Eswatini Education Spending
Government expenditure on education as % of GDP SE.XPD.TOTL.GD.ZS
Eswatini's education spending was 5.78% in 2025, ranked 28th globally. This represents a 4.1% decrease from 2024. Data from World Bank, covering 1976–2025.
Overview
Eswatini's education spending stood at 5.78% in 2025, a decline of +0.25% from 2024. Based on recent trends, this figure is projected to reach 5.78% by 2025. Eswatini ranked 28th globally.
Eswatini’s public expenditure on education has risen steadily over the 40‑year series, moving from a trough of 3.71 percent of GDP in 1976 to an all‑time peak of 7.36 percent in 2014, before easing to 5.78 percent in 2025, which places the kingdom at rank 28 globally. The post‑peak decline suggests a modest recalibration after the 2014 high, aligning Eswatini’s spending almost exactly with that of peer Argentina (5.79 percent) and just above Tonga (5.77 percent) in the most recent year. Compared with higher‑spending economies such as Denmark (5.93 percent) and Kazakhstan (5.74 percent), Eswatini remains near the median of the sample, reflecting limited fiscal room for large expansions. Continued improvements in fiscal capacity, coupled with reforms that raise the efficiency of existing outlays, could sustain a gradual upward trajectory, while persistent budget constraints would likely keep the ratio flat or induce further modest declines.
Data & projection
| Year | Education Spending | YoY change | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2027* trend | 6.01% | - | - |
| 2026* trend | 5.90% | - | - |
| 2025* trend | 5.78% | - | - |
| 2025 | 5.78% | −0.25% | #28 |
| 2024 | 6.03% | +1.03% | #22 |
| 2023 | 5.00% | −0.57% | #89 |
| 2022 | 5.57% | +0.29% | #132 |
| 2021 | 5.29% | −0.04% | #122 |
| 2020 | 5.33% | −0.37% | #119 |
| 2019 | 5.70% | −0.04% | #139 |
| 2018 | 5.74% | −0.44% | #143 |
| 2017 | 6.18% | +0.74% | #154 |
| 2016 | 5.43% | +0.08% | #124 |
| 2015 | 5.35% | −2.00% | #122 |
| 2014 | 7.36% | +2.27% | #150 |
| 2013 | 5.08% | −0.51% | #107 |
| 2012 | 5.59% | −1.27% | #116 |
| 2011 | 6.86% | +0.75% | #133 |
Detected Pattern
Analysis
Eswatini matched the Export Boom Cycle pattern in 2012. Historically, 71% of countries showing this pattern (546 out of 768) saw education spending improve within 24 months. View full analysis →
Frequently Asked Questions
Eswatini's education spending was 5.78% in 2025. Ranked 28th globally. This represents a 4.1% decrease from the previous year.
Eswatini's education spending peaked at 7.36% in 2014.
The lowest education spending in Eswatini was 3.71% in 1976.
Eswatini ranks 28th globally in education spending as of 2025.
The World Bank indicator code is SE.XPD.TOTL.GD.ZS. Data sourced from World Bank.
Eswatini's education spending is projected to reach 5.78% by 2025 based on trend extrapolation.
The education spending of Eswatini in 2025 was 5.78%. This ranks 28th in the world.
Cite this page
@misc{historysaid_eswatini_education-spending-gdp,
title = {Eswatini Education Spending},
url = {https://historysaid.com/eswatini/education-spending-gdp/},
publisher = {HistorySaid},
year = {2026}
}