Background: Autonomy for the Swazis of southern Africa was guaranteed by the British in the late 19th century; independence was granted 1968. Student and labor unrest have pressured the monarchy (one of the oldest on the continent) to grudgingly allow political reform and greater democracy.

Map reference: Africa, Standard Time Zones of the World

Area
Total area total: 17,360 km²
Land: 17,200 km²

Land boundaries: total 535 km, Mozambique 105 km, South Africa 430 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

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

Land use
Arable land: 8%
Permanent crops: NA%
Meadows and pastures: 67%
Forest and woodland: 6%
Other: NA%

Irrigated land: 620 km² (1989 est.)

Natural hazards: NA

Geography
Note: landlocked; almost completely surrounded by South Africa

Population: 936,369 (July 1994 est.)
Growth rate: 3.21% (1994 est.)

Nationality: noun:Swazi(s)

Ethnic groups: African 97%, European 3%

Languages: English (official; government business conducted in English), siSwati (official)

Religions: Christian 60%, indigenous beliefs 40%

Population growth rate: 3.21% (1994 est.)

Birth rate: 43.14 births/1000 population (1994 est.)

Death rate: 11.07 deaths/1000 population (1994 est.)

Net migration rate: 0 migrant(s)/1000 population (1994 est.)

Environment
Current issues: limited access to safe drinking water presents human health risks; wildlife populations being depleted because of excessive hunting; overgrazing; soil degradation; soil erosion

Infant mortality rate: 93.2 deaths/1000 live births (1994 est.)

Life expectancy at birth
Total population: 56.39 years
Male: 52.4 years
Female: 60.5 years (1994 est.)

Total fertility rate: 6.13 children born/woman (1994 est.)

Literacy: age 15 and over can read and write (1986)
Total population: 67%
Male: 70%
Female: 65%

Government type: monarchy; independent member of Commonwealth

Capital: Mbabane (administrative; Lobamba (legislative)

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

Independence: 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

Suffrage: none

Executive branch
Chief of state: King MSWATI III (since 25 April 1986)
Head of government: Prime Minister Prince Jameson Mbilini DLAMINI (since 12 November 1993)

Legislative branch: Umbutfo Swaziland Defense Force, Royal Swaziland Police Force

Judicial branch: High Court, Court of Appeal

International organization participation: ACP, AfDB, C, CCC, ECA, FAO, G-77, GATT, IBRD, ICAO, ICFTU, IDA, IFAD, IFC, ILO, IMF, INTELSAT, INTERPOL, IOC, ITU, LORCS, NAM, OAU, PCA, SACU, SADC, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WHO, WIPO, WMO

Diplomatic representation
From the us chief of mission: Ambassador John SPROTT
From the us chancery: 3,400 International Drive NW, Washington, DC 20,008
From the us telephone: [268] 46,441 through 46,445
From the us fax: (202) 244-8,059
From the us embassy: Central Bank Building, Warner Street, Mbabane
From the us mailing address: P. O. Box 199, Mbabane
From the us 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

Economy overview: The economy is based on subsistence agriculture, which occupies more than 60% of the population 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 90% of its imports and to which it sends about half of its exports.

Real gdp growth rate: 1% (1993 est.)

Real gdp per capita: $2,500 (1993 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

Industries: mining (coal and asbestos), wood pulp, sugar

Industrial production growth rate: 2.6% (1991; accounts for 40% of GDP (1989)

Labor force: probably less than 100,000
By occupation private sectorabout: 65%
By occupation publicsector: 35%

Unemployment rate: 15% (1992 est.)

Budget: revenues:$342 million

Fiscal year: 1 April - 31 March

Exports: $632 million (f.o.b., 1993 est.)
Commodities: sugar, edible concentrates, wood pulp, canned fruit, citrus
Partners: South Africa 50% (est.), EC countries, Canada

Imports: $734 million (f.o.b., 1993 est.)
Commodities: motor vehicles, machinery, transport equipment, petroleum products, foodstuffs, chemicals
Partners: South Africa 90% (est.), Switzerland, UK

Debt external: $240 million (1992)

Exchange rates: emalangeni (E) per US$1 -3.4551 (March 1994), 3.2636 (1993), 2.8497 (1992), 2.7563 (1991), 2.5863 (1990), 2.6166 (1989; note - the Swazi emalangeni is at par with the South African rand

Electricity
Capacity: 60,000 kW
Production: 198 million kWh (1991)
Consumption per capita: 180 kWh (1991)

Military expenditures
Dollar figure: exchange rate conversion - $22 million, NA% of GDP (FY93/94)

Airports: 23
Usable: 21
With permanentsurface runways: 1
With runways over 3659 m: 0
With runways 2440-3659 m: 1
With runways 1220-2439 m: 1

Disputes international: Swaziland wants to reincorporate territory along the South African border; Mbabane has asked South Africa to open negotiations on border adjustments