Map of Eswatini | Geography | People | Government | Economy | Energy | Communication
Military | Transportation | Transnational Issues | Year: Guide198919901991199219931994199519961997199819992000200120022003200420052006200720082009201020112012201320142015201620172018201920202021202220232024 | More stats

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Background:


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Location: 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
Comparative: slightly smaller than New Jersey
Country comparison total: 546 km
Country comparison border countries: (2) Mozambique 108 km; South Africa 438 km

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
Highest point: Emlembe 1,862 m
Lowest point: Great Usutu River 21 m
Mean elevation: 305 m

Natural resources: asbestos, coal, clay, cassiterite, hydropower, forests, small gold and diamond deposits, quarry stone, and talc

Land use
Agricultural land: 68.3% (2018 est.)
Agricultural land arable land: 9.8% (2018 est.)
Agricultural land permanent crops: 0.8% (2018 est.)
Agricultural land permanent pasture: 57.7% (2018 est.)
Agricultural land forest: 31.7% (2018 est.)
Agricultural land other: 0% (2018 est.)

Irrigated land: 500 km² (2012)

Major rivers

Major watersheds area km²

Total water withdrawal
Municipal: 40 million cubic meters (2020 est.)
Industrial: 20 million cubic meters (2020 est.)
Agricultural: 1.01 billion cubic meters (2020 est.)

Total renewable water resources: 4.51 billion m³ (2020 est.)

Natural hazards: drought

Geography
Note: landlocked; almost completely surrounded by South Africa


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Population
Distribution: because of its mountainous terrain, the population distribution is uneven throughout the country, concentrating primarily in valleys and plains as shown in this population distribution map
Total: 1,138,089
Male: 538,600
Female: 599,489 (2024 est.)
Growth rate: 0.7% (2024 est.)
Below poverty line: 58.9% (2016 est.)
Below poverty line note: % of population with income below national poverty line

Nationality
Noun: liSwati (singular), emaSwati (plural)
Note: former term, Swazi, still used among English speakers
Adjective: Swati

Ethnic groups: predominantly Swazi; smaller populations of other African ethnic groups, including the Zulu, as well as people of European ancestry

Languages: English (official, used for government business), siSwati (official)

Religions: Christian 90% (Zionist - a blend of Christianity and traditional African religions - 40%, Roman Catholic 20%, other Christian 30% - includes Anglican, Methodist, Church of Jesus Christ, Jehovah's Witness), Muslim 2%, other 8% (includes Baha'i, Buddhist, Hindu, indigenous, Jewish) (2015 est.)

Demographic profile

Age structure
0-14 years: 31.6% (male 180,328/female 179,840)
15-64 years: 64.3% (male 341,298/female 390,884)
65 years and over: 4% (2024 est.) (male 16,974/female 28,765)

Dependency ratios
Total dependency ratio: 64
Youth dependency ratio: 57.4
Elderly dependency ratio: 6.5
Potential support ratio: 15.3 (2021 est.)

Median age
Total: 24.6 years (2024 est.)
Male: 23.4 years
Female: 25.8 years

Population growth rate: 0.7% (2024 est.)

Birth rate: 22.3 births/1,000 population (2024 est.)

Death rate: 9.4 deaths/1,000 population (2024 est.)

Net migration rate: -6 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2024 est.)

Population distribution: because of its mountainous terrain, the population distribution is uneven throughout the country, concentrating primarily in valleys and plains as shown in this population distribution map

Urbanization
Urban population: 24.8% of total population (2023)
Rate of urbanization: 2.42% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)

Major urban areas
Population: 68,000 MBABANE (capital) (2018)

Environment
Current issues: limited supplies of potable water; wildlife populations being depleted because of excessive hunting; population growth, deforestation, and overgrazing lead to soil erosion and soil degradation
International agreements party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Climate Change-Paris Agreement, Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Wetlands
International agreements signed but not ratified: none of the selected agreements

Air pollutants
Particulate matter emissions: 15.07 micrograms per cubic meter (2019 est.)
Carbon dioxide emissions: 1.16 megatons (2016 est.)
Methane emissions: 1.9 megatons (2020 est.)

Sex ratio
At birth: 1.03 male(s)/female
0-14 years: 1 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 0.87 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.59 male(s)/female
Total population: 0.9 male(s)/female (2024 est.)

Mothers mean age at first birth

Maternal mortality ratio: 437 deaths/100,000 live births (2017 est.)

Infant mortality rate
Total: 36.7 deaths/1,000 live births (2024 est.)
Male: 40.7 deaths/1,000 live births
Female: 32.5 deaths/1,000 live births

Life expectancy at birth
Total population: 60.7 years (2024 est.)
Male: 58.7 years
Female: 62.8 years

Total fertility rate: 2.37 children born/woman (2024 est.)

Contraceptive prevalence rate: 66.1% (2014)

Drinking water source
Improved urban: 97.5% of population
Unimproved rural: 25.2% of population
Unimproved total: 19.7% of population (2020 est.)
Unimproved urban: 2.5% of population

Current health expenditure

Physicians density

Hospital bed density: 2.1 beds/1,000 population (2011)

Sanitation facility access
Improved urban: 92.3% of population
Improved rural: 83.9% of population
Improved total: 85.9% of population
Unimproved urban: 7.7% of population
Unimproved rural: 16.1% of population
Unimproved total: 14.1% of population (2020 est.)

Hiv/Aids

Major infectious diseases

Obesity adult prevalence rate: 16.5% (2016)

Alcohol consumption
Per capita total: 7.68 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
Per capita beer: 2.45 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
Per capita wine: 0.06 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
Per capita spirits: 0 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
Per capita other alcohols: 5.17 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)

Tobacco use
Total: 9.2% (2020 est.)
Male: 16.5% (2020 est.)
Female: 1.8% (2020 est.)

Children under the age of 5 years underweight: 5.8% (2014)

Education expenditures: 5% of GDP (2021 est.)

Literacy
Definition: age 15 and over can read and write
Total population: 88.4%
Male: 88.3%
Female: 88.5% (2018)

School life expectancy primary to tertiary education
Total: 13 years
Male: 13 years
Female: 12 years (2013)

Youth unemployment
Rate ages 15 24 total: 65% (2023 est.)
Rate ages 15 24 male: 62.4% (2023 est.)
Rate ages 15 24 female: 67.5% (2023 est.)
Rate ages 15 24 note: % of labor force ages 15-24 seeking employment


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Country name
Conventional long form: Kingdom of Eswatini
Conventional short form: Eswatini
Local long form: Umbuso weSwatini
Local short form: eSwatini
Former: Swaziland
Etymology: the country name derives from 19th century King MSWATI II, under whose rule Swati territory was expanded and unified
Note: pronounced ay-swatini or eh-swatini

Government type: absolute monarchy

Capital
Name: Mbabane (administrative capital); Lobamba (royal and legislative capital)
Geographic coordinates: 26 19 S, 31 08 E
Time difference: UTC+2 (7 hours ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time)
Etymology: named after a Swati chief, Mbabane KUNENE, who lived in the area at the onset of British settlement

Administrative divisions: 4 regions; 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 of 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 of the king; passage of 'entrenched' provisions requires at least two-thirds majority vote of both houses, passage in a referendum, and assent of 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 Eswatini
Dual citizenship recognized: no
Residency requirement for naturalization: 5 years

Suffrage: 18 years of age

Executive branch
Chief of state: King MSWATI III (since 25 April 1986)
Head of government: Prime Minister Russell DLAMINI (since 6 November 2023)
Cabinet: Cabinet recommended by the prime minister, confirmed by the monarch; at least one-half of the cabinet membership must be appointed from among elected members of the House of Assembly
Elections/appointments: the monarchy is hereditary; prime minister appointed by the monarch from among members of the House of Assembly

Legislative branch
Description: bicameral Parliament or Libandla consists of: Senate (30 seats; 20 members appointed by the monarch and 10 indirectly elected by simple majority vote by the House of Assembly; members serve 5-year terms), House of Assembly (70 seats statutory, current 69; 59 members directly elected in single-seat constituencies or tinkhundla by absolute majority vote in 2 rounds if needed, 10 members appointed by the monarch, and 1 ex-officio member - the attorney general; members serve 5-year terms)
Elections: Senate - last election held on 12 October 2023 , senate fully constituted on November 5 when monarch appointed remaining 20 senators; (next to be held in 2,028), House of Assembly - last held on 29 September 2023 (next to be held in 2,028)
Elections results: Senate - percent of seats by party - NA; seats by party - NA; composition - men 16, women 14, percentage women 46.7%, House of Assembly - percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - independent 59; composition - men 58, women 16, percent of women 17.14%; total Parliament percentage women 28.8%

Judicial branch
Highest courts: Supreme Court (consists of the chief justice and at least 4 justices) and the High Court (consists of the chief justice - ex officio - and 4 justices)
Note: the Supreme Court has jurisdiction in all constitutional matters
Judge selection and term of office: justices of the Supreme Court and High Court appointed by the monarch on the advice of the Judicial Service Commission (JSC), a judicial advisory body consisting of the Supreme Court Chief Justice, 4 members appointed by the monarch, and the chairman of the Civil Service Commission; justices of both courts eligible for retirement at age 65 with mandatory retirement at age 75
Subordinate courts: magistrates' courts; National Swazi Courts for administering customary/traditional laws (jurisdiction restricted to customary law for Swazi citizens)

Political parties and leaders: political parties exist but conditions for their operations, particularly in elections, are undefined, legally unclear, or culturally restricted; the following are considered political associations:, African United Democratic Party or AUDP , Ngwane National Liberatory Congress or NNLC , People's United Democratic Movement or PUDEMO , Swazi Democratic Party or SWADEPA

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 Kennedy Fitzgerald GROENING (7 June 2022)
In the us chancery: 1712 New Hampshire Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20,009
In the us telephone: [1] (202) 234-5,002
In the us fax: [1] (202) 234-8,254
In the us email address and website: swaziland@compuserve.com
From the us chief of mission: Ambassador (vacant) Chargé d’Affaires Caitlin PIPER (since 27 October 2023)
From the us embassy: Corner of MR 103 and Cultural Center Drive, Ezulwini, P.O. Box D202, The Gables, H106
From the us mailing address: 2,350 Mbabane Place, Washington DC 20,521-2,350
From the us telephone: (268) 2,417-9,000
From the us fax: [268] 2,416-3,344
From the us email address and website: ConsularMbabane@state.gov
From the us homepage: U.S. Embassy in Eswatini (usembassy.gov)

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' (Oh God, Bestower of the Blessings of the Swazi)
Lyrics/music: Andrease Enoke Fanyana SIMELANE/David Kenneth RYCROFT
Note: adopted 1968; uses elements of both ethnic Swazi and Western music styles

National heritage


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Economy overview: landlocked southern African economy; South African trade dependent and currency pegging; CMA and SACU member state; COVID-19 economic slowdown; growing utilities inflation; persistent poverty and unemployment; HIV/AIDS labor force disruptions

Real gdp purchasing power parity: $12.814 billion (2023 est.); $12.222 billion (2022 est.); $12.164 billion (2021 est.)
Note: data in 2021 dollars

Real gdp growth rate: 4.84% (2023 est.); 0.48% (2022 est.); 10.68% (2021 est.)
Note: annual GDP % growth based on constant local currency

Real gdp per capita: $10,600 (2023 est.); $10,200 (2022 est.); $10,200 (2021 est.)
Note: data in 2021 dollars

Gross national saving

Gdp composition by end use
Household consumption: 61.7% (2022 est.)
Government consumption: 17.6% (2022 est.)
Investment in fixed capital: 11.8% (2022 est.)
Exports of goods and services: 43.8% (2022 est.)
Imports of goods and services: -47.6% (2022 est.)
Note: figures may not total 100% due to rounding or gaps in data collection

Gdp composition by sector of origin
Agriculture: 8.1% (2023 est.)
Industry: 33.5% (2023 est.)
Services: 53.5% (2023 est.)
Note: figures may not total 100% due to non-allocated consumption not captured in sector-reported data

Agriculture products: sugarcane, maize, root vegetables, grapefruits, oranges, milk, pineapples, bananas, beef, potatoes (2022)
Note: top ten agricultural products based on tonnage

Industries: soft drink concentrates, coal, forestry, sugar processing, textiles, and apparel

Industrial production growth rate: 1.53% (2023 est.)
Note: annual % change in industrial value added based on constant local currency

Labor force: 405,000 (2023 est.)
Note: number of people ages 15 or older who are employed or seeking work

Unemployment rate: 37.64% (2023 est.); 37.85% (2022 est.); 35.71% (2021 est.)
Note: % of labor force seeking employment

Youth unemployment
Rate ages 15 24 total: 65% (2023 est.)
Rate ages 15 24 male: 62.4% (2023 est.)
Rate ages 15 24 female: 67.5% (2023 est.)
Rate ages 15 24 note: % of labor force ages 15-24 seeking employment

Population below poverty line: 58.9% (2016 est.)
Note: % of population with income below national poverty line

Gini index

Household income or consumption by percentage share

Distribution of family income gini index

Budget
Revenues: $1.217 billion (2021 est.)
Expenditures: $1.183 billion (2021 est.)
Note: central government revenues and expenses (excluding grants/extrabudgetary units/social security funds) converted to US dollars at average official exchange rate for year indicated

Taxes and other revenues: 24.13% (of GDP) (2021 est.)

Public debt: 35.4% of GDP (2021 est.)

Revenue
From forest resources: 2.25% of GDP (2018 est.)
From coal: 0.1% of GDP (2018 est.)

Fiscal year

Inflation rate consumer prices: 2.6% (2019 est.); 4.82% (2018 est.); 6.22% (2017 est.)
Note: annual % change based on consumer prices

Central bank discount rate

Commercial bank prime lending rate

Stock of narrow money

Stock of broad money

Stock of domestic credit

Market value of publicly traded shares

Current account balance: -$140.972 million (2022 est.); $125.318 million (2021 est.); $270.942 million (2020 est.)
Note: balance of payments - net trade and primary/secondary income in current dollars

Exports: $2.095 billion (2022 est.); $2.132 billion (2021 est.); $1.808 billion (2020 est.)
Note: balance of payments - exports of goods and services in current dollars
Partners: South Africa 66%, Kenya 5%, Nigeria 3%, Democratic Republic of the Congo 3%, Mozambique 3% (2022)
Partners note: top five export partners based on percentage share of exports
Commodities: scented mixtures, raw sugar, garments, industrial acids/oils/alcohols, wood (2022)
Commodities note: top five export commodities based on value in dollars

Imports: $2.288 billion (2022 est.); $2.173 billion (2021 est.); $1.686 billion (2020 est.)
Note: balance of payments - imports of goods and services in current dollars
Partners: South Africa 76%, China 4%, US 3%, Mozambique 3%, Mauritania 3% (2022)
Partners note: top five import partners based on percentage share of imports
Commodities: refined petroleum, gold, plastic products, electricity, garments (2022)
Commodities note: top five import commodities based on value in dollars

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold: $479.261 million (2023 est.); $452.352 million (2022 est.); $572.282 million (2021 est.)
Note: holdings of gold (year-end prices)/foreign exchange/special drawing rights in current dollars

Debt external: $758.868 million (2022 est.)
Note: present value of external debt in current US dollars

Stock of direct foreign investment at home

Stock of direct foreign investment abroad

Exchange rates:


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Electricity
Access electrification total population: 82.3% (2022 est.)
Access electrification urban areas: 86.1%
Access electrification rural areas: 81.6%
Installed generating capacity: 287,000 kW (2022 est.)
Consumption: 1.344 billion kWh (2022 est.)
Imports: 914.13 million kWh (2022 est.)
Transmission/distribution losses: 155.872 million kWh (2022 est.)
Generation sources fossil fuels: 7.1% of total installed capacity (2022 est.)
Generation sources solar: 0.2% of total installed capacity (2022 est.)
Generation sources hydroelectricity: 51.2% of total installed capacity (2022 est.)
Generation sources biomass and waste: 41.5% of total installed capacity (2022 est.)

Coal
Production: 219,000 metric tons (2022 est.)
Consumption: 124,000 metric tons (2022 est.)
Exports: 5,000 metric tons (2022 est.)
Imports: 147,000 metric tons (2022 est.)
Proven reserves: 4.644 billion metric tons (2022 est.)

Petroleum
Refined petroleum consumption: 6,000 bbl/day (2022 est.)

Crude oil

Refined petroleum

Natural gas

Carbon dioxide emissions: 1.151 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2022 est.)
From coal and metallurgical coke: 264,000 metric tonnes of CO2 (2022 est.)
From petroleum and other liquids: 887,000 metric tonnes of CO2 (2022 est.)

Energy consumption per capita: 17.642 million Btu/person (2022 est.)


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Telephones
Fixed lines total subscriptions: 38,000 (2022 est.)
Fixed lines subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 3 (2022 est.)
Mobile cellular total subscriptions: 1.468 million (2022 est.)
Mobile cellular subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 122 (2022 est.)

Telephone system

Broadcast media

Internet

Broadband fixed subscriptions


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Military expenditures: 1.6% of GDP (2023 est.); 1.6% of GDP (2022 est.); 1.7% of GDP (2021 est.); 1.8% of GDP (2020 est.); 1.9% of GDP (2019 est.)

Military and security forces: Umbutfo Eswatini Defense Force (UEDF): Army (includes a small air wing); the Royal Eswatini Police Service (REPS) (2024)

Military service age and obligation: 18-35 years of age for voluntary military service for men and women; no conscription (2023)

Space program

Terrorist groups


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National air transport system

Civil aircraft registration country code prefix: 3DC

Airports: 16 (2024)

Heliports

Pipelines

Railways

Roadways
Total: 4,594 km
Paved: 1,500 km
Unpaved: 3,000 km (2022)

Waterways

Merchant marine

Ports and terminals


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Disputes international

Refugees and internally displaced persons

Illicit drugs