Matchup file

Eswatini vs South Africa

115 shared metrics.

EswatiniLeads in 33

vs115 shared

South AfricaLeads in 82

Turn the comparison into a round

Think you can spot the next winner?

South Africa leads by 49 metrics. Use the same instinct in a quick real-data brawl.

Play this matchup Biggest Gaps

Country briefing

What matters for both sides

Short real-world notes so the comparison reads like more than a stat strip.

Eswatini

Quick notes before you compare the numbers.

Identity

Formal name: Kingdom of Eswatini.

CIA 2026

Identity

Name origin: the country name derives from 19th century King MSWATI II, under whose rule Swati territory was expanded and unified.

CIA 2026

South Africa

Quick notes before you compare the numbers.

Identity

Formal name: Republic of South Africa.

CIA 2026

Curated stat

South Africa splits its capitals three ways: Pretoria runs administration, Cape Town legislates, and Bloemfontein anchors the judiciary.

Gov.za

Analysis

South Africa leads in 82 of 115 shared metrics, while Eswatini leads in 33.

Eswatini's Renewable Energy (%) is 5.7x that of South Africa (64.7% vs 9.7%).

Eswatini's Firms Making Informal Payments is 5.5x that of South Africa (9.7% of firms vs 1.5% of firms).

Eswatini's GDP Growth Rate is 4.6x that of South Africa (3.0% vs 0.53%).

Eswatini's Firms Asked for Bribes is 3.9x that of South Africa (7.6% of firms vs 1.5% of firms).

Eswatini's Nurses & Midwives is 2.1x that of South Africa (3.2 per 1k vs 1.0 per 1k).

Key Comparisons

Renewable Energy (%)Eswatini leads

Eswatini

64.7%

South Africa

9.7%

Firms Making Informal PaymentsEswatini leads

Eswatini

9.7% of firms

South Africa

1.5% of firms

GDP Growth RateEswatini leads

Eswatini

3.0%

South Africa

0.53%

Firms Asked for BribesEswatini leads

Eswatini

7.6% of firms

South Africa

1.5% of firms

Nurses & MidwivesEswatini leads

Eswatini

3.2 per 1k

South Africa

1.0 per 1k

FDI Inflows (% GDP)Eswatini leads

Eswatini

1.6% of GDP

South Africa

0.58% of GDP

All Metrics

Renewable Energy (%)

Eswatini

64.7%

South Africa

9.7%

567% higher

Firms Making Informal Payments

Eswatini

9.7% of firms

South Africa

1.5% of firms

555% higher

GDP Growth Rate

Eswatini

3.0%

South Africa

0.53%

456% higher

Firms Asked for Bribes

Eswatini

7.6% of firms

South Africa

1.5% of firms

394% higher

Nurses & Midwives

Eswatini

3.2 per 1k

South Africa

1.0 per 1k

207% higher

FDI Inflows (% GDP)

Eswatini

1.6% of GDP

South Africa

0.58% of GDP

168% higher

Forest Coverage (%)

Eswatini

29.14%

South Africa

13.97%

109% higher

Military Spending

Eswatini

1.4% of GDP

South Africa

0.70% of GDP

106% higher

Air Passengers

South Africa

Eswatini

34.7K

South Africa

15.45M

100% lower

Scientific Publications

South Africa

Eswatini

43.19

South Africa

16.7K

100% lower

Tourism Revenue

South Africa

Eswatini

$7,300,000.19

South Africa

$2,716,000,000

100% lower

Total CO2 Emissions

South Africa

Eswatini

1.1 Mt CO2e

South Africa

440.17 Mt CO2e

100% lower

Electric Generating Capacity

South Africa

Eswatini

285.0K kW

South Africa

65.99M kW

100% lower

Electricity Generation

South Africa

Eswatini

0.56 TWh

South Africa

244.81 TWh

100% lower

Railway Length

South Africa

Eswatini

301 km

South Africa

30.4K km

99% lower

Land Area

South Africa

Eswatini

17.2K km²

South Africa

1.21M km²

99% lower

GDP (Nominal)

South Africa

Eswatini

$4,858,885,840.77

South Africa

$401,144,998,373.59

99% lower

Population

South Africa

Eswatini

1.14M

South Africa

61.09M

98% lower

Forest Area

South Africa

Eswatini

5.0K km²

South Africa

169.4K km²

97% lower

Airports

South Africa

Eswatini

South Africa

583

97% lower

Comparison of Eswatini and South Africa across 115 metrics
				Winner
Renewable Energy (%)	64.7%	9.7%	567% higher	Eswatini
Firms Making Informal Payments	9.7% of firms	1.5% of firms	555% higher	Eswatini
GDP Growth Rate	3.0%	0.53%	456% higher	Eswatini
Firms Asked for Bribes	7.6% of firms	1.5% of firms	394% higher	Eswatini
Nurses & Midwives	3.2 per 1k	1.0 per 1k	207% higher	Eswatini
FDI Inflows (% GDP)	1.6% of GDP	0.58% of GDP	168% higher	Eswatini
Forest Coverage (%)	29.14%	13.97%	109% higher	Eswatini
Military Spending	1.4% of GDP	0.70% of GDP	106% higher	Eswatini
Air Passengers	34.7K	15.45M	100% lower	South Africa
Scientific Publications	43.19	16.7K	100% lower	South Africa
Tourism Revenue	$7,300,000.19	$2,716,000,000	100% lower	South Africa
Total CO2 Emissions	1.1 Mt CO2e	440.17 Mt CO2e	100% lower	South Africa
Electric Generating Capacity	285.0K kW	65.99M kW	100% lower	South Africa
Electricity Generation	0.56 TWh	244.81 TWh	100% lower	South Africa
Railway Length	301 km	30.4K km	99% lower	South Africa
Land Area	17.2K km²	1.21M km²	99% lower	South Africa
GDP (Nominal)	$4,858,885,840.77	$401,144,998,373.59	99% lower	South Africa
Population	1.14M	61.09M	98% lower	South Africa
Forest Area	5.0K km²	169.4K km²	97% lower	South Africa
Airports	16	583	97% lower	South Africa
Irrigated Land	500 km²	16.7K km²	97% lower	South Africa
Coal Electricity Share	3.3%	81.36%	96% lower	South Africa
Water Withdrawal	1.1 B m³	21.11 B m³	95% lower	South Africa
High-Tech Exports (%)	0.29%	5.7%	95% lower	South Africa
Tourist Arrivals	345.3K	3.89M	91% lower	South Africa
Land Border Length	546 km	5.2K km	90% lower	South Africa
CO2 Per Capita	0.84 t/person/yr	6.9 t/person/yr	88% lower	South Africa
Spirits Consumption	0.14 L/person/yr	1.1 L/person/yr	86% lower	South Africa
Freedom of Expression Index	0.11	0.84	86% lower	South Africa
Liberal Democracy Index	0.10	0.63	85% lower	South Africa
Electoral Democracy Index	0.13	0.74	83% lower	South Africa
Official Languages Count	2.0	12	83% lower	South Africa
Electricity Carbon Intensity	131.15 gCO2/kWh	699.29 gCO2/kWh	81% lower	South Africa
Imports (% GDP)	53.72% of GDP	29.85% of GDP	80% higher	Eswatini
Infant Mortality	43.5 per 1k births	24.4 per 1k births	78% higher	Eswatini
Homicide Rate	12.51 per 100k	43.72 per 100k	71% lower	South Africa
Exports (% GDP)	53.76% of GDP	31.79% of GDP	69% higher	Eswatini
Border Neighbors	2.0	6.0	67% lower	South Africa
Electricity Use (Per Capita)	1.1K kWh/person	3.2K kWh/person	65% lower	South Africa
Mobile Money Accounts	50.41% of adults	31.62% of adults	59% higher	Eswatini
Urban Population (%)	26.25%	63.69%	59% lower	South Africa
Insufficient Physical Activity	19.22% of adults	44.8% of adults	57% lower	South Africa
Protected Land (%)	4.2%	9.5%	56% lower	South Africa
Tobacco Use Prevalence	10.7% of adults	23.6% of adults	55% lower	South Africa
Government Debt (% GDP)	35.9% of GDP	79.45% of GDP	55% lower	South Africa
Smoking Rate	9.5%	20.7%	54% lower	South Africa
Women's Political Empowerment	0.39	0.83	53% lower	South Africa
Informal Employment Share	53.3% of employed people	34.81% of employed people	53% higher	Eswatini
Women in Parliament (%)	21.62%	44.7%	52% lower	South Africa
Energy Use (Per Capita)	958.92 kg oil eq/person	1.9K kg oil eq/person	51% lower	South Africa
Health Spending Per Capita	$283.88	$569.84	50% lower	South Africa
Credit Card Ownership	5.0% of adults	9.7% of adults	49% lower	South Africa
Highest Elevation	1.9K m	3.5K m	46% lower	South Africa
Corruption Perceptions Index	23 pts	41 pts	44% lower	South Africa
Safe Drinking Water (%)	38.22%	68.01%	44% lower	South Africa
Inflation Rate	2.6%	4.4%	41% lower	South Africa
GNI Per Capita	$3,590	$6,110	41% lower	South Africa
Solar Electricity Share	4.9%	8.0%	39% lower	South Africa
Food Waste per Person	129.76 kg/person/yr	93.36 kg/person/yr	39% higher	Eswatini
Population Density	71.54 /km²	52.11 /km²	37% higher	Eswatini
Women in Senior Management	25.22% of managers	39.27% of managers	36% lower	South Africa
Elderly Population (%)	4.3%	6.7%	36% lower	South Africa
Firms Hit by Power Outages	58.49% of firms	92.02% of firms	36% lower	South Africa
Seafood Consumption per Person	4.2 kg/person/yr	6.5 kg/person/yr	35% lower	South Africa
Minimum Paid Vacation Days	10 days/yr	15 days/yr	33% lower	South Africa
Teen Birth Rate	68.73 per 1k	51.56 per 1k	33% higher	Eswatini
Beer Consumption	2.2 L/person/yr	3.1 L/person/yr	30% lower	South Africa
Child Mortality	45 per 1k births	34.7 per 1k births	30% higher	Eswatini
Doctors (per 1,000)	0.56 per 1k	0.79 per 1k	29% lower	South Africa
Youth Population (%)	33.35%	25.88%	29% higher	Eswatini
Death Rate	8.3 per 1k	6.6 per 1k	27% higher	Eswatini
Dependency Ratio	60.29% of working-age pop.	48.31% of working-age pop.	25% higher	Eswatini
Internet Users (%)	58%	76%	24% lower	South Africa
GDP Per Capita (PPP)	$11,799.2	$15,456.2	24% lower	South Africa
Median Age	22.0 years	28.2 years	22% lower	South Africa
Suicide Rate	27.23 per 100k	22.3 per 100k	22% higher	Eswatini
Life Evaluation Score	3.9 pts	5.0 pts	22% lower	South Africa
Air Pollution (PM2.5)	18.78 µg/m³	23.75 µg/m³	21% lower	South Africa
Birth Rate	20.66 per 1k	17.21 per 1k	20% higher	Eswatini
ATMs per 100,000 Adults	41.4 per 100k	50.46 per 100k	18% lower	South Africa
Fertility Rate	2.6 children/woman	2.2 children/woman	18% higher	Eswatini
Health Spending (% GDP)	7.2% of GDP	8.8% of GDP	18% lower	South Africa
Sanitation Access (%)	64.46%	77.38%	17% lower	South Africa
Mobile Subscriptions (%)	140 per 100 people	167 per 100 people	16% lower	South Africa
Water Stress (%)	40.45%	47.12%	14% lower	South Africa
Agricultural Land (%)	69.48%	79.42%	13% lower	South Africa
Firms with Female Top Manager	33.95% of firms	38.51% of firms	12% lower	South Africa
Capital Elevation	1.2K m	1.4K m	11% lower	South Africa
Obesity Rate	27.31%	30.03%	9% lower	South Africa
Youth Unemployment Rate	54.33% of youth labor force	59.93% of youth labor force	9% lower	South Africa
Digital Payments Used	61.22% of adults	67.17% of adults	9% lower	South Africa
Human Development Index	0.69	0.74	6% lower	South Africa
Alcohol Consumption	6.8 L/adult/yr	7.1 L/adult/yr	5% lower	South Africa
Can Raise Emergency Money	71.57% of adults	68.2% of adults	5% higher	Eswatini
Unemployment Rate	34.4%	33.17%	4% higher	Eswatini
Tax Revenue (% GDP)	24.35% of GDP	25.4% of GDP	4% lower	South Africa
Political Corruption Index	0.55	0.54	3% higher	Eswatini
Life Expectancy	64.1 years	66.1 years	3% lower	South Africa
Milk Consumption per Person	56.6 kg/person/yr	55.75 kg/person/yr	2% higher	Eswatini
Hypertension Prevalence	43.7% of adults	44.4% of adults	2% lower	South Africa
Average Weekly Work Hours	42.74 hrs/week	42.39 hrs/week	1% higher	Eswatini
Electricity Access (%)	86.4%	87.7%	1% lower	South Africa
Road Traffic Death Rate	24.7 per 100k	24.5 per 100k	1% higher	Eswatini
Time Zones Count	3.0 time zones	3.0 time zones	equal	Eswatini
Coastline Length	0 km	2.8K km	ranked lower	South Africa
Wind Electricity Share	0%	4.7%	ranked lower	South Africa
Broadband Access (%)	3.0 per 100 people	3.0 per 100 people	equal	Eswatini
Adult Literacy Rate	90.75%	91.15%	equal	South Africa
Education Spending (% GDP)	6.0% of GDP	6.0% of GDP	equal	Eswatini
Nobel Laureates Born per Million People	0 per 1M people	0.15 per 1M people	ranked lower	South Africa
Lowest Elevation	21 m	0 m	ranked higher	Eswatini
Current Account Balance (% of GDP)	-0.6% of GDP	-0.5% of GDP	ranked lower	South Africa
UNESCO World Heritage Sites	0 sites	12 sites	ranked lower	South Africa
EV Chargers per 100,000 PeopleSource: © OpenStreetMap contributors - Open Database License (ODbL)	0 per 100k people	0.01 per 100k people	ranked lower	South Africa
McDonald's Outlets per Million PeopleSource: © OpenStreetMap contributors - Open Database License (ODbL)	0 per 1M people	3.5 per 1M people	ranked lower	South Africa

Build a Matchup

Country A

Country B

Next move

Pick the next country or jump back in.

Play this matchup

Eswatini South Africa

Analysis

South Africa leads in 82 of 115 shared metrics, while Eswatini leads in 33.

Eswatini's Renewable Energy (%) is 5.7x that of South Africa (64.7% vs 9.7%).

Eswatini's Firms Making Informal Payments is 5.5x that of South Africa (9.7% of firms vs 1.5% of firms).

Eswatini's GDP Growth Rate is 4.6x that of South Africa (3.0% vs 0.53%).

Eswatini's Firms Asked for Bribes is 3.9x that of South Africa (7.6% of firms vs 1.5% of firms).

Eswatini's Nurses & Midwives is 2.1x that of South Africa (3.2 per 1k vs 1.0 per 1k).

Key Comparisons

Renewable Energy (%)Eswatini leads

Eswatini

64.7%

South Africa

9.7%

Firms Making Informal PaymentsEswatini leads

Eswatini

9.7% of firms

South Africa

1.5% of firms

GDP Growth RateEswatini leads

Eswatini

3.0%

South Africa

0.53%

Firms Asked for BribesEswatini leads

Eswatini

7.6% of firms

South Africa

1.5% of firms

Nurses & MidwivesEswatini leads

Eswatini

3.2 per 1k

South Africa

1.0 per 1k

FDI Inflows (% GDP)Eswatini leads

Eswatini

1.6% of GDP

South Africa

0.58% of GDP

Renewable Energy (%)

64.7%

9.7%

Firms Making Informal Payments

9.7% of firms

1.5% of firms

GDP Growth Rate

3.0%

0.53%

Firms Asked for Bribes

7.6% of firms

1.5% of firms

Nurses & Midwives

3.2 per 1k

1.0 per 1k

FDI Inflows (% GDP)

1.6% of GDP

0.58% of GDP

Forest Coverage (%)

29.14%

13.97%

Military Spending

1.4% of GDP

0.70% of GDP

Air Passengers

34.7K

15.45M

Scientific Publications

43.19

16.7K

Tourism Revenue

$7,300,000.19

$2,716,000,000

Total CO2 Emissions

1.1 Mt CO2e

440.17 Mt CO2e

Electric Generating Capacity

285.0K kW

65.99M kW

Electricity Generation

0.56 TWh

244.81 TWh

Railway Length

301 km

30.4K km

Land Area

17.2K km²

1.21M km²

GDP (Nominal)

$4,858,885,840.77

$401,144,998,373.59

Population

1.14M

61.09M

Forest Area

5.0K km²

169.4K km²

Airports

583

Eswatini vs South Africa

Think you can spot the next winner?

What matters for both sides

Eswatini

South Africa

Analysis

Key Comparisons

All Metrics

Renewable Energy (%)

Firms Making Informal Payments

GDP Growth Rate

Firms Asked for Bribes

Nurses & Midwives

FDI Inflows (% GDP)

Forest Coverage (%)

Military Spending

Air Passengers

Scientific Publications

Tourism Revenue

Total CO2 Emissions

Electric Generating Capacity

Electricity Generation

Railway Length

Land Area

GDP (Nominal)

Population

Forest Area

Airports

Irrigated Land

Coal Electricity Share

Water Withdrawal

High-Tech Exports (%)

Tourist Arrivals

Land Border Length

CO2 Per Capita

Spirits Consumption

Freedom of Expression Index

Liberal Democracy Index

Electoral Democracy Index

Official Languages Count

Electricity Carbon Intensity

Imports (% GDP)

Infant Mortality

Homicide Rate

Exports (% GDP)

Border Neighbors

Electricity Use (Per Capita)

Mobile Money Accounts

Urban Population (%)

Insufficient Physical Activity

Protected Land (%)

Tobacco Use Prevalence

Government Debt (% GDP)

Smoking Rate

Women's Political Empowerment

Informal Employment Share

Women in Parliament (%)

Energy Use (Per Capita)

Health Spending Per Capita

Credit Card Ownership

Highest Elevation

Corruption Perceptions Index

Safe Drinking Water (%)

Inflation Rate

GNI Per Capita

Solar Electricity Share

Food Waste per Person

Population Density

Women in Senior Management

Elderly Population (%)

Firms Hit by Power Outages

Seafood Consumption per Person

Minimum Paid Vacation Days

Teen Birth Rate

Beer Consumption

Child Mortality

Doctors (per 1,000)

Youth Population (%)

Death Rate

Dependency Ratio