Eswatini: health and care

What is the life expectancy in Eswatini?

Life expectancy at birth in Eswatini was 64.3 years in 2024, up from 64.1 in 2023, according to the World Bank, which uses UN population estimates.

HIV has had a large effect on life expectancy in Eswatini. The share of adults aged 15 to 49 living with HIV was 23.4% in 2024, according to the World Bank, using UNAIDS estimates. Life expectancy summarises death rates across all ages in a single year.

Official sources: World Bank: Life expectancy at birth, Eswatini · World Bank: Prevalence of HIV, Eswatini

What share of people in Eswatini have HIV?

23.4% of adults aged 15 to 49 in Eswatini were living with HIV in 2024, down from 24.3% in 2023, according to the World Bank, which uses UNAIDS estimates. Tuberculosis incidence was 319 cases per 100,000 people in 2024, according to the World Bank, using WHO data.

Prevalence counts everyone living with the virus, including people on treatment, so it can stay high as fewer people die of AIDS. The national response is coordinated by NERCHA under the National Strategic Framework 2024 to 2028.

Official sources: World Bank: Prevalence of HIV, Eswatini · World Bank: Incidence of tuberculosis, Eswatini · NERCHA

What is the fertility rate in Eswatini?

The total fertility rate in Eswatini was 2.72 children per woman in 2024, down from 2.75 in 2023, according to the World Bank, which uses UN population estimates.

The total fertility rate is the average number of children a woman would have over her lifetime at current birth rates. Eswatini's population was about 1.26 million in 2025. National figures come from censuses and household surveys published by the government statistics office, whose website could not be reached on 15 October 2026.

Official sources: World Bank: Fertility rate, Eswatini

How many people with HIV in Eswatini are on treatment?

94% of people living with HIV in Eswatini were receiving antiretroviral therapy in 2024, according to UNAIDS estimates published by the World Bank. About 4,200 people were newly infected with HIV in 2024.

Treatment coverage measures the share of all people estimated to be living with HIV who are on treatment, not just those diagnosed. Both figures are modelled estimates from national programme data and surveys. The National Emergency Response Council on HIV and AIDS coordinates the national response.

Official sources: World Bank: antiretroviral therapy coverage, Eswatini · World Bank: new HIV infections, Eswatini

How many children die before age five in Eswatini?

45.1 children per 1,000 live births died before their fifth birthday in Eswatini in 2024, according to UN inter-agency estimates published by the World Bank. 20% of children under five were stunted in 2021.

These are modelled estimates that combine survey and other data, and are revised as new data come in. Stunting, being too short for one's age, reflects long-term undernutrition and illness.

Official sources: World Bank: under-five mortality, Eswatini · World Bank: stunting, Eswatini

What is maternal mortality in Eswatini?

Eswatini had an estimated 118 maternal deaths per 100,000 live births in 2023, according to UN inter-agency estimates published by the World Bank.

The figure is a modelled estimate, because not every death and its cause is registered. It counts deaths of women from pregnancy-related causes during pregnancy or within 42 days of its end. Estimates have wide uncertainty ranges.

Official sources: World Bank: maternal mortality ratio, Eswatini

How much does Eswatini spend on health?

Current health spending in Eswatini was 7.5% of GDP in 2023, according to WHO estimates published by the World Bank. Measles vaccination coverage was 85% among children aged 12 to 23 months in 2024.

Current health spending counts spending by government, households, insurers and donors, but not investment in buildings or equipment. A share of GDP shows size relative to the economy, not spending per person.

Official sources: World Bank: current health expenditure, Eswatini · World Bank: measles immunisation, Eswatini

What is life expectancy in Eswatini?

The latest figure from the UN Population Division, for 2024, is 64.3 years. That is the highest since at least 2005. Sub-Saharan Africa median: 64.3 years; Eswatini is 24th highest of 48. Worldwide: 168th of 193.

What is the infant mortality rate in Eswatini?

In 2024, the infant mortality rate in Eswatini was 42.2 per 1,000, according to the UN Inter-agency Group for Child Mortality Estimation. No year since 2005 has been lower. Sub-Saharan Africa median: 37.2 per 1,000; Eswatini is 21st highest of 48. Worldwide: 24th of 192.

How many women die in childbirth in Eswatini?

118 per 100,000: that is the maternal mortality ratio in Eswatini for 2023, according to the WHO. Its high point since 2005 was 2009, at 855 per 100,000; its low point was 2019, at 96.0 per 100,000. Across Sub-Saharan Africa the middle value was 257 per 100,000, and Eswatini placed 41st highest of 48. World rank, highest first: 60th of 192.

What share of GDP does Eswatini spend on health care?

The WHO puts current health spending in Eswatini at 7.5% of GDP in 2023. Since 2005 it has ranged from 6.8% of GDP (2016) to 8.9% of GDP (2008). Sub-Saharan Africa median: 4.4% of GDP; Eswatini is 11th highest of 48. Worldwide: 70th of 191.

What is out-of-pocket health spending in Eswatini?

11.0%: that is out-of-pocket health spending in Eswatini for 2023, according to the WHO. The peak was 13.2% in 2005 and the low 9.2% in 2019. Sub-Saharan Africa median: 32.4%; Eswatini is 41st highest of 48. Worldwide: 162nd of 191.

How many doctors does Eswatini have?

The WHO puts the number of doctors per 1,000 people in Eswatini at 0.56 per 1,000 in 2023. Since 2009 it has ranged from 0.09 per 1,000 (2016) to 0.56 per 1,000 (2022). It is 2nd highest of 16 in Sub-Saharan Africa, where the median is 0.18 per 1,000. Of 58 countries with 2023 data, 38th highest.

What is measles vaccine coverage in Eswatini?

In 2024, measles vaccination among children aged 12 to 23 months in Eswatini was 85.0%, according to WHO and UNICEF. Its high point since 2005 was 2013, at 97.0%; its low point was 2020, at 76.0%. Sub-Saharan Africa median: 81.0%; Eswatini is 20th highest of 48. World rank, highest first: 124th of 191.