Government expenditure on education, total in Eswatini
Eswatini: Government expenditure on education, total was 19.2% in 2025. ▼ Falling
Government expenditure on education, total in Eswatini, 1981–2025
Source: Data API, UN Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO). Measured in % of government expenditure.
Analysis
The most recent figure for government expenditure on education, total in Eswatini is 19.2%, measured in 2025.
Compared with earlier readings it is down 0.7% on the previous year and up 17.0% over ten years.
Over the whole period, government expenditure on education, total in Eswatini peaked at 25.1% in 1989 and was at its lowest, 15.3%, in 2021.
That places Eswatini 23rd out of 193 countries with data for 2025, putting it in the top quarter.
The long-run direction has been consistently falling across the 35 years of available data.
Government expenditure on education, total in Eswatini, year by year
| Year | % of government expenditure | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1981 | 23.8% | — |
| 1982 | 20.4% | -14.2% |
| 1987 | 20.5% | +0.4% |
| 1988 | 21.8% | +6.4% |
| 1989 | 25.1% | +15.2% |
| 1990 | 23.5% | -6.4% |
| 1994 | 20.0% | -14.7% |
| 1995 | 20.7% | +3.1% |
| 1996 | 21.8% | +5.7% |
| 1999 | 20.4% | -6.5% |
| 2000 | 18.7% | -8.3% |
| 2001 | 19.7% | +4.9% |
| 2002 | 17.3% | -12.0% |
| 2003 | 22.1% | +27.6% |
| 2004 | 21.1% | -4.3% |
| 2005 | 20.9% | -1.0% |
| 2006 | 22.7% | +8.7% |
| 2008 | 21.8% | -3.9% |
| 2009 | 19.4% | -11.1% |
| 2010 | 18.3% | -5.7% |
| 2011 | 22.3% | +22.2% |
| 2012 | 21.4% | -4.0% |
| 2013 | 17.2% | -19.6% |
| 2014 | 24.8% | +43.9% |
| 2015 | 16.4% | -33.8% |
| 2016 | 16.6% | +0.8% |
| 2017 | 18.7% | +12.8% |
| 2018 | 17.2% | -7.7% |
| 2019 | 18.5% | +7.5% |
| 2020 | 15.9% | -14.1% |
| 2021 | 15.3% | -3.5% |
| 2022 | 16.6% | +8.3% |
| 2023 | 16.9% | +1.9% |
| 2024 | 19.4% | +14.3% |
| 2025 | 19.2% | -0.7% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1980s | 22.3% | 20.4% | 25.1% | 5 |
| 1990s | 21.3% | 20.0% | 23.5% | 5 |
| 2000s | 20.4% | 17.3% | 22.7% | 9 |
| 2010s | 19.1% | 16.4% | 24.8% | 10 |
| 2020s | 17.2% | 15.3% | 19.4% | 6 |
Countries ranked near Eswatini
- 20 Kyrgyzstan 19.6% compare
- 21 Vanuatu 19.3% compare
- 22 Tajikistan 19.3% compare
- 24 Peru 19.2% compare
- 25 Syrian Arab Republic 19.2% compare
- 26 South Africa 19.1% compare
More education data for Eswatini
- Teachers in secondary education, both sexes (number), gaps filled 7,225 (2022)
- Repeaters in primary education, all grades, both sexes (number), gaps 15,165 (2023)
- Enrolment in pre-primary education, male (number), gaps filled 12,768 (2015)
- Enrolment in pre-primary education, female (number), gaps filled 11,269 (2015)
- Secondary education, pupils, gaps filled 108,288 (2016)
- Primary education, duration (years), annual growth rate 0 % change on previous year (2025)
- Primary education, pupils, gaps filled 222,351 (2023)
- Primary education, pupils, annual growth rate -0.236 % change on previous year (2023)
- Primary education, pupils, per unit of GDP 0 units per US$ of GDP (2023)
- Primary education, pupils, per capita 0.1807 units per person (2023)
Frequently asked questions
- What is government expenditure on education, total in Eswatini?
- Government expenditure on education, total in Eswatini was 19.2% in 2025, according to Data API, UN Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO).
- What is the highest government expenditure on education, total recorded in Eswatini?
- The highest recorded value was 25.1% in 1989.
- What is the lowest government expenditure on education, total recorded in Eswatini?
- The lowest recorded value was 15.3% in 2021.
- How does Eswatini rank for government expenditure on education, total?
- Eswatini ranks 23rd out of 193 countries with data for 2025.
- Is government expenditure on education, total rising or falling in Eswatini?
- Over the last ten years it is up 17.0%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this Eswatini data come from?
- The figures come from Data API, UN Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO), published as part of Government expenditure on education, total (% of government expenditure). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
General government expenditure on education (current, capital, and transfers) is expressed as a percentage of total general government expenditure on all sectors (including health, education, social services, etc.). It includes expenditure funded by transfers from international sources to government. General government usually refers to local, regional and central governments.