Is It Safe to Travel to Eswatini in 2026?
Eswatini - Level 2: Exercise Increased Caution
Last updated: · Source: U.S. Department of State
Eswatini, formally the Kingdom of Eswatini (historically called KaNgwane), also known by its former official names Swaziland and the Kingdom of Swaziland, is a landlocked country in Southern Africa. It is bordered by South Africa on all sides except the northeast, where it shares a border with Mozambique.
Is It Safe to Travel to Eswatini in 2026?
Eswatini is currently rated Level 2 — Exercise Increased Caution by the U.S. Department of State. Exercise increased caution in Eswatini due to crime and civil unrest. Crime is common in Eswatini, with sporadic armed robberies and carjackings occurring. Demonstrations and protests happen sporadically, and U.S. citizens should avoid all gatherings as they could turn violent.
Key concerns cited in the advisory:
- crime
- civil_unrest
The overall security situation has been worsening recently. Contributing factors: crime is common in Eswatini, demonstrations and protests happen sporadically.
Traveler Impact
Solo travelers face significant risks from street crime, including armed robberies and carjackings, particularly in urban areas.
Business travelers may encounter operational disruptions due to civil unrest and should remain cautious during local demonstrations.
Families with children should be wary of healthcare access and the potential for violent protests, which can pose direct risks to safety.
Remote workers may find decent connectivity in urban areas, but should be cautious of crime and civil unrest affecting their safety.
Data on this page comes from the U.S. Department of State, the CDC, the World Bank Worldwide Governance Indicators, and Freedom House. All sources are updated regularly and cross-referenced to provide a composite safety picture for Eswatini.
▶Safety and Stability Ratings
Threat Severity (0-10 scale)
Eswatini has an overall threat severity of 4.2 out of 10. Crime risk is rated 6.0/10, terrorism risk 0.0/10, and kidnapping risk 0.0/10.
Governance Indicators (World Bank, percentile)
Political Stability▶
Measures the likelihood that the government will be destabilized or overthrown by unconstitutional or violent means, including politically-motivated violence and terrorism. Higher percentile means greater stability.
Rule of Law▶
Captures perceptions of the extent to which agents have confidence in and abide by the rules of society, including the quality of contract enforcement, property rights, the police, and the courts, as well as the likelihood of crime and violence.
Control of Corruption▶
Captures perceptions of the extent to which public power is exercised for private gain, including both petty and grand forms of corruption, as well as capture of the state by elites and private interests.
Government Effectiveness▶
Captures perceptions of the quality of public services, the quality of the civil service and the degree of its independence from political pressures, the quality of policy formulation and implementation, and the credibility of the government's commitment to such policies.
Regulatory Quality▶
Captures perceptions of the ability of the government to formulate and implement sound policies and regulations that permit and promote private sector development.
Voice & Accountability▶
Captures perceptions of the extent to which a country's citizens are able to participate in selecting their government, as well as freedom of expression, freedom of association, and a free media.
Data from World Bank Worldwide Governance Indicators (2023).
Freedom Status: Not Free — scored 17/100 by Freedom House (2024). View full freedom profile →
▶Entry Requirements and Health
Entry Information
Visa
Check embassy for details
Currency
Lilangeni (SZL)
Language
Swazi / English
Vaccinations
Recommended:
⚠ Malaria Risk: moderate
Recommended medications: Atovaquone-proguanil, doxycycline, mefloquine, tafenoquine
Active health notices:
- watchGlobal Measles: Measles cases are rising in many countries around the world. All international travelers should be fully vaccinated against measles with the measles-mumps-rubella (MMR) vaccine, according to CDC's measles vaccination recommendations for international travel.
Vaccination data sourced from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Consult a travel health professional before your trip.
Common Questions About Traveling to Eswatini
▶What is the current travel advisory level for Eswatini?
▶Is it safe to travel to Eswatini right now?
▶Do I need a visa to visit Eswatini?
▶What vaccines do I need for Eswatini?
▶Is Eswatini safe for solo travelers?
▶How bad is crime in Eswatini?
More Eswatini Data
Not Free — 17/100 on the Freedom House index.
Governance indicators including rule of law, corruption control, and regulatory quality.
View all 195 countries color-coded by advisory level.
Read the full advisory on travel.state.gov.
Access this data programmatically. Free tier available.
On-demand country risk PDFs from 6 government sources.