Statistical information Swaziland 1989

Swaziland in the World
top of pageBackground: Autonomy for the Swazis of southern Africa was guaranteed by the British in the late 19th century; independence was granted 1968.
top of pageLocationGeographic coordinatesMap referenceAreaLand boundaries: 535 km total; Mozambique 105 km, South Africa 430 km
Coastline: none--landlocked
Maritime claims: none--landlocked
Climate: varies from tropical to near temperate
Terrain: mostly mountains and hills; some moderately sloping plains
ElevationNatural resources: asbestos, coal, clay, tin, hydroelelectric power, forests, and small gold and diamond deposits
Land use: 8% arable land; NEGL% permanent crops; 67% meadows and pastures; 6% forest and woodland; 19% other; includes 2% irrigated
Irrigated landMajor riversMajor watersheds area km²Total water withdrawalTotal renewable water resourcesNatural hazardsGeographyNote: landlocked; almost completely surrounded by South Africa geoad2
top of pagePopulation: 778,525 (July 1989), growth rate 3.1% (1989)
Nationality: noun--Swazi(s; adjective--Swazi
Ethnic groups: 97% African, 3% European
Languages: English and siSwati (official; government business conducted in English
Religions: 60% Christian, 40% indigenous beliefs
Demographic profileAge structureDependency ratiosMedian agePopulation growth rateBirth rate: 46 births/1000 population (1989)
Death rate: 15 deaths/1000 population (1989)
Net migration rate: 0 migrants/1000 population (1989)
Population distributionUrbanizationMajor urban areasEnvironmentCurrent issues: overgrazing; soil degradation; soil erosion
Air pollutantsSex ratioMothers mean age at first birthMaternal mortality ratioInfant mortality rate: 126 deaths/1000 live births (1989)
Life expectancy at birth: 48 years male, 55 years female (1989)
Total fertility rate: 6.0 children born/woman (1989)
Contraceptive prevalence rateDrinking water sourceCurrent health expenditurePhysicians densityHospital bed densitySanitation facility accessHiv/AidsMajor infectious diseasesObesity adult prevalence rateAlcohol consumptionTobacco useChildren under the age of 5 years underweightEducation expendituresLiteracy: 67.9%
School life expectancy primary to tertiary educationYouth unemploymenttop of pageCountry name: conventional long form: Kingdom of Swaziland
Government type: monarchy; independent member of Commonwealth
Capital: Mbabane (administrative; Lobamba (legislative)
Administrative divisions: 4 districts; Hhohho, Lubombo, Manzini, Shiselweni
Dependent areasIndependence: 6 September 1968 (from UK)
National holiday: Somhlolo (Independence) Day, 6 September (1968)
Constitution: none; constitution of 6 September 1968 was suspended on 12 April 1973; a new constitution was promulgated 13 October 1978, but has not been formally presented to the people
Legal system: based on South African Roman-Dutch law in statutory courts, Swazi traditional law and custom in traditional courts; has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction
International law organization participationCitizenshipSuffrage: none
Executive branch: Chief of State--King MSWATI III (since 25 April 1986; Head of Government--Prime Minister Obed MFANYANA (since 12 July 1989)
Legislative branch: Umbutfo Swaziland Defense Force, Royal Swaziland Police Force
Judicial branch: High Court, Court of Appeal
Political parties and leadersInternational organization participation: ACP, AfDB, CCC, FAO, G-77, GATT (de facto), IBRD, ICAO, IDA, IFAD, IFC, ILO, IMF, INTERPOL, ISO, ITU, NAM, OAU, Southern African Customs Union, SADCC, UN, UNESCO, UPU, WHO
Diplomatic representationIn the us: Ambassador Absalom Vusani MAMBA; Chancery at 4,301 Connecticut Avenue NW, Washington DC 20,008; telephone (202) 362-6,683; US--Ambassador (vacant), Deputy Chief of Mission Armajane KARAER; Embassy at Central Bank Building, Warner Street, Mbabane (mailing address is P. O. Box 199, Mbabane; telephone 22,281 through 22,285
Flag description
: three horizontal bands of blue (top), red (triple width), and blue; the red band is edged in yellow; centered in the red band is a large black and white shield covering two spears and a staff decorated with feather tassels, all placed horizontally
National symbolsNational anthemNational heritagetop of pageEconomy overview: The economy is based on subsistence agriculture, which occupies much of the labor force and contributes about 25% to GDP. Manufacturing, which includes a number of agroprocessing factories, accounts for another 25% of GDP. Mining has declined in importance in recent years; high-grade iron ore deposits were depleted in 1978, and health concerns cut world demand for asbestos. Exports of sugar and forestry products are the main earners of hard currency. Surrounded by South Africa, except for a short border with Mozambique, Swaziland is heavily dependent on South Africa, from which it receives 90% of its imports and to which it sends about one-third of its exports.
Real gdp purchasing power parityReal gdp growth rateReal gdp per capitaGross national savingGdp composition by sector of origin
Gdp composition by end useGdp composition by sector of originAgriculture products: accounts for 25% of GDP and over 60% of labor force; mostly subsistence agriculture; cash crops--sugarcane, citrus fruit, cotton, pineapples; other crops and livestock--corn, sorghum, peanuts, cattle, goats, sheep; not self-sufficient in grain
Industries: mining (coal and asbestos), wood pulp, sugar
Industrial production growth rate: 24% (1986)
Labor force: 195,000; over 60,000 engaged in subsistence agriculture; about 92,000 wage earners (many only intermittently), with 36% agriculture and forestry, 20% community and social services, 14% manufacturing, 9% construction, 21% other; 24,000-29,000 employed in South Africa (1987)
Unemployment rate: NA%
Youth unemploymentPopulation below poverty lineGini indexHousehold income or consumption by percentage shareDistribution of family income gini indexBudget: revenues $255 million; expenditures $253 million, including capital expenditures of $NA million (FY91 est.)
Taxes and other revenuesPublic debtRevenueFiscal year: 1 April-31 March
Inflation rate consumer pricesCentral bank discount rateCommercial bank prime lending rateStock of narrow moneyStock of broad moneyStock of domestic creditMarket value of publicly traded sharesCurrent account balanceExports: $394 million (f.o.b., 1988)
Commodities: sugar, asbestos, wood pulp, citrus, canned fruit, soft drink concentrates
Partners: South Africa, UK, US
Imports: $386 million (f.o.b., 1988)
Commodities: motor vehicles, machinery, transport equipment, chemicals, petroleum products, foodstuffs
Partners: South Africa, US, UK
Reserves of foreign exchange and goldDebt external: $275 million (December 1987)
Stock of direct foreign investment at homeStock of direct foreign investment abroadExchange rates: emalangeni (E) per US$1--2.5555 (January 1989), 2.6166 (1989), 2.2611 (1988), 2.0350 (1987), 2.2685 (1986), 2.1911 (1985; note--the Swazi emalangeni is at par with the South African rand
top of pageElectricityCapacity: 50,000 kW capacity; 130 million kWh produced, 170 kWh per capita (1989)
CoalPetroleumCrude oilRefined petroleumNatural gasCarbon dioxide emissionsEnergy consumption per capitatop of pageTelephonesTelephone systemBroadcast mediaInternetBroadband fixed subscriptionstop of pageMilitary expendituresPercent of gdp: NA
Military and security forcesMilitary service age and obligationSpace programTerrorist groupstop of pageNational air transport systemCivil aircraft registration country code prefixAirports: 23 total, 22 usable; 1 with permanent-surfaced runways; none with runways over 3,659 m; 1 with runways 2,440-3,659 m; none with runways 1,220-2,439 m
HeliportsPipelinesRailwaysRoadwaysWaterwaysMerchant marinePorts and terminalstop of pageDisputes internationalRefugees and internally displaced personsIllicit drugs