Population Distribution
As of 2023, the latest population of Eswatini is 1,104,479, based on our calculation of the current data from UN (United Nations).
| Total population | 1,104,479 |
| Population growth rate | 0.77% |
| Birth rate | 24.00 births per 1,000 people |
| Life expectancy | |
| Overall | 50.01 years |
| Men | 50.44 years |
| Women | 49.56 years |
| Age structure | |
| 0-14 years | 34.41% |
| 15-64 years | 61.81% |
| 65 years and above | 3.77% |
| Median age | 21.20 years |
| Gender ratio (Male to Female) | 0.99 |
| Population density | 63.61 residents per km² |
| Urbanization | 23.50% |
| Ethnicities | |
| especially Swasi (belonging to the Ñguni group of the Bantu, related to the Zulu) and Zulu, Tsonga, Shangaan, 3% Europeans | |
| Religions | |
| Protestants 55%, Muslims 10%, Catholics (Roman Catholic) 5%, indigenous religions 30% | |
| Human Development Index (HDI) | 0.608 |
| HDI ranking | 138th out of 194 |
People in Eswatini
90 out of 100 residents of Eswatini belong to the Swazi Bantu people. Sometimes it is also written in Swazi. Sotho, Zulu, Tsonga, descendants of European settlers and Colored also live there as minorities. As in South Africa, this is what people with one black and one white parent or their descendants are called. 97 out of 100 people in Eswatini are black and three out of 100 are white.
Many people in Swaziland still live very traditionally. They maintain the old manners and customs. According to statistics, every fourth resident is dependent on food aid and cannot feed themselves. Swaziland is also one of the poorest countries in the world, with a large proportion of the population living on less than one euro a day. Many people in Swaziland are unemployed and unemployment is particularly high among young people. 40 out of 100 young people have no job.
Life expectancy in Swaziland is low, averaging around 49 years. That’s the lowest in the world. According to UNICEF, Swaziland is the country with the highest AIDS rate in the world. A quarter of adults are infected with the Hi virus. Forty out of 100 pregnant women are infected and the risk that they will pass this life-threatening disease to their babies is unfortunately very high.
Another problem is that a large proportion of the population has tuberculosis. So it seems that if aid does not come, the population will decline over the next few years. A woman in Swaziland gives birth to an average of 3.2 children, but 45 out of 1000 babies die within their first year of life (here: 3).
Languages in Eswatini
The country’s official languages are English and Siswati. It is one of many Bantu languages. It is the language of the Swazi. The languages of the Zulu and Xhosa are so similar to Siswati that their speakers can make themselves understood.
But many people also speak English. The minorities speak their own languages.
Religions in Eswatini
Most of the residents are Christians, namely 65 out of 100. The majority of them are Protestants. The rest of the population still lives their traditional African beliefs. Many people combine the old and newer ideas of religion.
Swaziland Overview
Swaziland, officially known as the Kingdom of Eswatini since 2018, is a landlocked country in Southern Africa. Renowned for its stunning landscapes, rich cultural heritage, and vibrant traditional ceremonies, Eswatini offers visitors a glimpse into Africa’s authenticity. The nation is famous for its Swazi Reed Dance, a colorful cultural event showcasing the kingdom’s young maidens adorned in traditional attire.
- Capital City: Mbabane
- Population: Approximately 1.3 million
- Area: 17,364 square kilometers
- Full Country Name: Kingdom of Eswatini
- Currency: Swazi lilangeni (SZL) and South African rand (ZAR)
- Language: SiSwati and English
- ISO Country Codes: ISO 3166-1 alpha-2: SZ, ISO 3166-1 alpha-3: SWZ
Bordering Countries of Swaziland
Swaziland is a small country located in the southern part of Africa, bordered by South Africa, Mozambique and Zimbabwe.
South Africa is located to the south of Swaziland and shares a border of 430 km with it. The two countries have deep ties due to their shared cultural heritage as well as close economic ties due to South Africa’s strong influence in the region. Recently both countries have been working together on regional development projects such as improving infrastructure links between them.
Mozambique is located to the east of Swaziland and shares a border of 539 km with it. Mozambique has had an important influence on its neighbour’s history due to its strategic location on the Indian Ocean coast. The two countries have strong economic ties due to their shared access to international maritime trade routes.
Zimbabwe is located north of Swaziland and shares a border of 225 km with it. Zimbabwe has had a deep cultural influence on its neighbour throughout history due to its close proximity and shared religious beliefs among many people in both countries. Recently both countries have been working together on regional development projects such as improving infrastructure links between them.