Quality of life comparison

compared to

If you lived in Swaziland instead of Rhode Island, you would:

Economy

be 7.8 times more likely to be unemployed

In Rhode Island, 4.4% of the labor force is unemployed as of 2025. In Swaziland, that number is 34.2% as of 2025.

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be 5.2 times more likely to live below the poverty line

In Rhode Island, 10.3% live below the poverty line as of 2023. In Swaziland, however, that number is 53.5% as of 2023.

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make 92.8% less money

Rhode Island has a GDP per capita of $56,938 as of 2024, while in Swaziland, the GDP per capita is $4,108 as of 2025.

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Basic Needs

be 30.2% less likely to have internet access

In Rhode Island, approximately 90.8% of the population has internet access as of 2023. In Swaziland, about 63.4% do as of 2024.

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Sources: World Bank (2023–2025), US Census Bureau (American Community Survey) (2023), Bureau of Labor Statistics (2025), Bureau of Economic Analysis (2024). How we calculate this

Compare further: Rhode Island vs. Swaziland

Cost of Living Comparison · 7 categories - 2026 data
Swaziland is 67.4% cheaper than Rhode Island
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Size Comparison · See true size
Rhode Island is about 6 times smaller than Swaziland.
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Moving from Rhode Island to Swaziland · Cost, visas & climate
Compare cost of living, salary and climate.
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Swaziland: At a glance

Swaziland is a sovereign country in Africa, with a total land area of approximately 17,204 sq km. Autonomy for the Swazis of southern Africa was guaranteed by the British in the late 19th century; independence was granted in 1968. Student and labor unrest during the 1990s pressured King MSWATI III, Africa's last absolute monarch, to grudgingly allow political reform and greater democracy, although he has backslid on these promises in recent years. A constitution came into effect in 2006, but the legal status of political parties remains unclear. The African United Democratic Party tried unsuccessfully to register as an official political party in mid 2006. Talks over the constitution broke down between the government and progressive groups in 2007. Swaziland recently surpassed Botswana as the country with the world's highest known HIV/AIDS prevalence rate.
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How big is Swaziland compared to Rhode Island? See an in-depth size comparison.

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