Skip to content

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

Updated on by Georank

The latest officially reported population of Eswatini was 1,256,174 in 2025 vs 64,747,319 people in South Africa in 2025. In 2026, based on the adjusted UN estimation, the current Eswatini's population is 1,276,995 people compared to 65,829,368 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 +0.92% per year vs +1.4% in South Africa.
  • Since 2006, the population of Eswatini has increased from 1.08M people to 1.28M (17.8% growth), while South Africa has grown from 50M to 65.8M (31.7% growth).

Eswatini vs South Africa: population by year and forecast

Eswatini
Factual

Projection
South Africa
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Population
Eswatini South Africa
2100 1,352,676 94,734,082
2099 1,361,771 94,523,360
2098 1,370,136 94,316,049
2097 1,378,294 94,125,043
2096 1,386,470 93,927,246
2095 1,394,685 93,719,451
2094 1,402,820 93,494,697
2093 1,410,707 93,267,274
2092 1,418,422 93,041,793
2091 1,426,384 92,793,249
2090 1,433,911 92,561,159
2089 1,441,481 92,322,396
2088 1,448,623 92,080,212
2087 1,455,625 91,833,409
2086 1,462,692 91,581,639
2085 1,469,955 91,352,906
2084 1,477,042 91,106,961
2083 1,483,569 90,845,161
2082 1,489,850 90,583,188
2081 1,495,270 90,313,417
2080 1,500,616 90,039,857
2079 1,505,611 89,770,116
2078 1,510,082 89,494,440
2077 1,514,879 89,217,520
2076 1,519,757 88,954,522
2075 1,524,151 88,681,719
2074 1,528,574 88,397,221
2073 1,532,275 88,118,589
2072 1,535,515 87,835,051
2071 1,538,642 87,509,098
2070 1,541,025 87,178,463
2069 1,543,544 86,870,660
2068 1,545,599 86,558,000
2067 1,547,340 86,237,764
2066 1,548,173 85,904,801
2065 1,548,989 85,573,984
2064 1,549,433 85,214,686
2063 1,549,585 84,845,370
2062 1,549,184 84,473,236
2061 1,548,383 84,103,016
2060 1,547,596 83,719,266
2059 1,545,737 83,325,330
2058 1,543,109 82,918,226
2057 1,540,394 82,508,742
2056 1,537,579 82,098,320
2055 1,534,469 81,669,191
2054 1,530,939 81,227,019
2053 1,526,664 80,789,939
2052 1,521,811 80,338,877
2051 1,516,286 79,858,310
2050 1,510,851 79,383,784
2049 1,504,429 78,897,472
2048 1,497,956 78,409,829
2047 1,491,300 77,894,547
2046 1,484,115 77,369,819
2045 1,476,270 76,852,544
2044 1,468,495 76,330,046
2043 1,460,344 75,800,788
2042 1,451,725 75,264,885
2041 1,442,112 74,721,871
2040 1,433,098 74,179,185
2039 1,423,349 73,636,894
2038 1,413,090 73,079,976
2037 1,403,127 72,506,991
2036 1,392,397 71,930,701
2035 1,381,536 71,337,219
2034 1,370,158 70,737,692
2033 1,358,179 70,128,299
2032 1,346,333 69,502,726
2031 1,334,598 68,865,544
2030 1,321,695 68,221,143
2029 1,309,323 67,549,189
2028 1,296,796 66,860,631
2027 1,283,692 66,166,759
2026 1,269,922 65,473,024
2025 1,256,174 64,747,319
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 (2026–2100, retrieved 2026-07-08); World Bank | Health (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-07-08).

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 127,488 people (a 11.1% growth), while South Africa's population increased by 8,569,817 people (a 15% 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 18.3% to 1,510,851 people with a rank change from 156th to 154th. The population of South Africa will increase by 20.6% to 79,383,784 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 94.7M 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 1.07% 1.16%
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 (2026–2100, retrieved 2026-07-08); World Bank | Health (1961–2025, retrieved 2026-07-08).

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

In 2025, the population of Eswatini grew by 1.07%, while South Africa's population grew by 1.16%.

Live population counters

Eswatini South Africa
Current population
1276995
65829368
Population rank 156/197 24/197
Percent of world population 0.02% 0.79%
One net population change
39.5 minutes
42.7 seconds
One birth every
17.9 minutes
26.7 seconds
One death every
54.7 minutes
53.3 seconds
Daily growth/decline +37 +2,028
Annual growth/decline +13,352 +740,132
Annual growth/decline rate +1.07% +1.16%
Population growth rate rank 95/197 91/197
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 19,782 -6,754 591,618 166,972
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 2026-07-08).

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

Over the last 10 years, 69.9% of the population change in Eswatini is from natural causes (a gain of 192,881 people) and 30.1% is from migration (a loss of 83,042 people). In South Africa 73.4% is from natural causes (a gain of 6,106,891 people) and 26.6% is from migration (a gain of 2,211,070 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
Pretoria 742K
Pietermaritzburg 619K
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 (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-07-08); United Nations | World Population Prospects (1960–2026, retrieved 2026-07-08); U.S. Census Bureau (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-07-08); Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) (2000–2019, retrieved 2026-07-08).

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

Help us show the world through your eyes

Share a photo of your city and help others discover what it looks like to live there. Your contribution makes our data come alive.

Data sources:

  1. World Bank | Health (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-07-08)
  2. United Nations | World Population Prospects (1960–2100, retrieved 2026-07-08)
  3. U.S. Census Bureau (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-07-08)
  4. Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) (2000–2019, retrieved 2026-07-08)
  5. Wikidata (2026, retrieved 2026-07-08)

Creative Commons Attribution (CC BY) — you’re free to copy, share, remix, adapt, and use even commercially as long as you give appropriate credit and clearly indicate if you made changes. Other sources may be subject to different license terms.