Population and Demographics of Eswatini
Population changed +1% in 2024 · median age 22 years
Eswatini's 2024 population structure is anchored by a 62.39% share aged 15 to 64, while the 2050 medium projection reaches 1.5 million. The 29.09-point difference between the under-15 and 65-plus shares shows how strongly the age balance leans younger.
Population Over Time in Eswatini
Between 2000 and 2024, Eswatini's population increased by about 0.20 million, moving from 1.041M to 1.243M. Looking ahead, the medium projection points to 1.505M in 2050, 21.1% higher than the 2024 level. The chart connects dated reference points only and should not be read as an annual interpolated series.
Age Structure and Sex Balance
The balance between children, working-age adults and older residents gives Eswatini a young age profile. Under-15s account for 33.35% of residents and people 65+ for 4.26%, leaving 62.39% in the broad 15 to 64 range. The age balance is weighted toward younger residents.
Population by broad age group
Eswatini's 2024 population is 50.9% female and 49.1% male in the World Bank series. Females exceed males by 1.8 percentage points.
Female and male population share
Females made up 50.9% of the population in the World Bank's 2024 series, compared with 49.1% males.
What Is Shaping Population Change
Eswatini's 2024 demographic snapshot includes +1.00% annual change plus fertility of 2.7, while the 15-to-64 share is 62.39% and the under-15 share is 33.35%.
Population change before the projection period is +19.4% for Eswatini between 2000 and 2024, and the 2050 medium path differs from 2024 by +21.1%; interpreting the components of that change requires evidence not supplied by the aggregate series.
2024 estimate for Eswatini. The world comparison value is 2.25 children per woman.
Eswatini vs. World
Eswatini's demographic position looks different depending on the measure: annual change is higher than the world rate, fertility is above it, and its population is younger than the global median-age profile.
| Indicator | Eswatini | World | Year |
|---|---|---|---|
| Annual population change | +1% | +0.87% | 2024 |
| Total fertility rate | 2.7 | 2.25 | 2024 |
| Median age | 22 | 30.6 | 2024 |
This comparison avoids mixed-year arithmetic by keeping Eswatini and the world on the same 2024 harmonized demographic table.
Key Takeaways
At 1.243M, the 2024 population is paired with an annual change rate of +1.00%.
The 2024 age structure is 33.35% under 15, 62.39% aged 15 to 64 and 4.26% aged 65 or older.
Females make up 50.9% of the 2024 population in the World Bank indicator, with males at 49.1%.
By 2050, the medium projection is 1.505M, differing from 2024 by roughly 0.26 million people.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the population of Eswatini?
The 2024 harmonized population estimate for Eswatini is 1,242,822 people.
Is the population of Eswatini growing or declining?
In the 2024 estimate, Eswatini's population is growing, with annual change of +1.00%.
What percentage of the population of Eswatini is aged 65 or older?
People aged 65 or older account for 4.26% of Eswatini's 2024 population in the UN WPP-based broad age data.
What is the projected population of Eswatini in 2050?
The UN World Population Prospects 2024 medium projection puts Eswatini's 2050 population at 1,505,331.
What is the fertility rate in Eswatini?
The 2024 harmonized fertility estimate for Eswatini is 2.7 children per woman.
Sources & methodology
This profile uses United Nations World Population Prospects 2024 as the primary framework for globally comparable population, age, fertility and projection data. The World Bank is the primary source for the female population share. Some country values were accessed through secondary retrieval interfaces that republish or organize UN data; those interfaces are identified below as secondary and are not treated as the original statistical publishers.
View sources used for this page
Primary global framework for the population estimates and projections.
Harmonized 2024 country table based on UN World Population Prospects 2024.
Harmonized broad age shares based on UN World Population Prospects 2024.
Harmonized reference for the 2000 population point.
Harmonized 2050 country projection based on UN World Population Prospects 2024.
Used for the 2024 female share; the male share is calculated as the remainder to 100%.