Military expenditure (% of general government expenditure) in Eswatini
Eswatini: Military expenditure (% of general government expenditure) was 5.2% in 2025. ▼ Falling
Military expenditure in Eswatini, 1988–2025
Source: SIPRI Military Expenditure Database, Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI). Measured in % of general government expenditure.
Analysis
In 2025, military expenditure in Eswatini stood at 5.2%.
The figure is up 2.5% on the previous year and down 2.0% over ten years.
Over the whole period, military expenditure in Eswatini peaked at 8.7% in 2011 and was at its lowest, 4.9%, in 2002.
Eswatini ranks 83rd of 164 countries on this measure, in the middle of the range.
The long-run direction has been consistently falling across the 38 years of available data.
Military expenditure (% of general government expenditure) in Eswatini, year by year
| Year | % of general government expenditure | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1988 | 5.6% | — |
| 1989 | 5.4% | -4.0% |
| 1990 | 6.3% | +17.9% |
| 1991 | 6.3% | +0.0% |
| 1992 | 5.8% | -7.7% |
| 1993 | 6.8% | +16.7% |
| 1994 | 6.6% | -2.5% |
| 1995 | 7.5% | +12.7% |
| 1996 | 6.4% | -14.6% |
| 1997 | 6.4% | -0.4% |
| 1998 | 6.5% | +2.7% |
| 1999 | 5.7% | -13.2% |
| 2000 | 5.7% | +0.6% |
| 2001 | 5.0% | -13.2% |
| 2002 | 4.9% | -2.2% |
| 2003 | 5.7% | +16.9% |
| 2004 | 5.0% | -12.5% |
| 2005 | 6.5% | +30.5% |
| 2006 | 6.5% | +0.1% |
| 2007 | 5.9% | -9.4% |
| 2008 | 6.1% | +3.1% |
| 2009 | 6.3% | +4.5% |
| 2010 | 7.5% | +18.0% |
| 2011 | 8.7% | +16.9% |
| 2012 | 6.9% | -21.4% |
| 2013 | 6.6% | -4.6% |
| 2014 | 5.7% | -13.0% |
| 2015 | 5.3% | -7.5% |
| 2016 | 6.1% | +15.6% |
| 2017 | 5.6% | -8.7% |
| 2018 | 5.9% | +5.3% |
| 2019 | 5.6% | -3.7% |
| 2020 | 5.7% | +0.4% |
| 2021 | 5.7% | +1.5% |
| 2022 | 5.9% | +3.0% |
| 2023 | 5.6% | -4.7% |
| 2024 | 5.0% | -10.5% |
| 2025 | 5.2% | +2.5% |
Eswatini compared with similar countries
- Eswatini's 5.2% is below the median for lower middle income countries, which is 5.8%, 89% of the median. (39 countries reporting)
- Eswatini's 5.2% is below the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 5.9%, 88% of the median. (46 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1980s | 5.5% | 5.4% | 5.6% | 2 |
| 1990s | 6.4% | 5.7% | 7.5% | 10 |
| 2000s | 5.7% | 4.9% | 6.5% | 10 |
| 2010s | 6.4% | 5.3% | 8.7% | 10 |
| 2020s | 5.5% | 5.0% | 5.9% | 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 5.2% 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 8.7% in 2011.
- What is the lowest military expenditure recorded in Eswatini?
- The lowest recorded value was 4.9% in 2002.
- How does Eswatini rank for military expenditure?
- Eswatini ranks 83rd out of 164 countries with data for 2025.
- Is military expenditure rising or falling in Eswatini?
- Over the last ten years it is down 2.0%. 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 general government expenditure). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Military expenditure expressed as a percentage of general government expenditure