Eswatini drops to 30th in Africa investment rankings
The kingdom's investment attractiveness score fell to -0.54, placing it below the African average.
Eswatini has fallen to 30th place in the 2026/27 Rand Merchant Bank Where to Invest in Africa report, assessed against 29 other African economies. The kingdom recorded an overall score of -0.54, below the hypothetical African average of zero. This represents a one-place decline from the previous year's 29th position.
The report compares 31 African countries using 20 indicators including economic performance and human development. Eswatini's score places it just above Zimbabwe, which ranked 31st with -0.65. Regional peers Namibia, Botswana, and Zambia all ranked higher, while Lesotho improved to 26th.
The RMB report cautions that no single ranking determines suitability for all investors. The importance of factors like market size and economic growth depends on the specific investment. The report aims to reveal structural characteristics affecting Eswatini's attractiveness.
Why it mattersEswatini's investment attractiveness has declined, affecting its position relative to other African economies.