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Eswatini vs Liberia
Side-by-side comparison of Eswatini and Liberia from official statistics: size, economy, people, trade, natural resources, health, infrastructure and military, with world ranks, years and sources.
Eswatini
Sub-Saharan Africa · nation age 58 years
Liberia
Sub-Saharan Africa · nation age 204 years
In short
Liberia scores 24.0 in the NationsTree Index (178th in the world) and Eswatini scores 22.3 (182nd), a gap of 1.7 points. Their trees are 2.0 m and 1.7 m tall; tree height grows with real GDP and is adjusted by the index.
Liberia has 4.6 times the population of Eswatini. Liberia is 6.4 times larger than Eswatini by land area. The economy of Eswatini is 39% larger than that of Liberia (GDP at purchasing power parity). Population: Eswatini 1.3 million and Liberia 5.7 million (2025).
GDP per person at purchasing power parity is $12,529 in Eswatini and $1,981 in Liberia (2025, international dollars). People in Eswatini live on average 1.9 years longer (64.3 vs 62.3 years).
Of 26 indicators reported by both countries, Eswatini ranks higher in the world on 17 and Liberia on 9. Eswatini is clearly stronger in military, infrastructure & digital and main industries. Liberia is clearly stronger in environment & energy, land & people and natural resources.
As a nation, Liberia is the older of the two (statehood since 1822, 204 years), compared with Eswatini (since 1968). Over the last five years Liberia improved faster (direction score 64 vs 2 out of 100).
Where they differ most
The indicators with the biggest gap in world position between Eswatini and Liberia.
Eswatini
34.2%
187th of 187
Liberiabetter
2.9%
36th of 187
Government budget balanceEconomy
Eswatini
-7.8%
178th of 192
Liberiabetter
-2.1%
79th of 192
Renewable freshwater per personNatural resources
Eswatini
2,166
102nd of 183
Liberiabetter
37,221
15th of 183
Voice & accountabilityInstitutions & safety
Eswatini
31.0
179th of 205
Liberiabetter
58.0
101st of 205
Human Development IndexSociety & health
Eswatinibetter
0.695
126th of 193
Liberia
0.510
177th of 193
Over time
How the two countries moved against each other, from the yearly data.
Liberia overtook Eswatini in the NationsTree Index in 2025, the latest year with data.
Eswatini overtook Liberia in life expectancy in 2022 and has stayed ahead since.
Eswatini has been ahead of Liberia in GDP per person (PPP) and GDP (PPP) in every year since 1990.
Liberia has been ahead of Eswatini in population in every year since 1990.
Strength by category
Average world percentile of the indicators in each category (0–100, direction taken into account). i
EswatiniLiberia All indicators
Latest available value for each country with its year and world rank. Green: the better world position of the two, red: the weaker one.
| Indicator | Eswatini | Liberia |
|---|---|---|
| Land & people | ||
| Surface area km² | 17,364155th/216 · 2024 | 111,370104th/216 · 2024 |
| Land area km² | 17,200155th/216 · 2024 | 96,320107th/216 · 2024 |
| Population people | 1.3 m158th/217 · 2025 | 5.7 m116th/217 · 2025 |
| Population growth % | 1.07%97th/217 · 2025 | 2.09%44th/217 · 2025 |
| Population density people/km² | 72.3135th/216 · 2024 | 58.3147th/216 · 2024 |
| Urban population % | 26.7%201st/217 · 2025 | 56.1%138th/217 · 2025 |
| Population aged 0–14 % | 33.0%59th/217 · 2025 | 39.1%28th/217 · 2025 |
| Population aged 65+ % | 4.3%161st/217 · 2025 | 3.3%183rd/217 · 2025 |
| Economy | ||
| GDP USD | $5.16 bn168th/210 · 2025 | $5.25 bn167th/210 · 2025 |
| GDP (PPP) intl. USD | $15.74 bn155th/199 · 2025 | $11.35 bn160th/199 · 2025 |
| Real GDP (PPP, constant 2021 prices) intl. USD 2021 | $13.45 bn155th/199 · 2025 | $9.70 bn160th/199 · 2025 |
| GDP per person USD | $4,108148th/210 · 2025 | $915200th/210 · 2025 |
| GDP per person (PPP) intl. USD | $12,529132nd/199 · 2025 | $1,981192nd/199 · 2025 |
| GNI per person (Atlas) USD | $3,730144th/201 · 2025 | $830190th/201 · 2025 |
| GDP growth % | 4.2%76th/210 · 2025 | 5.0%51st/210 · 2025 |
| Inflation % | 2.6%2019 | 8.3%153rd/180 · 2025 |
| Unemployment % | 34.2%187th/187 · 2025 | 2.9%36th/187 · 2025 |
| Central government debt % of GDP | 35.7%12th/55 · 2021 | — |
| General government gross debt % of GDP | 44.8%74th/189 · 2025 | 55.1%103rd/189 · 2025 |
| Government budget balance % of GDP | -7.8%178th/192 · 2025 | -2.1%79th/192 · 2025 |
| Main industries | ||
| Agriculture, forestry, fishing % of GDP | 6.4%97th/197 · 2025 | 32.7%10th/197 · 2025 |
| Industry incl. construction % of GDP | 33.6%40th/200 · 2025 | 24.5%91st/200 · 2025 |
| Manufacturing % of GDP | 28.1%6th/192 · 2025 | 2.3%2011 |
| Services % of GDP | 52.4%132nd/200 · 2025 | 40.0%186th/200 · 2025 |
| Trade | ||
| Exports of goods & services USD | $2.61 bn147th/182 · 2024 | — |
| Imports of goods & services USD | $2.61 bn154th/182 · 2024 | — |
| Exports % of GDP | 53.8%49th/183 · 2024 | — |
| Imports % of GDP | 53.7%68th/183 · 2024 | — |
| Trade openness % of GDP | 107.5%51st/183 · 2024 | — |
| Fuel exports % of merchandise exports | 3.6%84th/170 · 2023 | 1.8%103rd/170 · 2023 |
| Manufactures exports % of merchandise exports | 59.8%54th/171 · 2023 | 9.9%133rd/171 · 2023 |
| Food exports % of merchandise exports | 29.7%49th/171 · 2023 | 24.5%59th/171 · 2023 |
| Ores & metals exports % of merchandise exports | 0.6%147th/171 · 2023 | 0.1%166th/171 · 2023 |
| High-tech exports % of manufactured exports | 0.3%157th/168 · 2023 | 0.6%151st/168 · 2023 |
| Current account balance % of GDP | 2.4%54th/191 · 2025 | -7.0%160th/191 · 2025 |
| Foreign direct investment, inflows % of GDP | 1.0%143rd/196 · 2025 | 9.5%23rd/196 · 2025 |
| Natural resources | ||
| Natural resource rents % of GDP | 3.0%86th/209 · 2021 | 21.9%21st/209 · 2021 |
| Oil rents % of GDP | 0.00%120th/197 · 2021 | 0.00%120th/197 · 2021 |
| Natural gas rents % of GDP | 0.00%100th/197 · 2021 | 0.00%100th/197 · 2021 |
| Coal rents % of GDP | 0.14%27th/195 · 2021 | 0.00%68th/195 · 2021 |
| Mineral rents % of GDP | 0.00%91st/209 · 2021 | 5.44%20th/209 · 2021 |
| Forest rents % of GDP | 2.86%24th/209 · 2021 | 16.48%2nd/209 · 2021 |
| Arable land % of land area | 10.3%102nd/206 · 2024 | 5.2%135th/206 · 2024 |
| Renewable freshwater per person m³ | 2,166102nd/183 · 2022 | 37,22115th/183 · 2022 |
| Tourism | ||
| International tourist arrivals arrivals | 345,300138th/194 · 2020 | — |
| Tourism receipts USD | $7.3 m169th/175 · 2020 | $123.0 m2009 |
| Tourism receipts % of exports | 0.4%161st/168 · 2020 | 27.1%2009 |
| Outbound trips departures | 488,00079th/107 · 2020 | — |
| Society & health | ||
| Life expectancy years | 64.3192nd/217 · 2024 | 62.3202nd/217 · 2024 |
| Under-5 mortality per 1,000 births | 45.1162nd/196 · 2024 | 86.4187th/196 · 2024 |
| Physicians per 1,000 people | 0.56119th/174 · 2023 | 0.18149th/174 · 2022 |
| Hospital beds per 1,000 people | 2.02013 | 1.698th/145 · 2021 |
| DPT immunization % of children 12–23 months | 84%136th/193 · 2024 | 83%137th/193 · 2024 |
| Completed lower secondary, 25+ % of adults | 49.1%116th/153 · 2022 | 35.6%2019 |
| Secondary enrolment % gross | 82.0%2016 | 37.7%2020 |
| Social protection coverage (incl. pensions) % of population | 81.2%2016 | 14.3%2016 |
| Old-age dependency ratio % of working-age population | 6.9%161st/217 · 2025 | 5.8%182nd/217 · 2025 |
| Health spending % of GDP | 7.5%75th/193 · 2023 | 13.0%6th/193 · 2023 |
| Adult literacy % | 90.8%50th/98 · 2022 | 59.4%2010 |
| Tertiary enrolment % gross | 6.4%2013 | 10.8%2012 |
| Human Development Index index 0–1 | 0.695126th/193 · 2023 | 0.510177th/193 · 2023 |
| Income inequality (Gini) index | 54.62016 | 35.32016 |
| Extreme poverty % of population | 44.5%2016 | 33.6%2016 |
| Infrastructure & digital | ||
| Access to electricity % of population | 89.3%162nd/215 · 2024 | 34.9%207th/215 · 2024 |
| Safely managed drinking water % of population | 38.2%121st/150 · 2024 | — |
| Safely managed sanitation % of population | 60.8%73rd/144 · 2024 | — |
| Internet users % of population | 63.4%135th/186 · 2024 | 32.2%166th/186 · 2024 |
| Mobile subscriptions per 100 people | 14042nd/210 · 2024 | 32208th/210 · 2022 |
| Fixed broadband per 100 people | 2.5155th/208 · 2024 | 0.3186th/208 · 2022 |
| Trade & transport infrastructure quality (LPI) score 1–5 | — | 2.4096th/164 · 2022 |
| Rail lines route-km | 3002011 | — |
| Air passengers carried passengers | 34,663148th/161 · 2023 | 32,0001992 |
| Environment & energy | ||
| CO₂ emissions per person t CO₂e | 0.8860th/203 · 2024 | 0.1518th/203 · 2024 |
| Renewable energy % of final energy use | 64.7%32nd/212 · 2022 | 92.8%3rd/212 · 2022 |
| Air pollution (PM2.5) µg/m³ | 16.798th/200 · 2023 | 17.9102nd/200 · 2023 |
| Forest area % of land area | 25.3%118th/214 · 2024 | 66.1%21st/214 · 2024 |
| Energy use per person kg oil eq. | 97791st/149 · 2024 | — |
| Institutions & safety | ||
| Government effectiveness score 0–100 | 35.2169th/205 · 2025 | 28.4186th/205 · 2025 |
| Control of corruption score 0–100 | 31.9158th/207 · 2025 | 28.6166th/207 · 2025 |
| Rule of law score 0–100 | 45.8150th/207 · 2025 | 44.6155th/207 · 2025 |
| Political stability score 0–100 | 55.6160th/207 · 2025 | 63.2125th/207 · 2025 |
| Regulatory quality score 0–100 | 43.9151st/205 · 2025 | 40.6169th/205 · 2025 |
| Voice & accountability score 0–100 | 31.0179th/205 · 2025 | 58.0101st/205 · 2025 |
| Homicide rate per 100,000 | 12.5122nd/145 · 2021 | 3.12012 |
| Military | ||
| Military expenditure USD | $93.4 m140th/156 · 2025 | $44.2 m144th/156 · 2025 |
| Military expenditure % of GDP | 1.6%84th/156 · 2025 | 0.9%126th/156 · 2025 |
| Military expenditure % of government spending | 5.2%77th/154 · 2025 | 3.9%111th/154 · 2025 |
| Armed forces personnel people | 3,0001999 | 2,000154th/170 · 2020 |
| Armed forces personnel % of labour force | 0.98%1999 | 0.09%163rd/168 · 2020 |
| Arms imports (SIPRI TIV) TIV | 2.0 m2020 | 0158th/163 · 2025 |
| Science & innovation | ||
| R&D spending % of GDP | 0.28%2015 | — |
| Patent applications by residents applications | — | 2123rd/137 · 2024 |
| Scientific articles articles | 31167th/197 · 2023 | 32165th/197 · 2023 |
Questions and answers
Which has more people, Eswatini or Liberia?
Liberia has the larger population: 5.7 m (2025) compared with 1.3 m for Eswatini (2025). Source: World Bank, SP.POP.TOTL.
Which is bigger by area, Eswatini or Liberia?
Liberia is larger: 111,370 km² (2024) compared with 17,364 km² for Eswatini (2024). Source: World Bank, AG.SRF.TOTL.K2.
Which economy is larger, Eswatini or Liberia?
Eswatini has the larger economy at purchasing power parity: $15.74 bn intl. (2025) compared with $11.35 bn intl. for Liberia (2025). Source: World Bank, NY.GDP.MKTP.PP.CD.
Which is richer per person, Eswatini or Liberia?
Eswatini has the higher GDP per person (PPP): $12,529 intl. (2025) compared with $1,981 intl. for Liberia (2025). Source: World Bank, NY.GDP.PCAP.PP.CD.
Where do people live longer, in Eswatini or Liberia?
Eswatini has the higher life expectancy at birth: 64.3 years (2024) compared with 62.3 years for Liberia (2024). Source: World Bank, SP.DYN.LE00.IN.
Which spends more on the military, Eswatini or Liberia?
Eswatini spends more on the military: $93.4 m (2025) compared with $44.2 m for Liberia (2025). Source: World Bank, MS.MIL.XPND.CD.
Which ranks higher in the NationsTree Index, Eswatini or Liberia?
Liberia: 24.0 points (178th in the world); Eswatini: 22.3 points (182nd). The index combines foundations, economic strength, quality of life, problems and 5-year direction from public statistics.
Burundi
Equatorial Guinea
Gambia
Guinea-Bissau
LesothoSources
World Bank World Development Indicators and Worldwide Governance Indicators, compiling UN agencies, the IMF, WHO, SIPRI and national statistical offices; every row links to its world ranking with the source series. See Sources & licences and Methodology.
Cite as: NationsTree (2026). Eswatini vs Liberia — country comparison. https://nationstree.org/compare/eswatini-vs-liberia. Data as of 26 October 2026.