Statistical information Swaziland 2017
Swaziland in the World
Swaziland - Introduction 2017
top of pageBackground: Autonomy for the Swazis of southern Africa was guaranteed by the British in the late 19th century; independence was granted in 1968. Student and labor unrest during the 1990s pressured King MSWATI III Africa's last absolute monarch to grudgingly allow political reform and greater democracy although he has backslid on these promises in recent years. A constitution came into effect in 2006 but the legal status of political parties was not defined and their status remains unclear. Swaziland has surpassed Botswana as the country with the world's highest known HIV/AIDS prevalence rate.
Swaziland - Geography 2017
top of pageLocation: Southern Africa between Mozambique and South Africa
Geographic coordinates: 26 30 S 31 30 E
Map reference: Africa
Area
Total: 17,364 km²
Land: 17,204 km²
Water: 160 km²
Rank: 159
Comparative: slightly smaller than New Jersey
Land boundaries
Total: 546 km
Border countries: (2) Mozambique 108 km; South Africa 438 km
Coastline: 0 km (landlocked)
Maritime claims: none (landlocked)
Climate: varies from tropical to near temperate
Terrain: mostly mountains and hills; some moderately sloping plains
Elevation
Mean elevation: 305 m
Elevation extremes: lowest point: Great Usutu River 21 m: highest point: Emlembe 1862 m
Natural resources: asbestos coal clay cassiterite hydropower forests small gold and diamond deposits quarry stone and talc
Land use
Land use
Agricultural land: 68.3%
arable land: 9.8%
permanent crops: 0.8%
permanent pasture: 57.7%
permanent crops: 0.8%
permanent pasture: 57.7%
Forest: 31.7%
Other: 0%
Irrigated land: 500 km² (2012)
Major rivers
Major watersheds area km²
Total water withdrawal
Total renewable water resources
Natural hazards: drought
Geography
Note: landlocked; almost completely surrounded by South Africa
Swaziland - People 2017
top of pagePopulation
Distribution: because of its mountainous terrain the population distribution is uneven throughout the country concentrating primarily in valleys and plains: 1,467,152
Note: estimates for this country explicitly take into account the effects of excess mortality due to AIDS; this can result in lower life expectancy higher infant mortality higher death rates lower population growth rates and changes in the distribution of population by age and sex than would otherwise be expected
Rank: 154
Growth rate: 1.08% (2017 est.)
Growth rate rank: 102
Below poverty line: 63% (2010 est.)
Nationality
Noun: Swazi
Adjective: Swazi
Ethnic groups: African 97% European 3%
Languages: English (official used for government business) siSwati (official)
Religions: Christian 90% (Zionist - a blend of Christianity and indigenous ancestral worship - 40% Roman Catholic 20% other 30% - includes Anglican Methodist Mormon Jehovah's Witness) Muslim 2% other 8% (includes Baha'i Buddhist Hindu indigenous religionist Jewish) (2015 est.)
Demographic profile:
Swaziland a small predominantly rural landlocked country surrounded by South Africa and Mozambique suffers from severe poverty and the world’s highest HIV/AIDS prevalence rate. A weak and deteriorating economy high unemployment rapid population growth and an uneven distribution of resources all combine to worsen already persistent poverty and food insecurity especially in rural areas. Erratic weather (frequent droughts and intermittent heavy rains and flooding) overuse of small plots the overgrazing of cattle and outdated agricultural practices reduce crop yields and further degrade the environment exacerbating Swaziland’s poverty and subsistence problems. Swaziland’s extremely high HIV/AIDS prevalence rate – more than 28% of adults have the disease – compounds these issues. Agricultural production has declined due to HIV/AIDS as the illness causes households to lose manpower and to sell livestock and other assets to pay for medicine and funerals.
Swazis mainly men from the country’s rural south have been migrating to South Africa to work in coal and later gold mines since the late 19th century. Although the number of miners abroad has never been high in absolute terms because of Swaziland’s small population the outflow has had important social and economic repercussions. The peak of mining employment in South Africa occurred during the 1980s. Cross-border movement has accelerated since the 1990s as increasing unemployment has pushed more Swazis to look for work in South Africa (creating a “brain drain” in the health and educational sectors); southern Swazi men have continued to pursue mining although the industry has downsized. Women now make up an increasing share of migrants and dominate cross-border trading in handicrafts using the proceeds to purchase goods back in Swaziland. Much of today’s migration however is not work-related but focuses on visits to family and friends tourism and shopping.
Swazis mainly men from the country’s rural south have been migrating to South Africa to work in coal and later gold mines since the late 19th century. Although the number of miners abroad has never been high in absolute terms because of Swaziland’s small population the outflow has had important social and economic repercussions. The peak of mining employment in South Africa occurred during the 1980s. Cross-border movement has accelerated since the 1990s as increasing unemployment has pushed more Swazis to look for work in South Africa (creating a “brain drain” in the health and educational sectors); southern Swazi men have continued to pursue mining although the industry has downsized. Women now make up an increasing share of migrants and dominate cross-border trading in handicrafts using the proceeds to purchase goods back in Swaziland. Much of today’s migration however is not work-related but focuses on visits to family and friends tourism and shopping.
Age structure
Age structure
0-14 years: 35.01%
15-24 years: 22.12%
25-54 years: 34.6%
55-64 years: 4.3%
65 years and over: 3.97% (2017 est.)
Dependency ratios
Total dependency ratio: 68.8
Youth dependency ratio: 63.5
Elderly dependency ratio: 5.2
Potential support ratio: 19.1
Median age
Total: 21.7 years
Male: 21.5 years
Female: 21.9 years
Rank: 181
Population growth rate: 1.08% (2017 est.)
Rank: 102
Birth rate: 24 births/1000 population (2017 est.)
Rank: 55
Death rate: 13.2 deaths/1000 population (2017 est.)
Rank: 13
Net migration rate: 0 migrant(s)/1000 population (2017 est.)
Rank: 101
Population distribution: because of its mountainous terrain the population distribution is uneven throughout the country concentrating primarily in valleys and plains
Urbanization
Urban population: 21.3% of total population
Rate of urbanization: 1.41% annual rate of change
Major urban areas
Population: MBABANE (capital) 66,000 (2014)
Environment
Current issues: limited supplies of potable water; wildlife populations being depleted because of excessive hunting; overgrazing; soil degradation; soil erosion
International agreements party to: Biodiversity Climate Change Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol Desertification Endangered Species Hazardous Wastes Ozone Layer Protection
International agreements signed but not ratified: Law of the Sea
Air pollutants
Sex ratio
At birth: 1.03 male/female
0-14 years: 1.02 male/female
15-24 years: 1.02 male/female
25-54 years: 1.08 male/female
55-64 years: 0.66 male/female
65 years and over: 0.64 male/female
Total population: 1 male/female
Mothers mean age at first birth: 19.5 years
Note: median age at first birth among women 25-29
Maternal mortality ratio
Infant mortality rate
Total: 48.4 deaths/1000 live births
Male: 52.2 deaths/1000 live births
Female: 44.4 deaths/1000 live births
Rank: 34
Life expectancy at birth
Total population: 52.1 years
Male: 52.7 years
Female: 51.5 years
Rank: 220
Total fertility rate: 2.69 children born/woman (2017 est.)
Rank: 68
Contraceptive prevalence rate: 66.1% (2014)
Drinking water source:
urban: 93.6% of population
rural: 68.9% of population
total: 74.1% of population
urban: 6.4% of population
rural: 31.1% of population
total: 25.9% of population (2015 est.)
rural: 68.9% of population
total: 74.1% of population
urban: 6.4% of population
rural: 31.1% of population
total: 25.9% of population (2015 est.)
Current health expenditure
Physicians density: 0.15 physicians/1000 population (2009)
Hospital bed density: 2.1 beds/1000 population (2011)
Sanitation facility access:
urban: 63.1% of population
rural: 56% of population
total: 57.5% of population
urban: 36.9% of population
rural: 44% of population
total: 42.5% of population (2015 est.)
rural: 56% of population
total: 57.5% of population
urban: 36.9% of population
rural: 44% of population
total: 42.5% of population (2015 est.)
Hiv/Aids
Adult prevalence rate: 27.2% (2016 est.)
Adult prevalence rate rank: 1
People living with hivaids: 220,000 (2016 est.)
People living with hivaids rank: 26
Deaths: 3,900 (2016 est.)
Deaths rank: 35
Major infectious diseases
Degree of risk: intermediate
Food or waterborne diseases: bacterial diarrhea hepatitis A and typhoid fever
Vectorborne disease: malaria
Water contact disease: schistosomiasis
Obesity adult prevalence rate: 16.5% (2016)
Rank: 124
Alcohol consumption
Tobacco use
Children under the age of 5 years underweight: 5.8% (2014)
Rank: 84
Education expenditures: 7.1% of GDP (2014)
Rank: 12
Literacy
Definition: age 15 and over can read and write
Total population: 87.5%
Male: 87.4%
Female: 87.5%
School life expectancy primary to tertiary education
Total: 11 years
Male: 12 years
Female: 11 years
Youth unemployment
Swaziland - Government 2017
top of pageCountry name
Conventional long form: Kingdom of Swaziland
Conventional short form: Swaziland
Local long form: Umbuso weSwatini
Local short form: eSwatini
Etymology: 'Land of the Swazi' people; the name 'Swazi' derives from 19th century King MSWATI II under whose rule Swazi territory was expanded and unified
Government type: absolute monarchy
Capital
Name: Mbabane ; Lobamba (royal and legislative capital)
Geographic coordinates: 26 19 S 31 08 E
Time difference: UTC+2
Administrative divisions: 4 districts; Hhohho Lubombo Manzini Shiselweni
Dependent areas
Independence: 6 September 1968 (from the UK)
National holiday: Independence Day (Somhlolo Day) 6 September (1968)
Constitution
History: previous 1968 1978; latest signed by the king 26 July 2005 effective 8 February 2006
Amendments: proposed at a joint sitting of both houses of Parliament; passage requires majority vote by both houses and/or majority vote in a referendum and assent by the king; passage of amendments affecting “specially entrenched” constitutional provisions requires at least three-fourths majority vote by both houses passage by simple majority vote in a referendum and assent by the king; passage of “entrenched' provisions requires at least two-thirds majority vote of both houses passage in a referendum and assent by the king
Legal system: mixed legal system of civil common and customary law
International law organization participation: accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction with reservations; non-party state to the ICCt
Citizenship
Citizenship by birth: no
Citizenship by descent only: both parents must be citizens of Swaziland
Dual citizenship recognized: no
Residency requirement for naturalization: 5 years
Suffrage: 18 years of age
Executive branch
Chief of state: King MSWATI III
Head of government: Prime Minister Barnabas Sibusiso DLAMINI ; Deputy Prime Minister Paul DLAMINI (since 2013)
Cabinet: Cabinet recommended by the prime minister confirmed by the monarch
Electionsappointments: the monarchy is hereditary; prime minister appointed by the monarch from among elected members of the House of Assembly
Legislative branch
Description: bicameral Parliament or Libandla consists of the Senate and the House of Assembly (65 seats; 55 members directly elected in single-seat constituencies by absolute majority vote in 2 rounds if needed and 10 members appointed by the monarch; members serve 5-year terms)
Elections: House of Assembly - last held on 24 August 2013 with a runoff on 20 September 2013
Election results: House of Assembly - percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - independent 55
Judicial branch
Highest court: the Supreme Court of the Judicature comprising the Supreme Court and the High Court (consists of the chief justice - ex officio - and at least 12 justices); note - the Supreme Court has jurisdiction in all constitutional matters
Judge selection and term of office: justices of the Supreme Court of the Judicature appointed by the monarch on the advice of the Judicial Service Commission or JSC a judicial advisory body consisting of the Supreme Court Chief Justice 4 members appointed by the monarch and the JSC head; justices of both courts eligible for retirement at age 65 with mandatory retirement at age 75 for Supreme Court justices and at age 70 for High Court justices
Subordinate courts: magistrates' courts; National Swazi Courts for administering customary/traditional laws
Note: the national constitution as amended in 2006 shifted judicial power from the monarch and vested it exclusively in the judiciary
Political parties and leaders:
the status of political parties previously banned is unclear under the 2006 Constitution; the following are considered political associations:
African United Democratic Party or AUDP [Sibusiso DLAMINI]
Ngwane National Liberatory Congress or NNLC [Dr. Alvit DLAMINI]
People's United Democratic Movement or PUDEMO [Mario MASUKU]
Swaziland Democratic Party or SWADEPA [Jan SITHOLE]
African United Democratic Party or AUDP [Sibusiso DLAMINI]
Ngwane National Liberatory Congress or NNLC [Dr. Alvit DLAMINI]
People's United Democratic Movement or PUDEMO [Mario MASUKU]
Swaziland Democratic Party or SWADEPA [Jan SITHOLE]
International organization participation: ACP AfDB AU C COMESA FAO G-77 IAEA IBRD ICAO ICRM IDA IFAD IFC IFRCS ILO IMF IMO Interpol IOC IOM ISO (correspondent) ITSO ITU ITUC (NGOs) MIGA NAM OPCW PCA SACU SADC UN UNCTAD UNESCO UNIDO UNWTO UPU WCO WHO WIPO WMO WTO
Diplomatic representation
In the us chief of mission: Ambassador Njabuliso Busisiwe Sikhulile GWEBU
In the us chancery: 1712 New Hampshire Avenue NW Washington DC 20,009
In the us telephone: [1] 234-5,002
In the us FAX: [1] 234-8,254
From the us chief of mission: Ambassador Lisa J. PETERSON
From the us embassy: corner of MR 103 and Cultural Center Drive Ezulwini
From the us mailing address: P.O. Box D202 The Gables H106
From the us telephone: [268] 2,417-9,000
From the us FAX: [268] 2,416-3,344
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; blue stands for peace and stability red represents past struggles and yellow the mineral resources of the country; the shield spears and staff symbolize protection from the country's enemies while the black and white of the shield are meant to portray black and white people living in peaceful coexistence
National symbols: lion elephant; national colors: blue yellow red
National anthem
Name: 'Nkulunkulu Mnikati wetibusiso temaSwati'
Lyrics and music: Andrease Enoke Fanyana SIMELANE/David Kenneth RYCROFT
Note: adopted 1968; uses elements of both ethnic Swazi and Western music styles
National heritage
Swaziland - Economy 2017
top of pageEconomy overview:
A small landlocked kingdom Swaziland is bordered in the north west and south by the Republic of South Africa and by Mozambique in the east. Swaziland depends on South Africa for 60% of its exports and for more than 90% of its imports. Swaziland's currency is pegged to the South African rand effectively relinquishing Swaziland's monetary policy to South Africa. The government is dependent on customs duties from the Southern African Customs Union (SACU) for 49% of revenue; income tax accounts for 27% and a valued added tax for 19% of revenues. Swaziland is a lower middle income country but its income distribution is highly skewed with an estimated 20% of the population controlling 80% of the nation’s wealth. As of 2017 more than one-quarter of the adult population was infected by HIV/AIDS; Swaziland has the world’s highest HIV prevalence rate.
Subsistence agriculture employs approximately 70% of the population. The manufacturing sector diversified in the 1980s and 1990s but manufacturing has grown little in the last decade. Sugar and soft drink concentrate are the largest foreign exchange earners. Mining has declined in importance in recent years. Coal gold diamond and quarry stone mines are small scale and the only iron ore mine closed in 2014.
With an estimated 28% unemployment rate Swaziland's need to increase the number and size of small and medium enterprises and to attract foreign direct investment is acute. On 1 January 2015 Swaziland lost its eligibility for benefits under the US African Growth and Opportunity Act after failing to meet benchmarks relating to workers’ rights.
The IMF forecasted that Swaziland’s economy will grow at a slower pace in 2017 because of a region-wide drought which is likely to hurt Swaziland’s revenue from sugar exports and other agricultural products; tourism and transport sectors will also decline. Overgrazing soil depletion drought and floods are persistent problems. Swaziland’s revenue from SACU receipts also are projected to decline in 2017 making it harder for the government to maintain fiscal balance.
Subsistence agriculture employs approximately 70% of the population. The manufacturing sector diversified in the 1980s and 1990s but manufacturing has grown little in the last decade. Sugar and soft drink concentrate are the largest foreign exchange earners. Mining has declined in importance in recent years. Coal gold diamond and quarry stone mines are small scale and the only iron ore mine closed in 2014.
With an estimated 28% unemployment rate Swaziland's need to increase the number and size of small and medium enterprises and to attract foreign direct investment is acute. On 1 January 2015 Swaziland lost its eligibility for benefits under the US African Growth and Opportunity Act after failing to meet benchmarks relating to workers’ rights.
The IMF forecasted that Swaziland’s economy will grow at a slower pace in 2017 because of a region-wide drought which is likely to hurt Swaziland’s revenue from sugar exports and other agricultural products; tourism and transport sectors will also decline. Overgrazing soil depletion drought and floods are persistent problems. Swaziland’s revenue from SACU receipts also are projected to decline in 2017 making it harder for the government to maintain fiscal balance.
Real gdp purchasing power parity:
$11.11 billion (2016 est.)
$10.97 billion (2015 est.)
$10.74 billion (2014 est.)
$10.97 billion (2015 est.)
$10.74 billion (2014 est.)
Note: data are in 2016 dollars
Rank: 155
Real gdp growth rate:
0% (2016 est.)
1.1% (2015 est.)
3.6% (2014 est.)
1.1% (2015 est.)
3.6% (2014 est.)
Rank: 193
Real gdp per capita:
$9,800 (2016 est.)
$9,900 (2015 est.)
$9,900 (2014 est.)
$9,900 (2015 est.)
$9,900 (2014 est.)
Note: data are in 2016 dollars
Rank: 138
Gross national saving:
12.8% of GDP (2016 est.)
23% of GDP (2015 est.)
11.6% of GDP (2014 est.)
23% of GDP (2015 est.)
11.6% of GDP (2014 est.)
Rank: 106
Gdp composition by sector of origin
Gdp composition by end use
Household consumption: 67.4%
Government consumption: 15.6%
Investment in fixed capital: 14.1%
Investment in inventories: -0.1%
Exports of goods and services: 36.6%
Imports of goods and services: -33.7%
Gdp composition by sector of origin
Agriculture: 6.3%
Industry: 45.4%
Services: 48.3%
Agriculture products: sugarcane corn cotton citrus pineapples cattle goats
Industries: soft drink concentrates coal forestry sugar processing textiles and apparel
Industrial production growth rate: 1.9% (2016 est.)
Rank: 113
Labor force: 427,900 (2016 est.)
Rank: 158
By occupation agriculture: 10.7%
By occupation industry: 30.4%
By occupation services: 58.9%
Labor force
Unemployment rate:
28% (2014 est.)
28% (2013 est.)
28% (2013 est.)
Rank: 199
Youth unemployment
Population below poverty line: 63% (2010 est.)
Gini index
Household income or consumption by percentage share
Lowest 10: 1.7%
Highest 10: 40.1%
Distribution of family income gini index: 50.4 (2001)
Rank: 16
Budget
Revenues: $980.1 million
Expenditures: $1.443 billion
Surplus or deficit: -12.3% of GDP (2016 est.)
Surplus or deficit rank: 204
Taxes and other revenues: 26% of GDP (2016 est.)
Rank: 114
Public debt:
27.5% of GDP (2016 est.)
18.6% of GDP (2015 est.)
18.6% of GDP (2015 est.)
Rank: 167
Revenue
Fiscal year: 1 April - 31 March
Inflation rate consumer prices:
8% (2016 est.)
5% (2015 est.)
5% (2015 est.)
Rank: 195
Central bank discount rate:
7.25% (31 December 2016)
6.5% (31 December 2015)
6.5% (31 December 2015)
Rank: 45
Commercial bank prime lending rate:
10.3% (31 December 2016 est.)
9.04% (31 December 2015 est.)
9.04% (31 December 2015 est.)
Rank: 80
Stock of narrow money:
$316.6 million (31 December 2016 est.)
$304.6 million (31 December 2015 est.)
$304.6 million (31 December 2015 est.)
Rank: 179
Stock of broad money:
$1.015 billion (31 December 2016 est.)
$848.8 million (31 December 2015 est.)
$848.8 million (31 December 2015 est.)
Rank: 173
Stock of domestic credit:
$890.5 million (31 December 2016 est.)
$557.8 million (31 December 2015 est.)
$557.8 million (31 December 2015 est.)
Rank: 169
Market value of publicly traded shares:
$N/A
$203.1 million (31 December 2007)
$199.9 million (31 December 2006)
$203.1 million (31 December 2007)
$199.9 million (31 December 2006)
Current account balance:
$26 million (2016 est.)
$280.5 million (2015 est.)
$280.5 million (2015 est.)
Rank: 50
Exports:
$1.577 billion (2016 est.)
$1.647 billion (2015 est.)
$1.647 billion (2015 est.)
Rank: 145
Commodities: soft drink concentrates sugar timber cotton yarn refrigerators citrus and canned fruit
Partners: South Africa 87.1% Namibia 4% (2016)
Imports:
$1.405 billion (2016 est.)
$1.387 billion (2015 est.)
$1.387 billion (2015 est.)
Rank: 170
Commodities: motor vehicles machinery transport equipment foodstuffs petroleum products chemicals
Partners: South Africa 60.3% China 5.3% Mozambique 5.1% (2016)
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold:
$564.4 million (31 December 2016 est.)
$548 million (31 December 2015 est.)
$548 million (31 December 2015 est.)
Rank: 142
Debt external:
$468.9 million (31 December 2016 est.)
$390.8 million (31 December 2015 est.)
$390.8 million (31 December 2015 est.)
Rank: 179
Stock of direct foreign investment at home: $N/A
Stock of direct foreign investment abroad: $N/A
Exchange rates:
emalangeni per US dollar -
14.6924 (2016 est.)
14.6924 (2015 est.)
12.7581 (2014 est.)
10.8469 (2013 est.)
8.2 (2012 est.)
14.6924 (2016 est.)
14.6924 (2015 est.)
12.7581 (2014 est.)
10.8469 (2013 est.)
8.2 (2012 est.)
Swaziland - Energy 2017
top of pageElectricity
Access population without electricity: 900,000
Access electrification total population: 27%
Access electrification urban areas: 40%
Access electrification rural areas: 24%
Production: 431 million kWh (2015 est.)
Production rank: 170
Consumption: 1.481 billion kWh (2015 est.)
Consumption rank: 149
Exports: 0 kWh (2016)
Exports rank: 218
Imports: 1.08 billion kWh (2015 est.)
Imports rank: 65
Installed generating capacity: 281,000 kW (2015 est.)
Installed generating capacity rank: 159
Generation sources fossil fuels: 35.6% of total installed capacity (2015 est.)
Generation sources fossil fuels rank: 176
Generation sources nuclear: 0% of total installed capacity (2015 est.)
Generation sources nuclear rank: 212
Generation sources hydroelectricity: 21.4% of total installed capacity (2015 est.)
Generation sources hydroelectricity rank: 85
Generation sources other renewable sources: 43.1% of total installed capacity (2015 est.)
Generation sources other renewable sources rank: 4
Coal
Petroleum
Petroleum total petroleum production: 0 bbl/day (2016 est.)
Petroleum total petroleum production rank: 215
Crude oil exports: 0 bbl/day (2014 est.)
Crude oil exports rank: 214
Crude oil imports: 0 bbl/day (2014 est.)
Crude oil imports rank: 214
Crude oil proven reserves: 0 bbl (1 January 2017)
Crude oil proven reserves rank: 215
Crude oil
Refined petroleum
Products production: 0 bbl/day (2014 est.)
Products production rank: 216
Products consumption: 5,000 bbl/day (2015 est.)
Products consumption rank: 176
Products exports: 0 bbl/day (2014 est.)
Products exports rank: 216
Products imports: 5,029 bbl/day (2014 est.)
Products imports rank: 167
Natural gas
Production: 0 m³ (2013 est.)
Production rank: 215
Consumption: 0 m³ (2013 est.)
Consumption rank: 150
Exports: 0 m³ (2013 est.)
Exports rank: 213
Imports: 0 m³ (2013 est.)
Imports rank: 212
Proven reserves: 0 m³ (1 January 2014 es)
Proven reserves rank: 210
Carbon dioxide emissions
From consumption of energy: 600,000 Mt (2013 est.)
From consumption of energy rank: 176
Energy consumption per capita
Swaziland - Communication 2017
top of pageTelephones
Fixed lines total subscriptions: 42,000
Fixed lines subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 3
Fixed lines rank: 166
Mobile cellular total: 995,000
Mobile cellular subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 69
Mobile cellular rank: 160
Telephone system
General assessment: a somewhat modern but not an advanced system
Domestic: Swaziland recently awarded a second mobile-cellular service; communication infrastructure has a geographic coverage of about 90% and a rising subscriber base; combined fixed-line and mobile cellular teledensity roughly 70 telephones per 100 persons; telephone system consists of carrier-equipped open-wire lines and low-capacity microwave radio relay
International: country code - 268; satellite earth station - 1 Intelsat (2017)
Broadcast media: 1 state-owned TV station; satellite dishes are able to access South African providers; state-owned radio network with 3 channels; 1 private radio station (2017)
Internet
Country code: .sz
Users total: 414,724
Users percent of population: 28.6%
Users rank: 137
Broadband fixed subscriptions
Swaziland - Military 2017
top of pageMilitary expenditures:
1.81% of GDP (2016)
1.78% of GDP (2015)
1.81% of GDP (2014)
1.88% of GDP (2013)
1.89% of GDP (2012)
1.78% of GDP (2015)
1.81% of GDP (2014)
1.88% of GDP (2013)
1.89% of GDP (2012)
Rank: 18
Military and security forces
Military service age and obligation: 18-30 years of age for male and female voluntary military service; no conscription; compulsory HIV testing required only HIV-negative applicants accepted (2012)
Space program
Terrorist groups
Swaziland - Transportation 2017
top of pageNational air transport system
Number of registered air carriers: 1
Inventory of registered aircraft operated by air carriers: 1
Annual passenger traffic on registered air carriers: 89,791
Annual freight traffic on registered air carriers: 0 mt-km
Civil aircraft registration country code prefix: 3D (2016)
Airports: 14 (2013)
Rank: 149
With paved runways total: 2
With paved runways over 3047 m: 1
With paved runways 2438 to 3047 m: 1
With unpaved runways total: 12
With unpaved runways 914 to 1523 m: 5
With unpaved runways under 914 m: 7
Heliports
Pipelines
Railways
Total: 301 km
Narrow gauge: 301 km 1.067-m gauge
Rank: 123
Roadways
Total: 3,594 km
Paved: 1078 km
Unpaved: 2,516 km
Rank: 160
Waterways
Merchant marine
Ports and terminals
Swaziland - Transnational issues 2017
top of pageDisputes international: in 2006 Swazi king advocated resorting to ICJ to claim parts of Mpumalanga and KwaZulu-Natal from South Africa
Refugees and internally displaced persons
Illicit drugs
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