Urban population in Eswatini
Eswatini: Urban population was 335,667 in 2025. ◆ Volatile
Urban population in Eswatini, 1960–2025
Source: World Urbanization Prospects, United Nations (UN).
Analysis
The most recent figure for urban population in Eswatini is 335,667, measured in 2025. That is the highest value across all 66 years on record.
That represents a change of up 2.9% on the previous year and up 26.2% over ten years.
Over the whole period, urban population in Eswatini peaked at 335,667 in 2025 and was at its lowest, 14,007, in 1960.
Eswatini ranks 171st of 218 countries on this measure, in the bottom quarter.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Urban population in Eswatini, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1960 | 14,007 | — |
| 1961 | 15,930 | +13.7% |
| 1962 | 18,038 | +13.2% |
| 1963 | 20,338 | +12.8% |
| 1964 | 22,843 | +12.3% |
| 1965 | 25,577 | +12.0% |
| 1966 | 28,551 | +11.6% |
| 1967 | 31,850 | +11.6% |
| 1968 | 35,577 | +11.7% |
| 1969 | 39,757 | +11.7% |
| 1970 | 44,366 | +11.6% |
| 1971 | 49,373 | +11.3% |
| 1972 | 54,746 | +10.9% |
| 1973 | 60,444 | +10.4% |
| 1974 | 66,429 | +9.9% |
| 1975 | 72,651 | +9.4% |
| 1976 | 79,061 | +8.8% |
| 1977 | 86,064 | +8.9% |
| 1978 | 94,032 | +9.3% |
| 1979 | 102,772 | +9.3% |
| 1980 | 112,099 | +9.1% |
| 1981 | 121,797 | +8.7% |
| 1982 | 131,606 | +8.1% |
| 1983 | 141,187 | +7.3% |
| 1984 | 150,221 | +6.4% |
| 1985 | 159,027 | +5.9% |
| 1986 | 167,076 | +5.1% |
| 1987 | 174,159 | +4.2% |
| 1988 | 182,760 | +4.9% |
| 1989 | 191,817 | +5.0% |
| 1990 | 200,090 | +4.3% |
| 1991 | 208,604 | +4.3% |
| 1992 | 216,970 | +4.0% |
| 1993 | 223,620 | +3.1% |
| 1994 | 223,776 | +0.1% |
| 1995 | 223,724 | -0.0% |
| 1996 | 228,274 | +2.0% |
| 1997 | 232,161 | +1.7% |
| 1998 | 234,821 | +1.1% |
| 1999 | 236,580 | +0.7% |
| 2000 | 237,869 | +0.5% |
| 2001 | 238,692 | +0.3% |
| 2002 | 239,106 | +0.2% |
| 2003 | 239,274 | +0.1% |
| 2004 | 239,397 | +0.1% |
| 2005 | 239,653 | +0.1% |
| 2006 | 240,209 | +0.2% |
| 2007 | 241,482 | +0.5% |
| 2008 | 243,438 | +0.8% |
| 2009 | 245,724 | +0.9% |
| 2010 | 248,266 | +1.0% |
| 2011 | 251,104 | +1.1% |
| 2012 | 254,260 | +1.3% |
| 2013 | 257,775 | +1.4% |
| 2014 | 261,654 | +1.5% |
| 2015 | 265,887 | +1.6% |
| 2016 | 270,455 | +1.7% |
| 2017 | 275,711 | +1.9% |
| 2018 | 281,220 | +2.0% |
| 2019 | 287,252 | +2.1% |
| 2020 | 294,190 | +2.4% |
| 2021 | 301,837 | +2.6% |
| 2022 | 309,564 | +2.6% |
| 2023 | 317,571 | +2.6% |
| 2024 | 326,239 | +2.7% |
| 2025 | 335,667 | +2.9% |
Eswatini compared with similar countries
- Eswatini's 335,667 is below the median for lower middle income countries, which is 6.62 million, 5% of the median. (47 countries reporting)
- Eswatini's 335,667 is below the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 4.82 million, 7% of the median. (48 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1960s | 25,247 | 14,007 | 39,757 | 10 |
| 1970s | 70,994 | 44,366 | 102,772 | 10 |
| 1980s | 153,175 | 112,099 | 191,817 | 10 |
| 1990s | 222,862 | 200,090 | 236,580 | 10 |
| 2000s | 240,484 | 237,869 | 245,724 | 10 |
| 2010s | 265,358 | 248,266 | 287,252 | 10 |
| 2020s | 314,178 | 294,190 | 335,667 | 6 |
Countries ranked near Eswatini
More climate change data for Eswatini
- Nutrient nitrogen N (total) — Synthetic fertilizers (Agricultural) 10.39 million kg (2050)
- Emissions from livestock — Emissions (CO2eq) 1,459 kt (2050)
- Emissions from livestock — Emissions (CO2eq) from N2O 469.92 kt (2050)
- Emissions from livestock — Emissions (CO2eq) from CH4 988.9 kt (2050)
- Emissions from livestock — Emissions 1.77 kt (2050)
- Emissions from livestock — Emissions 35.32 kt (2050)
- Emissions from crops — Emissions (CO2eq) 77.58 kt (2050)
- Emissions from crops — Emissions (CO2eq) from N2O 66.81 kt (2050)
- Emissions from crops — Emissions (CO2eq) from CH4 10.77 kt (2050)
- Emissions from crops — Emissions 0.2521 kt (2050)
Frequently asked questions
- What is urban population in Eswatini?
- Urban population in Eswatini was 335,667 in 2025, according to World Urbanization Prospects, United Nations (UN).
- What is the highest urban population recorded in Eswatini?
- The highest recorded value was 335,667 in 2025.
- What is the lowest urban population recorded in Eswatini?
- The lowest recorded value was 14,007 in 1960.
- How does Eswatini rank for urban population?
- Eswatini ranks 171st out of 218 countries with data for 2025.
- Is urban population rising or falling in Eswatini?
- Over the last ten years it is up 26.2%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Eswatini data come from?
- The figures come from World Urbanization Prospects, United Nations (UN), published as part of Urban population. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
CSV · JSON — 66 observations, free to reuse under CC BY 4.0 (World Bank Open Data).
About this data
Urban population refers to people living in urban areas as defined by national statistical offices. It is calculated using World Bank population estimates and urban ratios from the United Nations World Urbanization Prospects. Aggregation of urban and rural population may not add up to total population because of different country coverages.