Military expenditure (% of GDP) in Eswatini
Eswatini: Military expenditure (% of GDP) was 1.6% in 2025. ▼ Falling
Latest (2025)
1.6%
Change on year
up 3.8%
World rank
93rd
of 167 countries
All-time high
2.5%
in 1979
All-time low
1.3%
in 1989
Years of data
49
1977–2025
Military expenditure in Eswatini, 1977–2025
Source: SIPRI Military Expenditure Database, Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI). Measured in % of GDP.
Analysis
The most recent figure for military expenditure in Eswatini is 1.6%, measured in 2025.
The figure is up 3.8% on the previous year and down 8.4% over ten years.
Over the whole period, military expenditure in Eswatini peaked at 2.5% in 1979 and was at its lowest, 1.3%, in 1989.
Eswatini ranks 93rd of 167 countries on this measure, in the middle of the range.
The long-run direction has been consistently falling across the 49 years of available data.
Military expenditure (% of GDP) in Eswatini, year by year
| Year | % of GDP | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1977 | 1.8% | — |
| 1978 | 2.4% | +36.5% |
| 1979 | 2.5% | +1.0% |
| 1980 | 2.4% | -1.4% |
| 1981 | 2.2% | -10.6% |
| 1982 | 2.2% | +1.5% |
| 1983 | 2.3% | +2.6% |
| 1984 | 2.0% | -10.0% |
| 1985 | 1.8% | -9.3% |
| 1986 | 1.6% | -11.2% |
| 1987 | 1.4% | -12.6% |
| 1988 | 1.3% | -11.8% |
| 1989 | 1.3% | -0.6% |
| 1990 | 1.3% | +1.8% |
| 1991 | 1.4% | +8.5% |
| 1992 | 1.6% | +17.9% |
| 1993 | 1.7% | +7.1% |
| 1994 | 1.8% | +4.0% |
| 1995 | 1.7% | -6.9% |
| 1996 | 1.7% | -2.4% |
| 1997 | 1.5% | -9.5% |
| 1998 | 1.6% | +10.2% |
| 1999 | 1.7% | +2.3% |
| 2000 | 1.5% | -13.3% |
| 2001 | 1.3% | -14.0% |
| 2002 | 1.4% | +11.0% |
| 2003 | 1.5% | +6.0% |
| 2004 | 1.6% | +6.9% |
| 2005 | 2.0% | +28.7% |
| 2006 | 1.7% | -17.7% |
| 2007 | 1.6% | -1.7% |
| 2008 | 2.0% | +21.6% |
| 2009 | 2.1% | +4.6% |
| 2010 | 2.4% | +13.2% |
| 2011 | 2.2% | -6.3% |
| 2012 | 1.9% | -13.7% |
| 2013 | 2.0% | +1.9% |
| 2014 | 1.8% | -6.6% |
| 2015 | 1.7% | -4.0% |
| 2016 | 2.1% | +18.5% |
| 2017 | 1.9% | -7.2% |
| 2018 | 2.1% | +8.9% |
| 2019 | 1.9% | -9.8% |
| 2020 | 1.9% | -1.9% |
| 2021 | 1.7% | -9.5% |
| 2022 | 1.7% | -1.4% |
| 2023 | 1.7% | +0.1% |
| 2024 | 1.5% | -6.8% |
| 2025 | 1.6% | +3.8% |
Eswatini compared with similar countries
- Eswatini's 1.6% is above the median for lower middle income countries, which is 1.5%, 1.1× the median. (40 countries reporting)
- Eswatini's 1.6% is above the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 1.3%, 1.2× the median. (46 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1970s | 2.2% | 1.8% | 2.5% | 3 |
| 1980s | 1.8% | 1.3% | 2.4% | 10 |
| 1990s | 1.6% | 1.3% | 1.8% | 10 |
| 2000s | 1.7% | 1.3% | 2.1% | 10 |
| 2010s | 2.0% | 1.7% | 2.4% | 10 |
| 2020s | 1.7% | 1.5% | 1.9% | 6 |
Countries ranked near Eswatini
More public sector data for Eswatini
- Democracy, annual growth rate 0 % change on previous year (2025)
- Chief executive of the government is elected, annual growth rate -100 % change on previous year (1973)
- Elected parliament, annual growth rate 0 % change on previous year (2025)
- Men's universal right to vote, annual growth rate 0 % change on previous year (2025)
- Universal right to vote, annual growth rate 0 % change on previous year (2025)
- Universal right to vote in practice, annual growth rate -100 % change on previous year (1973)
- Military expenditure (current USD), per capita 64.09 current USD per person (2024)
- Military expenditure (current USD), per unit of GDP 0.0164 current USD per US$ of GDP (2024)
- Military expenditure (current USD), annual growth rate 12.96 % change on previous year (2024)
- Military expenditure (current USD), gaps filled 79.66 million current USD (2024)
Frequently asked questions
- What is military expenditure in Eswatini?
- Military expenditure in Eswatini was 1.6% in 2025, according to SIPRI Military Expenditure Database, Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI).
- What is the highest military expenditure recorded in Eswatini?
- The highest recorded value was 2.5% in 1979.
- What is the lowest military expenditure recorded in Eswatini?
- The lowest recorded value was 1.3% in 1989.
- How does Eswatini rank for military expenditure?
- Eswatini ranks 93rd out of 167 countries with data for 2025.
- Is military expenditure rising or falling in Eswatini?
- Over the last ten years it is down 8.4%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this Eswatini data come from?
- The figures come from SIPRI Military Expenditure Database, Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI), published as part of Military expenditure (% of GDP). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Military expenditure by country as percentage of gross domestic product