Moving to Swaziland from Rwanda

moving to

What to Expect

A comprehensive look at what changes when you move from Rwanda to Swaziland — from daily expenses to quality of life.

If you moved from Rwanda to Swaziland. You’ll also switch from driving on the right to the left.

Planning this move? Get up to 5 free, no-obligation quotes from vetted international movers. Get free quotes ↓

Get free moving quotes to Swaziland

We've teamed up with a vetted network of international movers to help MyLifeElsewhere readers plan their move with confidence. Tell us about your move and get up to 5 free, no-obligation quotes in under 2 minutes.

  • ✅ Up to 5 quotes from screened movers
  • ✅ Licensed and insured providers only
  • ✅ 100% free — you choose who contacts you

Who Else Is Making This Move?

Real numbers on people moving from Rwanda to Swaziland, and how the trend has changed.

Living there in 2020
387 ↑ 13% vs 2015

people born in Rwanda live in Swaziland · UN DESA

Who's moving to Swaziland?

Top countries of origin for Swaziland's foreign-born residents.

Foreign-born population · UN DESA (2020)

Key Indicator Comparison

How Rwanda and Swaziland stack up on safety, healthcare, jobs, and infrastructure.

Is it safe?

Homicide rate United Nations SDG Indicators, 2021

per 100,000 people per year

RW
3.6
SZ
12.7
Road traffic deaths United Nations SDG Indicators, 2021

per 100,000 people per year

RW
11.6
SZ
24.7

Rwanda performs better than Swaziland across all safety metrics.

How's the healthcare?

Healthcare spending per person World Bank, 2023

annual government + private spending per person

RW
$177
SZ
$922
Doctors per 10,000 people United Nations SDG Indicators, 2022

affects wait times and access to care

RW
1.2
SZ
15.9

Rwanda generally does better on health & wellbeing, though Swaziland leads in doctors per 10,000 people.

What about the environment?

Air pollution deaths United Nations SDG Indicators, 2019

deaths attributable to air pollution per 100k people

RW
62.0
SZ
66.0
CO₂ emissions per capita World Bank, 2024

tonnes of CO₂ emitted per person per year

RW
0.2t
SZ
0.9t

Rwanda performs better than Swaziland across all environment metrics.

Will I have good infrastructure?

Broadband per 100 people United Nations SDG Indicators, 2022

fixed broadband subscriptions — key for remote work

RW
0.3
SZ
2.3
Water stress level United Nations SDG Indicators, 2021

higher means greater strain on freshwater supply

RW
20.2%
SZ
77.6%

Swaziland generally does better on infrastructure, though Rwanda leads in water stress level.

What are the job prospects?

Unemployment rate The World Factbook, 2023

percentage of the labour force without work

RW
14.9%
SZ
37.6%
GDP per capita The World Factbook, 2023

a broad measure of economic output per person

RW
$3,000
SZ
$10,600

Rwanda generally does better on employment & economy, though Swaziland leads in gdp per capita.

Is it good for families?

Life expectancy The World Factbook, 2022

average years of life at birth

RW
65.8 yrs
SZ
59.7 yrs
Infant mortality The World Factbook, 2022

deaths per 1,000 live births — lower is better

RW
26.4
SZ
39.6

Rwanda generally does better on family life, though Swaziland leads in education spending.

Data: Rwanda Revenue Authority, The World Factbook, United Nations SDG Indicators, World Bank

What's the Climate Like?

Monthly averages — select a city to compare.

Kigali Rain: 37.4 in/yr (951 mm)
80° / 60°F

Avg. annual high / low

Lobamba Rain: 56.8 in/yr (1442 mm)
72° / 51°F

Avg. annual high / low

Months Kigali Lobamba
Jan–Mar 80°/60°F (27°/16°C) 76°/58°F (24°/14°C)
Apr–Jun 79°/61°F (26°/16°C) 70°/46°F (21°/8°C)
Jul–Sep 82°/60°F (28°/16°C) 71°/44°F (21°/7°C)
Oct–Dec 80°/60°F (27°/16°C) 73°/55°F (23°/13°C)
View all months
Month Kigali Lobamba
Jan 80°/60°F (26.9°/15.6°C) 77°/59°F (24.9°/14.9°C)
Feb 81°/60°F (27.4°/15.8°C) 76°/58°F (24.5°/14.5°C)
Mar 80°/60°F (26.9°/15.7°C) 75°/56°F (24.1°/13.4°C)
Apr 79°/61°F (26.2°/16.1°C) 73°/52°F (22.6°/11.0°C)
May 79°/61°F (25.9°/16.2°C) 71°/46°F (21.4°/7.9°C)
Jun 80°/60°F (26.4°/15.3°C) 67°/40°F (19.3°/4.7°C)
Jul 81°/59°F (27.1°/15.0°C) 68°/40°F (19.8°/4.6°C)
Aug 82°/61°F (28.0°/16.0°C) 70°/44°F (21.3°/6.6°C)
Sep 83°/61°F (28.2°/16.0°C) 74°/49°F (23.2°/9.5°C)
Oct 81°/61°F (27.2°/15.9°C) 73°/52°F (22.8°/11.3°C)
Nov 79°/60°F (26.1°/15.5°C) 72°/55°F (22.5°/12.9°C)
Dec 80°/60°F (26.4°/15.6°C) 75°/58°F (23.7°/14.2°C)

Data: Rwanda Meteorology Agency Rwanda Meteorology Agency, Eswatini Meteorological Service Eswatini Meteorological Service

Visitor Visa Requirements

Short-stay tourist visa rules between Rwanda and Swaziland. To live, work, or study long-term in Swaziland, you'll need a separate residence or work visa — check Swaziland's immigration authority.

Rwanda passport

Rwanda passport holder visiting Swaziland

Visa Required
Rwanda passport holders need a visa to enter Swaziland.
Swaziland passport

Swaziland passport holder visiting Rwanda

Visa Free
Swaziland passport holders can enter Rwanda without a visa.

Data: Henley Passport Index. Check with the destination country's embassy for the most current requirements.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I work remotely from Swaziland?

With 2.3 fixed broadband subscriptions per 100 people, Swaziland can support video calls in major cities. The hard part is paperwork — visa category, employer policy on overseas staff, and tax residency in Rwanda and Swaziland.

Is Swaziland safe for expats?

Rwanda performs better than Swaziland across all safety metrics. The homicide rate in Swaziland is 12.7 per 100,000 people, compared to 3.6 in Rwanda.

How is healthcare in Swaziland compared to Rwanda?

Rwanda generally does better on health & wellbeing, though Swaziland leads in doctors per 10,000 people. There are 15.9 doctors per 10,000 people in Swaziland, compared to 1.2 in Rwanda. Swaziland scores 56 on the WHO universal health coverage index (Rwanda: 49).

What's the weather like in Swaziland compared to Rwanda?

The average high temperature in Lobamba is 72°F, compared to 80°F in Kigali. Lobamba receives around 56.8 in of rainfall per year, while Kigali gets 37.4 in.

What language do they speak in Swaziland?

The official languages in Swaziland are English and Swazi. In Rwanda, the official languages are English, French and Kinyarwanda.

Share this

At a Glance

RW SZ
Population 13,173,730 1,121,761
Currency Rwandan Franc (RWF) Swazi Lilangeni (SZL)
Languages English, French, Kinyarwanda English, Swazi
Driving side Right Left
Calling code +250 +268
Time zones 1 1
Emergency number 112