MigrantoImmigrants in Eswatini
25.8K foreigners live in Eswatini — 2% of the country's population
Immigrants in Eswatini by country
The 3 largest groups make up 92% of all immigrants
| Country | Immigrants |
|---|---|
| South Africa | 12870 |
| Mozambique | 10136 |
| DR Congo | 683 |
| Burundi | 475 |
| Rwanda | 392 |
| Somalia | 309 |
| USA | 262 |
| Lesotho | 226 |
| Angola | 135 |
| Republic of Congo | 72 |
| Uganda | 55 |
| Australia | 55 |
| Liberia | 45 |
| Botswana | 39 |
| Ethiopia | 28 |
| New Zealand | 23 |
| Canada | 17 |
By region of origin
99% of immigrants come from Africa
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Key facts
Immigrants in Eswatini in numbers
South Africans are the largest group by a wide margin
50% of all immigrants were born in South Africa, while the next group accounts for just 39%.
Immigrants come from a wider range of countries than in 1990
The largest group's share fell from 68% to 50%.
Immigrant population in Eswatini over time
Foreigners living in Eswatini, by year
| Year | Immigrants |
|---|---|
| 1990 | 67820 |
| 1995 | 28141 |
| 2000 | 26733 |
| 2005 | 25534 |
| 2010 | 25044 |
| 2015 | 24814 |
| 2020 | 25504 |
| 2024 | 25822 |
Largest groups over time
The 5 largest groups in Eswatini, by year
| Year | South Africans | Mozambicans | Congolese | Burundians | Rwandans |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990 | 20848 | 46196 | 6 | 7 | 2 |
| 1995 | 9097 | 18085 | 180 | 132 | 52 |
| 2000 | 12272 | 13127 | 193 | 255 | 112 |
| 2005 | 12415 | 11345 | 246 | 337 | 195 |
| 2010 | 12260 | 10841 | 267 | 360 | 229 |
| 2015 | 12511 | 9857 | 570 | 402 | 342 |
| 2020 | 12712 | 10011 | 675 | 469 | 387 |
| 2024 | 12870 | 10136 | 683 | 475 | 392 |
Fastest-changing groups
How each group's numbers have changed since the selected year
Share of each diaspora living in Eswatini
Of each group's emigrants worldwide, the share who live in Eswatini
Data source: International Migrant Stock 2024 (UN DESA, Population Division)
Frequently asked questions
How many foreigners live in Eswatini?
Around 25.8K immigrants live in Eswatini — the world's #180 largest immigrant population.
What percentage of the population of Eswatini are immigrants?
Immigrants make up around 2% of the population of Eswatini — that's 25.8K out of a total population of 1.2M.
Where do most immigrants in Eswatini come from?
Most immigrants in Eswatini come from South Africa, Mozambique and DR Congo — these three countries account for about 92% of all immigrants.
How many South Africans live in Eswatini?
Around 12.9K South Africans live in Eswatini — about 50% of all immigrants, the largest group.
Is the immigrant population in Eswatini growing?
Barely — over the past decade, the number of immigrants in Eswatini has changed from 24.8K to 25.8K, about 4%.
Where does the data on immigrants in Eswatini come from?
The source is International Migrant Stock 2024 (UN DESA, Population Division). It counts people born abroad who now live in Eswatini. Their children born in Eswatini are not included.
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Living in Eswatini
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