GeoRealityMatch
Beautiful rural landscape in Manzini, Eswatini featuring fields, a rustic building, and mountain views.A vibrant cityscape of Mbabane, Eswatini, framed by scenic mountains.

Eswatini

Africa · Southern Africa

Medium safetyMedium development

Life expectancy is short.

Safety

103rd most peaceful of 161

Global Peace Index
2.095lower is more peacefulMedium safety
#103 of 161
IEP GPI · 2026
Homicides
12.5per 100,000 people a yearVery highUNODC / World Bank · 2021
Money

Incomes below the median country

GNI per person
$3,730national income per person, US dollarsLow
World Bank · 2025

Income and inflation over time

Income per person rose 39% in current dollars from 2006 to 2025, and rose 41% after inflation.

GDP per person, current US$At purchasing power parityInflation

$0$7.5K$15K$12,529 PPP$4,108Inflation, % a year15%0200620102015202020252006, $2,965 a person, $6,319 at PPP, inflation 5.3%2007, $3,109 a person, $6,732 at PPP, inflation 8.1%2008, $2,947 a person, $6,914 at PPP, inflation 12.7%2009, $3,190 a person, $7,011 at PPP, inflation 7.4%2010, $3,923 a person, $7,324 at PPP, inflation 4.5%2011, $4,225 a person, $7,571 at PPP, inflation 6.1%2012, $4,225 a person, $7,760 at PPP, inflation 8.9%2013, $3,950 a person, $8,231 at PPP, inflation 5.6%2014, $3,771 a person, $8,366 at PPP, inflation 5.7%2015, $3,420 a person, $8,391 at PPP, inflation 5%2016, $3,238 a person, $8,484 at PPP, inflation 7.8%2017, $3,853 a person, $8,584 at PPP, inflation 6.2%2018, $3,973 a person, $8,535 at PPP, inflation 4.8%2019, $3,913 a person, $9,248 at PPP, inflation 2.6%2020, $3,467 a person, $9,329 at PPP2021, $3,984 a person, $9,990 at PPP2022, $3,894 a person, $10,634 at PPP2023, $3,756 a person, $11,309 at PPP2024, $3,910 a person, $11,823 at PPP2025, $4,108 a person, $12,529 at PPP$0$7.5K$15KInflation, % a year15%0200620102015202020252006, $2,965 a person, $6,319 at PPP, inflation 5.3%2007, $3,109 a person, $6,732 at PPP, inflation 8.1%2008, $2,947 a person, $6,914 at PPP, inflation 12.7%2009, $3,190 a person, $7,011 at PPP, inflation 7.4%2010, $3,923 a person, $7,324 at PPP, inflation 4.5%2011, $4,225 a person, $7,571 at PPP, inflation 6.1%2012, $4,225 a person, $7,760 at PPP, inflation 8.9%2013, $3,950 a person, $8,231 at PPP, inflation 5.6%2014, $3,771 a person, $8,366 at PPP, inflation 5.7%2015, $3,420 a person, $8,391 at PPP, inflation 5%2016, $3,238 a person, $8,484 at PPP, inflation 7.8%2017, $3,853 a person, $8,584 at PPP, inflation 6.2%2018, $3,973 a person, $8,535 at PPP, inflation 4.8%2019, $3,913 a person, $9,248 at PPP, inflation 2.6%2020, $3,467 a person, $9,329 at PPP2021, $3,984 a person, $9,990 at PPP2022, $3,894 a person, $10,634 at PPP2023, $3,756 a person, $11,309 at PPP2024, $3,910 a person, $11,823 at PPP2025, $4,108 a person, $12,529 at PPP

World Bank: GDP per person in current US dollars and at PPP, real GDP per person, consumer price inflation. Observed years only.

Health

Among the shortest life expectancies

Life expectancy
64.3years, at birthVery low
#170 of 195
World Bank · 2024
Health coverage
72WHO universal health coverage index, 0 to 100ModerateWHO · 2023
Air pollution
14.6PM2.5, micrograms per cubic metre, national averageModerateWHO · 2023
Work and internet
Unemployment rate
34.2%share of the labour force without a jobWorld Bank · 2025
A vibrant cityscape of Mbabane, Eswatini, framed by scenic mountains.
How it changed

Eswatini's Human Development Index

0.695Medium human development

126th of 193 in UNDP's 2023 ranking, 11th of 54 in Africa.

UNDP builds the index from three dimensions: a long and healthy life, being knowledgeable, and a decent standard of living. They are measured by life expectancy at birth, mean and expected years of schooling, and gross national income per capita. UNDP Human Development Report 2025.

Nearest countries by HDI

  1. #124Nauru0.703
  2. #125Bhutan0.698
  3. #126Eswatini0.695
  4. #126Iraq0.695
  5. #128Tajikistan0.691
Full HDI ranking, all 193 countries

HDI since 1990

Year by year

Human development rose from 0.570 in 1990 to 0.695 in 2023.

0.400.570.750.69519902000201020231990: 0.5701991: 0.5651992: 0.5581993: 0.5501994: 0.5431995: 0.5401996: 0.5321997: 0.5231998: 0.5111999: 0.5042000: 0.4932001: 0.4842002: 0.4732003: 0.4692004: 0.4672005: 0.4722006: 0.4852007: 0.4972008: 0.5072009: 0.5192010: 0.5342011: 0.5452012: 0.5622013: 0.5782014: 0.5922015: 0.6072016: 0.6192017: 0.6312018: 0.6432019: 0.6532020: 0.6572021: 0.6582022: 0.6952023: 0.6950.400.570.7519902000201020231990: 0.5701991: 0.5651992: 0.5581993: 0.5501994: 0.5431995: 0.5401996: 0.5321997: 0.5231998: 0.5111999: 0.5042000: 0.4932001: 0.4842002: 0.4732003: 0.4692004: 0.4672005: 0.4722006: 0.4852007: 0.4972008: 0.5072009: 0.5192010: 0.5342011: 0.5452012: 0.5622013: 0.5782014: 0.5922015: 0.6072016: 0.6192017: 0.6312018: 0.6432019: 0.6532020: 0.6572021: 0.6582022: 0.6952023: 0.695

UNDP Human Development Report, 2025 edition. 34 annual values, none interpolated.

Twenty years here

Year by yearThe world report
Life expectancy at birth
64.3 years2024at birthUp 20.3 years from 44 years in 2005
Internet users
63%2024of people onlineUp 60 points from 4% in 2006
Urban population
27%2025of people in towns and citiesUp 5 points from 22% in 2006
Births per woman
2.722024births per womanDown 0.98 from 3.70 in 2005
Renewable share of energy
65%2022of energy usedDown 2 points from 67% in 2004
Access to electricity
89%2024of people with electricityUp 55 points from 34% in 2005
Infant mortality
422024deaths before age one, per 1,000 birthsDown 30 from 72 in 2005
CO2 emissions per person
0.9 t2024of CO2 per person a yearLevel with 2005
Forest area
29%2023of land under forestUp 1 point from 28% in 2004

World Bank, from the first to the last observed year of each indicator; each has its own window.

Our take

Africa's last absolute monarchy, with the highest HIV rate globally; dependent on South Africa. The case against is short lives and low incomes.

About Eswatini

Eswatini is a small landlocked kingdom in Southern Africa surrounded by South Africa and Mozambique, with a culture that is among the most traditional on the continent, centred on the Swazi monarchy and celebrated in colourful annual ceremonies. The landscape is hilly and green with excellent hiking and wildlife reserves. It suits visitors who want a genuine cultural experience rather than a mainstream safari destination.

Practical facts

  • CapitalMbabane
  • LanguagesEnglish, Swazi
  • CurrencySwazi lilangeni (SZL)
  • Area17,200 km²
  • Plug typeType C/M/N
  • Drives on theleft
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Borders

MozambiqueSouth Africa

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Quick answers

What is Eswatini's Human Development Index?

Eswatini's Human Development Index is 0.695 for 2023 (UNDP Human Development Report 2025), ranked #126 of 193 by UNDP.

Is Eswatini safe?

Eswatini scores 2.10 on the Global Peace Index (lower is more peaceful), ranked #103 of 161 countries by the Institute for Economics & Peace. That measures national-level peace, not street crime; both are covered below.

What is life expectancy in Eswatini?

Life expectancy at birth in Eswatini is 64.3 yrs (World Bank), ranked #170 of 195 countries.