Military profile

Eswatini Military Strength

Eswatini is not covered by the Global Firepower ranking. It spent $93 million on its military in 2025 (1.6% of GDP).

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Military strength rank

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Active personnel

$93 million

Military spending (2025)

1.6%

Share of GDP

Eswatini armed forces in numbers

Finance

Military spending: $93 million#140 of 156
Military spending as % of GDP: 1.6%#84 of 156

Equipment and personnel: Global Firepower 2023 military strength ranking (2023). Spending: World Bank / SIPRI military expenditure data (CC BY 4.0).

Eswatini military spending 2010–2025

$10210'

$10711'

$9112'

$8613'

$8114'

$7415'

$8116'

$8817'

$9618'

$8719'

$7720'

$8321'

$8322'

$8323'

$8324'

$9325'

Military spending of Eswatini fell by 8% between 2010 and 2025, from $102 million to $93 million (current US dollars), and stood at 1.6% of GDP in 2025.

Armed forces of Eswatini

Branches and forces

Umbutfo Eswatini Defense Force (UEDF): Army (includes a small air wing); the Royal Eswatini Police Service (REPS) (2025)

Personnel

estimated 3,000 active-duty Defense Force (2025)

Service age and conscription

18-35 years of age for voluntary military service for men and women; no conscription (2025)

Equipment and suppliers

the UEDF has a small inventory of mostly older light weapons and equipment originating from Europe, South Africa, Taiwan, and the US (2025)

Good to know

the UEDF's primary mission is external defense, which includes mostly securing the borders; it also has domestic security responsibilities, including protecting members of the royal family; the king is the UEDF commander in chief and holds the position of minister of defense, although the UEDF reports to the Army commander and principal undersecretary of defense for day-to-day operations; the Royal Eswatini Police Service (REPS) is responsible for maintaining internal security as well as migration and border crossing enforcement; it is under the prime minister, although the king is the force's titular commissioner in chief; the UEDF was originally created in 1973 as the Royal Swaziland Defense Force (2025)

Military expenditure (% of GDP)

2024: 1.4% · 2023: 1.4% · 2022: 1.6% · 2021: 1.7% · 2020: 1.8%

Forces and service: CIA World Factbook (public domain).

Eswatini compared with its neighbours

Country	Strength rank	Military spending
Eswatini	—	$93 million
South Africa	#33	$3.2 billion
Mozambique	#112	$468 million

Frequently asked questions about the Eswatini military

How strong is the military of Eswatini?

Eswatini is not covered by the Global Firepower ranking. It spent $93 million on its military in 2025 (1.6% of GDP).

How much does Eswatini spend on its military?

$93 million in 2025, or 1.6% of GDP. Since 2010 spending has fallen by 8% in current US dollars.

Is there conscription in Eswatini?

18-35 years of age for voluntary military service for men and women; no conscription (2025)

How many soldiers does Eswatini have?

estimated 3,000 active-duty Defense Force (2025)

Military strength ranking Neighbouring countries of Eswatini