Urban and rural population in Eswatini
Eswatini: Urban and rural population was 335,667 in 2025. ◆ Volatile
Latest (2025)
335,667
Change on year
up 2.9%
World rank
173rd
of 236 countries
All-time high
335,667
in 2025
All-time low
3,490
in 1950
Years of data
76
1950–2025
Urban and rural population in Eswatini, 1950–2025
Source: Our World in Data.
Analysis
The most recent figure for urban and rural population in Eswatini is 335,667, 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, urban and rural population in Eswatini peaked at 335,667 in 2025 and was at its lowest, 3,490, 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.
Urban and rural population in Eswatini, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1950 | 3,490 | — |
| 1951 | 3,991 | +14.3% |
| 1952 | 4,608 | +15.5% |
| 1953 | 5,337 | +15.8% |
| 1954 | 6,172 | +15.6% |
| 1955 | 7,105 | +15.1% |
| 1956 | 8,137 | +14.5% |
| 1957 | 9,331 | +14.7% |
| 1958 | 10,708 | +14.8% |
| 1959 | 12,267 | +14.6% |
| 1960 | 14,007 | +14.2% |
| 1961 | 15,930 | +13.7% |
| 1962 | 18,038 | +13.2% |
| 1963 | 20,338 | +12.7% |
| 1964 | 22,843 | +12.3% |
| 1965 | 25,577 | +12.0% |
| 1966 | 28,551 | +11.6% |
| 1967 | 31,850 | +11.6% |
| 1968 | 35,577 | +11.7% |
| 1969 | 39,757 | +11.8% |
| 1970 | 44,366 | +11.6% |
| 1971 | 49,373 | +11.3% |
| 1972 | 54,746 | +10.9% |
| 1973 | 60,444 | +10.4% |
| 1974 | 66,429 | +9.9% |
| 1975 | 72,650 | +9.4% |
| 1976 | 79,061 | +8.8% |
| 1977 | 86,064 | +8.9% |
| 1978 | 94,032 | +9.3% |
| 1979 | 102,772 | +9.3% |
| 1980 | 112,099 | +9.1% |
| 1981 | 121,797 | +8.7% |
| 1982 | 131,606 | +8.1% |
| 1983 | 141,187 | +7.3% |
| 1984 | 150,221 | +6.4% |
| 1985 | 159,027 | +5.9% |
| 1986 | 167,076 | +5.1% |
| 1987 | 174,159 | +4.2% |
| 1988 | 182,760 | +4.9% |
| 1989 | 191,817 | +5.0% |
| 1990 | 200,090 | +4.3% |
| 1991 | 208,604 | +4.3% |
| 1992 | 216,970 | +4.0% |
| 1993 | 223,620 | +3.1% |
| 1994 | 223,776 | +0.1% |
| 1995 | 223,724 | -0.0% |
| 1996 | 228,274 | +2.0% |
| 1997 | 232,161 | +1.7% |
| 1998 | 234,821 | +1.1% |
| 1999 | 236,580 | +0.7% |
| 2000 | 237,869 | +0.5% |
| 2001 | 238,692 | +0.3% |
| 2002 | 239,106 | +0.2% |
| 2003 | 239,274 | +0.1% |
| 2004 | 239,397 | +0.1% |
| 2005 | 239,653 | +0.1% |
| 2006 | 240,209 | +0.2% |
| 2007 | 241,482 | +0.5% |
| 2008 | 243,438 | +0.8% |
| 2009 | 245,724 | +0.9% |
| 2010 | 248,266 | +1.0% |
| 2011 | 251,104 | +1.1% |
| 2012 | 254,260 | +1.3% |
| 2013 | 257,775 | +1.4% |
| 2014 | 261,654 | +1.5% |
| 2015 | 265,887 | +1.6% |
| 2016 | 270,455 | +1.7% |
| 2017 | 275,711 | +1.9% |
| 2018 | 281,220 | +2.0% |
| 2019 | 287,252 | +2.1% |
| 2020 | 294,190 | +2.4% |
| 2021 | 301,837 | +2.6% |
| 2022 | 309,564 | +2.6% |
| 2023 | 317,571 | +2.6% |
| 2024 | 326,239 | +2.7% |
| 2025 | 335,667 | +2.9% |
Eswatini compared with similar countries
- Eswatini's 335,667 is below the median for lower middle income countries, which is 6.62 million, 5% of the median. (47 countries reporting)
- Eswatini's 335,667 is below the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 4.82 million, 7% of the median. (48 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1950s | 7,115 | 3,490 | 12,267 | 10 |
| 1960s | 25,247 | 14,007 | 39,757 | 10 |
| 1970s | 70,994 | 44,366 | 102,772 | 10 |
| 1980s | 153,175 | 112,099 | 191,817 | 10 |
| 1990s | 222,862 | 200,090 | 236,580 | 10 |
| 2000s | 240,484 | 237,869 | 245,724 | 10 |
| 2010s | 265,358 | 248,266 | 287,252 | 10 |
| 2020s | 314,178 | 294,190 | 335,667 | 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 urban and rural population in Eswatini?
- Urban and rural population in Eswatini was 335,667 in 2025, according to Our World in Data.
- What is the highest urban and rural population recorded in Eswatini?
- The highest recorded value was 335,667 in 2025.
- What is the lowest urban and rural population recorded in Eswatini?
- The lowest recorded value was 3,490 in 1950.
- How does Eswatini rank for urban and rural population?
- Eswatini ranks 173rd out of 236 countries with data for 2025.
- Is urban and rural population 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 Our World in Data, published as part of Urban and rural population. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
CSV · JSON — 76 observations, free to reuse under CC BY 4.0 (Our World in Data).