Military spending in Eswatini
Eswatini: Military spending was 91.46 million constant 2022 US$ in 2023. ◆ Volatile
Latest (2023)
91.46 million constant 2022 US$
Change on year
up 0.9%
World rank
150th
of 172 countries
All-time high
3.18 billion constant 2022 US$
in 1972
All-time low
4.74 million constant 2022 US$
in 1975
Years of data
56
1968–2023
Military spending in Eswatini, 1968–2023
Source: Barnum et al. – Global Military Spending Dataset (2025) – with minor processing by Our World in Data. Measured in constant 2022 US$.
Analysis
In 2023, military spending in Eswatini stood at 91.46 million constant 2022 US$.
That represents a change of up 0.9% on the previous year and down 13.1% over ten years.
Over the whole period, military spending in Eswatini peaked at 3.18 billion constant 2022 US$ in 1972 and was at its lowest, 4.74 million constant 2022 US$, in 1975.
Eswatini ranks 150th of 172 countries on this measure, in the bottom quarter.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Military spending in Eswatini, year by year
| Year | constant 2022 US$ | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1968 | 2.53 billion constant 2022 US$ | — |
| 1969 | 2.82 billion constant 2022 US$ | +11.5% |
| 1970 | 2.85 billion constant 2022 US$ | +1.2% |
| 1971 | 3.03 billion constant 2022 US$ | +6.3% |
| 1972 | 3.18 billion constant 2022 US$ | +4.8% |
| 1973 | 3.16 billion constant 2022 US$ | -0.5% |
| 1974 | 4.90 million constant 2022 US$ | -99.8% |
| 1975 | 4.74 million constant 2022 US$ | -3.4% |
| 1976 | 7.42 million constant 2022 US$ | +56.7% |
| 1977 | 14.45 million constant 2022 US$ | +94.7% |
| 1978 | 22.05 million constant 2022 US$ | +52.6% |
| 1979 | 26.06 million constant 2022 US$ | +18.2% |
| 1980 | 27.79 million constant 2022 US$ | +6.6% |
| 1981 | 29.86 million constant 2022 US$ | +7.5% |
| 1982 | 32.10 million constant 2022 US$ | +7.5% |
| 1983 | 24.73 million constant 2022 US$ | -23.0% |
| 1984 | 19.26 million constant 2022 US$ | -22.1% |
| 1985 | 17.14 million constant 2022 US$ | -11.0% |
| 1986 | 16.62 million constant 2022 US$ | -3.1% |
| 1987 | 16.51 million constant 2022 US$ | -0.7% |
| 1988 | 16.63 million constant 2022 US$ | +0.7% |
| 1989 | 19.18 million constant 2022 US$ | +15.4% |
| 1990 | 22.24 million constant 2022 US$ | +15.9% |
| 1991 | 23.21 million constant 2022 US$ | +4.4% |
| 1992 | 30.01 million constant 2022 US$ | +29.3% |
| 1993 | 36.59 million constant 2022 US$ | +21.9% |
| 1994 | 37.57 million constant 2022 US$ | +2.7% |
| 1995 | 40.44 million constant 2022 US$ | +7.6% |
| 1996 | 40.09 million constant 2022 US$ | -0.9% |
| 1997 | 41.83 million constant 2022 US$ | +4.3% |
| 1998 | 43.62 million constant 2022 US$ | +4.3% |
| 1999 | 44.71 million constant 2022 US$ | +2.5% |
| 2000 | 67.86 million constant 2022 US$ | +51.8% |
| 2001 | 45.10 million constant 2022 US$ | -33.5% |
| 2002 | 44.08 million constant 2022 US$ | -2.2% |
| 2003 | 50.13 million constant 2022 US$ | +13.7% |
| 2004 | 64.08 million constant 2022 US$ | +27.8% |
| 2005 | 67.75 million constant 2022 US$ | +5.7% |
| 2006 | 73.12 million constant 2022 US$ | +7.9% |
| 2007 | 80.02 million constant 2022 US$ | +9.4% |
| 2008 | 85.33 million constant 2022 US$ | +6.6% |
| 2009 | 90.83 million constant 2022 US$ | +6.4% |
| 2010 | 103.65 million constant 2022 US$ | +14.1% |
| 2011 | 106.83 million constant 2022 US$ | +3.1% |
| 2012 | 103.30 million constant 2022 US$ | -3.3% |
| 2013 | 105.31 million constant 2022 US$ | +2.0% |
| 2014 | 97.06 million constant 2022 US$ | -7.8% |
| 2015 | 97.49 million constant 2022 US$ | +0.4% |
| 2016 | 100.96 million constant 2022 US$ | +3.6% |
| 2017 | 102.72 million constant 2022 US$ | +1.7% |
| 2018 | 109.36 million constant 2022 US$ | +6.5% |
| 2019 | 107.58 million constant 2022 US$ | -1.6% |
| 2020 | 101.59 million constant 2022 US$ | -5.6% |
| 2021 | 102.20 million constant 2022 US$ | +0.6% |
| 2022 | 90.64 million constant 2022 US$ | -11.3% |
| 2023 | 91.46 million constant 2022 US$ | +0.9% |
Eswatini compared with similar countries
- Eswatini's 91.46 million constant 2022 US$ is below the median for lower middle income countries, which is 485.52 million constant 2022 US$, 19% of the median. (42 countries reporting)
- Eswatini's 91.46 million constant 2022 US$ is below the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 350.64 million constant 2022 US$, 26% of the median. (46 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Military spending in Eswatini changed far more than this series normally does. A large move can be a real event or a change in how the figure was measured — the source note below says who published it.
| Year | Change | From | To |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1974 | -99.8% | 3.16 billion constant 2022 US$ | 4.90 million constant 2022 US$ |
| 1977 | +94.7% | 7.42 million constant 2022 US$ | 14.45 million constant 2022 US$ |
| 1976 | +56.7% | 4.74 million constant 2022 US$ | 7.42 million constant 2022 US$ |
| 1978 | +52.6% | 14.45 million constant 2022 US$ | 22.05 million constant 2022 US$ |
| 2000 | +51.8% | 44.71 million constant 2022 US$ | 67.86 million constant 2022 US$ |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1960s | 2.67 billion constant 2022 US$ | 2.53 billion constant 2022 US$ | 2.82 billion constant 2022 US$ | 2 |
| 1970s | 1.23 billion constant 2022 US$ | 4.74 million constant 2022 US$ | 3.18 billion constant 2022 US$ | 10 |
| 1980s | 21.98 million constant 2022 US$ | 16.51 million constant 2022 US$ | 32.10 million constant 2022 US$ | 10 |
| 1990s | 36.03 million constant 2022 US$ | 22.24 million constant 2022 US$ | 44.71 million constant 2022 US$ | 10 |
| 2000s | 66.83 million constant 2022 US$ | 44.08 million constant 2022 US$ | 90.83 million constant 2022 US$ | 10 |
| 2010s | 103.43 million constant 2022 US$ | 97.06 million constant 2022 US$ | 109.36 million constant 2022 US$ | 10 |
| 2020s | 96.47 million constant 2022 US$ | 90.64 million constant 2022 US$ | 102.20 million constant 2022 US$ | 4 |
Countries ranked near Eswatini
- 147 Nicaragua 110.71 million constant 2022 US$ compare
- 148 Guyana 106.79 million constant 2022 US$ compare
- 149 Eritrea 96.47 million constant 2022 US$ compare
- 151 Fiji 87.78 million constant 2022 US$ compare
- 152 Moldova 82.38 million constant 2022 US$ compare
- 153 Maldives 65.41 million constant 2022 US$ compare
More reference data data for Eswatini
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Manure applied to Soils 0.0203 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Manure left on Pasture 0.3059 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - IPCC Agriculture 0.3309 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Crop Residues 0.0048 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Agricultural Soils 0.3309 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Manure applied to Soils 0.0679 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Manure Management 0.0557 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Manure left on Pasture 1.66 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - IPCC Agriculture 1.82 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Crop Residues 0.026 (2050)
Frequently asked questions
- What is military spending in Eswatini?
- Military spending in Eswatini was 91.46 million constant 2022 US$ in 2023, according to Barnum et al. – Global Military Spending Dataset (2025) – with minor processing by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest military spending recorded in Eswatini?
- The highest recorded value was 3.18 billion constant 2022 US$ in 1972.
- What is the lowest military spending recorded in Eswatini?
- The lowest recorded value was 4.74 million constant 2022 US$ in 1975.
- How does Eswatini rank for military spending?
- Eswatini ranks 150th out of 172 countries with data for 2023.
- Is military spending rising or falling in Eswatini?
- Over the last ten years it is down 13.1%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Eswatini data come from?
- The figures come from Barnum et al. – Global Military Spending Dataset (2025) – with minor processing by Our World in Data, published as part of Military spending. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
CSV · JSON — 56 observations, free to reuse under CC BY 4.0 (Our World in Data).
About this data
This data is expressed in US dollars. It is adjusted for inflation but does not account for differences in the cost of living between countries.