1992 23% 5.66%
1991 23% 5.36%
1990 22.9% 5.27%
1989 22.9% 5.2%
1988 22.9% 5.14%
1987 22.8% 5.09%
1986 22.7% 5.05%
1985 22.5% 5.01%
1984 22.1% 4.98%
1983 21.4% 4.95%
1982 20.6% 4.91%
1981 19.7% 4.87%
1980 18.8% 4.82%
1979 17.8% 4.75%
1978 16.8% 4.67%
1977 15.9% 4.55%
1976 15.1% 4.39%
1975 14.3% 4.19%
1974 13.5% 3.97%
1973 12.6% 3.75%
1972 11.8% 3.55%
1971 10.9% 3.37%
1970 10.1% 3.24%
1969 9.25% 3.14%
1968 8.49% 3.06%
1967 7.79% 3%
1966 7.16% 2.94%
1965 6.59% 2.88%
1964 6.03% 2.83%
1963 5.5% 2.78%
1962 4.99% 2.72%
1961 4.51% 2.67%
1960 4.06% 2.6%

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

GeoRank.org/population-density/eswatini/rwanda | CC BY

From 2004 to 2024, the share of urban population changed from 22.3% to 26.2% in Eswatini and from 16.9% to 29.9% in Rwanda.

Densely populated cities

Eswatini
City Population
Manzini 111K
Mbabane 76.2K
Rwanda
City Population
Kigali 1.75M
Ruhengeri 153K
Gisenyi 53.6K

Compare countries by 7 more topics

Population density in other countries

1x

Data sources: World Bank | Agriculture & Rural Development (1961–2026, retrieved 2026-04-06); United Nations | World Population Prospects (1961–2026, retrieved 2026-03-10); U.S. Census Bureau (1961–2025, retrieved 2026-02-08); Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) (2000–2019, retrieved 2026-02-20).

GeoRank.org/population-density/eswatini/rwanda | CC BY

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Data sources:

  1. World Bank | Agriculture & Rural Development (1961–2026, retrieved 2026-04-06)
  2. United Nations | World Population Prospects (1961–2026, retrieved 2026-03-10)
  3. U.S. Census Bureau (1961–2025, retrieved 2026-02-08)
  4. Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) (2000–2019, retrieved 2026-02-20)
  5. Wikidata (2005–2025, retrieved 2026-02-08)

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