Updated
Overview
South Africa has 52 times the population of Eswatini: 64.75 million people against 1.26 million (2025).
South Africa's economy is 83 times the size of Eswatini's, at $427.18B versus $5.16B.
Per person, South Africa is the wealthier of the two: $6,598 against $4,108 in GDP per capita.
Population
GDP (nominal)
GDP per capita
The full table
| Indicator | South Africa | Eswatini | Years | Factbook, Jan 2026 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Economy | ||||
| GDP (nominal) | Higher: $427.18B | $5.16B | 2025 | $400.26B / $4.89B |
| GDP per capita | Higher: $6,598 | $4,108 | 2025 | — / — |
| GDP growth | 1.1% | Higher: 4.2% | 2025 | — / — |
| Inflation | 3.2% | Lower: 2.6% | 2025 / 2019 | 4.4% / — |
| Unemployment | Lower: 32.4% | 34.2% | 2025 | — / — |
| Price level (US=100) | 41 | 33 | 2025 | — / — |
| Avg monthly earnings | Higher: $485 | $384 | 2020 / 2023 | — / — |
| Minimum wage | Higher: $261 | $33 | 2024 | — / — |
| Big Mac price | $3.49 | — | — | — / — |
| People | ||||
| Population | 64.75 million | 1.26 million | 2025 | 61.09 million / 1.14 million |
| Population growth | 1.1% | 1.1% | 2025 | — / — |
| Median age | 28.7 yrs | 22.5 yrs | 2025 | — / — |
| Fertility rate | 2.19 | 2.68 | 2025 | — / — |
| Life expectancy | Higher: 66.3 yrs | 64.3 yrs | 2024 | — / — |
| Urban population | 64% | 27% | 2025 | — / — |
| Internet users | Higher: 78% | 63% | 2024 | — / — |
| Geography | ||||
| Area | 1,221,037 km² | 17,364 km² | — | — / — |
| Population density | 53.0/km² | 72.3/km² | 2025 | — / — |
| Environment | ||||
| CO2 emissions | 440 Mt | Lower: 1.04 Mt | 2024 | — / — |
| CO2 per capita | 6.9 t | Lower: 0.8 t | 2024 | — / — |
| Military | ||||
| Military spending | $2.84B | $79.66M | 2024 | — / — |
| Military spending (% GDP) | 0.7% | 1.4% | 2024 | — / — |
| Armed forces personnel | 89,000 | 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 is growing much faster: 4.2% annual GDP growth versus 1.1%.
Inflation is comparable in both: 3.2% in South Africa and 2.6% in Eswatini.
Day-to-day prices are noticeably lower in Eswatini: a price level of 33 versus 41 on a US=100 scale.
Average monthly earnings favour South Africa: $485 against $384 (ILOSTAT, latest available years).
People and society
Eswatini is the younger society: median age 22.5 versus 28.7 years.
Life expectancy is 2.0 years longer in South Africa (66.3 vs 64.3).
South Africa is considerably more urbanized: 64% of people live in cities, against 27%.
Internet adoption is higher in South Africa (78% vs 63% of the population).
Geography
By land area, South Africa is 70 times the size of Eswatini: 1,221,037 km² versus 17,364 km².
The two share a land border, which shapes their trade, migration, and security relationship.
Military
South Africa spends 36 times as much on defence as Eswatini: $2.84B versus $79.66M (World Bank/SIPRI data).
South Africa fields the larger armed forces: 89,000 personnel against 3,000 (note: personnel data lags; observation years shown in the table).
Frequently asked
- Is South Africa bigger than Eswatini?
- South Africa is larger by land area. South Africa covers 1,221,037 km² while Eswatini covers 17,364 km², so South Africa is 70 times the size of the other.
- Which has more people, South Africa or Eswatini?
- South Africa has the larger population: 64.75 million versus 1.26 million (World Bank, 2025).
- Is South Africa richer than Eswatini?
- Measured by GDP per capita, South Africa is richer: $6,598 against $4,108. Total GDP tells the same story: $427.18B for South Africa versus $5.16B for Eswatini.
- Who spends more on their military, South Africa or Eswatini?
- South Africa spends more: $2.84B versus $79.66M per year (World Bank, SIPRI-derived data; observation years vary).