Map of Eswatini | Geography | People | Government | Economy | Energy | Communication
Military | Transportation | Transnational Issues | Year: Guide1989199019911992199319941995199619971998199920002001200220032004200520062007200820092010201120122013201420152016201720182019202020212022202320242025 | More stats

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Background: A Swazi kingdom was founded in the mid-18th century and ruled by a series of kings, including MSWATI II, a 19th century ruler whose name was adopted for the country and its predominant ethnic group. European countries defined the kingdom’s modern borders during the late-19th century, and Swaziland (as it became known) was administered as a UK high commission territory from 1903 until its independence in 1968. A new constitution that came into effect in 2005 included provisions for a more independent parliament and judiciary, but the legal status of political parties remains unclear, and the kingdom is still considered an absolute monarchy. King MSWATI III renamed the country from Swaziland to Eswatini in 2018 to reflect the name most commonly used by its citizens. In 2021, MSWATI III used security forces to suppress prodemocracy protests. A national dialogue and reconciliation process agreed to in the wake of violence has not materialized. In November 2023, King MSWATI III appointed a new prime minister following peaceful national elections. Despite its classification as a lower-middle income country, Eswatini suffers from severe poverty, corruption, and high unemployment. Eswatini has the world's highest HIV/AIDS prevalence rate, although recent years have shown marked declines in new infections. Eswatini is the only country in Africa that recognizes Taiwan.


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Location

Geographic coordinates

Map reference

Area
Total: 17,364 km²
Land: 17,204 km²
Water: 160 km²
Comparative: slightly smaller than New Jersey

Land boundaries
Total: 546 km
Border countries (2): (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

Land use
Agricultural land: 69.5% (2023 est.)
Arable land: 10.3% (2023 est.)
Permanent crops: 1% (2023 est.)
Permanent pasture: 58.1% (2023 est.)
Forest: 25.4% (2023 est.)
Other: 5.2% (2023 est.)

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


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Population
Total: 1,138,089 (2024 est.)
Male: 538,600
Female: 599,489
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
Growth rate: 0.7% (2024 est.)

Nationality

Ethnic groups

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: 55.4 (2024 est.)
Youth dependency ratio: 49.2 (2024 est.)
Elderly dependency ratio: 6.2 (2024 est.)
Potential support ratio: 16 (2024 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

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

Air pollutants

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: 118 deaths/100,000 live births (2023 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

Drinking water source
Urban: 2% of population (2022 est.)
Rural: 34.5% of population (2022 est.)
Total: 26.5% of population (2022 est.)

Current health expenditure

Physicians density

Hospital bed density

Sanitation facility access
Urban: 7.6% of population (2022 est.)
Rural: 15.8% of population (2022 est.)
Total: 13.8% of population (2022 est.)

Hiv/Aids

Major infectious diseases

Obesity adult prevalence rate

Alcohol consumption

Tobacco use

Children under the age of 5 years underweight: 5% (2021 est.)

Education expenditures

Literacy

School life expectancy primary to tertiary education

Youth unemployment
Rate (ages 15-24): 34.4% (2024 est.); 35.1% (2023 est.); 35.4% (2022 est.)
Rate (ages 15-24) note: % of labor force seeking employment


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Country name

Government type

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: the origin of the name is unclear; it may come from the Mbabane River next to the city, whose name is said to derive from the word lubabe, a type of shrub; another theory cites a local chief, Mbabane KUNENE, as the source of the name

Administrative divisions: 4 regions; Hhohho, Lubombo, Manzini, Shiselweni

Dependent areas

Independence

National holiday

Constitution

Legal system: mixed system of civil, common, and customary law

International law organization participation: accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction with reservations; non-party state to the ICCt

Citizenship

Suffrage

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
Election/appointment process: the monarchy is hereditary; prime minister appointed by the monarch from among members of the House of Assembly

Legislative branch
Legislature name: Parliament (Libandla)
Legislative structure: bicameral

Judicial branch

Political parties and leaders

International organization participation

Diplomatic representation

Flag description: three horizontal bands of blue (top), red (triple-width), and blue; the red band is edged in yellow, with a large black-and-white shield in the center that covers two horizontal spears and a staff with feather tassels

National symbols

National anthem
Title: 'Nkulunkulu Mnikati wetibusiso temaSwati' (O God, Bestower of the Blessings of the Swazi)
Lyrics/music: Andrease Enoke Fanyana SIMELANE/David Kenneth RYCROFT
History: adopted 1968; uses elements of both ethnic Swazi and Western music styles

National heritage


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Economy overview

Real gdp purchasing power parity

Real gdp growth rate: 2.6% (2024 est.); 3.4% (2023 est.); 1.1% (2022 est.)
Note: annual GDP % growth based on constant local currency

Real gdp per capita: 2.6% (2024 est.); 3.4% (2023 est.); 1.1% (2022 est.)
Note: annual GDP % growth based on constant local currency

Gross national saving

Gdp composition by end use
Household consumption: 64% (2023 est.)
Government consumption: 19.5% (2023 est.)
Investment in fixed capital: 16.1% (2023 est.)
Investment in inventories: 3.1% (2023 est.)
Exports of goods and services: 48.7% (2023 est.)
Imports of goods and services: -51.4% (2023 est.)
Note: figures may not total 100% due to rounding or gaps in data collection

Gdp composition by sector of origin
Agriculture: 6.8% (2023 est.)
Industry: 34.7% (2023 est.)
Services: 51.7% (2023 est.)
Note: figures may not total 100% due to non-allocated consumption not captured in sector-reported data

Agriculture products

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

Industrial production growth rate: 0.5% (2023 est.)
Note: annual % change in industrial value added based on constant local currency

Labor force: 390,600 (2024 est.)
Note: number of people ages 15 or older who are employed or seeking work

Unemployment rate: 34.4% (2024 est.); 35.1% (2023 est.); 35.4% (2022 est.)
Note: % of labor force seeking employment

Youth unemployment
Rate (ages 15-24): 34.4% (2024 est.); 35.1% (2023 est.); 35.4% (2022 est.)
Rate (ages 15-24) note: % of labor force seeking employment

Population below 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: $1.439 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: 24.5% (of GDP) (2021 est.)
Note: central government tax revenue as a % of GDP

Public debt

Revenue

Fiscal year

Inflation rate 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

Exports: $2.174 billion (2023 est.); $2.095 billion (2022 est.); $2.132 billion (2021 est.)
Note: balance of payments - exports of goods and services in current dollars
Commodities: scented mixtures, raw sugar, industrial acids/oils/alcohols, garments, wood (2023)
Commodities note: top five export commodities based on value in dollars

Imports: $2.351 billion (2023 est.); $2.288 billion (2022 est.); $2.173 billion (2021 est.)
Note: balance of payments - imports of goods and services in current dollars
Commodities: refined petroleum, electricity, plastic products, cotton fabric, garments (2023)
Commodities note: top five import commodities based on value in dollars

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold

Debt external

Stock of direct foreign investment at home

Stock of direct foreign investment abroad

Exchange rates


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Electricity
Installed generating capacity: 285,000 kW (2023 est.)
Consumption: 1.308 billion kWh (2023 est.)
Imports: 928.237 million kWh (2023 est.)
Transmission/distribution losses: 167.476 million kWh (2023 est.)
Access electrification - total population: 82.3% (2022 est.)
Access electrification - urban areas: 86.1%
Access electrification - rural areas: 81.6%
Generation sources fossil fuels: 3.1% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
Generation sources solar: 4.9% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
Generation sources hydroelectricity: 54.4% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
Generation sources biomass and waste: 37.6% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)

Coal
Production: 253,000 metric tons (2023 est.)
Consumption: 202,000 metric tons (2023 est.)
Exports: 4,000 metric tons (2023 est.)
Imports: 201,000 metric tons (2023 est.)
Proven reserves: 4.644 billion metric tons (2023 est.)

Petroleum
Refined petroleum consumption: 6,000 bbl/day (2023 est.)

Crude oil

Refined petroleum

Natural gas

Carbon dioxide emissions: 1.326 million metric tonnes of CO&sub2; (2023 est.)
From coal and metallurgical coke: 410,000 metric tonnes of CO&sub2; (2023 est.)
From petroleum and other liquids: 916,000 metric tonnes of CO&sub2; (2023 est.)

Energy consumption per capita: 18.823 million Btu/person (2023 est.)


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Telephones
Fixed lines total subscriptions: 42,000 (2023 est.)
Fixed lines subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 3 (2023 est.)
Mobile cellular total subscriptions: 1.52 million (2023 est.)
Mobile cellular subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 122 (2022 est.)

Telephone system

Broadcast media

Internet
Users percent of population: 58% (2023 est.)

Broadband fixed subscriptions
Total: 34,000 (2023 est.)
Subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 3 (2023 est.)


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Military expenditures: 1.4% of GDP (2024 est.); 1.4% of GDP (2023 est.); 1.6% of GDP (2022 est.); 1.7% of GDP (2021 est.); 1.8% of GDP (2020 est.)

Military and security forces

Military service age and obligation

Space program

Terrorist groups


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National air transport system

Civil aircraft registration country code prefix

Airports: 16 (2025)

Heliports: 1 (2025)

Pipelines

Railways
Total: 301 km (2014)
Narrow gauge: 301 km (2014) 1.067-m gauge

Roadways

Waterways

Merchant marine

Ports and terminals


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Disputes international

Refugees and internally displaced persons

Illicit drugs