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Population in Eswatini compared to South Africa: Trends, Charts, Rankings

Updated on by Georank team

The latest officially reported population of Eswatini was 1,242,822 in 2024 vs 64,007,187 people in South Africa in 2024. In 2026, based on the adjusted UN estimation, the current Eswatini's population is 1,273,390 people compared to 65,683,993 in South Africa.

Population statistics:

  • South Africa's population is 51.6 times bigger than Eswatini's.
  • Eswatini is ranked the 156th most populous country in the world, while South Africa is the 24th.
  • The countries together account for 0.81% of the world: 0.02% for Eswatini vs 0.79% for South Africa.
  • For the last 10 years, Eswatini has had an average growth rate of +0.87% per year vs +1.44% in South Africa.
  • Since 2006, the population of Eswatini has increased from 1.08M people to 1.27M (17.4% growth), while South Africa has grown from 50M to 65.7M (31.4% growth).

Eswatini vs South Africa: population by year and forecast

Eswatini
Factual

Projection
South Africa
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Population
Eswatini South Africa
2100 1,352,404 94,767,727
2099 1,361,498 94,556,931
2098 1,369,861 94,349,546
2097 1,378,017 94,158,472
2096 1,386,191 93,960,605
2095 1,394,405 93,752,736
2094 1,402,538 93,527,902
2093 1,410,423 93,300,398
2092 1,418,137 93,074,837
2091 1,426,097 92,826,204
2090 1,433,623 92,594,033
2089 1,441,192 92,355,184
2088 1,448,332 92,112,914
2087 1,455,333 91,866,024
2086 1,462,398 91,614,165
2085 1,469,660 91,385,350
2084 1,476,745 91,139,318
2083 1,483,271 90,877,425
2082 1,489,551 90,615,359
2081 1,494,969 90,345,492
2080 1,500,315 90,071,835
2079 1,505,309 89,801,998
2078 1,509,779 89,526,224
2077 1,514,574 89,249,206
2076 1,519,452 88,986,114
2075 1,523,845 88,713,215
2074 1,528,267 88,428,616
2073 1,531,967 88,149,885
2072 1,535,206 87,866,246
2071 1,538,333 87,540,177
2070 1,540,715 87,209,425
2069 1,543,234 86,901,512
2068 1,545,288 86,588,742
2067 1,547,029 86,268,392
2066 1,547,862 85,935,310
2065 1,548,678 85,604,376
2064 1,549,121 85,244,950
2063 1,549,274 84,875,503
2062 1,548,873 84,503,237
2061 1,548,072 84,132,885
2060 1,547,285 83,748,999
2059 1,545,426 83,354,923
2058 1,542,799 82,947,675
2057 1,540,085 82,538,045
2056 1,537,270 82,127,477
2055 1,534,161 81,698,196
2054 1,530,631 81,255,867
2053 1,526,357 80,818,632
2052 1,521,506 80,367,409
2051 1,515,982 79,886,672
2050 1,510,547 79,411,977
2049 1,504,126 78,925,493
2048 1,497,656 78,437,677
2047 1,491,001 77,922,211
2046 1,483,817 77,397,298
2045 1,475,974 76,879,838
2044 1,468,200 76,357,155
2043 1,460,050 75,827,709
2042 1,451,433 75,291,615
2041 1,441,822 74,748,408
2040 1,432,811 74,205,530
2039 1,423,063 73,663,047
2038 1,412,806 73,105,930
2037 1,402,845 72,532,742
2036 1,392,117 71,956,247
2035 1,381,258 71,362,555
2034 1,369,883 70,762,815
2033 1,357,906 70,153,205
2032 1,346,063 69,527,410
2031 1,334,330 68,890,002
2030 1,321,430 68,245,372
2029 1,309,060 67,573,179
2028 1,296,535 66,884,377
2027 1,283,434 66,190,258
2026 1,269,667 65,496,277
2025 1,255,921 64,770,314
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: United Nations | World Population Prospects (2025–2100, retrieved 2026-03-10); World Bank | Health (1960–2024, retrieved 2026-04-06).

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

From 2006 to 2016, the population of Eswatini increased by 65,071 people (a 6% growth), while South Africa gained 7,261,274 people (a 14.5% growth).

For the next 10 years, from 2016 to 2026, Eswatini gained 123,883 people (a 10.8% growth), while South Africa's population increased by 8,424,442 people (a 14.7% growth).

Eswatini was ranked 152nd most populous country in 2006 and is 156th in 2026. South Africa was ranked 24th in 2006 and still ranked 24th now.

The UN's World Population Prospects forecasts that in 24 years (in 2050) Eswatini's population will grow by 18.6% to 1,510,547 people with a rank change from 156th to 154th. The population of South Africa will increase by 20.9% to 79,411,977 people and rank change from 24th to 23rd.

Eswatini is projected to reach its peak in 2063 at 1.55M people compared to the peak of 94.8M people in 2100 for South Africa.

Population growth rate by year

Eswatini
Factual

Projection
South Africa
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Growth rate
Eswatini South Africa
2100 -0.67% 0.22%
2099 -0.61% 0.22%
2098 -0.59% 0.2%
2097 -0.59% 0.21%
2096 -0.59% 0.22%
2095 -0.58% 0.24%
2094 -0.56% 0.24%
2093 -0.54% 0.24%
2092 -0.56% 0.27%
2091 -0.52% 0.25%
2090 -0.53% 0.26%
2089 -0.49% 0.26%
2088 -0.48% 0.27%
2087 -0.48% 0.27%
2086 -0.49% 0.25%
2085 -0.48% 0.27%
2084 -0.44% 0.29%
2083 -0.42% 0.29%
2082 -0.36% 0.3%
2081 -0.36% 0.3%
2080 -0.33% 0.3%
2079 -0.3% 0.31%
2078 -0.32% 0.31%
2077 -0.32% 0.3%
2076 -0.29% 0.31%
2075 -0.29% 0.32%
2074 -0.24% 0.32%
2073 -0.21% 0.32%
2072 -0.2% 0.37%
2071 -0.15% 0.38%
2070 -0.16% 0.35%
2069 -0.13% 0.36%
2068 -0.11% 0.37%
2067 -0.05% 0.39%
2066 -0.05% 0.39%
2065 -0.03% 0.42%
2064 -0.01% 0.44%
2063 0.03% 0.44%
2062 0.05% 0.44%
2061 0.05% 0.46%
2060 0.12% 0.47%
2059 0.17% 0.49%
2058 0.18% 0.5%
2057 0.18% 0.5%
2056 0.2% 0.53%
2055 0.23% 0.54%
2054 0.28% 0.54%
2053 0.32% 0.56%
2052 0.36% 0.6%
2051 0.36% 0.6%
2050 0.43% 0.62%
2049 0.43% 0.62%
2048 0.45% 0.66%
2047 0.48% 0.68%
2046 0.53% 0.67%
2045 0.53% 0.68%
2044 0.56% 0.7%
2043 0.59% 0.71%
2042 0.67% 0.73%
2041 0.63% 0.73%
2040 0.68% 0.74%
2039 0.73% 0.76%
2038 0.71% 0.79%
2037 0.77% 0.8%
2036 0.79% 0.83%
2035 0.83% 0.85%
2034 0.88% 0.87%
2033 0.88% 0.9%
2032 0.88% 0.93%
2031 0.98% 0.94%
2030 0.94% 0.99%
2029 0.97% 1.03%
2028 1.02% 1.05%
2027 1.08% 1.06%
2026 1.09% 1.12%
2025 1.05% 1.19%
2024 1% 1.26%
2023 0.95% 1.34%
2022 1.02% 1.42%
2021 1.16% 1.55%
2020 1.09% 1.64%
2019 0.94% 1.66%
2018 0.93% 1.7%
2017 0.76% 0.66%
2016 0.59% 0.94%
2015 0.57% 2.03%
2014 0.56% 1.68%
2013 0.55% 1.67%
2012 0.54% 1.49%
2011 0.56% 1.24%
2010 0.59% 1.19%
2009 0.64% 1.2%
2008 0.68% 1.16%
2007 0.58% 1.06%
2006 0.5% 1.03%
2005 0.55% 1.02%
2004 0.61% 1.01%
2003 0.69% 1%
2002 0.8% 0.95%
2001 0.93% 0.86%
2000 1.03% 0.92%
1999 1.09% 1.1%
1998 1.29% 1.22%
1997 1.7% 1.21%
1996 2% 1.31%
1995 -0.08% 1.22%
1994 -0.01% 1.63%
1993 2.96% 2.01%
1992 3.88% 1.81%
1991 4.1% 2.31%
1990 4.13% 2.82%
1989 4.75% 2.98%
1988 4.71% 3.09%
1987 3.96% 3.17%
1986 4.04% 3.25%
1985 3.73% 3.39%
1984 3.31% 3.52%
1983 3.34% 3.56%
1982 3.38% 3.52%
1981 3.38% 3.46%
1980 3.37% 3.09%
1979 3.36% 2.74%
1978 3.35% 2.77%
1977 3.25% 2.74%
1976 3.08% 2.74%
1975 2.98% 2.81%
1974 2.91% 2.86%
1973 2.84% 2.9%
1972 2.78% 2.91%
1971 2.71% 2.97%
1970 2.64% 3.08%
1969 2.56% 3.14%
1968 2.47% 3.17%
1967 2.57% 3.17%
1966 2.69% 3.15%
1965 2.56% 3.12%
1964 2.41% 3.1%
1963 2.32% 3.08%
1962 2.29% 3.02%
1961 2.3% 2.85%

Data sources: United Nations | World Population Prospects (2025–2100, retrieved 2026-03-10); World Bank | Health (1961–2024, retrieved 2026-04-06).

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

In 2024, the population of Eswatini grew by 1%, while South Africa's population grew by 1.26%.

Live population counters

Eswatini South Africa
Current population
1273390
65683993
Population rank 156/197 24/197
Percent of world population 0.02% 0.79%
One net population change
42.7 minutes
39.7 seconds
One birth every
17.7 minutes
26.6 seconds
One death every
55.5 minutes
54 seconds
Daily growth/decline +34 +2,178
Annual growth/decline +12,316 +794,803
Annual growth/decline rate +1% +1.26%
Population growth rate rank 101/197 85/197
One migration net change every
1.52 hours
3.6 minutes
Annual migration change -5,775 +146,370
Net migration rank 121/196 9/196
Foreign-born residents 33,268 2,631,100
Foreign-born residents rank 161/195 28/195
Foreign-born share of population 2.7% 4.1%
Foreign-born share rank 121/195 105/195

Natural population change vs migration

Eswatini
Natural

Migration
South Africa
Natural

Migration
1x
Year Population change
Eswatini South Africa
Natural Migration Natural Migration
2025 - -5,775 - 146,370
2024 - -6,754 - 166,972
2023 20,147 -8,549 602,793 228,222
2022 20,125 -8,549 603,636 233,284
2021 17,314 -4,242 456,411 458,246
2020 18,899 -4,242 595,873 369,901
2019 19,488 -8,439 652,130 331,124
2018 19,392 -8,546 648,319 318,260
2017 19,278 -8,658 645,975 343,146
2016 19,233 -12,481 641,365 -879,235
2015 19,223 -12,582 668,771 641,150
2014 19,107 -12,724 674,754 272,697
2013 18,903 -12,664 652,427 232,230
2012 18,308 -12,294 643,723 264,091
2011 17,645 -11,596 601,708 65,166
2010 17,652 -11,334 566,834 68,563
2009 17,656 -10,989 554,115 41,528
2008 17,275 -9,822 595,332 36,869
2007 16,595 -9,271 503,567 36,339
2006 16,133 -10,923 487,584 33,159
2005 15,945 -10,330 464,464 31,286
2004 15,979 -9,863 442,540 58,924
2003 16,396 -9,595 415,018 65,604
2002 16,924 -9,209 430,926 50,313
2001 17,824 -8,788 484,801 -60,793
2000 18,830 -8,563 526,963 -136,794
1999 19,420 -8,421 594,643 -126,011
1998 19,762 -8,505 627,027 -82,722
1997 20,686 -5,911 667,969 -98,181
1996 21,858 -3,049 710,868 -193,007
1995 23,029 -3,023 743,488 -98,403
1994 26,703 -48,259 698,609 -268,849
1993 28,046 -6,692 789,220 194,977
1992 28,446 6,011 794,415 -71,342
1991 28,497 7,496 827,296 -39,131
1990 28,349 7,169 835,421 259,718
1989 28,257 5,477 884,629 255,605
1988 27,396 14,879 909,221 246,382
1987 27,285 2,417 922,330 231,009
1986 27,096 1,353 903,644 234,378
1985 26,835 1,792 893,889 244,940
1984 26,149 -3,949 869,011 290,789
1983 24,883 -3,429 837,013 310,172
1982 24,742 -3,574 807,550 293,195
1981 23,973 -3,464 767,833 279,985
1980 23,153 -3,350 738,415 258,127
1979 22,299 -3,210 716,541 56,323
1978 21,466 -3,040 694,341 62,121
1977 20,609 -2,838 680,929 63,739
1976 19,734 -3,469 675,011 27,333
1975 18,849 -3,794 667,862 38,809
1974 17,971 -3,665 658,438 38,518
1973 17,145 -3,555 651,596 41,125
1972 16,353 -3,435 638,754 38,163
1971 15,615 -3,325 624,761 32,961
1970 14,873 -3,230 605,102 61,514
1969 14,164 -3,127 590,794 73,225
1968 13,449 -3,029 571,841 78,932
1967 12,773 -2,964 553,741 81,932
1966 12,282 -1,557 534,862 77,417
1965 11,719 -1,578 506,632 82,514
1964 11,266 -2,049 490,606 76,298
1963 10,929 -2,358 473,821 72,844
1962 10,601 -2,390 455,634 69,771
1961 10,262 -2,270 437,851 57,728
1960 9,947 -2,082 421,263 18,891

Data sources: World Bank | Health (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-04-06).

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

Over the last 10 years, 68.3% of the population change in Eswatini is from natural causes (a gain of 192,206 people) and 31.7% is from migration (a loss of 89,012 people). In South Africa 72.8% is from natural causes (a gain of 6,190,027 people) and 27.2% is from migration (a gain of 2,316,795 people).

As of 2024, 33,268 residents or 2.7% of the population were not native-born in Eswatini, compared to 2,631,100 people or 4.1% in South Africa.

Biggest cities by population

Eswatini
City Population
Manzini 111K
Mbabane 76.2K
South Africa
City Population
Johannesburg 4.8M
Cape Town 3.78M
Soweto 1.27M
Pietermaritzburg 839K
Pretoria 742K
Durban 595K
Rustenburg 550K
Randburg 337K
Port Elizabeth 312K
East London 267K

Compare countries by 7 more topics

Population map with other countries

1x

Data sources: World Bank | Health (1960–2024, retrieved 2026-04-06); United Nations | World Population Prospects (1960–2026, retrieved 2026-03-10); U.S. Census Bureau (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-02-08); Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) (2000–2019, retrieved 2026-02-20).

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

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Data sources:

  1. World Bank | Health (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-04-06)
  2. United Nations | World Population Prospects (1960–2100, 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. Wikidata (2026, retrieved 2026-02-08)

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