Number of people living in urban and rural areas in Eswatini
Eswatini: Number of people living in urban and rural areas was 335,667 people in 2025. ◆ Volatile
Latest (2025)
335,667 people
Change on year
up 2.9%
World rank
173rd
of 236 countries
All-time high
335,667 people
in 2025
All-time low
3,490 people
in 1950
Years of data
76
1950–2025
Number of people living in urban and rural areas in Eswatini, 1950–2025
Source: United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs, Population Division (2025) – with minor processing by Our World in Data. Measured in people.
Analysis
The most recent figure for number of people living in urban and rural areas in Eswatini is 335,667 people, measured in 2025. That is the highest value across all 76 years on record.
The figure is up 2.9% on the previous year and up 26.2% over ten years.
Over the whole period, number of people living in urban and rural areas in Eswatini peaked at 335,667 people in 2025 and was at its lowest, 3,490 people, in 1950.
That places Eswatini 173rd out of 236 countries with data for 2025, putting it in the middle of the range.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Number of people living in urban and rural areas in Eswatini, year by year
| Year | people | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1950 | 3,490 people | — |
| 1951 | 3,991 people | +14.3% |
| 1952 | 4,608 people | +15.5% |
| 1953 | 5,337 people | +15.8% |
| 1954 | 6,172 people | +15.6% |
| 1955 | 7,105 people | +15.1% |
| 1956 | 8,137 people | +14.5% |
| 1957 | 9,331 people | +14.7% |
| 1958 | 10,708 people | +14.8% |
| 1959 | 12,267 people | +14.6% |
| 1960 | 14,007 people | +14.2% |
| 1961 | 15,930 people | +13.7% |
| 1962 | 18,038 people | +13.2% |
| 1963 | 20,338 people | +12.7% |
| 1964 | 22,843 people | +12.3% |
| 1965 | 25,577 people | +12.0% |
| 1966 | 28,551 people | +11.6% |
| 1967 | 31,850 people | +11.6% |
| 1968 | 35,577 people | +11.7% |
| 1969 | 39,757 people | +11.8% |
| 1970 | 44,366 people | +11.6% |
| 1971 | 49,373 people | +11.3% |
| 1972 | 54,746 people | +10.9% |
| 1973 | 60,444 people | +10.4% |
| 1974 | 66,429 people | +9.9% |
| 1975 | 72,650 people | +9.4% |
| 1976 | 79,061 people | +8.8% |
| 1977 | 86,064 people | +8.9% |
| 1978 | 94,032 people | +9.3% |
| 1979 | 102,772 people | +9.3% |
| 1980 | 112,099 people | +9.1% |
| 1981 | 121,797 people | +8.7% |
| 1982 | 131,606 people | +8.1% |
| 1983 | 141,187 people | +7.3% |
| 1984 | 150,221 people | +6.4% |
| 1985 | 159,027 people | +5.9% |
| 1986 | 167,076 people | +5.1% |
| 1987 | 174,159 people | +4.2% |
| 1988 | 182,760 people | +4.9% |
| 1989 | 191,817 people | +5.0% |
| 1990 | 200,090 people | +4.3% |
| 1991 | 208,604 people | +4.3% |
| 1992 | 216,970 people | +4.0% |
| 1993 | 223,620 people | +3.1% |
| 1994 | 223,776 people | +0.1% |
| 1995 | 223,724 people | -0.0% |
| 1996 | 228,274 people | +2.0% |
| 1997 | 232,161 people | +1.7% |
| 1998 | 234,821 people | +1.1% |
| 1999 | 236,580 people | +0.7% |
| 2000 | 237,869 people | +0.5% |
| 2001 | 238,692 people | +0.3% |
| 2002 | 239,106 people | +0.2% |
| 2003 | 239,274 people | +0.1% |
| 2004 | 239,397 people | +0.1% |
| 2005 | 239,653 people | +0.1% |
| 2006 | 240,209 people | +0.2% |
| 2007 | 241,482 people | +0.5% |
| 2008 | 243,438 people | +0.8% |
| 2009 | 245,724 people | +0.9% |
| 2010 | 248,266 people | +1.0% |
| 2011 | 251,104 people | +1.1% |
| 2012 | 254,260 people | +1.3% |
| 2013 | 257,775 people | +1.4% |
| 2014 | 261,654 people | +1.5% |
| 2015 | 265,887 people | +1.6% |
| 2016 | 270,455 people | +1.7% |
| 2017 | 275,711 people | +1.9% |
| 2018 | 281,220 people | +2.0% |
| 2019 | 287,252 people | +2.1% |
| 2020 | 294,190 people | +2.4% |
| 2021 | 301,837 people | +2.6% |
| 2022 | 309,564 people | +2.6% |
| 2023 | 317,571 people | +2.6% |
| 2024 | 326,239 people | +2.7% |
| 2025 | 335,667 people | +2.9% |
Eswatini compared with similar countries
- Eswatini's 335,667 people is below the median for lower middle income countries, which is 6.62 million people, 5% of the median. (47 countries reporting)
- Eswatini's 335,667 people is below the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 4.82 million people, 7% of the median. (48 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1950s | 7,115 people | 3,490 people | 12,267 people | 10 |
| 1960s | 25,247 people | 14,007 people | 39,757 people | 10 |
| 1970s | 70,994 people | 44,366 people | 102,772 people | 10 |
| 1980s | 153,175 people | 112,099 people | 191,817 people | 10 |
| 1990s | 222,862 people | 200,090 people | 236,580 people | 10 |
| 2000s | 240,484 people | 237,869 people | 245,724 people | 10 |
| 2010s | 265,358 people | 248,266 people | 287,252 people | 10 |
| 2020s | 314,178 people | 294,190 people | 335,667 people | 6 |
Countries ranked near Eswatini
More population data for Eswatini
- Un population 2024 vs 2022, annual growth rate 0.0005 % change on previous year (2100)
- Population long run 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 regions with projections, annual growth rate -0.6638 % change on previous year (2100)
- Population growth rate, by level of development -0.7% (2100)
- Number of children under 5, by world region 74,031 people (2100)
- Population density 77.96 people per km² (2100)
- World population growth -0.7% (2100)
- Projected population under age 5, annual growth rate -1.06 % change on previous year (2100)
- Urban and rural population 2050, per capita 0.7328 units per person (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is number of people living in urban and rural areas in Eswatini?
- Number of people living in urban and rural areas in Eswatini was 335,667 people in 2025, according to United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs, Population Division (2025) – with minor processing by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest number of people living in urban and rural areas recorded in Eswatini?
- The highest recorded value was 335,667 people in 2025.
- What is the lowest number of people living in urban and rural areas recorded in Eswatini?
- The lowest recorded value was 3,490 people in 1950.
- How does Eswatini rank for number of people living in urban and rural areas?
- Eswatini ranks 173rd out of 236 countries with data for 2025.
- Is number of people living in urban and rural areas rising or falling in Eswatini?
- Over the last ten years it is up 26.2%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Eswatini data come from?
- The figures come from United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs, Population Division (2025) – with minor processing by Our World in Data, published as part of Number of people living in urban and rural areas. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Number of people living in urban areas, based on each country's national definition.