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Population in Eswatini compared to Zimbabwe: Trends, Charts, Rankings

Updated on by Georank team

The latest officially reported population of Eswatini was 1,242,822 in 2024 vs 16,634,373 people in Zimbabwe in 2024. In 2026, based on the adjusted UN estimation, the current Eswatini's population is 1,273,390 people compared to 17,361,868 in Zimbabwe.

Population statistics:

  • Zimbabwe's population is 13.6 times bigger than Eswatini's.
  • Eswatini is ranked the 156th most populous country in the world, while Zimbabwe is the 74th.
  • The countries together account for 0.22% of the world: 0.02% for Eswatini vs 0.21% for Zimbabwe.
  • For the last 10 years, Eswatini has had an average growth rate of +0.87% per year vs +1.57% in Zimbabwe.
  • Since 2006, the population of Eswatini has increased from 1.08M people to 1.27M (17.4% growth), while Zimbabwe has grown from 12.6M to 17.4M (37.4% growth).

Eswatini vs Zimbabwe: population by year and forecast

Eswatini
Factual

Projection
Zimbabwe
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Population
Eswatini Zimbabwe
2100 1,352,404 37,483,053
2099 1,361,498 37,412,398
2098 1,369,861 37,328,255
2097 1,378,017 37,235,542
2096 1,386,191 37,142,915
2095 1,394,405 37,032,129
2094 1,402,538 36,912,747
2093 1,410,423 36,810,893
2092 1,418,137 36,688,511
2091 1,426,097 36,567,262
2090 1,433,623 36,425,606
2089 1,441,192 36,280,973
2088 1,448,332 36,141,446
2087 1,455,333 35,977,638
2086 1,462,398 35,808,135
2085 1,469,660 35,637,092
2084 1,476,745 35,456,207
2083 1,483,271 35,268,035
2082 1,489,551 35,078,904
2081 1,494,969 34,873,129
2080 1,500,315 34,658,962
2079 1,505,309 34,439,720
2078 1,509,779 34,217,295
2077 1,514,574 33,982,909
2076 1,519,452 33,739,228
2075 1,523,845 33,495,867
2074 1,528,267 33,244,838
2073 1,531,967 32,978,488
2072 1,535,206 32,706,059
2071 1,538,333 32,445,747
2070 1,540,715 32,181,119
2069 1,543,234 31,906,793
2068 1,545,288 31,631,000
2067 1,547,029 31,345,338
2066 1,547,862 31,062,884
2065 1,548,678 30,766,830
2064 1,549,121 30,479,939
2063 1,549,274 30,176,104
2062 1,548,873 29,867,679
2061 1,548,072 29,557,068
2060 1,547,285 29,252,423
2059 1,545,426 28,945,088
2058 1,542,799 28,631,679
2057 1,540,085 28,307,305
2056 1,537,270 27,990,713
2055 1,534,161 27,658,887
2054 1,530,631 27,331,920
2053 1,526,357 26,986,935
2052 1,521,506 26,643,553
2051 1,515,982 26,287,592
2050 1,510,547 25,934,893
2049 1,504,126 25,585,239
2048 1,497,656 25,228,082
2047 1,491,001 24,874,649
2046 1,483,817 24,513,443
2045 1,475,974 24,147,637
2044 1,468,200 23,783,088
2043 1,460,050 23,401,965
2042 1,451,433 23,035,288
2041 1,441,822 22,647,950
2040 1,432,811 22,273,520
2039 1,423,063 21,902,980
2038 1,412,806 21,530,130
2037 1,402,845 21,159,664
2036 1,392,117 20,791,034
2035 1,381,258 20,413,656
2034 1,369,883 20,048,019
2033 1,357,906 19,676,339
2032 1,346,063 19,311,985
2031 1,334,330 18,959,300
2030 1,321,430 18,613,738
2029 1,309,060 18,270,049
2028 1,296,535 17,933,466
2027 1,283,434 17,600,984
2026 1,269,667 17,273,208
2025 1,255,921 16,949,303
2024 1,242,822 16,634,373
2023 1,230,506 16,340,822
2022 1,218,917 16,069,056
2021 1,206,593 15,797,210
2020 1,192,729 15,526,888
2019 1,179,874 15,271,368
2018 1,168,929 15,034,452
2017 1,158,195 14,812,482
2016 1,149,507 14,600,294
2015 1,142,813 14,399,013
2014 1,136,299 14,207,359
2013 1,129,990 14,013,808
2012 1,123,863 13,817,887
2011 1,117,833 13,595,424
2010 1,111,650 13,356,548
2009 1,105,153 13,142,790
2008 1,098,091 12,959,149
2007 1,090,705 12,804,058
2006 1,084,436 12,636,445
2005 1,079,022 12,483,432
2004 1,073,159 12,365,896
2003 1,066,700 12,232,323
2002 1,059,441 12,087,653
2001 1,051,064 11,971,901
2000 1,041,414 11,892,055
1999 1,030,782 11,783,458
1998 1,019,653 11,594,297
1997 1,006,635 11,369,827
1996 989,841 11,158,360
1995 970,433 10,974,599
1994 971,212 10,873,148
1993 971,318 10,860,288
1992 943,416 10,702,700
1991 908,189 10,404,816
1990 872,428 10,137,281
1989 837,800 9,864,798
1988 799,798 9,583,094
1987 763,811 9,284,644
1986 734,732 8,982,578
1985 706,196 8,686,813
1984 680,783 8,391,488
1983 658,957 8,098,404
1982 637,652 7,796,496
1981 616,808 7,498,635
1980 596,644 7,041,303
1979 577,199 6,647,556
1978 558,446 6,543,575
1977 540,348 6,449,512
1976 523,330 6,287,105
1975 507,673 6,098,658
1974 492,988 5,908,328
1973 479,038 5,720,404
1972 465,788 5,542,445
1971 453,183 5,374,712
1970 441,216 5,215,918
1969 429,875 5,058,181
1968 419,147 4,900,440
1967 409,031 4,748,307
1966 398,766 4,601,217
1965 388,336 4,458,462
1964 378,656 4,320,006
1963 369,759 4,185,877
1962 361,365 4,055,959
1961 353,264 3,930,401
1960 345,337 3,809,389

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/zimbabwe | CC BY

From 2006 to 2016, the population of Eswatini increased by 65,071 people (a 6% growth), while Zimbabwe gained 1,963,849 people (a 15.5% growth).

For the next 10 years, from 2016 to 2026, Eswatini gained 123,883 people (a 10.8% growth), while Zimbabwe's population increased by 2,761,574 people (a 18.9% growth).

Eswatini was ranked 152nd most populous country in 2006 and is 156th in 2026. Zimbabwe was ranked 70th in 2006 and ranked 74th 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 Zimbabwe will increase by 49.4% to 25,934,893 people and rank change from 74th to 65th.

Eswatini is projected to reach its peak in 2063 at 1.55M people compared to the peak of 37.5M people in 2100 for Zimbabwe.

Population growth rate by year

Eswatini
Factual

Projection
Zimbabwe
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Growth rate
Eswatini Zimbabwe
2100 -0.67% 0.19%
2099 -0.61% 0.23%
2098 -0.59% 0.25%
2097 -0.59% 0.25%
2096 -0.59% 0.3%
2095 -0.58% 0.32%
2094 -0.56% 0.28%
2093 -0.54% 0.33%
2092 -0.56% 0.33%
2091 -0.52% 0.39%
2090 -0.53% 0.4%
2089 -0.49% 0.39%
2088 -0.48% 0.46%
2087 -0.48% 0.47%
2086 -0.49% 0.48%
2085 -0.48% 0.51%
2084 -0.44% 0.53%
2083 -0.42% 0.54%
2082 -0.36% 0.59%
2081 -0.36% 0.62%
2080 -0.33% 0.64%
2079 -0.3% 0.65%
2078 -0.32% 0.69%
2077 -0.32% 0.72%
2076 -0.29% 0.73%
2075 -0.29% 0.76%
2074 -0.24% 0.81%
2073 -0.21% 0.83%
2072 -0.2% 0.8%
2071 -0.15% 0.82%
2070 -0.16% 0.86%
2069 -0.13% 0.87%
2068 -0.11% 0.91%
2067 -0.05% 0.91%
2066 -0.05% 0.96%
2065 -0.03% 0.94%
2064 -0.01% 1.01%
2063 0.03% 1.03%
2062 0.05% 1.05%
2061 0.05% 1.04%
2060 0.12% 1.06%
2059 0.17% 1.09%
2058 0.18% 1.15%
2057 0.18% 1.13%
2056 0.2% 1.2%
2055 0.23% 1.2%
2054 0.28% 1.28%
2053 0.32% 1.29%
2052 0.36% 1.35%
2051 0.36% 1.36%
2050 0.43% 1.37%
2049 0.43% 1.42%
2048 0.45% 1.42%
2047 0.48% 1.47%
2046 0.53% 1.51%
2045 0.53% 1.53%
2044 0.56% 1.63%
2043 0.59% 1.59%
2042 0.67% 1.71%
2041 0.63% 1.68%
2040 0.68% 1.69%
2039 0.73% 1.73%
2038 0.71% 1.75%
2037 0.77% 1.77%
2036 0.79% 1.85%
2035 0.83% 1.82%
2034 0.88% 1.89%
2033 0.88% 1.89%
2032 0.88% 1.86%
2031 0.98% 1.86%
2030 0.94% 1.88%
2029 0.97% 1.88%
2028 1.02% 1.89%
2027 1.08% 1.9%
2026 1.09% 1.91%
2025 1.05% 1.89%
2024 1% 1.8%
2023 0.95% 1.69%
2022 1.02% 1.72%
2021 1.16% 1.74%
2020 1.09% 1.67%
2019 0.94% 1.58%
2018 0.93% 1.5%
2017 0.76% 1.45%
2016 0.59% 1.4%
2015 0.57% 1.35%
2014 0.56% 1.38%
2013 0.55% 1.42%
2012 0.54% 1.64%
2011 0.56% 1.79%
2010 0.59% 1.63%
2009 0.64% 1.42%
2008 0.68% 1.21%
2007 0.58% 1.33%
2006 0.5% 1.23%
2005 0.55% 0.95%
2004 0.61% 1.09%
2003 0.69% 1.2%
2002 0.8% 0.97%
2001 0.93% 0.67%
2000 1.03% 0.92%
1999 1.09% 1.63%
1998 1.29% 1.97%
1997 1.7% 1.9%
1996 2% 1.67%
1995 -0.08% 0.93%
1994 -0.01% 0.12%
1993 2.96% 1.47%
1992 3.88% 2.86%
1991 4.1% 2.64%
1990 4.13% 2.76%
1989 4.75% 2.94%
1988 4.71% 3.21%
1987 3.96% 3.36%
1986 4.04% 3.4%
1985 3.73% 3.52%
1984 3.31% 3.62%
1983 3.34% 3.87%
1982 3.38% 3.97%
1981 3.38% 6.49%
1980 3.37% 5.92%
1979 3.36% 1.59%
1978 3.35% 1.46%
1977 3.25% 2.58%
1976 3.08% 3.09%
1975 2.98% 3.22%
1974 2.91% 3.29%
1973 2.84% 3.21%
1972 2.78% 3.12%
1971 2.71% 3.04%
1970 2.64% 3.12%
1969 2.56% 3.22%
1968 2.47% 3.2%
1967 2.57% 3.2%
1966 2.69% 3.2%
1965 2.56% 3.2%
1964 2.41% 3.2%
1963 2.32% 3.2%
1962 2.29% 3.19%
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/zimbabwe | CC BY

In 2024, the population of Eswatini grew by 1%, while Zimbabwe's population grew by 1.8%.

Live population counters

Eswatini Zimbabwe
Current population
1273390
17361868
Population rank 156/197 74/197
Percent of world population 0.02% 0.21%
One net population change
42.7 minutes
1.79 minutes
One birth every
17.7 minutes
1.06 minutes
One death every
55.5 minutes
4.22 minutes
Daily growth/decline +34 +804
Annual growth/decline +12,316 +293,551
Annual growth/decline rate +1% +1.8%
Population growth rate rank 101/197 60/197
One migration net change every
1.52 hours
9.66 minutes
Annual migration change -5,775 -54,555
Net migration rank 121/196 175/196
Foreign-born residents 33,268 429,108
Foreign-born residents rank 161/195 87/195
Foreign-born share of population 2.7% 2.6%
Foreign-born share rank 121/195 127/195

Natural population change vs migration

Eswatini
Natural

Migration
Zimbabwe
Natural

Migration
1x
Year Population change
Eswatini Zimbabwe
Natural Migration Natural Migration
2025 - -5,775 - -54,555
2024 - -6,754 - -60,528
2023 20,147 -8,549 372,505 -97,380
2022 20,125 -8,549 371,243 -102,828
2021 17,314 -4,242 349,908 -74,623
2020 18,899 -4,242 354,790 -89,440
2019 19,488 -8,439 348,798 -103,107
2018 19,392 -8,546 345,883 -117,758
2017 19,278 -8,658 344,035 -128,241
2016 19,233 -12,481 348,772 -140,181
2015 19,223 -12,582 356,203 -162,220
2014 19,107 -12,724 366,350 -177,029
2013 18,903 -12,664 374,757 -176,972
2012 18,308 -12,294 371,135 -177,061
2011 17,645 -11,596 359,572 -108,714
2010 17,652 -11,334 335,570 -108,671
2009 17,656 -10,989 309,316 -108,689
2008 17,275 -9,822 280,527 -113,858
2007 16,595 -9,271 261,805 -118,299
2006 16,133 -10,923 248,963 -57,257
2005 15,945 -10,330 248,545 -134,212
2004 15,979 -9,863 248,307 -127,550
2003 16,396 -9,595 243,057 -96,667
2002 16,924 -9,209 244,170 -101,212
2001 17,824 -8,788 227,909 -139,361
2000 18,830 -8,563 236,343 -165,181
1999 19,420 -8,421 232,393 -86,343
1998 19,762 -8,505 225,614 6,645
1997 20,686 -5,911 216,288 395
1996 21,858 -3,049 205,269 978
1995 23,029 -3,023 206,695 -45,428
1994 26,703 -48,259 216,343 -174,723
1993 28,046 -6,692 228,045 -243,947
1992 28,446 6,011 255,291 75,788
1991 28,497 7,496 260,943 3,749
1990 28,349 7,169 265,444 4,948
1989 28,257 5,477 270,838 3,736
1988 27,396 14,879 277,498 11,327
1987 27,285 2,417 286,766 21,308
1986 27,096 1,353 289,894 6,154
1985 26,835 1,792 290,756 4,718
1984 26,149 -3,949 290,052 5,124
1983 24,883 -3,429 286,545 4,456
1982 24,742 -3,574 279,934 32,899
1981 23,973 -3,464 271,361 11,523
1980 23,153 -3,350 241,179 390,593
1979 22,299 -3,210 223,657 -67,937
1978 21,466 -3,040 222,979 -170,727
1977 20,609 -2,838 225,139 -89,270
1976 19,734 -3,469 221,419 -32,495
1975 18,849 -3,794 216,947 -28,988
1974 17,971 -3,665 208,806 -16,105
1973 17,145 -3,555 201,885 -18,733
1972 16,353 -3,435 193,725 -20,959
1971 15,615 -3,325 185,427 -22,719
1970 14,873 -3,230 178,979 -24,102
1969 14,164 -3,127 172,626 -12,028
1968 13,449 -3,029 166,865 -11,997
1967 12,773 -2,964 161,205 -11,814
1966 12,282 -1,557 156,014 -11,211
1965 11,719 -1,578 151,164 -10,465
1964 11,266 -2,049 145,848 -9,631
1963 10,929 -2,358 140,984 -8,936
1962 10,601 -2,390 136,317 -8,529
1961 10,262 -2,270 131,531 -8,204
1960 9,947 -2,082 126,959 -8,260

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

GeoRank.org/population/eswatini/zimbabwe | 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 Zimbabwe 74.9% is from natural causes (a gain of 3,558,487 people) and 25.1% is from migration (a loss of 1,192,807 people).

As of 2024, 33,268 residents or 2.7% of the population were not native-born in Eswatini, compared to 429,108 people or 2.6% in Zimbabwe.

Biggest cities by population

Eswatini
City Population
Manzini 111K
Mbabane 76.2K
Zimbabwe
City Population
Harare 2.15M
Masvingo 1.64M
Bulawayo 666K
Chitungwiza 371K
Mutare 225K
Gweru 141K
Kadoma 116K
Kwekwe 93.1K
Chinhoyi 56.8K
Marondera 52.3K

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/zimbabwe | 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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