Eswatini
Eswatini’s recent data shows that, in 2024, the country allocated 6% of GDP to education—above the regional average and reaching the global 6% target set in 2015.
Attendance indicators reveal near gender parity and comparatively lower wealth-based inequality than in many countries across the region. Continued investment and attention to disparities remain essential to secure inclusive and equitable education.
Check out the international comparative figures below, and, in addition, our members’ brief featuring national-level analysis, insights, and policy recommendations.
Read our members’ education financing brief
Public financial effort measures the share of national wealth and government spending directed toward education. Since 2015, international benchmarks have called for 4–6% of GDP and 15–20% of government spending. Eswatini’s most recent data (2024) shows that education accounted for 6.00% of GDP, placing it above the regional average and reaching the 6% benchmark. While data on education as a share of the government budget is not available here, the country’s performance on GDP share indicates relatively strong commitment to financing education compared to its peers.
Public expenditure on education as a % of GDP
Public spending per school-age person
Data for the indicator on public spending per school-age person has not been available since 2014, highlighting the need for more up-to-date and accessible data.
Equity in education is assessed through gender parity and wealth parity indicators.
- The gender ratio was 0.99 in 2022, slightly above the regional average and reflecting near parity in school attendance between boys and girls.
- The wealth parity index stood at 1.24 in 2022, showing that children from the wealthiest households were somewhat more likely to attend school than those from the poorest. However, this gap is narrower than the regional average, suggesting a comparatively more equitable situation.