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Eswatini economy ranking: GDP & GDP per capita, debt

Updated on by Georank team

Eswatini ranked 162/197 by economy size with a GDP of $4.86B and 131/197 by GDP per capita at $3,910. Eswatini has $1.93B in government debt, with a debt-to-GDP ratio of 39.8%.

In 2024, Eswatini made up 0.004% of the world's economy, compared to 0.003% in 1960.

Eswatini GDP & GDP growth by year

GDP, current $
Real growth
1x
Year GDP GDP growth
2024 $4,858,885,841 2.97%
2023 $4,621,191,262 3.53%
2022 $4,746,660,274 0.39%
2021 $4,807,069,277 4.24%
2020 $4,134,677,810 -2.95%
2019 $4,617,018,959 6.43%
2018 $4,643,751,059 0.07%
2017 $4,462,640,651 3.52%
2016 $3,722,306,117 2.95%
2015 $3,908,217,914 1.7%
2014 $4,285,065,665 2.06%
2013 $4,463,396,204 4.09%
2012 $4,747,813,067 4.09%
2011 $4,722,912,047 1.84%
2010 $4,360,714,359 3.82%
2009 $3,525,213,502 1.43%
2008 $3,235,921,171 1.44%
2007 $3,391,122,887 4.32%
2006 $3,215,307,901 6.73%
2005 $3,097,946,371 5.99%
2004 $2,710,331,785 3.62%
2003 $2,149,632,433 4.54%
2002 $1,393,945,031 4.09%
2001 $1,502,870,486 1.41%
2000 $1,697,161,558 1.76%
1999 $1,547,888,496 2.95%
1998 $1,576,908,856 2.6%
1997 $1,716,714,070 3.1%
1996 $1,602,741,834 3.84%
1995 $1,698,989,464 4.83%
1994 $1,419,294,254 2.4%
1993 $1,357,189,552 3.11%
1992 $1,284,759,928 3.23%
1991 $1,156,135,718 1.76%
1990 $1,114,694,041 21%
1989 $696,921,542 12.9%
1988 $692,026,455 6.57%
1987 $584,126,092 14.6%
1986 $449,140,318 12.3%
1985 $360,079,419 3.79%
1984 $494,483,409 6.16%
1983 $555,336,146 1.2%
1982 $537,568,059 1.17%
1981 $570,774,825 14.6%
1980 $541,976,853 12.4%
1979 $412,093,134 3.11%
1978 $340,630,085 1.33%
1977 $304,060,076 1.01%
1976 $272,550,068 -2.12%
1975 $288,299,789 13.9%
1974 $264,320,941 5.74%
1973 $221,915,128 9.02%
1972 $146,736,479 5.42%
1971 $136,462,081 13.7%
1970 $112,139,955 -
1969 $105,419,958 -
1968 $79,799,968 -
1967 $74,759,970 -
1966 $76,859,969 -
1965 $70,279,972 -
1964 $64,980,554 -
1963 $54,129,438 -
1962 $45,927,962 -
1961 $43,026,043 -
1960 $35,076,846 -

Data sources: World Bank | Economy & Growth (1960–2024, retrieved 2026-04-06).

GeoRank.org/economy/eswatini | CC BY

Eswatini GDP per capita by year

GDP per capita
GDP per capita, PPP
1x
Year Current $
GDP per capita GDP per capita, PPP
2024 $3,910 $11,799
2023 $3,756 $11,300
2022 $3,894 $10,635
2021 $3,984 $9,990
2020 $3,467 $9,329
2019 $3,913 $9,248
2018 $3,973 $8,535
2017 $3,853 $8,584
2016 $3,238 $8,484
2015 $3,420 $8,391
2014 $3,771 $8,366
2013 $3,950 $8,231
2012 $4,225 $7,760
2011 $4,225 $7,571
2010 $3,923 $7,324
2009 $3,190 $7,011
2008 $2,947 $6,914
2007 $3,109 $6,732
2006 $2,965 $6,319
2005 $2,871 $5,773
2004 $2,526 $5,310
2003 $2,015 $5,020
2002 $1,316 $4,742
2001 $1,430 $4,521
2000 $1,630 $4,401
1999 $1,502 $4,272
1998 $1,547 $4,137
1997 $1,705 $4,038
1996 $1,619 $3,916
1995 $1,751 $3,777
1994 $1,461 $3,526
1993 $1,397 $3,371
1992 $1,362 $3,289
1991 $1,273 $3,236
1990 $1,278 $3,202
1989 $832 -
1988 $865 -
1987 $765 -
1986 $611 -
1985 $510 -
1984 $726 -
1983 $843 -
1982 $843 -
1981 $925 -
1980 $908 -
1979 $714 -
1978 $610 -
1977 $563 -
1976 $521 -
1975 $568 -
1974 $536 -
1973 $463 -
1972 $315 -
1971 $301 -
1970 $254.2 -
1969 $245.2 -
1968 $190.4 -
1967 $182.8 -
1966 $192.7 -
1965 $181 -
1964 $171.6 -
1963 $146.4 -
1962 $127.1 -
1961 $121.8 -
1960 $101.6 -

Data sources: World Bank | Economy & Growth (1960–2024, retrieved 2026-04-06).

GeoRank.org/economy/eswatini | CC BY

Eswatini has a GDP per capita of $3,910, ranking 131/197, a GDP per capita based on purchasing power parity (PPP) of $11,799, ranking 126/197, and a median annual after tax income of $3,913, ranking 127/197.

Eswatini GDP rankings by year

GDP
GDP per capita
GDP per capita, PPP
1x
Year Rank
GDP GDP per capita GDP per capita, PPP
2024 154 123 115
2023 159 129 119
2022 159 125 120
2021 158 124 119
2020 159 128 121
2019 160 125 121
2018 161 124 121
2017 161 122 123
2016 161 127 121
2015 163 123 122
2014 161 121 122
2013 158 120 121
2012 157 116 120
2011 156 112 119
2010 156 112 118
2009 160 115 119
2008 161 123 120
2007 158 112 118
2006 155 106 112
2005 148 101 111
2004 148 101 110
2003 150 104 111
2002 157 116 111
2001 154 111 111
2000 149 102 110
1999 147 106 109
1998 150 105 107
1997 149 100 106
1996 149 100 102
1995 146 95 104
1994 143 93 104
1993 143 91 106
1992 143 94 107
1991 146 100 107
1990 146 97 105
1989 137 107 -
1988 137 102 -
1987 136 107 -
1986 132 112 -
1985 132 119 -
1984 129 102 -
1983 127 96 -
1982 127 98 -
1981 127 96 -
1980 128 93 -
1979 123 96 -
1978 123 97 -
1977 122 94 -
1976 123 96 -
1975 122 86 -
1974 120 86 -
1973 121 81 -
1972 121 93 -
1971 120 88 -
1970 120 94 -
1969 112 80 -
1968 112 87 -
1967 111 83 -
1966 108 80 -
1965 108 80 -
1964 105 77 -
1963 106 83 -
1962 106 87 -
1961 105 85 -
1960 103 90 -

Data sources: World Bank | Economy & Growth (1960–2024, retrieved 2026-04-06).

GeoRank.org/economy/eswatini | CC BY

Compared with 2000, in 2024 Eswatini is ranked 154th out of 182 by GDP (down from 149th), 123rd by GDP per capita (down from 102nd), and 115th by GDP per capita PPP (down from 110th).

Economic indicators

Eswatini Rank
Gross domestic product
$4.86B
2024
162/197
GDP growth
2.97%
2023-2024
107/194
GDP per capita
$3,910
2024
131/197
GDP per capita, PPP
$11,799
2024
126/197
Government debt
$1.93B
2024
159/185
Debt-to-GDP ratio
39.8%
2024
134/185
Government debt per person
$1,554
2024
130/185
Average annual personal income after taxes
$3,913
2026
127/197
Listed domestic companies
6
2007
100/103
Market capitalization of domestic companies
$234M
2007
99/100
Number of billionaires
1
2025
67/78
Billionaire frequency
1 in 698,876
2025
25/78
Income share by richest 10%
42.7%
2016
5/169
Income share by poorest 10%
1.4%
2016
160/169
Government expenditure, % of GDP
33.3%
2024
78/195
Consumer prices inflation
2.6%
2018-2019
120/195
Central bank interest rate
6.75%
2025
41/106
Unemployment rate
34.6%
2023
2/196
Population
1273390
157/197

Government spending, deficit, and debt by year

Spending
Debt
Deficit/surplus
1x
Year % of GDP
Government spending Government debt Government deficit/surplus
2024 33.3% 39.8% -1.36%
2023 32% 40% -0.67%
2022 29.6% 40.5% -5.4%
2021 30.1% 38.4% -4.68%
2020 32.7% 38.2% -4.27%
2019 32.9% 30.7% -6.26%
2018 32.2% 27% -6.72%
2017 33.9% 21.9% -5.68%
2016 34.7% 20.5% -8.54%
2015 35.3% 16.4% -6.03%
2014 33.3% 14.3% -1.18%
2013 29.4% 15.5% 0.59%
2012 27.8% 15.2% 3.48%
2011 26% 15.1% -4.02%
2010 31.6% 14.5% -9.52%
2009 34.5% 10.8% -3.06%
2008 34.4% 15% 1.63%
2007 31.2% 16.6% 2.44%
2006 28.2% 15% 8.88%
2005 29.7% 13.9% -1.7%
2004 32% 15.5% -4.1%
2003 26.4% 18% -2.15%
2002 27.2% 17.6% -3.78%
2001 26.4% 22.4% -2.31%
2000 25.3% 18.7% -1.22%
1999 26.5% 17.2% -1.27%
1998 22.5% 15.9% 1.07%
1997 21.2% 13% 2.11%
1996 23.3% 12% -1%
1995 20.5% 12.9% 0.9%
1994 24.7% 13.8% -3.61%
1993 24% 15.6% -3.29%
1992 26% 16.6% -2.9%
1991 20.3% 20.1% 3.4%
1990 18.7% 20.4% 5.61%
1989 15.8% 26.8% 5.82%
1988 15.6% 27.5% 3.23%
1987 17% 36.1% 2.03%
1986 19.8% 44% -2.41%
1985 22.3% 45.5% -1.33%
1984 22.2% 29.7% 1.25%
1983 23.2% 28.7% -0.6%
1982 24% 29.2% 0.11%
1981 23.8% 24.3% -4.29%
1980 19.6% 27.2% 6.55%

Data sources: International Monetary Fund (IMF) | Fiscal Monitor (1990–2024, retrieved 2026-02-20); International Monetary Fund (IMF) | Public Finances in Modern History (1980–1992, retrieved 2026-02-20).

GeoRank.org/economy/eswatini | CC BY

This chart shows Eswatini's government spending, budget balance, and debt over time, each expressed as a share of GDP.

Over the past 45 years, Eswatini recorded a fiscal deficit in 29 of them, with an average annual deficit equal to 1.21% of GDP. In 2024, government spending reached $1.62B (33.3% of GDP), with a deficit of 1.36%.

The national debt reached $1.93B, ranking 159th out of 185 countries by total size, with a debt-to-GDP ratio of 39.8%, ranking 134th.

Inflation rate by year

1x
Year Inflation
2019 2.6%
2018 4.82%
2017 6.22%
2016 7.85%
2015 4.95%
2014 5.68%
2013 5.62%
2012 8.94%
2011 6.11%
2010 4.51%
2009 7.45%
2008 12.7%
2007 8.08%
2006 5.3%
2005 4.77%
2004 3.45%
2003 7.29%
2002 12%
2001 5.94%
2000 12.2%
1999 6.09%
1998 8.11%
1997 7.13%
1996 6.43%
1995 12.3%
1994 13.8%
1993 12%
1992 7.56%
1991 8.93%
1990 13.1%
1989 7.55%
1988 20.4%
1987 13.4%
1986 13.7%
1985 20.5%
1984 12.9%
1983 11.6%
1982 10.8%
1981 20.1%
1980 18.7%
1979 16.5%
1978 8.52%
1977 20.8%
1976 6.53%
1975 12%
1974 19.3%
1973 11.5%
1972 2.37%
1971 2.32%
1970 1.85%
1969 3.21%
1968 3.45%
1967 1.82%
1966 3.18%

Data sources: World Bank | Economy & Growth (1966–2019, retrieved 2026-04-06).

GeoRank.org/economy/eswatini | CC BY

Over the past 20 years, Eswatini has had an average annual inflation rate of 6.82%. In 2019, inflation was 2.6%. The bar chart above shows consumer price inflation by year.

Balance of trade

Eswatini Rank
Current account balance
$78.3M
2024
69/190
Current account balance, % of GDP
+1.61%
2024
62/190
Goods imports
$2.07B
2024
151/189
Goods exports
$2.33B
2024
138/189
Service imports
$542M
2024
158/189
Service exports
$234M
2024
160/189
Imports of goods and services, % of GDP
53.7%
2024
68/181
Exports of goods and services, % of GDP
53.8%
2024
50/193

Eswatini top 10 trading partners

Eswatini's biggest trading partner accounting for 70.8% of all exports and imports is South Africa, with a trade balance between the two of -$88.7M: Eswatini exports $1.41B worth of goods and services to South Africa and imports $1.5B.

Below is the list of the top 10 trade partners of Eswatini.

Rank Country Trade value Share of total trade Export to Import from Top export to Top import from
1 South Africa $2.92B 70.8% $1.41B $1.5B Chemicals & pharma Raw materials & minerals
2 China $154M 3.74% $3K $154M Chemicals & pharma Textiles & consumer goods
3 Mozambique $107M 2.6% $82M $25.3M Processed food, beverages & tobacco Raw materials & minerals
4 Kenya $89.7M 2.18% $89.6M $82K Chemicals & pharma Machinery & equipment
5 India $81.2M 1.97% $8.85M $72.3M Metals Chemicals & pharma
6 Nigeria $70.3M 1.7% $70.1M $152K Chemicals & pharma Chemicals & pharma
7 United States $60.7M 1.47% $29.2M $31.5M Processed food, beverages & tobacco Chemicals & pharma
8 Zimbabwe $53M 1.29% $47.8M $5.19M Chemicals & pharma Raw materials & minerals
9 Italy $47M 1.14% $34M $13M Processed food, beverages & tobacco Textiles & consumer goods
10 Tanzania $35.8M 0.87% $35.5M $235K Chemicals & pharma Machinery & equipment

Top 10 exports

Eswatini Rank
Chemicals & pharma $897M 75/193
Processed food, beverages & tobacco $641M 91/192
Textiles & consumer goods $232M 103/193
Wood & paper products $157M 85/192
Raw materials & minerals $82.2M 154/193
Business & finance services $36.2M 144/188
Transport & tourism services $34.1M 173/188
Machinery & equipment $33.7M 147/193
Raw agricultural goods $17M 146/193
Metals $15.5M 150/192

Top 10 imports

Eswatini Rank
Raw materials & minerals $494M 150/193
Machinery & equipment $348M 161/193
Chemicals & pharma $305M 147/193
Textiles & consumer goods $249M 145/193
Processed food, beverages & tobacco $226M 153/193
Transport & tourism services $155M 171/188
Raw agricultural goods $153M 153/193
Metals $102M 158/193
Wood & paper products $85.3M 142/193
Business & finance services $79.6M 158/188

Economic freedom indices

Eswatini Rank
Economic freedom 57.5 116/197
Property rights 42.5 113/182
Government integrity 29.7 129/182
Judicial effectiveness 35.5 111/182
Tax burden 78.6 94/182
Government spending 71 101/180
Fiscal health 87.5 59/181
Business freedom 49.9 142/182
Labor freedom 55.2 100/182
Monetary freedom 76.8 55/180
Trade freedom 73.6 81/181
Investment freedom 50 108/181
Financial freedom 40 111/181

Economic freedom by year

1x
Year Index
Economic freedom Judicial effectiveness Tax burden Government spending Fiscal health
2026 57.5 35.5 78.6 71 87.5
2025 56.4 36.8 76.1 73.9 70.6
2024 55.6 36.4 78.3 72.6 63.6
2023 54.9 33 78.2 68.5 51.3
2022 51.4 36.9 78.6 63.9 15.6
2021 55.1 46.1 78.7 64.3 16.4
2020 55.3 42.4 72.8 62.8 17.6
2019 54.7 42.9 74.8 65.6 18.3
2018 55.9 35.3 74.8 65.2 39.7
2017 61.1 33.3 74.8 71.6 93.2
2016 59.7 - 70.9 64.9 -
2015 59.9 - 76.4 68.6 -
2014 61.2 - 74.7 70.9 -
2013 57.2 - 74.4 51.3 -
2012 57.2 - 67.2 56.5 -
2011 59.1 - 67.2 65.9 -
2010 57.4 - 63.1 55.5 -
2009 59.1 - 64.3 70.6 -
2008 58.4 - 71.4 62.4 -
2007 60.1 - 72.3 66.1 -
2006 61.4 - 74.1 65.3 -
2005 59.4 - 74.4 70.8 -
2004 58.6 - 74 71.7 -
2003 59.6 - 73.5 72.5 -
2002 60.9 - 72.7 71.2 -
2001 63.6 - 73 74.8 -
2000 62.6 - 63.1 76.5 -
1999 62.1 - 63.2 72.8 -
1998 62 - 62 73.5 -
1997 59.4 - 63.1 67.5 -
1996 58.6 - 63.5 68.7 -
1995 63.3 - 63.5 69.3 -

Data sources: The Heritage Foundation | Economic Freedom Index (1995–2026, retrieved 2026-03-09).

GeoRank.org/economy/eswatini | CC BY

Eswatini is ranked 103/174 for economic freedom with a score of 57.5, compared to 65/162 and a score of 61.4 in 2006.

Other economic metrics

Eswatini Rank
Services, % of GDP
51.4%
2024
124/191
Industry, % of GDP
34.7%
2024
35/194
Agriculture, forestry, and fishing, % of GDP
6.48%
2024
98/193
GNI, Atlas method
$4.46B
2024
159/194
GNI per capita, PPP
$10,760
2024
125/191
Total reserves including gold
$479M
2023
159/177
Net foreign direct investment
-$11.8M
2024
51/189
Net inflows of foreign direct investment
$75.5M
2024
149/193
Net outflows of foreign direct investment
$63.8M
2024
95/193
Servicing debt to the IMF, % of GNI
4.68%
2024
56/121
Poverty at national poverty lines
58.9%
2016
9/176
Gross capital formation, % of GDP
15%
2024
157/178

Compare Eswatini vs other countries

GDP per capita map

1x

Data sources: World Bank | Economy & Growth (1985–2024, retrieved 2026-04-06); U.S. Census Bureau (1985–2024, retrieved 2026-02-08).

GeoRank.org/economy/eswatini | CC BY

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Data sources:

  1. World Bank | Economy & Growth (1960–2024, retrieved 2026-04-06)
  2. International Monetary Fund (IMF) | Fiscal Monitor (1990–2024, retrieved 2026-02-20)
  3. The Heritage Foundation | Economic Freedom Index (1995–2026, retrieved 2026-03-09)
  4. International Monetary Fund (IMF) | Public Finances in Modern History (1980–1992, retrieved 2026-02-20)
  5. U.S. Census Bureau (1985–2024, retrieved 2026-02-08)
  6. TradeMap (2022–2023, retrieved 2026-02-08)
  7. United Nations | World Population Prospects (2026, retrieved 2026-03-10)
  8. LivingCost (2026, retrieved 2025-10-14)

Creative Commons Attribution (CC BY) — you’re free to copy, share, remix, adapt, and use even commercially as long as you give appropriate credit and clearly indicate if you made changes. Other sources may be subject to different license terms.

The current account balance is the sum of net trade in goods and services, net earnings from cross-border investments, and net transfer payments. It reflects a country's economic transactions with the rest of the world and is a fundamental component of the balance of payments. A surplus indicates that a country exports more than it imports, while a deficit shows the opposite.

Gross National Income (GNI) measures a country's total income. It encompasses income earned by residents, businesses, and foreign sources, defined as employee compensation and investment profits. GNI adds product taxes not included elsewhere and subtracts subsidies. It accounts for income from residents working abroad but excludes earnings from foreigners within the country.

A negative value for Net Foreign Direct Investment indicates a country is a net receiver of investments, as foreign inflows exceed outflows after Balance of Payments adjustments. A positive value indicates a net provider, with outflows exceeding inflows. Inflows are credits (increasing foreign claims on domestic assets), while outflows are debits (increasing domestic assets abroad).

Foreign direct investment (FDI, net inflows) shows how much capital foreign investors bring into a country after accounting for any funds that flow back in the opposite direction. It represents the net value of overseas companies establishing, expanding, or financing businesses in the reporting country. A positive number means more capital entered the country than was withdrawn, while a negative number means foreign investors pulled out more than they invested.

Foreign direct investment (FDI, net outflows) shows how much capital residents of a country invest abroad after accounting for any funds that flow back in the opposite direction. It represents the net value of domestic companies establishing, expanding, or financing businesses in other countries. A positive number means more capital was invested abroad than withdrawn, while a negative number means residents pulled back more than they invested.

Principal and interest payments to the IMF in currency, goods, or services on long-term debt expressed as a share of GNI.

Formerly gross domestic investment, gross capital formation measures the share of a country’s economic output invested in fixed assets, including buildings, machinery, and infrastructure. It indicates how much of the economy is devoted to building productive capacity.