MigrantoSwazi Diaspora
11.6K Swazis live abroad — the #193 largest diaspora in the world
Where emigrants go
The top 3 countries receive 92% of all emigrants
↑↓ — change vs 2020
| Country | Emigrants |
|---|---|
| South Africa | 9302 |
| Portugal | 742 |
| Botswana | 642 |
| Australia | 359 |
| Namibia | 216 |
| Tanzania | 84 |
| Lesotho | 84 |
| Denmark | 59 |
| Norway | 21 |
| Greece | 20 |
| Finland | 12 |
| Bahamas | 12 |
| Guinea | 3 |
| Hungary | 2 |
| Bulgaria | 1 |
| Luxembourg | 1 |
| Costa Rica | 1 |
| Slovakia | 0 |
By destination region
Africa is the leading destination region at 89%
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Interesting facts
Notable statistics about emigration from Eswatini.
South Africa is the primary destination for emigrants
South Africa attracts 80% of all emigrants from Eswatini, while the second-largest destination receives just 6%.
Emigration has declined notably since 2020
The emigrant population fell 39% from 19K to 11.6K, suggesting a slowdown in emigration flows following COVID and recent geopolitical shifts.
Emigration destinations have diversified since 1990
The top destination's share fell from 98% to 80%, indicating a broader spread of emigration patterns.
How emigration changed over time
Total emigrant population by year
| Year | Emigrants |
|---|---|
| 1990 | 31331 |
| 1995 | 28204 |
| 2000 | 29821 |
| 2005 | 33323 |
| 2010 | 37292 |
| 2015 | 28381 |
| 2020 | 19033 |
| 2024 | 11561 |
Top destinations over time
Emigration to the 5 largest destination countries
| Year | South Africa | Portugal | Botswana | Australia | Namibia |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990 | 30617 | 48 | 108 | 114 | 290 |
| 1995 | 27333 | 103 | 174 | 146 | 277 |
| 2000 | 28729 | 164 | 259 | 235 | 259 |
| 2005 | 31889 | 368 | 391 | 270 | 204 |
| 2010 | 35488 | 511 | 526 | 340 | 196 |
| 2015 | 26393 | 578 | 570 | 385 | 191 |
| 2020 | 16929 | 660 | 608 | 370 | 204 |
| 2024 | 9302 | 742 | 642 | 359 | 216 |
Fastest-changing destinations
How emigration to each country has changed since the selected year
Eswatini as an emigration source
Share of immigrants in each country who originate from Eswatini
Data source: International Migrant Stock 2024 (UN DESA, Population Division)
Frequently asked questions
Where do Swazis move to?
Most Swazis have moved to South Africa, Portugal and Botswana — these three countries account for about 92% of all Swazis living abroad.
How many Swazis live abroad?
Around 11.6K Swazis live abroad, making it the #193-largest emigrant population in the world.
What share of the population of Eswatini lives abroad?
About 1% of the population of Eswatini lives abroad — that's 11.6K out of a total population of 1.2M.
How has emigration from Eswatini changed over the past decade?
Over the past decade, the emigrant population from Eswatini has fallen from 28.4K to 11.6K people, a decline of about 59%.
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