The latest officially reported population of Eswatini was 1,242,822 in 2024 vs 21,314,956 people in Zambia in 2024. In 2026, based on the adjusted UN estimation, the current Eswatini's population is 1,273,390 people compared to 22,697,916 in Zambia.
Population statistics:
- Zambia's population is 17.8 times bigger than Eswatini's.
- Eswatini is ranked the 156th most populous country in the world, while Zambia is the 62nd.
- The countries together account for 0.29% of the world: 0.02% for Eswatini vs 0.27% for Zambia.
- For the last 10 years, Eswatini has had an average growth rate of +0.87% per year vs +3% in Zambia.
- Since 2006, the population of Eswatini has increased from 1.08M people to 1.27M (17.4% growth), while Zambia has grown from 12.1M to 22.7M (87.1% growth).
Eswatini vs Zambia: population by year and forecast
| Year | Population | |
|---|---|---|
Eswatini
|
Zambia
|
|
| 2100 | 1,352,404 | 65,217,429 |
| 2099 | 1,361,498 | 64,871,545 |
| 2098 | 1,369,861 | 64,515,891 |
| 2097 | 1,378,017 | 64,148,736 |
| 2096 | 1,386,191 | 63,777,313 |
| 2095 | 1,394,405 | 63,393,169 |
| 2094 | 1,402,538 | 62,992,652 |
| 2093 | 1,410,423 | 62,590,327 |
| 2092 | 1,418,137 | 62,175,930 |
| 2091 | 1,426,097 | 61,750,591 |
| 2090 | 1,433,623 | 61,321,399 |
| 2089 | 1,441,192 | 60,880,148 |
| 2088 | 1,448,332 | 60,434,676 |
| 2087 | 1,455,333 | 59,970,107 |
| 2086 | 1,462,398 | 59,499,234 |
| 2085 | 1,469,660 | 59,023,040 |
| 2084 | 1,476,745 | 58,535,857 |
| 2083 | 1,483,271 | 58,040,512 |
| 2082 | 1,489,551 | 57,538,672 |
| 2081 | 1,494,969 | 57,027,491 |
| 2080 | 1,500,315 | 56,506,421 |
| 2079 | 1,505,309 | 55,983,242 |
| 2078 | 1,509,779 | 55,449,777 |
| 2077 | 1,514,574 | 54,906,771 |
| 2076 | 1,519,452 | 54,361,075 |
| 2075 | 1,523,845 | 53,806,856 |
| 2074 | 1,528,267 | 53,246,777 |
| 2073 | 1,531,967 | 52,677,348 |
| 2072 | 1,535,206 | 52,101,139 |
| 2071 | 1,538,333 | 51,519,691 |
| 2070 | 1,540,715 | 50,931,614 |
| 2069 | 1,543,234 | 50,334,700 |
| 2068 | 1,545,288 | 49,737,479 |
| 2067 | 1,547,029 | 49,135,488 |
| 2066 | 1,547,862 | 48,530,443 |
| 2065 | 1,548,678 | 47,918,592 |
| 2064 | 1,549,121 | 47,299,740 |
| 2063 | 1,549,274 | 46,677,439 |
| 2062 | 1,548,873 | 46,048,819 |
| 2061 | 1,548,072 | 45,416,657 |
| 2060 | 1,547,285 | 44,777,347 |
| 2059 | 1,545,426 | 44,137,306 |
| 2058 | 1,542,799 | 43,494,451 |
| 2057 | 1,540,085 | 42,851,923 |
| 2056 | 1,537,270 | 42,206,898 |
| 2055 | 1,534,161 | 41,558,284 |
| 2054 | 1,530,631 | 40,906,492 |
| 2053 | 1,526,357 | 40,255,629 |
| 2052 | 1,521,506 | 39,603,888 |
| 2051 | 1,515,982 | 38,949,958 |
| 2050 | 1,510,547 | 38,294,607 |
| 2049 | 1,504,126 | 37,634,194 |
| 2048 | 1,497,656 | 36,971,309 |
| 2047 | 1,491,001 | 36,309,749 |
| 2046 | 1,483,817 | 35,645,868 |
| 2045 | 1,475,974 | 34,981,812 |
| 2044 | 1,468,200 | 34,316,981 |
| 2043 | 1,460,050 | 33,652,420 |
| 2042 | 1,451,433 | 32,990,657 |
| 2041 | 1,441,822 | 32,329,447 |
| 2040 | 1,432,811 | 31,664,262 |
| 2039 | 1,423,063 | 31,001,305 |
| 2038 | 1,412,806 | 30,335,662 |
| 2037 | 1,402,845 | 29,668,561 |
| 2036 | 1,392,117 | 29,000,264 |
| 2035 | 1,381,258 | 28,333,498 |
| 2034 | 1,369,883 | 27,671,195 |
| 2033 | 1,357,906 | 27,011,974 |
| 2032 | 1,346,063 | 26,356,580 |
| 2031 | 1,334,330 | 25,702,812 |
| 2030 | 1,321,430 | 25,055,216 |
| 2029 | 1,309,060 | 24,414,405 |
| 2028 | 1,296,535 | 23,780,809 |
| 2027 | 1,283,434 | 23,151,479 |
| 2026 | 1,269,667 | 22,529,742 |
| 2025 | 1,255,921 | 21,918,187 |
| 2024 | 1,242,822 | 21,314,956 |
| 2023 | 1,230,506 | 20,723,965 |
| 2022 | 1,218,917 | 20,152,938 |
| 2021 | 1,206,593 | 19,603,607 |
| 2020 | 1,192,729 | 19,059,395 |
| 2019 | 1,179,874 | 18,513,839 |
| 2018 | 1,168,929 | 17,973,569 |
| 2017 | 1,158,195 | 17,441,320 |
| 2016 | 1,149,507 | 16,914,423 |
| 2015 | 1,142,813 | 16,399,089 |
| 2014 | 1,136,299 | 15,895,315 |
| 2013 | 1,129,990 | 15,398,997 |
| 2012 | 1,123,863 | 14,913,629 |
| 2011 | 1,117,833 | 14,437,796 |
| 2010 | 1,111,650 | 13,965,594 |
| 2009 | 1,105,153 | 13,490,389 |
| 2008 | 1,098,091 | 13,021,324 |
| 2007 | 1,090,705 | 12,565,085 |
| 2006 | 1,084,436 | 12,129,553 |
| 2005 | 1,079,022 | 11,718,819 |
| 2004 | 1,073,159 | 11,338,198 |
| 2003 | 1,066,700 | 10,983,595 |
| 2002 | 1,059,441 | 10,647,949 |
| 2001 | 1,051,064 | 10,325,185 |
| 2000 | 1,041,414 | 10,017,631 |
| 1999 | 1,030,782 | 9,740,005 |
| 1998 | 1,019,653 | 9,482,408 |
| 1997 | 1,006,635 | 9,237,063 |
| 1996 | 989,841 | 9,004,053 |
| 1995 | 970,433 | 8,785,763 |
| 1994 | 971,212 | 8,576,269 |
| 1993 | 971,318 | 8,373,921 |
| 1992 | 943,416 | 8,176,680 |
| 1991 | 908,189 | 7,981,650 |
| 1990 | 872,428 | 7,786,169 |
| 1989 | 837,800 | 7,589,216 |
| 1988 | 799,798 | 7,391,440 |
| 1987 | 763,811 | 7,191,282 |
| 1986 | 734,732 | 6,986,471 |
| 1985 | 706,196 | 6,780,953 |
| 1984 | 680,783 | 6,580,490 |
| 1983 | 658,957 | 6,381,038 |
| 1982 | 637,652 | 6,178,637 |
| 1981 | 616,808 | 5,983,289 |
| 1980 | 596,644 | 5,802,833 |
| 1979 | 577,199 | 5,631,728 |
| 1978 | 558,446 | 5,465,374 |
| 1977 | 540,348 | 5,302,480 |
| 1976 | 523,330 | 5,143,842 |
| 1975 | 507,673 | 4,990,086 |
| 1974 | 492,988 | 4,842,746 |
| 1973 | 479,038 | 4,702,693 |
| 1972 | 465,788 | 4,569,309 |
| 1971 | 453,183 | 4,442,525 |
| 1970 | 441,216 | 4,321,718 |
| 1969 | 429,875 | 4,197,116 |
| 1968 | 419,147 | 4,065,593 |
| 1967 | 409,031 | 3,936,343 |
| 1966 | 398,766 | 3,812,003 |
| 1965 | 388,336 | 3,692,086 |
| 1964 | 378,656 | 3,577,017 |
| 1963 | 369,759 | 3,465,907 |
| 1962 | 361,365 | 3,358,099 |
| 1961 | 353,264 | 3,254,086 |
| 1960 | 345,337 | 3,153,729 |
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/zambia | CC BY 
From 2006 to 2016, the population of Eswatini increased by 65,071 people (a 6% growth), while Zambia gained 4,784,870 people (a 39.4% growth).
For the next 10 years, from 2016 to 2026, Eswatini gained 123,883 people (a 10.8% growth), while Zambia's population increased by 5,783,493 people (a 34.2% growth).
Eswatini was ranked 152nd most populous country in 2006 and is 156th in 2026. Zambia was ranked 71st in 2006 and ranked 62nd 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 Zambia will increase by 68.7% to 38,294,607 people and rank change from 62nd to 54th.
Eswatini is projected to reach its peak in 2063 at 1.55M people compared to the peak of 65.2M people in 2100 for Zambia.
Population growth rate by year
| Year | Growth rate | |
|---|---|---|
|
Eswatini
|
Zambia
|
|
| 2100 | -0.67% | 0.53% |
| 2099 | -0.61% | 0.55% |
| 2098 | -0.59% | 0.57% |
| 2097 | -0.59% | 0.58% |
| 2096 | -0.59% | 0.61% |
| 2095 | -0.58% | 0.64% |
| 2094 | -0.56% | 0.64% |
| 2093 | -0.54% | 0.67% |
| 2092 | -0.56% | 0.69% |
| 2091 | -0.52% | 0.7% |
| 2090 | -0.53% | 0.72% |
| 2089 | -0.49% | 0.74% |
| 2088 | -0.48% | 0.77% |
| 2087 | -0.48% | 0.79% |
| 2086 | -0.49% | 0.81% |
| 2085 | -0.48% | 0.83% |
| 2084 | -0.44% | 0.85% |
| 2083 | -0.42% | 0.87% |
| 2082 | -0.36% | 0.9% |
| 2081 | -0.36% | 0.92% |
| 2080 | -0.33% | 0.93% |
| 2079 | -0.3% | 0.96% |
| 2078 | -0.32% | 0.99% |
| 2077 | -0.32% | 1% |
| 2076 | -0.29% | 1.03% |
| 2075 | -0.29% | 1.05% |
| 2074 | -0.24% | 1.08% |
| 2073 | -0.21% | 1.11% |
| 2072 | -0.2% | 1.13% |
| 2071 | -0.15% | 1.15% |
| 2070 | -0.16% | 1.19% |
| 2069 | -0.13% | 1.2% |
| 2068 | -0.11% | 1.23% |
| 2067 | -0.05% | 1.25% |
| 2066 | -0.05% | 1.28% |
| 2065 | -0.03% | 1.31% |
| 2064 | -0.01% | 1.33% |
| 2063 | 0.03% | 1.37% |
| 2062 | 0.05% | 1.39% |
| 2061 | 0.05% | 1.43% |
| 2060 | 0.12% | 1.45% |
| 2059 | 0.17% | 1.48% |
| 2058 | 0.18% | 1.5% |
| 2057 | 0.18% | 1.53% |
| 2056 | 0.2% | 1.56% |
| 2055 | 0.23% | 1.59% |
| 2054 | 0.28% | 1.62% |
| 2053 | 0.32% | 1.65% |
| 2052 | 0.36% | 1.68% |
| 2051 | 0.36% | 1.71% |
| 2050 | 0.43% | 1.75% |
| 2049 | 0.43% | 1.79% |
| 2048 | 0.45% | 1.82% |
| 2047 | 0.48% | 1.86% |
| 2046 | 0.53% | 1.9% |
| 2045 | 0.53% | 1.94% |
| 2044 | 0.56% | 1.97% |
| 2043 | 0.59% | 2.01% |
| 2042 | 0.67% | 2.05% |
| 2041 | 0.63% | 2.1% |
| 2040 | 0.68% | 2.14% |
| 2039 | 0.73% | 2.19% |
| 2038 | 0.71% | 2.25% |
| 2037 | 0.77% | 2.3% |
| 2036 | 0.79% | 2.35% |
| 2035 | 0.83% | 2.39% |
| 2034 | 0.88% | 2.44% |
| 2033 | 0.88% | 2.49% |
| 2032 | 0.88% | 2.54% |
| 2031 | 0.98% | 2.58% |
| 2030 | 0.94% | 2.62% |
| 2029 | 0.97% | 2.66% |
| 2028 | 1.02% | 2.72% |
| 2027 | 1.08% | 2.76% |
| 2026 | 1.09% | 2.79% |
| 2025 | 1.05% | 2.83% |
| 2024 | 1% | 2.85% |
| 2023 | 0.95% | 2.83% |
| 2022 | 1.02% | 2.8% |
| 2021 | 1.16% | 2.86% |
| 2020 | 1.09% | 2.95% |
| 2019 | 0.94% | 3.01% |
| 2018 | 0.93% | 3.05% |
| 2017 | 0.76% | 3.12% |
| 2016 | 0.59% | 3.14% |
| 2015 | 0.57% | 3.17% |
| 2014 | 0.56% | 3.22% |
| 2013 | 0.55% | 3.25% |
| 2012 | 0.54% | 3.3% |
| 2011 | 0.56% | 3.38% |
| 2010 | 0.59% | 3.52% |
| 2009 | 0.64% | 3.6% |
| 2008 | 0.68% | 3.63% |
| 2007 | 0.58% | 3.59% |
| 2006 | 0.5% | 3.5% |
| 2005 | 0.55% | 3.36% |
| 2004 | 0.61% | 3.23% |
| 2003 | 0.69% | 3.15% |
| 2002 | 0.8% | 3.13% |
| 2001 | 0.93% | 3.07% |
| 2000 | 1.03% | 2.85% |
| 1999 | 1.09% | 2.72% |
| 1998 | 1.29% | 2.66% |
| 1997 | 1.7% | 2.59% |
| 1996 | 2% | 2.48% |
| 1995 | -0.08% | 2.44% |
| 1994 | -0.01% | 2.42% |
| 1993 | 2.96% | 2.41% |
| 1992 | 3.88% | 2.44% |
| 1991 | 4.1% | 2.51% |
| 1990 | 4.13% | 2.6% |
| 1989 | 4.75% | 2.68% |
| 1988 | 4.71% | 2.78% |
| 1987 | 3.96% | 2.93% |
| 1986 | 4.04% | 3.03% |
| 1985 | 3.73% | 3.05% |
| 1984 | 3.31% | 3.13% |
| 1983 | 3.34% | 3.28% |
| 1982 | 3.38% | 3.26% |
| 1981 | 3.38% | 3.11% |
| 1980 | 3.37% | 3.04% |
| 1979 | 3.36% | 3.04% |
| 1978 | 3.35% | 3.07% |
| 1977 | 3.25% | 3.08% |
| 1976 | 3.08% | 3.08% |
| 1975 | 2.98% | 3.04% |
| 1974 | 2.91% | 2.98% |
| 1973 | 2.84% | 2.92% |
| 1972 | 2.78% | 2.85% |
| 1971 | 2.71% | 2.8% |
| 1970 | 2.64% | 2.97% |
| 1969 | 2.56% | 3.24% |
| 1968 | 2.47% | 3.28% |
| 1967 | 2.57% | 3.26% |
| 1966 | 2.69% | 3.25% |
| 1965 | 2.56% | 3.22% |
| 1964 | 2.41% | 3.21% |
| 1963 | 2.32% | 3.21% |
| 1962 | 2.29% | 3.2% |
| 1961 | 2.3% | 3.18% |
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/zambia | CC BY
In 2024, the population of Eswatini grew by 1%, while Zambia's population grew by 2.85%.
Live population counters
|
Eswatini
|
Zambia
|
|
|---|---|---|
| Current population |
1273390
|
22697916
|
| Population rank | 156/197 | 62/197 |
| Percent of world population | 0.02% | 0.27% |
| One net population change |
42.7 minutes
|
53.4 seconds
|
| One birth every |
17.7 minutes
|
46 seconds
|
| One death every |
55.5 minutes
|
4.87 minutes
|
| Daily growth/decline | +34 | +1,619 |
| Annual growth/decline | +12,316 | +590,991 |
| Annual growth/decline rate | +1% | +2.85% |
| Population growth rate rank | 101/197 | 21/197 |
| One migration net change every |
1.52 hours
|
1.34 hours
|
| Annual migration change | -5,775 | +6,562 |
| Net migration rank | 121/196 | 47/196 |
| Foreign-born residents | 33,268 | 249,205 |
| Foreign-born residents rank | 161/195 | 105/195 |
| Foreign-born share of population | 2.7% | 1.2% |
| Foreign-born share rank | 121/195 | 150/195 |
Natural population change vs migration
| Year | Population change | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Eswatini
|
Zambia
|
|||
| Natural | Migration | Natural | Migration | |
| 2025 | - | -5,775 | - | 6,562 |
| 2024 | - | -6,754 | - | 7,381 |
| 2023 | 20,147 | -8,549 | 577,660 | 9,521 |
| 2022 | 20,125 | -8,549 | 563,456 | -8,566 |
| 2021 | 17,314 | -4,242 | 535,629 | 8,143 |
| 2020 | 18,899 | -4,242 | 536,484 | 8,156 |
| 2019 | 19,488 | -8,439 | 528,089 | 18,385 |
| 2018 | 19,392 | -8,546 | 515,644 | 18,431 |
| 2017 | 19,278 | -8,658 | 504,630 | 25,789 |
| 2016 | 19,233 | -12,481 | 497,521 | 25,860 |
| 2015 | 19,223 | -12,582 | 491,021 | 16,261 |
| 2014 | 19,107 | -12,724 | 483,663 | 16,574 |
| 2013 | 18,903 | -12,664 | 476,846 | 15,542 |
| 2012 | 18,308 | -12,294 | 469,406 | 8,958 |
| 2011 | 17,645 | -11,596 | 459,743 | 13,569 |
| 2010 | 17,652 | -11,334 | 448,337 | 22,761 |
| 2009 | 17,656 | -10,989 | 434,458 | 44,867 |
| 2008 | 17,275 | -9,822 | 419,560 | 39,249 |
| 2007 | 16,595 | -9,271 | 403,729 | 49,945 |
| 2006 | 16,133 | -10,923 | 387,891 | 29,517 |
| 2005 | 15,945 | -10,330 | 368,756 | 35,316 |
| 2004 | 15,979 | -9,863 | 349,352 | 7,819 |
| 2003 | 16,396 | -9,595 | 331,189 | 20,845 |
| 2002 | 16,924 | -9,209 | 316,041 | 3,206 |
| 2001 | 17,824 | -8,788 | 302,682 | 23,582 |
| 2000 | 18,830 | -8,563 | 293,186 | -4,338 |
| 1999 | 19,420 | -8,421 | 283,297 | -16,888 |
| 1998 | 19,762 | -8,505 | 275,568 | -26,796 |
| 1997 | 20,686 | -5,911 | 268,198 | -26,276 |
| 1996 | 21,858 | -3,049 | 262,468 | -38,358 |
| 1995 | 23,029 | -3,023 | 257,897 | -45,423 |
| 1994 | 26,703 | -48,259 | 252,023 | -45,504 |
| 1993 | 28,046 | -6,692 | 245,917 | -47,739 |
| 1992 | 28,446 | 6,011 | 239,953 | -43,656 |
| 1991 | 28,497 | 7,496 | 237,957 | -44,203 |
| 1990 | 28,349 | 7,169 | 235,835 | -38,619 |
| 1989 | 28,257 | 5,477 | 233,429 | -36,736 |
| 1988 | 27,396 | 14,879 | 230,118 | -31,270 |
| 1987 | 27,285 | 2,417 | 227,813 | -26,338 |
| 1986 | 27,096 | 1,353 | 224,768 | -16,610 |
| 1985 | 26,835 | 1,792 | 221,351 | -18,474 |
| 1984 | 26,149 | -3,949 | 216,695 | -18,652 |
| 1983 | 24,883 | -3,429 | 212,712 | -11,849 |
| 1982 | 24,742 | -3,574 | 207,621 | -3,676 |
| 1981 | 23,973 | -3,464 | 202,822 | -16,072 |
| 1980 | 23,153 | -3,350 | 198,817 | -24,664 |
| 1979 | 22,299 | -3,210 | 197,578 | -29,515 |
| 1978 | 21,466 | -3,040 | 194,933 | -30,284 |
| 1977 | 20,609 | -2,838 | 191,557 | -30,423 |
| 1976 | 19,734 | -3,469 | 186,762 | -30,612 |
| 1975 | 18,849 | -3,794 | 182,258 | -30,886 |
| 1974 | 17,971 | -3,665 | 174,484 | -31,178 |
| 1973 | 17,145 | -3,555 | 168,258 | -31,472 |
| 1972 | 16,353 | -3,435 | 161,648 | -31,672 |
| 1971 | 15,615 | -3,325 | 155,249 | -31,651 |
| 1970 | 14,873 | -3,230 | 149,380 | -31,370 |
| 1969 | 14,164 | -3,127 | 142,660 | -11,469 |
| 1968 | 13,449 | -3,029 | 137,315 | -5,447 |
| 1967 | 12,773 | -2,964 | 131,938 | -5,298 |
| 1966 | 12,282 | -1,557 | 127,164 | -5,129 |
| 1965 | 11,719 | -1,578 | 122,814 | -5,023 |
| 1964 | 11,266 | -2,049 | 117,197 | -4,851 |
| 1963 | 10,929 | -2,358 | 114,555 | -4,676 |
| 1962 | 10,601 | -2,390 | 110,173 | -4,428 |
| 1961 | 10,262 | -2,270 | 106,318 | -4,043 |
| 1960 | 9,947 | -2,082 | 102,335 | -3,898 |
Data sources: World Bank | Health (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-04-06).
GeoRank.org/population/eswatini/zambia | 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 Zambia 97.4% is from natural causes (a gain of 5,233,797 people) and 2.58% is from migration (a gain of 138,554 people).
As of 2024, 33,268 residents or 2.7% of the population were not native-born in Eswatini, compared to 249,205 people or 1.2% in Zambia.
Biggest cities by population
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Population differences between Eswatini and Zambia
|
Eswatini
|
Zambia
|
|
|---|---|---|
| Life expectancy | 64.5 years | 66.9 years |
| Average age | 26.5 years | 22.6 years |
| Median age | 23.2 years | 18.8 years |
| Male:Female ratio | 49.1:50.9 | 49.5:50.5 |
| Fertility rate | 2.75 births per woman | 4.1 births per woman |
| Population density | 191.2 ppl/mi² | 78.5 ppl/mi² |
Population map with other countries
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/zambia | CC BY
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Data sources:
- World Bank | Health (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-04-06)
- United Nations | World Population Prospects (1960–2100, retrieved 2026-03-10)
- U.S. Census Bureau (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-02-08)
- Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) (2000–2019, retrieved 2026-02-20)
- Wikidata (2026, retrieved 2026-02-08)
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