180 countries ranked by safety, peace, freedom and LGBT+ equality
Visiting: Not RecommendedLGBT+ visiting: Not Recommended
Tiny Eswatini packs in more than countries ten times its size: walking with rhinos in Hlane, craft markets through the Ezulwini Valley, and the Umhlanga reed dance if your timing's right. Two hard problems, though. The murder rate is among the world's worst, which is why the numbers look so grim, and homosexuality is illegal. Go clued-up and stick with guides — or, if you're LGBT+, give it a miss.
Intentional homicides per 100,000 people — lower is better.
Eswatini: 13.7
Ranked 21st in the world for the highest homicide rate.
13.68 homicides per 100,000 people in 2024 — a high rate by any standard.
Higher than 86% of the 230 countries and territories measured.
How peaceful the country is — lower is better.
Eswatini: 2.1
Ranked 65th least peaceful country in the world.
More peaceful than 39% of the 163 countries ranked, scoring 2.094.
Down 5 places since 2024.
Personal and economic freedom — higher is better.
Eswatini: 5.1
Ranked 31st least free country in the world.
Less free than 85% of the 165 countries measured — 5.19 out of 10.
Day-to-day life (speech, movement, religion) scores 5.04; doing business and owning property, 5.39.
LGBT+ equality in law and daily life — higher is better.
Eswatini: Illegal
Ranked 55th least equal in the world for LGBT+ people.
Homosexuality is criminalised here; the law sets out imprisonment with no codified maximum.
Public attitudes score 27 out of 100 — the law and public opinion are not the same thing.