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Eswatini vs South Africa: Compare Statistics

Side-by-side comparison of 168 key metrics across economy, population, geography, and more — latest data through 2026.

Eswatini
swz
Leads on 47 of 168 metrics
South Africa
zaf
Leads on 111 of 168 metrics

Summary

South Africa has 51.6 times as many people as Eswatini (65.49 million vs 1.27 million). South Africa's economy is 82.7 times the size of Eswatini's ($424.75 billion vs $5.14 billion GDP).

Comparing Eswatini and South Africa: South Africa leads on People Living With HIV/AIDS (7.80) against Eswatini (200,000); Eswatini leads on Labor Force Participation Rate (390,600) against South Africa (27.77); Eswatini leads on Radios (170,000) against South Africa (17). Across 168 compared metrics, Eswatini wins on 47 and South Africa wins on 111.

  • Communications: 9 metrics compared
  • Economy: 63 metrics compared
  • Environment: 11 metrics compared
  • Geography: 7 metrics compared
  • Government: 9 metrics compared
  • Health: 23 metrics compared
  • Military and Security: 2 metrics compared
  • People and Society: 38 metrics compared
  • Transportation: 4 metrics compared
  • Travel and Tourism: 1 metric compared
  • Other: 1 metric compared

Communications

9 metrics
Metric🇸🇿 Eswatini🇿🇦 South AfricaShare
Fixed Broadband Penetration2.51 subscriptions per 100 inhabitants5.35 subscriptions per 100 inhabitants★
Internet Penetration Rate (%)63.4 %78.36 %★
Internet Usage Rate by Country (% of Population)57.62 %75.66 %★
Internet Userspercent of population: 58% (2023 est.)percent of population: 76% (2023 est.)
Mobile Internet Speed2.51 Mbps5.35 Mbps★
Press Freedom Index Score52.86 points75.71 points★
Radios170,000★17
Televisions23,000★6
WaterwaysnoneNA

Economy

63 metrics
Metric🇸🇿 Eswatini🇿🇦 South AfricaShare
Agriculture Value Added as a Share of GDP by Country323.11M $14.21B $★
Gross Domestic Product (GDP) by Country in Current US Dollars5.14B $424.75B $★
AI Investment (% of GDP)14.97 %★14.07 %
Bank Account Ownership Rate65.12 %81.13 %★
Central Bank Discount Rate (%)7.25 %★5.75 %
Coal Revenue0.12.4★
Commercial Bank Prime Lending Rate (%)10.75 %★10.38 %
Current Health Expenditure (% of GDP)6.5 % of GDP8.3 % of GDP★
Ease of Doing Business Index59.559.6★
Electricity Consumption1.43207.1★
Electricity Exports016.55★
Electricity from Fossil Fuels3985★
Electricity from Hydroelectric Plants20★1
Electricity from Nuclear Fuels04★
Electricity from Other Renewables41★10
Electricity Imports1.0810.56★
Electricity Installed Capacity295,900★50.02
Electricity Production381★234.5
Energy Consumption per Capita (USD)18.82 USD per capita86.2 USD per capita★
Female Labor Force Participation Rate51.25 %55.4 %★
Gini Index Coefficient54.663★
Gross Fixed Investment14.219.5★
Gross National Saving25.4★16.1
High-Tech Export Percentage17.63 %45.27 %★
Highest GDP per Capita Countries10,706.78 USD13,592.05 USD★
Industrial Production Growth Rate (%)0.5 %★-0.4 %
Inflation Rate2.6 %★4.1 %
Inflation Rate (Consumer Prices)2.6 %★4.4 %
Military Expenditures (% of GDP)1.4 % of GDP★0.7 % of GDP
Natural Gas Consumption05.07★
Natural Gas Exports00
Natural Gas Imports04.16★
Natural Gas Production0906.1★
Natural Gas Proved Reserves00
Oil Consumption4,000553,000★
Oil Exports054,930★
Oil Imports4,464521,400★
Oil Production0192,100★
Oil Proved Reserves015★
Population Below Poverty Line58.9 people55.5 people★
Public Debt35.9★76.2
R&D Expenditure (% of GDP)0.28 %0.73 %★
Real GDP Growth Rate (USD)2.6 USD★0.6 USD
Real Interest Rate Trends9.45 %★7.42 %
Refined Petroleum Products Consumption5,300621,000★
Refined Petroleum Products Exports0105,600★
Refined Petroleum Products Imports5,279195,200★
Refined Petroleum Products Production0487,100★
Remittances1.7★0.2
Researchers in R&D per Million137.92 researchers466.56 researchers★
Robotics Research Funding0.28 USD0.73 USD★
Share of population in poverty ($3 a day)64.9947.91★
Tax Burden (% of GDP)24.35 %★25.95 %
Tax Revenue (% of GDP)24.35 % of GDP25.95 % of GDP★
Taxes and Other Revenues24.526★
Top Exporting Countries2.61B USD127.53B USD★
Top FDI Inflows (% of GDP)1.55 %★0.58 %
Total Number of Billionaires17★
Tourism Contribution to GDP0.69 %2.26 %★
Tourism Revenue (% of GDP)0.69 %2.26 %★
Unemployment Rate34.4 %33.2 %★
Youth Labor Force Participation Rate51.19 %★55.58 %
Youth Unemployment Rate54.33 %★59.93 %

Environment

11 metrics
Metric🇸🇿 Eswatini🇿🇦 South AfricaShare
Annual CO₂ Emissions Growth (abs)15,031★3.23M
Annual Forest Area Change Rate-1,500 %87,566.02 %★
Average Annual Temperature20.04 °C★18.35 °C
Carbon Dioxide Emissions1.33★446.7
Global Precipitation Distribution1,007.63 mm★652.17 mm
Population Distributionbecause of its mountainous terrain, the population distribution is uneven throughout the country, concentrating primarily in valleys and plains as shown in this population distribution mapthe population is concentrated along the southern and southeastern coast, and inland around Pretoria; the eastern half of the country is more densely populated than the west, as shown in this population distribution map
Protected Land Area for Adaptation4.17 sq km9.88 sq km★
Protected Land Area Percentage4.2 %9.6 %★
Total Renewable Groundwater Resources by Country0.66 Cubic meters per year4.8 Cubic meters per year★
Total Renewable Water Resources4.5151.35★
Total Threatened Mammal Species9 species★33 species

Geography

7 metrics
Metric🇸🇿 Eswatini🇿🇦 South AfricaShare
Percentage of land area by degree of urbanization1.66 %1.94 %★
Above-Ground Biomass in Forest (tonnes/ha)76.0585.66★
Agricultural land11,882 sq. km963,410 sq. km★
Airports per 1,000 Sq Km17,2001.21M★
Coastline Length (km)0 km2,798 km★
Dam capacity per capita459.08 cubic meters per inhabitant464.7 cubic meters per inhabitant★
Irrigated Land50016,700★

Government

9 metrics
Metric🇸🇿 Eswatini🇿🇦 South AfricaShare
Rule of Law Index by Country20.98 %61.59 %★
Administrative Divisions49★
Corruption Perception Index27 index★41 index
Corruption Perceptions Index Score27 index41 index★
Independence631★
LGBT Rights Index Score0.610.94★
Prison Population Rate369 per 100,000260 per 100,000★
Public Sector Corruption Perception27★41
Suffrage Participation Rate1818

Health

23 metrics
Metric🇸🇿 Eswatini🇿🇦 South AfricaShare
Access to Safe Drinking Water38.22 %68.01 %★
Average BMI for Adults24.5 kg/m²25 kg/m²★
Change in Measles Immunization Rate85 %★76 %
Diabetes Prevalence (% of Population)7.9★7.2
Female Life Expectancy Leaders64.26 years66.31 years★
Global Stillbirth Rate Trends1.36 per 1,000 births★1.87 per 1,000 births
Health Care Spending per Capita999.22 USD1,541.18 USD★
Health Coverage Index Score72 score74 score★
Health Expenditure (% of GDP)7 % of GDP8.3 % of GDP★
Highest Male Life Expectancy64.26 years66.31 years★
HIV/AIDS Adult Prevalence Rate27.9 %18.3 %★
Hospital Bed Density2.1 people/sq km2.3 people/sq km★
Low Birth Weight Prevalence10.2 %★16.64 %
Malaria Incidence Rate0.55 cases per 1,0000.11 cases per 1,000★
Maternal Mortality Ratio (%)118 %118 %
Mean Age at First Birth19.522.5★
Nurses and Midwives Density4.37 per 1,000 people6.39 per 1,000 people★
Obesity Adult Prevalence Rate (%)16.5 %★28.3 %
Out-of-Pocket Health Spending11.02 %6.69 %★
People Living With HIV/AIDS200,0007.8★
Psychiatrist Density Per 100,000 People0 per 100,000 people2 per 100,000 people★
Total Number of Doctors0.560.79★
Underweight Children Under 554.9★

Military and Security

2 metrics
Metric🇸🇿 Eswatini🇿🇦 South AfricaShare
Military Expenditure (% of GDP)1.6 %0.74 %★
Total Armed Forces Personnel (PPP)3,00078,150★

People and Society

38 metrics
Metric🇸🇿 Eswatini🇿🇦 South AfricaShare
Currently married (Percent)34.85 %★33.25 %
Human Capital Index0.420.42★
Life expectancy at birth69.61 years71.98 years★
Median age of population22.7 years29 years★
Population Change13,390 persons673,269.7 persons★
Population density73.02 per sq. km53.74 per sq. km★
Total population1.27M persons65.49M persons★
Academic Freedom Index0.180.83★
Beer Consumption per Capita2.28 liters3.65 liters★
Birth Rate (%)20.66 %★17.21 %
Contraceptive Prevalence Rate66.1 %★54.6 %
Crude Birth Rate23.65 per 1,000 people★18.48 per 1,000 people
Death Rate (%)8.3 %6.56 %★
Education Expenditure (% of GDP)6 % of GDP6 % of GDP
Female population of reproductive age346,044.35 persons18.20M persons★
Female Tertiary Enrollment Rate (%)6.4 %21.9 %★
Fixed Broadband Penetration Rate2.51 %5.35 %★
Global Average Sex Ratio at Birth102.27 male/female103.52 male/female★
Human Development Index0.230.48★
Labor Force Participation Rate390,600★27.77
Learning-adjusted years of school5.34 years★4.88 years
Length of paid parental leave for mother0 days0 days
Major Urban Areas Population68,000 people★10.32 people
Mean Male Height (cm)168.13★166.68
Mean Years of Schooling6.46 years10.47 years★
Military Service Age and Obligation1818
Old-Age Dependency Ratio6.67 %★9.65 %
Percentage of population by degree of urbanization24.65 %79.63 %★
Physician Density0.56 people/sq km0.79 people/sq km★
Population Growth Rate0.87 %1.06 %★
Population living in slums11.86 %23.64 %★
Primary School Pupil-Teacher Ratio27.58★30.33
Total deaths8,388.1 persons★540,582.7 persons
Total demand for family planning (Percent)58.66 %62.02 %★
Total fertility rate2.64 per woman★2.17 per woman
Total net-migration-7,155.1 persons39,599.6 persons★
Under-five mortality rate46.48 per live births28.89 per live births★
Urban Population Annual Growth Rate2.85 %★1.34 %

Transportation

4 metrics
Metric🇸🇿 Eswatini🇿🇦 South AfricaShare
Air Travel Trips Per Capita (PPP)0.030.37★
Airports16573★
Civil Air Travel490★
Heliports149★

Travel and Tourism

1 metric
Metric🇸🇿 Eswatini🇿🇦 South AfricaShare
Tourism Receipts per Capita22.61M USD5.96B USD★

Other

1 metric
Metric🇸🇿 Eswatini🇿🇦 South AfricaShare
Current Bank Rate6.75 %7 %★

Frequently Asked Questions About Eswatini vs South Africa

Which has a larger population, Eswatini or South Africa?▾

South Africa. South Africa has 51.6 times as many people as Eswatini (65.49 million vs 1.27 million). Data for 2026.

Which has a bigger economy, Eswatini or South Africa?▾

South Africa. South Africa's economy is 82.7 times the size of Eswatini's ($424.75 billion vs $5.14 billion GDP). Data for 2026.

Which is richer per person, Eswatini or South Africa?▾

South Africa is richer per person: GDP per capita is about $6,486 in South Africa vs $4,048 in Eswatini (2026 GDP in current US dollars divided by population).

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