MigrantoSwazi Diaspora
11.6K Swazis live abroad — 1% of the population of Eswatini
Swazi diaspora by country
The top 3 countries are home to 92% of the diaspora
| 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 region
89% of the diaspora lives in Africa
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Key facts
The Swazi diaspora in numbers
Most Swazis abroad live in South Africa
80% of the diaspora lives in South Africa, while the next country accounts for just 6%.
The diaspora has shrunk 39% since 2020
The number of Swazis living abroad fell from 19K to 11.6K in four years.
The diaspora is spread more widely than in 1990
The largest country's share fell from 98% to 80%.
Swazi diaspora population over time
People living abroad, by year
| Year | Emigrants |
|---|---|
| 1990 | 31331 |
| 1995 | 28204 |
| 2000 | 29821 |
| 2005 | 33323 |
| 2010 | 37292 |
| 2015 | 28381 |
| 2020 | 19033 |
| 2024 | 11561 |
Largest communities over time
Swazis living in the 5 largest countries, by year
| 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 communities
How the number of Swazis in each country has changed since the selected year
Swazis among immigrants in other countries
Where Swazis make up the largest share of a country's immigrants
Data source: International Migrant Stock 2024 (UN DESA, Population Division)
Frequently asked questions
How many Swazis live outside Eswatini?
Around 11.6K Swazis live abroad, the world's #193 largest diaspora.
Where do most Swazis abroad live?
Most Swazis live in South Africa, Portugal and Botswana — these three countries account for about 92% of all Swazis living abroad.
Which country has the largest Swazi population outside Eswatini?
South Africa is home to the largest Swazi community abroad — 9.3K people, about 80% of all Swazis living abroad.
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.
Is the Swazi diaspora growing?
No — over the past decade, the number of Swazis living abroad has fallen from 28.4K to 11.6K, about 59%.
Where does the data on the Swazi diaspora come from?
The source is International Migrant Stock 2024 (UN DESA, Population Division). It counts people born in Eswatini who now live in other countries. Descendants of emigrants born abroad are not included.
Where to live?
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Living in Eswatini
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