Eswatini: Net acquisition of financial assets (current LCU)

Key figures

What the numbers say

In 2021, Eswatini's net acquisition of financial assets (current LCU) fell 365.84 million on 2020 (from -141.52 million to -507.35 million).

Across the 11 yearly changes before that (2008 to 2020), the average change was +166.39 million and a typical year strayed about 1.71 billion from that (the standard deviation). This year's change was 0.3 standard deviations below that average, so it was an ordinary year: it sits within the range of normal year-to-year movement.

On record, the biggest yearly rise was 4.44 billion in 2012 and the biggest yearly fall was 1.61 billion in 2009. The numbers show how large and when, not why; for the cause, look at what happened in that country in those years.

From 2012 to 2021 there is no clear straight-line trend: a straight line explains 22% of the movement over 9 observed years, so the value is moving around more than it is heading anywhere.

Worked out from the yearly values above. How the checks work: standard deviation, z-scores and straight-line trends.

Closest to Eswatini in the 2021 ranking

• Burundi — 3rd of 8: 134.1 billion
• Peru — 4th of 8: 24.23 billion
• Maldives — 5th of 8: 4.59 billion
• Central African Republic — 7th of 8: -2.89 billion
• Cameroon — 8th of 8: -58.09 billion

What this measures

Net acquisition of government financial assets includes domestic and foreign financial claims, SDRs, and gold bullion held by monetary authorities as a reserve asset. The net acquisition of financial assets should be offset by the net incurrence of liabilities. This indicator is expressed in current prices, meaning no adjustment has been made to account for price changes over time. This series is expressed in local currency units.

Limitations: For most countries central government finance data have been consolidated into one account, but for others only budgetary central government accounts are available. Countries reporting budgetary data are noted in the country metadata. Because budgetary accounts may not include all central government units (such as social security funds), they usually provide an incomplete picture. In federal states the central government accounts provide an incomplete view of total public finance. Data on government revenue and expense are collected by the IMF through questionnaires to member countries and by the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD).

All 14 values

Net acquisition of financial assets (current LCU) in nearby economies

• Angola — -2.2 trillion (2024)
• Botswana — -2.86 billion (2023)
• Burkina Faso — 137.43 billion (2024)
• Burundi — 134.1 billion (2021)
• Cabo Verde — 1.5 billion (2020)
• Cameroon — -58.09 billion (2021)
• Central African Republic — -2.89 billion (2021)
• Congo, Dem. Rep. — -1.25 trillion (2022)
• Congo, Rep. — 220.7 billion (2021)
• Côte d'Ivoire

More public sector data for Eswatini

• Military expenditure (current USD) — 93.36 million (2025)
• Military expenditure (current LCU) — 1.67 billion (2025)
• Military expenditure (% of GDP) — 1.6% (2025)
• Military expenditure (% of general government expenditure) — 5.17% (2025)
• Intentional homicides (per 100,000 people) — 12.51 (2021)
• Net investment in nonfinancial assets (current LCU) — 3.79 billion (2021)
• Net investment in nonfinancial assets (% of GDP) — 5.33% (2021)
• Net lending (+) / net borrowing (-) (current LCU) — -3.29 billion (2021)
• Net lending (+) / net borrowing (-) (% of GDP) — -4.63% (2021)

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Questions people ask

What is Eswatini's net acquisition of financial assets (current LCU)?

-507.35 million in 2021, according to the World Bank (World Development Indicators).

How has it changed since 2007?

It is down 996.39% from 56.6 million in 2007. The highest value was 1.99 billion in 2012 and the lowest -3.42 billion in 2010.

Is the latest change in net acquisition of financial assets (current LCU) unusual for Eswatini?

In 2021, Eswatini's net acquisition of financial assets (current LCU) fell 365.84 million on 2020 (from -141.52 million to -507.35 million). Across the 11 yearly changes before that (2008 to 2020), the average change was +166.39 million and a typical year strayed about 1.71 billion from that (the standard deviation). This year's change was 0.3 standard deviations below that average, so it was an ordinary year: it sits within the range of normal year-to-year movement.

Where does this data come from?

Source

World Bank, World Development Indicators, indicator GC.AST.TOTL.CN, licensed CC BY 4.0. Original source: Government Finance Statistics Yearbook and data files, International Monetary Fund (IMF) Figures are fetched from the World Bank API and refreshed monthly; see the series on data.worldbank.org. The full definition and method are in the World Bank's metadata glossary. Comparisons use the same World Bank release.

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