Eswatini vs South Africa: Share of rural vs. urban population with electricity access
Eswatini
88.3%
in 2024
South Africa
86.3%
in 2024
Eswatini rank
153rd
South Africa rank
155th
Share of rural vs. urban population with electricity access over time
- Eswatini
- South Africa
How they compare
Eswatini currently reports 88.3% against 86.3% in South Africa, a difference of 2.0%.
The two have swapped places 1 time across 25 shared years of data; in 2000 it was South Africa ahead.
Eswatini ranks 153rd and South Africa ranks 155th of 212 countries.
South Africa has averaged higher in every one of the 3 decades both report.
Head to head by decade
| Decade | Eswatini | South Africa | Difference | Ahead |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000s | 23.8% | 68.2% | 44.4% | South Africa |
| 2010s | 57.3% | 80.4% | 23.0% | South Africa |
| 2020s | 82.0% | 92.5% | 10.5% | South Africa |
Averages of every year both report within each decade.
Frequently asked questions
- Which has higher share of rural vs. urban population with electricity access, Eswatini or South Africa?
- Eswatini, at 88.3% against 86.3% in South Africa as of 2024.
- What is the difference in share of rural vs. urban population with electricity access between Eswatini and South Africa?
- 2.0%, with Eswatini ahead.
- How many years of comparable data are there for Eswatini and South Africa?
- 25 years are reported by both, from 2000 to 2024.
- How do Eswatini and South Africa rank globally for share of rural vs. urban population with electricity access?
- Eswatini ranks 153rd and South Africa ranks 155th of 212 countries.
- Where does this data come from?
- SDG 7.1.1 Electrification Dataset, World Bank, via World Bank (2026) – processed by Our World in Data, published as Share of rural vs. urban population with electricity access. Statizoid refreshes it automatically from the source and publishes the full history for both places.
Individual pages
About this data
Having access to electricity is defined in international statistics as having an electricity source that can provide very basic lighting, and charge a phone or power a radio for 4 hours per day.