Data protection law in Eswatini: registration and research permits
What a survey team needs to know about personal data and survey authorization in Eswatini.
Summary for planning; confirm requirements with the regulator before fieldwork.
law adopted, regulator not confirmed operational
The source QA marks the law for this country as unverified or not confirmed from an official source. Re-check before relying on it.
Data protection law
Data Protection Act, 2022 (reported) (2022)
Regulator
Data Protection Commissioner (provided for by the Act)
Registration
registration regime under the Act; implementation not confirmed
Survey permits
CSO permit required under the Statistics Act 1967 (as amended)
National statistics office
Central Statistical Office (CSO), Ministry of Economic Planning and Development
Note
Data Protection Act 2022 adoption reported but not confirmed from an official source; treat as unverified.
Eswatini research rules: common questions
Is there a data protection law in Eswatini?
Data Protection Act, 2022 (reported) (2022). The source QA marks the law for this country as unverified or not confirmed from an official source. Re-check before relying on it.
Who regulates personal data in Eswatini?
Data Protection Commissioner (provided for by the Act).
Do I need to register to collect personal data in Eswatini?
Registration regime under the Act; implementation not confirmed.
Do I need a permit to run a survey in Eswatini?
CSO permit required under the Statistics Act 1967 (as amended).
Sources: the regulator and statistics office pages linked above, retrieved 10 Oct 2026. See our methods.