Eswatini

Population
1.4 million (2017)

Per Capita Income
USD 2,950/year (2017)

Poverty rate *
63% (2009)

Literacy rate
83% (2016)

Human Development Index
144th out of 189 countries (2018)

Eswatini is considered as a lower middle-income country but despite this, 63% of its population lives below the national poverty line. Its development challenges are primarily weak fiscal management, slow economic growth and the high prevalence of HIV/AIDS. The country is the epicentre of an HIV/AIDS pandemic. Twenty-seven percent of adults are affected and 45% of Swazi children are orphans or vulnerable children. As a result, the number of orphans and vulnerable children who need financial support to be in school has increased significantly. Chronic malnutrition is a major concern with stunting affecting 26% of children under five. Progress towards universal primary education is on the decline since 2000, with high repetition and dropout rates.