Refugees by country of asylum in Eswatini
Eswatini: Refugees by country of asylum was 1,295 people in 2024. ◆ Volatile
Refugees by country of asylum in Eswatini, 1970–2024
Source: UNHCR (2025) – with major processing by Our World in Data. Measured in people.
Analysis
The most recent figure for refugees by country of asylum in Eswatini is 1,295 people, measured in 2024.
The figure is up 7.7% on the previous year and up 153.4% over ten years.
Over the whole period, refugees by country of asylum in Eswatini peaked at 55,580 people in 1992 and was at its lowest, 50 people, in 1971.
That places Eswatini 124th out of 183 countries with data for 2024, putting it in the middle of the range.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Refugees by country of asylum in Eswatini, year by year
| Year | people | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1970 | 135 people | — |
| 1971 | 50 people | -63.0% |
| 1972 | 80 people | +60.0% |
| 1973 | 100 people | +25.0% |
| 1974 | 50 people | -50.0% |
| 1975 | 50 people | +0.0% |
| 1976 | 80 people | +60.0% |
| 1977 | 135 people | +68.8% |
| 1978 | 720 people | +433.3% |
| 1979 | 5,250 people | +629.2% |
| 1980 | 5,470 people | +4.2% |
| 1981 | 5,610 people | +2.6% |
| 1982 | 7,350 people | +31.0% |
| 1983 | 6,230 people | -15.2% |
| 1984 | 8,980 people | +44.1% |
| 1985 | 10,770 people | +19.9% |
| 1986 | 12,130 people | +12.6% |
| 1987 | 14,550 people | +20.0% |
| 1988 | 29,430 people | +102.3% |
| 1989 | 34,908 people | +18.6% |
| 1990 | 42,074 people | +20.5% |
| 1991 | 49,569 people | +17.8% |
| 1992 | 55,580 people | +12.1% |
| 1993 | 48,890 people | -12.0% |
| 1994 | 645 people | -98.7% |
| 1995 | 712 people | +10.4% |
| 1996 | 575 people | -19.2% |
| 1997 | 591 people | +2.8% |
| 1998 | 589 people | -0.3% |
| 1999 | 613 people | +4.1% |
| 2000 | 690 people | +12.6% |
| 2001 | 690 people | +0.0% |
| 2002 | 653 people | -5.4% |
| 2003 | 685 people | +4.9% |
| 2004 | 703 people | +2.6% |
| 2005 | 763 people | +8.5% |
| 2006 | 752 people | -1.4% |
| 2007 | 789 people | +4.9% |
| 2008 | 775 people | -1.8% |
| 2009 | 757 people | -2.3% |
| 2010 | 757 people | +0.0% |
| 2011 | 757 people | +0.0% |
| 2012 | 499 people | -34.1% |
| 2013 | 501 people | +0.4% |
| 2014 | 511 people | +2.0% |
| 2015 | 694 people | +35.8% |
| 2016 | 725 people | +4.5% |
| 2017 | 790 people | +9.0% |
| 2018 | 874 people | +10.6% |
| 2019 | 940 people | +7.6% |
| 2020 | 945 people | +0.5% |
| 2021 | 895 people | -5.3% |
| 2022 | 1,173 people | +31.1% |
| 2023 | 1,202 people | +2.5% |
| 2024 | 1,295 people | +7.7% |
Eswatini compared with similar countries
- Eswatini's 1,295 people is below the median for lower middle income countries, which is 9,240 people, 14% of the median. (43 countries reporting)
- Eswatini's 1,295 people is below the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 25,275 people, 5% of the median. (45 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Refugees by country of asylum 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1979 | +629.2% | 720 people | 5,250 people |
| 1978 | +433.3% | 135 people | 720 people |
| 1994 | -98.7% | 48,890 people | 645 people |
| 1988 | +102.3% | 14,550 people | 29,430 people |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1970s | 665 people | 50 people | 5,250 people | 10 |
| 1980s | 13,543 people | 5,470 people | 34,908 people | 10 |
| 1990s | 19,984 people | 575 people | 55,580 people | 10 |
| 2000s | 725.7 people | 653 people | 789 people | 10 |
| 2010s | 704.8 people | 499 people | 940 people | 10 |
| 2020s | 1,102 people | 895 people | 1,295 people | 5 |
Countries ranked near Eswatini
More reference data data for Eswatini
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Manure applied to Soils 0.0203 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Manure left on Pasture 0.3059 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - IPCC Agriculture 0.3309 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Crop Residues 0.0048 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Agricultural Soils 0.3309 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Manure applied to Soils 0.0679 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Manure Management 0.0557 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Manure left on Pasture 1.66 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - IPCC Agriculture 1.82 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Crop Residues 0.026 (2050)
Frequently asked questions
- What is refugees by country of asylum in Eswatini?
- Refugees by country of asylum in Eswatini was 1,295 people in 2024, according to UNHCR (2025) – with major processing by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest refugees by country of asylum recorded in Eswatini?
- The highest recorded value was 55,580 people in 1992.
- What is the lowest refugees by country of asylum recorded in Eswatini?
- The lowest recorded value was 50 people in 1971.
- How does Eswatini rank for refugees by country of asylum?
- Eswatini ranks 124th out of 183 countries with data for 2024.
- Is refugees by country of asylum rising or falling in Eswatini?
- Over the last ten years it is up 153.4%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Eswatini data come from?
- The figures come from UNHCR (2025) – with major processing by Our World in Data, published as part of Refugees by country of asylum. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
CSV · JSON — 55 observations, free to reuse under CC BY 4.0 (Our World in Data).
About this data
People who fled their country of origin and are in need of international protection. Refugees are those who have already been granted asylum status in the country they moved to. This includes all refugees who live in this country, not just those who arrived that year.