Net migration in Eswatini
Eswatini: Net migration was -5,775 in 2025. ◆ Volatile
Net migration in Eswatini, 1960–2025
Source: World Population Prospects, United Nations (UN), publisher: UN Population Division.
Analysis
Eswatini recorded -5,775 for net migration in 2025.
Compared with earlier readings it is up 14.5% on the previous year and up 54.1% over ten years.
Over the whole period, net migration in Eswatini peaked at 14,879 in 1988 and was at its lowest, -48,259, in 1994.
That places Eswatini 141st out of 218 countries with data for 2025, putting it in the middle of the range.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Net migration in Eswatini, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1960 | -2,082 | — |
| 1961 | -2,270 | +9.0% |
| 1962 | -2,390 | +5.3% |
| 1963 | -2,358 | -1.3% |
| 1964 | -2,049 | -13.1% |
| 1965 | -1,578 | -23.0% |
| 1966 | -1,557 | -1.3% |
| 1967 | -2,964 | +90.4% |
| 1968 | -3,029 | +2.2% |
| 1969 | -3,127 | +3.2% |
| 1970 | -3,230 | +3.3% |
| 1971 | -3,325 | +2.9% |
| 1972 | -3,435 | +3.3% |
| 1973 | -3,555 | +3.5% |
| 1974 | -3,665 | +3.1% |
| 1975 | -3,794 | +3.5% |
| 1976 | -3,469 | -8.6% |
| 1977 | -2,838 | -18.2% |
| 1978 | -3,040 | +7.1% |
| 1979 | -3,210 | +5.6% |
| 1980 | -3,350 | +4.4% |
| 1981 | -3,464 | +3.4% |
| 1982 | -3,574 | +3.2% |
| 1983 | -3,429 | -4.1% |
| 1984 | -3,949 | +15.2% |
| 1985 | 1,792 | -145.4% |
| 1986 | 1,353 | -24.5% |
| 1987 | 2,417 | +78.6% |
| 1988 | 14,879 | +515.6% |
| 1989 | 5,477 | -63.2% |
| 1990 | 7,169 | +30.9% |
| 1991 | 7,496 | +4.6% |
| 1992 | 6,011 | -19.8% |
| 1993 | -6,692 | -211.3% |
| 1994 | -48,259 | +621.1% |
| 1995 | -3,023 | -93.7% |
| 1996 | -3,049 | +0.9% |
| 1997 | -5,911 | +93.9% |
| 1998 | -8,505 | +43.9% |
| 1999 | -8,421 | -1.0% |
| 2000 | -8,563 | +1.7% |
| 2001 | -8,788 | +2.6% |
| 2002 | -9,209 | +4.8% |
| 2003 | -9,595 | +4.2% |
| 2004 | -9,863 | +2.8% |
| 2005 | -10,330 | +4.7% |
| 2006 | -10,923 | +5.7% |
| 2007 | -9,271 | -15.1% |
| 2008 | -9,822 | +5.9% |
| 2009 | -10,989 | +11.9% |
| 2010 | -11,334 | +3.1% |
| 2011 | -11,596 | +2.3% |
| 2012 | -12,294 | +6.0% |
| 2013 | -12,664 | +3.0% |
| 2014 | -12,724 | +0.5% |
| 2015 | -12,582 | -1.1% |
| 2016 | -12,481 | -0.8% |
| 2017 | -8,658 | -30.6% |
| 2018 | -8,546 | -1.3% |
| 2019 | -8,439 | -1.3% |
| 2020 | -4,242 | -49.7% |
| 2021 | -4,242 | -0.0% |
| 2022 | -8,549 | +101.5% |
| 2023 | -8,549 | -0.0% |
| 2024 | -6,754 | -21.0% |
| 2025 | -5,775 | -14.5% |
Eswatini compared with similar countries
- Eswatini's -5,775 is above the median for lower middle income countries, which is -10,230, 56% of the median. (47 countries reporting)
- Eswatini's -5,775 is below the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is -5,646, 1.0× the median. (48 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Net migration in Eswatini changed far more than this series normally does. A large move can be a real event or a change in how the figure was measured — the source note below says who published it.
| Year | Change | From | To |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1994 | -621.1% | -6,692 | -48,259 |
| 1988 | +515.6% | 2,417 | 14,879 |
| 1993 | -211.3% | 6,011 | -6,692 |
| 1985 | +145.4% | -3,949 | 1,792 |
| 2022 | -101.5% | -4,242 | -8,549 |
| 1995 | +93.7% | -48,259 | -3,023 |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1960s | -2,340 | -3,127 | -1,557 | 10 |
| 1970s | -3,356 | -3,794 | -2,838 | 10 |
| 1980s | 815.2 | -3,949 | 14,879 | 10 |
| 1990s | -6,318 | -48,259 | 7,496 | 10 |
| 2000s | -9,735 | -10,989 | -8,563 | 10 |
| 2010s | -11,132 | -12,724 | -8,439 | 10 |
| 2020s | -6,352 | -8,549 | -4,242 | 6 |
Countries ranked near Eswatini
- 138 Malawi -5,628 compare
- 139 North Macedonia -5,645 compare
- 140 Botswana -5,665 compare
- 142 Eritrea -6,698 compare
- 143 Uzbekistan -6,987 compare
- 144 Bosnia and Herzegovina -6,994 compare
More financial sector data for Eswatini
- Reserve position in the IMF, US dollar, annual growth rate 5.01 % change on previous year (2025)
- Reserve position in the IMF, US dollar, per unit of GDP 0.0017 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Reserve position in the IMF, US dollar, per capita 7.15 units per person (2025)
- Reserve position in the IMF, SDR, annual growth rate 0 % change on previous year (2025)
- Reserve position in the IMF, SDR, per unit of GDP 0.0013 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Reserve position in the IMF, SDR, per capita 5.22 units per person (2025)
- Reserve tranche position, US dollar, annual growth rate 5.01 % change on previous year (2025)
- Reserve tranche position, US dollar, per unit of GDP 0.0017 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Reserve tranche position, US dollar, per capita 7.15 units per person (2025)
- Reserve tranche position, SDR, annual growth rate 0 % change on previous year (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is net migration in Eswatini?
- Net migration in Eswatini was -5,775 in 2025, according to World Population Prospects, United Nations (UN), publisher: UN Population Division.
- What is the highest net migration recorded in Eswatini?
- The highest recorded value was 14,879 in 1988.
- What is the lowest net migration recorded in Eswatini?
- The lowest recorded value was -48,259 in 1994.
- How does Eswatini rank for net migration?
- Eswatini ranks 141st out of 218 countries with data for 2025.
- Is net migration rising or falling in Eswatini?
- Over the last ten years it is up 54.1%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Eswatini data come from?
- The figures come from World Population Prospects, United Nations (UN), publisher: UN Population Division, published as part of Net migration. 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
Net migration is the net total of migrants during the period, that is, the number of immigrants minus the number of emigrants, including both citizens and noncitizens.