Statistics Swaziland 
Swaziland in the World
Swaziland - Introduction 1992
top of pageBackground: Autonomy for the Swazis of southern Africa was guaranteed by the British in the late 19th century; independence was granted 1968.
Natural resources: asbestos, coal, clay, cassiterite, hydropower, forests, small gold and diamond deposits, quarry stone, and talc
Land use: arable land: 8%; permanent crops: NEGL%; meadows and pastures 67%; forest and woodland 6%; other 19%; includes irrigated 2%
Swaziland - People 1992
top of pageEnvironment
Current issues: overgrazing; soil degradation; soil erosion
Current issues note: landlocked; almost completely surrounded by South Africa
Swaziland - Government 1992
top of pageConstitution:
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
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
Legislative branch: bicameral Parliament is advisory and consists of an upper house or Senate and a lower house or House of Assembly
International organization participation:
ACP, AfDB, C, CCC, ECA, FAO, G-77, IBRD, ICAO, ICFTU, IDA,
IFAD, IFC, ILO, IMF, INTELSAT, INTERPOL, IOC, ITU, LORCS, NAM, OAU, PCA,
SACU, SADCC, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WHO, WIPO, WMO
IFAD, IFC, ILO, IMF, INTELSAT, INTERPOL, IOC, ITU, LORCS, NAM, OAU, PCA,
SACU, SADCC, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WHO, WIPO, WMO
Diplomatic representation: Ambassador Absalom Vusani MAMBA; Chancery at 3,400 International Drive NW, Washington, DC 20,008; telephone (202) 362-6,683
US:
Ambassador Stephen H. ROGERS; Embassy at Central Bank Building,
Warner Street, Mbabane (mailing address is P. O. Box 199, Mbabane); telephone 268 46,441 through 5; FAX 268 45,959
Warner Street, Mbabane (mailing address is P. O. Box 199, Mbabane); telephone 268 46,441 through 5; FAX 268 45,959
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
Swaziland - Economy 1992
top of pageEconomy overview:
The economy is based on subsistence agriculture, which occupies most of the labor force and contributes nearly 25% to GDP.
Manufacturing, which includes a number of agroprocessing factories, accounts for another quarter 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 75% of its imports and to which it sends about half of its exports.
Manufacturing, which includes a number of agroprocessing factories, accounts for another quarter 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 75% of its imports and to which it sends about half of its exports.
GDP: exchange rate conversion - $563 million, per capita $725; real growth rate 5.0% (1990 est.)
Agriculture products: accounts for 23% of GDP and over 60% of labor force; mostly subsistence agriculture; cash crops - sugarcane, cotton, maize, tobacco, rice, citrus fruit, pineapples; other crops and livestock - corn, sorghum, peanuts, cattle, goats, sheep; not self-sufficient in grain
Labor force: 195,000; over 60,000 engaged in subsistence agriculture; about 92,000 wage earners (many only intermittently), with agriculture and forestry 36%, community and social services 20%, manufacturing 14%, construction 9%, other 21%; 16,800 employed in South Africa mines (1990)
Organized labor: about 10% of wage earners
Budget: revenues $335.4 million; expenditures $360.5 million, including capital expenditures of $NA (FY93 est.)
Exports: $557 million (f.o.b., 1990)
Commodoties: soft drink concentrates, sugar, wood pulp, citrus, canned fruit
Partners: South Africa 50% (est.), EC, Canada
Imports: $632 million (f.o.b., 1990)
Commodoties: motor vehicles, machinery, transport equipment, petroleum products, foodstuffs, chemicals
Partners: South Africa 75% (est.), Japan, Belgium, UK
Exchange rates: emalangeni (E) per US$1 - 2.7814 (January 1992), 2.7563 (1991), 2.5863 (1990), 2.6166 (1989), 2.2611 (1988), 2.0350 (1987; note - the Swazi emalangeni is at par with the South African rand
Swaziland - Energy 1992
top of pageSwaziland - Communication 1992
top of pageSwaziland - Military 1992
top of pageSwaziland - Transportation 1992
top of pageAirports:
23 total, 21 usable; 1 with permanent-surfaced runways; none
with runways over 3,659 m; 1
with runways 2,440-3,659 m; 1
with runways 1,220-2,439 m
with runways over 3,659 m; 1
with runways 2,440-3,659 m; 1
with runways 1,220-2,439 m
Swaziland - Transnational issues 1992
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