Refugee population by country or territory of asylum in Eswatini
Eswatini: Refugee population by country or territory of asylum was 1,414 in 2025. ◆ Volatile
Refugee population by country or territory of asylum in Eswatini, 1970–2025
Source: Our World in Data.
Analysis
Eswatini recorded 1,414 for refugee population by country or territory of asylum in 2025.
That represents a change of up 9.2% on the previous year and up 103.7% over ten years.
Over the whole period, refugee population by country or territory of asylum in Eswatini peaked at 55,580 in 1992 and was at its lowest, 50, in 1971.
Eswatini ranks 119th of 183 countries on this measure, in the middle of the range.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Refugee population by country or territory of asylum in Eswatini, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1970 | 135 | — |
| 1971 | 50 | -63.0% |
| 1972 | 80 | +60.0% |
| 1973 | 100 | +25.0% |
| 1974 | 50 | -50.0% |
| 1975 | 50 | +0.0% |
| 1976 | 80 | +60.0% |
| 1977 | 135 | +68.8% |
| 1978 | 720 | +433.3% |
| 1979 | 5,250 | +629.2% |
| 1980 | 5,470 | +4.2% |
| 1981 | 5,610 | +2.6% |
| 1982 | 7,350 | +31.0% |
| 1983 | 6,230 | -15.2% |
| 1984 | 8,980 | +44.1% |
| 1985 | 10,770 | +19.9% |
| 1986 | 12,130 | +12.6% |
| 1987 | 14,550 | +20.0% |
| 1988 | 29,430 | +102.3% |
| 1989 | 34,908 | +18.6% |
| 1990 | 42,074 | +20.5% |
| 1991 | 49,569 | +17.8% |
| 1992 | 55,580 | +12.1% |
| 1993 | 48,890 | -12.0% |
| 1994 | 645 | -98.7% |
| 1995 | 712 | +10.4% |
| 1996 | 575 | -19.2% |
| 1997 | 591 | +2.8% |
| 1998 | 589 | -0.3% |
| 1999 | 613 | +4.1% |
| 2000 | 690 | +12.6% |
| 2001 | 690 | +0.0% |
| 2002 | 653 | -5.4% |
| 2003 | 685 | +4.9% |
| 2004 | 703 | +2.6% |
| 2005 | 763 | +8.5% |
| 2006 | 752 | -1.4% |
| 2007 | 789 | +4.9% |
| 2008 | 775 | -1.8% |
| 2009 | 757 | -2.3% |
| 2010 | 757 | +0.0% |
| 2011 | 757 | +0.0% |
| 2012 | 499 | -34.1% |
| 2013 | 501 | +0.4% |
| 2014 | 511 | +2.0% |
| 2015 | 694 | +35.8% |
| 2016 | 725 | +4.5% |
| 2017 | 790 | +9.0% |
| 2018 | 874 | +10.6% |
| 2019 | 940 | +7.6% |
| 2020 | 945 | +0.5% |
| 2021 | 895 | -5.3% |
| 2022 | 1,173 | +31.1% |
| 2023 | 1,202 | +2.5% |
| 2024 | 1,295 | +7.7% |
| 2025 | 1,414 | +9.2% |
Eswatini compared with similar countries
- Eswatini's 1,414 is below the median for lower middle income countries, which is 8,620, 16% of the median. (43 countries reporting)
- Eswatini's 1,414 is below the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 35,241, 4% of the median. (45 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Refugee population by country or territory of asylum in Eswatini changed far more than this series normally does. A large move can be a real event or a change in how the figure was measured — the source note below says who published it.
| Year | Change | From | To |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1979 | +629.2% | 720 | 5,250 |
| 1978 | +433.3% | 135 | 720 |
| 1994 | -98.7% | 48,890 | 645 |
| 1988 | +102.3% | 14,550 | 29,430 |
| 1971 | -63.0% | 135 | 50 |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1970s | 665 | 50 | 5,250 | 10 |
| 1980s | 13,543 | 5,470 | 34,908 | 10 |
| 1990s | 19,984 | 575 | 55,580 | 10 |
| 2000s | 725.7 | 653 | 789 | 10 |
| 2010s | 704.8 | 499 | 940 | 10 |
| 2020s | 1,154 | 895 | 1,414 | 6 |
Countries ranked near Eswatini
More population data for Eswatini
- Population regions with projections, annual growth rate -0.6638 % change on previous year (2100)
- Urban and rural population 2050, annual growth rate 0.312 % change on previous year (2050)
- Population long run with projections, annual growth rate -0.6638 % change on previous year (2100)
- Un population 2024 vs 2022, annual growth rate 0.0005 % change on previous year (2100)
- Projected population under age 5, annual growth rate -1.06 % change on previous year (2100)
- Population growth rate -0.662 (2100)
- Population density 77.96 (2100)
- Projected population under age 5 74,031 (2100)
- Population growth rate by level of development -0.662 (2100)
- Urbanization vs gdp, annual growth rate 1.8 % change on previous year (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is refugee population by country or territory of asylum in Eswatini?
- Refugee population by country or territory of asylum in Eswatini was 1,414 in 2025, according to Our World in Data.
- What is the highest refugee population by country or territory of asylum recorded in Eswatini?
- The highest recorded value was 55,580 in 1992.
- What is the lowest refugee population by country or territory of asylum recorded in Eswatini?
- The lowest recorded value was 50 in 1971.
- How does Eswatini rank for refugee population by country or territory of asylum?
- Eswatini ranks 119th out of 183 countries with data for 2025.
- Is refugee population by country or territory of asylum rising or falling in Eswatini?
- Over the last ten years it is up 103.7%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Eswatini data come from?
- The figures come from Our World in Data, published as part of Refugee population by country or territory of asylum. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
CSV · JSON — 56 observations, free to reuse under CC BY 4.0 (Our World in Data).