Total population (thousands) in Eswatini
Eswatini: Total population (thousands) was 1,249 thousands in 2025. ▲ Rising
Latest (2025)
1,249 thousands
Change on year
up 1.1%
World rank
158th
of 233 countries
All-time high
1,249 thousands
in 2025
All-time low
435.39 thousands
in 1970
Years of data
56
1970–2025
Total population in Eswatini, 1970–2025
Source: UNESCO Institute for Statistics. Measured in thousands.
Analysis
Eswatini recorded 1,249 thousands for total population in 2025. That is the highest value across all 56 years on record.
Compared with earlier readings it is up 1.1% on the previous year and up 9.6% over ten years.
Over the whole period, total population in Eswatini peaked at 1,249 thousands in 2025 and was at its lowest, 435.39 thousands, in 1970.
Eswatini ranks 158th of 233 countries on this measure, in the middle of the range.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 56 years of available data.
Total population (thousands) in Eswatini, year by year
| Year | thousands | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1970 | 435.39 thousands | — |
| 1971 | 447.04 thousands | +2.7% |
| 1972 | 459.33 thousands | +2.7% |
| 1973 | 472.25 thousands | +2.8% |
| 1974 | 485.83 thousands | +2.9% |
| 1975 | 500.15 thousands | +2.9% |
| 1976 | 515.2 thousands | +3.0% |
| 1977 | 531.46 thousands | +3.2% |
| 1978 | 549.23 thousands | +3.3% |
| 1979 | 567.66 thousands | +3.4% |
| 1980 | 586.74 thousands | +3.4% |
| 1981 | 606.55 thousands | +3.4% |
| 1982 | 627.07 thousands | +3.4% |
| 1983 | 648.24 thousands | +3.4% |
| 1984 | 669.68 thousands | +3.3% |
| 1985 | 691.89 thousands | +3.3% |
| 1986 | 720.51 thousands | +4.1% |
| 1987 | 748.96 thousands | +3.9% |
| 1988 | 778.66 thousands | +4.0% |
| 1989 | 820.93 thousands | +5.4% |
| 1990 | 854.67 thousands | +4.1% |
| 1991 | 890.19 thousands | +4.2% |
| 1992 | 926.19 thousands | +4.0% |
| 1993 | 960.64 thousands | +3.7% |
| 1994 | 981.99 thousands | +2.2% |
| 1995 | 960.43 thousands | -2.2% |
| 1996 | 980.44 thousands | +2.1% |
| 1997 | 999.25 thousands | +1.9% |
| 1998 | 1,014 thousands | +1.5% |
| 1999 | 1,025 thousands | +1.1% |
| 2000 | 1,036 thousands | +1.1% |
| 2001 | 1,047 thousands | +1.0% |
| 2002 | 1,056 thousands | +0.9% |
| 2003 | 1,063 thousands | +0.7% |
| 2004 | 1,070 thousands | +0.6% |
| 2005 | 1,076 thousands | +0.6% |
| 2006 | 1,082 thousands | +0.5% |
| 2007 | 1,087 thousands | +0.5% |
| 2008 | 1,094 thousands | +0.7% |
| 2009 | 1,102 thousands | +0.7% |
| 2010 | 1,108 thousands | +0.6% |
| 2011 | 1,115 thousands | +0.6% |
| 2012 | 1,121 thousands | +0.5% |
| 2013 | 1,127 thousands | +0.5% |
| 2014 | 1,133 thousands | +0.6% |
| 2015 | 1,139 thousands | +0.6% |
| 2016 | 1,146 thousands | +0.6% |
| 2017 | 1,153 thousands | +0.6% |
| 2018 | 1,164 thousands | +0.9% |
| 2019 | 1,174 thousands | +0.9% |
| 2020 | 1,185 thousands | +0.9% |
| 2021 | 1,200 thousands | +1.2% |
| 2022 | 1,213 thousands | +1.1% |
| 2023 | 1,225 thousands | +1.0% |
| 2024 | 1,236 thousands | +0.9% |
| 2025 | 1,249 thousands | +1.1% |
Eswatini compared with similar countries
- Eswatini's 1,249 thousands is below the median for lower middle income countries, which is 12,314 thousands, 10% of the median. (47 countries reporting)
- Eswatini's 1,249 thousands is below the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 14,783 thousands, 8% of the median. (48 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1970s | 496.35 thousands | 435.39 thousands | 567.66 thousands | 10 |
| 1980s | 689.92 thousands | 586.74 thousands | 820.93 thousands | 10 |
| 1990s | 959.31 thousands | 854.67 thousands | 1,025 thousands | 10 |
| 2000s | 1,071 thousands | 1,036 thousands | 1,102 thousands | 10 |
| 2010s | 1,138 thousands | 1,108 thousands | 1,174 thousands | 10 |
| 2020s | 1,218 thousands | 1,185 thousands | 1,249 thousands | 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)
- World population growth -0.7% (2100)
- Population density 77.96 people per km² (2100)
- Number of children under 5, by world region 74,031 people (2100)
- Population growth rate, by level of development -0.7% (2100)
- Number of people living in urban and rural areas, annual growth rate 2.89 % change on previous year (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is total population in Eswatini?
- Total population in Eswatini was 1,249 thousands in 2025, according to UNESCO Institute for Statistics.
- What is the highest total population recorded in Eswatini?
- The highest recorded value was 1,249 thousands in 2025.
- What is the lowest total population recorded in Eswatini?
- The lowest recorded value was 435.39 thousands in 1970.
- How does Eswatini rank for total population?
- Eswatini ranks 158th out of 233 countries with data for 2025.
- Is total population rising or falling in Eswatini?
- Over the last ten years it is up 9.6%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this Eswatini data come from?
- The figures come from UNESCO Institute for Statistics, published as part of Total population (thousands). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
CSV · JSON — 56 observations, free to reuse under CC BY-SA 3.0 IGO (UNESCO Institute for Statistics).
About this data
February 2026 Data Release