Photo: Caitlin from Hertfordshire, UK derivative work: Jjtkk · CC BY 2.0 · via Wikimedia Commons, shown in greyscale
Topic 08 of 18 · Country Index 2026
Eswatini: Gender & Equality
How wide is the gap between women's and men's lives?
Eswatini is placed 135th of 183 countries on gender & equality in the Country Index 2026, from 3 of its 4 key statistics. Readings behind it: Women, Business and the Law 46.25 (2025); Women's Political Empowerment Index 0.391 (2025).
Share
Gender & Equality
135th
of 183 countries placed
Placed from 3 of 4 key statistics
- 46.25Women, Business and the Law, 2025WBL Index (0–100, where 100 is full legal parity)
- 0.391Women's Political Empowerment Index, 2025Women's political empowerment index (0–1)
- 33.95Firms with a Female Top Manager, 2025Firms with a female top manager (%)
- —Social Institutions and Gender Index, 2023No reading for this country
01The evidence
The 4 key statistics that decide it
Only these place Eswatini on gender & equality — one vote each. Every value is the publisher’s own, read at the edition the Country Index 2026 used — or, for a survey-based key, each country’s latest reading; the grey ticks are every other country it was compared with, lowest on the left.
46.25
WBL Index (0–100, where 100 is full legal parity)
Higher is better
Eswatini: 46.25. Across the 190 countries in this edition, values run from 3.125 (Afghanistan) to 100 (Sweden); the world median is 81.25.
- World median
- 81.25
- Best in Southern Africa
- 90 Lesotho
- Land neighbours
- Mozambique 79.38 · South Africa 88.13
Key 2 of 4
Women's Political Empowerment Index
V-Dem Institute, University of Gothenburg
2025 edition · data for 2025 · CC BY-SA 4.0
0.391
Women's political empowerment index (0–1)
Higher is better
Eswatini: 0.391. Across the 176 countries in this edition, values run from 0.028 (Afghanistan) to 0.954 (Denmark); the world median is 0.772.
- World median
- 0.772
- Best in Southern Africa
- 0.855 Namibia
- Land neighbours
- Mozambique 0.725 · South Africa 0.83
Key 3 of 4
Firms with a Female Top Manager
World Bank Group
Latest reading per country, 2016–2025 · Eswatini’s is from 2024 · CC BY 4.0
33.95
Firms with a female top manager (%)
Higher is better
Eswatini: 33.95. Across the 179 countries at their latest reading, values run from 1.429 (Qatar) to 62.9 (Kiribati); the world median is 19.16.
- World median
- 19.16
- Best in Southern Africa
- 38.51 South Africa
- Land neighbours
- Mozambique 21.32 · South Africa 38.51
Key 4 of 4
Social Institutions and Gender Index
OECD
2023 edition · data for 2023 · OECD Terms and Conditions — data clause
No reading
SIGI score (0 = no discrimination, 100 = absolute)
Lower is better
OECD publishes no 2023 figure for Eswatini, so the standing rests on the other keys.
Across the 140 countries in this edition, values run from 6.7 (Norway) to 67.4 (Mauritania); the world median is 25.2.
- World median
- 25.2
- Best in Southern Africa
- 23 South Africa
- Land neighbours
- Mozambique 20.7 · South Africa 23
02Over time
Which way Eswatini is moving
Each key’s published value, edition by edition, beside the world median. The Country Index 2026 is the first edition of the standing, so the standing itself has no history to chart yet.
Women, Business and the Law
WBL Index (0–100, where 100 is full legal parity) · higher is better
EswatiniWorld median
Eswatini rose from 38.75 in 2000 to 46.25 in 2025; the world median went from 63.13 to 81.25.
Every year’s figures
Year Eswatini World median 2025 46 81.3 2023 46 81.3 2022 46 80.3 2021 46 80.0 2020 46 79.7 2019 46 78.8 2018 44 77.5 2017 44 77.5 2016 44 76.9 2015 44 75.9 2014 44 75.6 2013 44 75.0 2012 39 73.8 2011 39 73.1 2010 39 73.1 2009 39 72.5 2008 39 71.3 2007 39 69.7 2006 39 68.8 2005 39 67.2 2004 39 66.9 2003 39 64.7 2002 39 63.8 2001 39 63.8 2000 39 63.1 Women's Political Empowerment Index
Women's political empowerment index (0–1) · higher is better
EswatiniWorld median
Eswatini rose from 0.294 in 2000 to 0.391 in 2025; the world median went from 0.681 to 0.772.
Every year’s figures
Year Eswatini World median 2025 0.391 0.7715 2024 0.385 0.7745 2023 0.294 0.7755 2022 0.276 0.7825 2021 0.298 0.7785 2020 0.325 0.7755 2019 0.327 0.7665 2018 0.317 0.7715 2017 0.310 0.7710 2016 0.323 0.7780 2015 0.323 0.7755 2014 0.323 0.7795 2013 0.323 0.7730 2012 0.376 0.7740 2011 0.376 0.7650 2010 0.373 0.7610 2009 0.372 0.7515 2008 0.372 0.7505 2007 0.372 0.7380 2006 0.353 0.7290 2005 0.343 0.7350 2004 0.344 0.7205 2003 0.344 0.7160 2002 0.294 0.7150 2001 0.294 0.6950 2000 0.294 0.6810
03In context
Eswatini beside its neighbours
A position reads best beside the countries around it. Every position below is a place among all 183 countries on gender & equality, never a place within the region.
Eswatini and the countries it borders
Standing among all 183; the key columns are the publishers’ own values.
| Country | Standing | Women, Business and the LawWBL Index (0–100, where 100 is full legal parity) | Women's Political Empowerment IndexWomen's political empowerment index (0–1) | Firms with a Female Top ManagerFirms with a female top manager (%) | Social Institutions and Gender IndexSIGI score (0 = no discrimination, 100 = absolute) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 South Africa | 40th | 88.13 | 0.83 | 38.51 | 23 |
 Mozambique | =97th | 79.38 | 0.725 | 21.32 | 20.7 |
| Eswatini | 135th | 46.25 | 0.391 | 33.95 | — |
“—”: no published reading in that edition. What a standing is
Across Southern Africa
Every country in the sub-region, by its place among all 183.
- South Africa40th
Lesotho=62nd
Namibia66th
Botswana121st- Eswatini135th
Placed either side on gender & equality
The countries immediately above and below Eswatini in the topic’s list.
04Context, no vote
Where Eswatini is ahead of the world, and behind
20 more statistics filed under gender & equality, published in full and deliberately given no vote in the standing. Select a row for the publisher, the rank and the links.
Ahead of the world median4
Statistics on which Eswatini does better than the middle country measured.
Child MarriageUNICEF · 2025 · world median 17.11.917.1No earlier reading
Eswatini: 1.9 · world median 17.1 · Women 20–24 married before 18 (%). UNICEF, 2025 edition, data for 2025.
Published values in that edition run from 0 to 76.3; lower is better.
Position 133rd of 143 · derived, 1st = worst.
Firms with Female Participation in OwnershipWorld Bank Group · 2026 · world median 35.1250.235.12No earlier reading
Eswatini: 50.2 · world median 35.12 · Firms with at least one woman among the owners (%). World Bank Group, 2026 edition, data for 2026.
Published values in that edition run from 1.273 to 86.78; higher is better.
Position 35th of 181 · derived.
Women Who Think a Husband Is Justified in Hitting or Beating His WifeUNICEF · 2025 · world median 22.48.322.4No earlier reading
Eswatini: 8.3 · world median 22.4 · Women aged 15-49 who say a husband is justified in hitting or beating his wife (%). UNICEF, 2025 edition, data for 2025.
Published values in that edition run from 1.2 to 80.2; lower is better.
Position 90th of 125 · derived, 1st = worst.
Demand for Family Planning Satisfied by Modern MethodsUN DESA Population Division · 2023 · world median 71.257871.25▼ Worsened since 2013
Eswatini: 78 · world median 71.25 · Share of women aged 15–49 wanting to avoid pregnancy who use a modern method (%). UN DESA Population Division, 2023 edition, data for 2023.
Published values in that edition run from 8.4 to 92.4; higher is better.
Position 59th of 196 · derived.
Behind the world median10
Statistics on which Eswatini does worse than the middle country measured.
Gender Development IndexUNDP Human Development Report Office · 2023 · world median 0.9710.9640.971▲ Improved since 2015
Eswatini: 0.964 · world median 0.971 · Gender Development Index (1.000 = parity). UNDP Human Development Report Office, 2023 edition, data for 2023.
Published values in that edition run from 0.407 to 1.038; higher is better.
Position 96th of 184 · derived.
Account Ownership Among WomenWorld Bank Group · 2024 · world median 71.2465.3571.24▲ Improved since 2011
Eswatini: 65.35 · world median 71.24 · Women with an account (% of women aged 15+). World Bank Group, 2024 edition, data for 2024.
Published values in that edition run from 11.91 to 99.85; higher is better.
Position 78th of 139 · derived.
Antenatal Care Coverage, At Least Four VisitsUNICEF · 2025 · world median 8173.581No earlier reading
Eswatini: 73.5 · world median 81 · Women with a live birth who had 4+ antenatal visits (%). UNICEF, 2025 edition, data for 2025.
Published values in that edition run from 22.6 to 100; higher is better.
Position 95th of 153 · derived.
Institutional DeliveriesUNICEF · 2025 · world median 96.992.796.9No earlier reading
Eswatini: 92.7 · world median 96.9 · Live births delivered in a health facility (%). UNICEF, 2025 edition, data for 2025.
Published values in that edition run from 11.5 to 100; higher is better.
Female Labour Force Participation RateILO · 2025 · world median 53.3648.5253.36▲ Improved since 2015
Eswatini: 48.52 · world median 53.36 · Women aged 15+ in the labour force (%). International Labour Organization (ILO), 2025 edition, data for 2025.
Published values in that edition run from 4.663 to 82.91; higher is better.
Position 122nd of 182 · derived.
Maternal Mortality RatioMMEIG · 2023 · world median 46.65117.9346.65▲ Improved since 2013
Eswatini: 117.93 · world median 46.65 · Maternal deaths per 100,000 live births. UN Maternal Mortality Estimation Inter-Agency Group (MMEIG), 2023 edition, data for 2023.
Published values in that edition run from 0.11 to 992.83; lower is better.
Position 61st of 195 · derived, 1st = worst.
Gender Inequality IndexUNDP Human Development Report Office · 2023 · world median 0.3510.4840.351▲ Improved since 2015
Eswatini: 0.484 · world median 0.351 · GII (0 = full equality, 1 = maximum inequality). UNDP Human Development Report Office, 2023 edition, data for 2023.
Published values in that edition run from 0.003 to 0.838; lower is better.
Ranked 124th of 172 by UNDP Human Development Report Office.
Length of Paid Paternity LeaveWorld Bank Group · 2025 · world median 303▼ Worsened since 2015
Eswatini: 0 · world median 3 · Paid paternity leave set in law (calendar days). World Bank Group, 2026 edition, data for 2025.
Published values in that edition run from 0 to 196; higher is better.
Adolescent Birth Rate (Ages 15–19)UN DESA Population Division · 2023 · world median 27.4668.7327.46▼ Worsened since 2013
Eswatini: 68.73 · world median 27.46 · Live births per 1,000 women aged 15–19. UN DESA Population Division, 2023 edition, data for 2023.
Published values in that edition run from 0.465 to 163.09; lower is better.
Position 43rd of 222 · derived, 1st = worst.
Length of Paid Maternity LeaveWorld Bank Group · 2025 · world median 981498No real change since 2015
Eswatini: 14 · world median 98 · Paid maternity leave set in law (calendar days). World Bank Group, 2026 edition, data for 2025.
Published values in that edition run from 0 to 410; higher is better.
No better end6
These describe the shape of a country — more is not better or worse, only different — so they are never ahead or behind.
Women's Share of Agricultural LandownersFAO · 2025 · world median 25.6456.225.64No earlier reading
Eswatini: 56.2 · world median 25.64 · Women's share of owners or rights-bearers of agricultural land (%). Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), 2025 edition, data for 2025.
Published values in that edition run from 2.16 to 57.8.
Female-Headed HouseholdsUN DESA Population Division · 2026 · world median 33.2144.0433.21No earlier reading
Eswatini: 44.04 · world median 33.21 · Households headed by a woman (% of households). UN DESA Population Division, 2026 edition, data for 2026.
Published values in that edition run from 5.33 to 64.59.
Mean Age at First Marriage, WomenUN DESA Population Division · 2019 · world median 24.6526.524.65No earlier reading
Eswatini: 26.5 · world median 24.65 · Singulate mean age at marriage, women (years). UN DESA Population Division, 2019 edition, data for 2019.
Published values in that edition run from 17 to 34.
Female Share of ResearchersUIS · 2024 · world median 38.1741.3938.17No earlier reading
Eswatini: 41.39 · world median 38.17 · Researchers who are women (% of headcount; 50 = parity). UNESCO Institute for Statistics (UIS), 2024 edition, data for 2024.
Published values in that edition run from 0 to 76.54.
Caesarean Section RateUNICEF · 2025 · world median 20.6516.520.65No earlier reading
Eswatini: 16.5 · world median 20.65 · Live births delivered by caesarean section (%). UNICEF, 2025 edition, data for 2025.
Published values in that edition run from 0.6 to 72.2.
Sex Ratio at BirthUN DESA Population Division · 2023 · world median 105.1102.9105.1No real change since 2013
Eswatini: 102.9 · world median 105.1 · Male births per 100 female births. UN DESA Population Division, 2023 edition, data for 2023.
Published values in that edition run from 101.1 to 116.3.
No current reading for Eswatini
Births Attended by Skilled Health Staff (last 2022), Female Genital Mutilation Prevalence, Female Share of Senior and Middle Management (last 2023), Female Share of STEM Graduates (last 2005), Gender Parity Index, Tertiary Enrolment (last 2013), Gender Social Norms Index, Global Gender Parity Index, Legal Guarantees of Women's Equal Rights to Land, Social Institutions and Gender Index and Women's Empowerment Index. Listed rather than hidden, so the page can be checked against it.
“Position · derived” is this site’s ordering of the published values, 1st = best unless the row says otherwise; the publisher ranks no country on it. Rank, position and standing
05Country Index 2026
Gender & Equality among Eswatini’s 15 topics
Gender & Equality is Eswatini’s 9th best-placed topic of 15. Strongest first, each marker at its share of that topic’s field.
- Energy54th of 1653/3 keys
- Education & Knowledge101st of 1983/4 keys
- Environment & Sustainability103rd of 1864/4 keys
- Risk & Resilience122nd of 1934/4 keys
- Economy & Innovation112th of 1764/4 keys
- Peace & Security114th of 1774/4 keys
- Digital & Technology129th of 1983/4 keys
- Development & Human Capital130th of 1963/3 keys
- Gender & Equality135th of 1833/4 keys
- Food & Agriculture140th of 1844/4 keys
- Governance & Institutions156th of 1944/4 keys
- Health & Wellbeing168th of 2004/4 keys
- Democracy & Civil Liberties181st of 1984/4 keys
- Work & Labour174th of 1824/4 keys
- Poverty & Inequality154th of 1593/3 keys
No standing on Mobility & Trade: too few of those topics’ key statistics are published for this country.
06The top of the list
Who leads on gender & equality
The three countries placed highest of 183, and the leaders Eswatini can most readily be measured against.
1
LatviaNorthern Europe
1st of 183 · 4 of 4 keys
Photo: Marcin Szala · CC BY-SA 3.0, greyscale
2
TaiwanEastern Asia
2nd of 183 · 3 of 4 keys
Photo: xiangyang17 · CC BY-SA 2.0, greyscale
3
ItalySouthern Europe
3rd of 183 · 4 of 4 keys
Photo: Francisco Antunes · CC BY 2.0, greyscale
Placed highest nearby
Highest in Africa
Cabo Verde=34th3/4 keysHighest in Southern Africa
South Africa40th4/4 keysThis page
Eswatini135th3/4 keys
Positions out of 183 placed on the topic. A country needs readings on enough keys to be placed, and the top of the list is often held on fewer of them.
07Questions
Eswatini on gender & equality: questions answered
Every answer is built from the numbers on this page, so none can say something the page does not.
How does Eswatini rank on gender & equality?
Eswatini is placed 135th of 183 countries on Gender & Equality in the Country Index 2026, from 3 of its 4 key statistics (Women, Business and the Law, Women's Political Empowerment Index and Firms with a Female Top Manager). The position is this site’s ordering of published statistics, not a rank any publisher printed.
What is the latest Women, Business and the Law figure for Eswatini?
46.25 in 2025 (wBL Index (0–100, where 100 is full legal parity)), according to World Bank Group. The world median in the same edition was 81.25.
What is the latest Women's Political Empowerment Index figure for Eswatini?
0.391 in 2025 (women's political empowerment index (0–1)), according to V-Dem Institute, University of Gothenburg. The world median in the same edition was 0.772.
How does Eswatini compare with South Africa on gender & equality?
South Africa is placed 40th of 183, and Eswatini 135th. Women, Business and the Law: South Africa 88.13, Eswatini 46.25; Women's Political Empowerment Index: South Africa 0.83, Eswatini 0.391; Firms with a Female Top Manager: South Africa 38.51, Eswatini 33.95.
How have Eswatini’s gender & equality figures changed?
Women, Business and the Law rose from 38.75 in 2000 to 46.25 in 2025; Women's Political Empowerment Index rose from 0.294 in 2000 to 0.391 in 2025.
Which gender & equality statistics are missing for Eswatini?
No current reading is published for Eswatini on Births Attended by Skilled Health Staff, Female Genital Mutilation Prevalence, Female Share of Senior and Middle Management, Female Share of STEM Graduates, Gender Parity Index, Tertiary Enrolment, Gender Social Norms Index, Global Gender Parity Index, Legal Guarantees of Women's Equal Rights to Land, Social Institutions and Gender Index and Women's Empowerment Index. They are listed rather than hidden, so the evidence on the page can be checked against it.
08Method
Method, sources and how to cite
What this topic does not measure
Violence against women is not a key here, because comparable data covers too few countries. The Gender Inequality Index is published here as context rather than as a key: its reading is driven largely by maternal and adolescent health, which moves with a country’s overall development and is already measured under Development and Health. Women’s labour force participation, women in management and child marriage are published here as context too.
How the Gender & Equality standing is decided
A standing is this site’s ordering, named with its edition — never a publisher’s rank. 4 key statistics vote, one vote each; every country’s published value becomes a place within that key’s own field, the places are averaged, and the average is never published. A country needs 2 of the 4 keys to be placed.
The gender & equality method, step by stepHow every standing on this site is built
The key statistics and their licences
- Women, Business and the Law — World Bank Group, CC BY 4.0
- Women's Political Empowerment Index — V-Dem Institute, University of Gothenburg, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Firms with a Female Top Manager — World Bank Group, CC BY 4.0
- Social Institutions and Gender Index — OECD, OECD Terms and Conditions — data clause
The other 20 statistics on this page come from 8 publishers, each named beside its numbers, with every edition and licence on the datasets pages.
The standing itself is part of the Country Index 2026, published under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Photographs
Eswatini’s banner and the countries placed highest, from their profiles: Wikimedia Commons, shown in greyscale, each used under the licence named.
- Eswatini (banner) — Caitlin from Hertfordshire, UK derivative work: Jjtkk, CC BY 2.0
- Latvia — Marcin Szala, CC BY-SA 3.0
- Taiwan — xiangyang17, CC BY-SA 2.0
- Italy — Francisco Antunes, CC BY 2.0
Cite this page
Nations Inquiry (2026). Eswatini: Gender & Equality — standing and statistics, Country Index 2026. https://nationsinquiry.com/countries/eswatini/gender