Updated
Overview
Mozambique has 28 times the population of Eswatini: 35.63 million people against 1.26 million (2025).
Mozambique's economy is 4.3 times the size of Eswatini's, at $22.34B versus $5.16B.
Per person, Eswatini is the wealthier of the two: $4,108 against $627 in GDP per capita.
Population
GDP (nominal)
GDP per capita
The full table
| Indicator | Mozambique | Eswatini | Years | Factbook, Jan 2026 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Economy | ||||
| GDP (nominal) | Higher: $22.34B | $5.16B | 2025 | $22.42B / $4.89B |
| GDP per capita | $627 | Higher: $4,108 | 2025 | — / — |
| GDP growth | -0.5% | Higher: 4.2% | 2025 | — / — |
| Inflation | 4.4% | Lower: 2.6% | 2025 / 2019 | 4.1% / — |
| Unemployment | Lower: 6.6% | 34.2% | 2025 | — / — |
| Price level (US=100) | 37 | 33 | 2024 / 2025 | — / — |
| Avg monthly earnings | $213 | Higher: $384 | 2022 / 2023 | — / — |
| Minimum wage | Higher: $149 | $33 | 2024 | — / — |
| People | ||||
| Population | 35.63 million | 1.26 million | 2025 | 34.21 million / 1.14 million |
| Population growth | 2.8% | 1.1% | 2025 | — / — |
| Median age | 16.5 yrs | 22.5 yrs | 2025 | — / — |
| Fertility rate | 4.62 | 2.68 | 2025 | — / — |
| Life expectancy | 63.8 yrs | Higher: 64.3 yrs | 2024 | — / — |
| Urban population | 37% | 27% | 2025 | — / — |
| Internet users | 21% | Higher: 63% | 2024 | — / — |
| Geography | ||||
| Area | 801,590 km² | 17,364 km² | — | — / — |
| Population density | 44.5/km² | 72.3/km² | 2025 | — / — |
| Environment | ||||
| CO2 emissions | 8.61 Mt | Lower: 1.04 Mt | 2024 | — / — |
| CO2 per capita | Lower: 0.2 t | 0.8 t | 2024 | — / — |
| Military | ||||
| Military spending | $450.45M | $79.66M | 2024 | — / — |
| Military spending (% GDP) | 2.0% | 1.4% | 2024 | — / — |
| Armed forces personnel | 11,000 | 3,000 | 2020 / 1999 | — / — |
Sources by row: World Bank WDI, IMF WEO, UN WPP 2024, ILOSTAT, The Economist. Emphasis marks the stronger figure where one direction is meaningfully better.
Reading the numbers
Economy
Eswatini grew while the other economy contracted: 4.2% against -0.5%.
Inflation is comparable in both: 4.4% in Mozambique and 2.6% in Eswatini.
Average monthly earnings favour Eswatini: $384 against $213 (ILOSTAT, latest available years).
People and society
Mozambique is the younger society: median age 16.5 versus 22.5 years.
Mozambique is considerably more urbanized: 37% of people live in cities, against 27%.
Internet adoption is higher in Eswatini (63% vs 21% of the population).
Geography
By land area, Mozambique is 46 times the size of Eswatini: 801,590 km² versus 17,364 km².
The two share a land border, which shapes their trade, migration, and security relationship.
Military
Mozambique spends 5.7 times as much on defence as Eswatini: $450.45M versus $79.66M (World Bank/SIPRI data).
Mozambique fields the larger armed forces: 11,000 personnel against 3,000 (note: personnel data lags; observation years shown in the table).
Frequently asked
- Is Mozambique bigger than Eswatini?
- Mozambique is larger by land area. Mozambique covers 801,590 km² while Eswatini covers 17,364 km², so Mozambique is 46 times the size of the other.
- Which has more people, Mozambique or Eswatini?
- Mozambique has the larger population: 35.63 million versus 1.26 million (World Bank, 2025).
- Is Mozambique richer than Eswatini?
- Measured by GDP per capita, Eswatini is richer: $4,108 against $627. Total GDP tells a different story: $22.34B for Mozambique versus $5.16B for Eswatini.
- Who spends more on their military, Mozambique or Eswatini?
- Mozambique spends more: $450.45M versus $79.66M per year (World Bank, SIPRI-derived data; observation years vary).