Eswatini Dependency Ratio
Age dependency ratio (% of working-age population) SP.POP.DPND
Eswatini's dependency ratio was 59.59 in 2025, ranked 77th globally. This represents a 1.2% decrease from 2024. Data from World Bank, covering 1960–2025.
Overview
Eswatini's dependency ratio stood at 59.59 in 2025, a decline of +0.70 from 2024. Based on recent trends, this figure is projected to reach 59.59 by 2025. Eswatini ranked 77th globally.
Eswatini’s total dependency ratio fell dramatically from a post‑independence high of 99.19 in 1960 to an all‑time trough of 59.59 in 2025, the lowest level recorded over the 66‑year series and the 77th lowest globally. The ratio peaked at 109.64 in 1985, reflecting a period when a large cohort of children and elderly depended on a relatively small working‑age population, a pattern common in many low‑income economies during the 1980s. By 2025 the ratio had contracted to 59.59, closely matching the figures of Greece (59.65), Serbia (59.41) and Croatia (59.80), signalling that Eswatini’s demographic structure now resembles that of several middle‑income European states. The decline is driven by declining fertility, modest increases in labor‑force participation and gradual improvements in health that have reduced the proportion of dependents. If fertility continues to fall and the working‑age cohort expands, the dependency ratio is likely to remain low, reinforcing fiscal sustainability, although a sudden rise in life expectancy could modestly reverse the trend.
Data & projection
| Year | Dependency Ratio | YoY change | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2027* trend | 58.40 | - | - |
| 2026* trend | 59.00 | - | - |
| 2025* trend | 59.59 | - | - |
| 2025 | 59.59 | −0.70 | #77 |
| 2024 | 60.29 | −0.52 | #147 |
| 2023 | 60.81 | −0.39 | #148 |
| 2022 | 61.20 | −0.63 | #153 |
| 2021 | 61.83 | −0.93 | #155 |
| 2020 | 62.76 | −0.94 | #158 |
| 2019 | 63.70 | −0.89 | #158 |
| 2018 | 64.59 | −0.85 | #159 |
| 2017 | 65.44 | −0.81 | #159 |
| 2016 | 66.25 | −0.91 | #161 |
| 2015 | 67.16 | −0.99 | #162 |
| 2014 | 68.16 | −0.89 | #163 |
| 2013 | 69.05 | −0.78 | #163 |
| 2012 | 69.82 | −0.83 | #165 |
| 2011 | 70.66 | −1.03 | #165 |
Detected Pattern
Analysis
Eswatini matched the Export Boom Cycle pattern in 2012. Historically, 71% of countries showing this pattern (546 out of 768) saw dependency ratio improve within 24 months. View full analysis →
Frequently Asked Questions
Eswatini's dependency ratio was 59.59 in 2025. Ranked 77th globally. This represents a 1.2% decrease from the previous year.
Eswatini's dependency ratio peaked at 109.64 in 1985.
The lowest dependency ratio in Eswatini was 59.59 in 2025.
Eswatini ranks 77th globally in dependency ratio as of 2025.
The World Bank indicator code is SP.POP.DPND. Data sourced from World Bank.
Eswatini's dependency ratio is projected to reach 59.59 by 2025 based on trend extrapolation.
The dependency ratio of Eswatini in 2025 was 59.59. This ranks 77th in the world.
Cite this page
@misc{historysaid_eswatini_dependency-ratio,
title = {Eswatini Dependency Ratio},
url = {https://historysaid.com/eswatini/dependency-ratio/},
publisher = {HistorySaid},
year = {2026}
}