Eswatini Military Spending
Military expenditure as % of GDP MS.MIL.XPND.GD.ZS
Eswatini's military spending was 1.27% in 2025, ranked 94th globally. This represents a 12.2% decrease from 2024. Data from World Bank, covering 1977–2025.
Overview
Eswatini's military spending stood at 1.27% in 2025, a decline of +0.18% from 2024. Based on recent trends, this figure is projected to reach 1.27% by 2025. Eswatini ranked 94th globally.
Eswatini’s military expenditure has shown a gradual decline over the 49‑year series recorded by the World Bank, falling from an early‑period high of 2.46 % of GDP in 1979 to a historic low of 1.25 % in 1989 before stabilising at 1.27 % in 2025, which places the kingdom at 94th position globally. The downward trajectory contrasts with the modest rise observed in peer Liberia, whose 2025 spending stands at 1.29 % of GDP, and aligns more closely with Bolivia (1.25 %) and the Philippines (1.25 %). The early peak coincided with regional security concerns of the late 1970s, while the 1989 trough reflected a period of fiscal tightening and reduced external threats. Despite the recent modest uptick, Eswatini’s defence outlay remains well below the regional average, suggesting limited prioritisation of military capacity relative to other budgetary demands. Continued economic pressures or shifts in security policy could either reinforce the low‑spending pattern or prompt a renewed increase in defence allocations.
Data & projection
| Year | Military Spending | YoY change | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2027* trend | 1.04% | - | - |
| 2026* trend | 1.16% | - | - |
| 2025* trend | 1.27% | - | - |
| 2025 | 1.27% | −0.18% | #94 |
| 2024 | 1.44% | +0.06% | #64 |
| 2023 | 1.38% | −0.27% | #61 |
| 2022 | 1.65% | −0.02% | #94 |
| 2021 | 1.68% | −0.18% | #93 |
| 2020 | 1.86% | −0.04% | #94 |
| 2019 | 1.89% | −0.21% | #104 |
| 2018 | 2.10% | +0.17% | #117 |
| 2017 | 1.92% | −0.15% | #106 |
| 2016 | 2.07% | +0.32% | #112 |
| 2015 | 1.75% | −0.07% | #96 |
| 2014 | 1.82% | −0.13% | #98 |
| 2013 | 1.95% | +0.04% | #106 |
| 2012 | 1.91% | −0.30% | #105 |
| 2011 | 2.22% | −0.15% | #105 |
Detected Pattern
Analysis
Eswatini matched the Export Boom Cycle pattern in 2012. Historically, 71% of countries showing this pattern (546 out of 768) saw military spending improve within 24 months. View full analysis →
Frequently Asked Questions
Eswatini's military spending was 1.27% in 2025. Ranked 94th globally. This represents a 12.2% decrease from the previous year.
Eswatini's military spending peaked at 2.46% in 1979.
The lowest military spending in Eswatini was 1.25% in 1989.
Eswatini ranks 94th globally in military spending as of 2025.
The World Bank indicator code is MS.MIL.XPND.GD.ZS. Data sourced from World Bank.
Eswatini's military spending is projected to reach 1.27% by 2025 based on trend extrapolation.
The military spending of Eswatini in 2025 was 1.27%. This ranks 94th in the world.
Cite this page
@misc{historysaid_eswatini_military-spending,
title = {Eswatini Military Spending},
url = {https://historysaid.com/eswatini/military-spending/},
publisher = {HistorySaid},
year = {2026}
}