1985 Edition

Agriculture

main crops — rice, sugarcane, bananas

main crops — maize, cotton, rice, sugar, and citrus fruits

Aid

economic — bilateral commitments, including Ex-Im— US (FY70-83), $2.5 million, Western (non-US) countries, ODA and OOF (1970-82), $1.4 billion; no military aid

economic commitments — Western (non-US) countries, ODA and OOF (197082), $280 million; US (FY70-83), $73 million

Airfields

39 total, 38 usable; 4 with permanent-surface runways; 1 with runways 2,4403,659 m, 1 with runways 1,220-2,439 m

27 total, 27 usable; 1 with runways 2,440-3,659, 1 with runways 1,220-2,439 m

Branches

National Army (including Infantry Battalion, Military Police Brigade Navy [company-size], Air Force)

constitution was repealed and Parliament dissolved by King Sobhuza II (deceased August 1982) in April 1973; new bicameral Parliament (Senate, House of Assembly) formally opened in January 1979; 80-member electoral college chose 40 members of lower house and 10 members of upper house; additional 10 members for each house chosen by King; executive authority vested in the King or Queen (with the advice of the Supreme Council of State), whose assent is required before parliamentary acts become law; King's authority exercised through Prime Minister and Cabinet who must be members of Parliament; judiciary is part of Ministry of Justice but otherwise independent of executive and legislative branches; cases from subordinate courts can be appealed to the High Court and the Court of Appeal

Swaziland Umbutfo Defense Force, Royal Swaziland Police Force

Budget

revenues, $289 million; expenditures, $441 million (1982)

1983/84 (est.)— revenues, $170 million; current expenditures, $120 million

Capital

Mbabane (administrative)

Civil air

2 major transport aircraft

6 major transport aircraft

Communists

no Communist party

Electric power

400,000 kW capacity (1984); 1.4 billion kWh produced (1984), 3,784 kWh per capita

1 15,000 kW capacity (1984); 150 million kWh produced (1984), 230 kWh per capita

Ethnic divisions

96% African, 3% European, 1% mulatto

Exports

$429 million (f.o.b., 1982); alumina, bauxite, aluminum, rice, wood and wood products

$330 million (f.o.b., 1983); sugar, asbestos, wood and forest products, citrus, and canned fruit

Fiscal year

calendar year Communications

1 April-31 March Communications

GDP

$1.298 billion (1983); $3,250 per capita (1983); real growth rate -3.3% (1983)

approximately $580 million (1983), about $900 per capita; annual real growth 1.7% (1979-82)

Government leaders

Head of State, Ntombi THWALA, Queen Regent (since September 1983); Prince Bhekimpi DLAMINI, Prime Minister (since March 1983)

Highways

8,800 km total; 1,000 km paved, 5,400 km bauxite gravel, crushed stone, or improved earth

2,853 km total; 510 km paved, 1,230 km crushed stone, gravel, or stabilized soil, and 1,113 km improved earth

Imports

$457 million (c.i.f., 1983); capital equipment, petroleum, iron and steel, cotton, flour, meat, dairy products

$464 million (f.o.b., 1983); motor vehicles, chemicals, petroleum products, and foodstuffs

Inland waterways

1,200 km; most important means of transport; oceangoing vessels with drafts ranging from 4.2 m to 7 m can navigate many of the principal waterways while native canoes navigate upper reaches

Labor force

195,000; over 60,000 engaged in subsistence agriculture; 55,000-60,000 wage earners, many only intermittently, with 36% agriculture and forestry, 20% community and social services, 14% manufacturing, 9% construction, 21% other; 12,000 employed in South Africa (1982)

Land boundaries

435 km People

Language

English and siSwati (official); government business conducted in English

Legal system

based on South African Roman-Dutch law in statutory courts, Swazi traditional law and custom in traditional courts; legal education at University of Botswana and Swaziland; has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction

Literacy

65%

Major industries

bauxite mining, alumina and aluminum production, lumbering, food processing

Major industry

mining

Major trade partners

exports — 41% US, 33% EC, 12% other European countries; imports—33% EC, 31% US, 16% Caribbean countries (1977)

South Africa, UK, US; member of South African Customs Union

Member of

ECLA, FAO, GATT, G-77, IBA, IBRD, ICAO, IDB— Inter-American Development Bank, ILO, IMF, IMO, INTERPOL, ITU, NAM, OAS, PAHO, SELA, UN, UNESCO, UPU, WHO, WIPO, WMO Economy

AfDB, FAQ, G-77, GATT (de facto), IBRD, ICAO, IDA, IFAD, IFC, ILO, IMF, INTERPOL, ISO, ITU, NAM, OAU, SADCC, UN, UNESCO, UPU, WHO Economy

Military budget

1983, $41.8 million; 8.2% of central government budget Set rcfioml mip VII Land 17,363 km2; slightly smaller than New Jersey; mostly crop or pasture

Military manpower

males 15-49, 71,000; 43,000 fit for military service

males 15-49, 146,000; 84,000 fit for military service

Monetary conversion rate

1.76 Suriname guilders=US$l (November 1984)

the Swazi lilangeni exchanges at par with the South African rand; 2.1 emalangeni=US$l (30 December 1984)

National holiday

Somhlolo (Independence) Day, 6 September

Nationality

noun — Swazi(s); adjective — Swazi

Official name

Kingdom of Swaziland

Organized labor

about 15% of wage earners are unionized Government

Political subdivisions

4 administrative districts

Population

671,000 (July 1985), average annual growth rate 3.0%

Ports

1 major (Paramaribo), 6 minor

Railroads

166 km total; 86 km 1.000-meter gauge, government owned, and 80km 1.435meter standard gauge; all single track

515 km 1.067-meter gauge, single track

Religion

57% Christian, 43% indigenous beliefs

Suffrage

universal for adults

Telecommunications

international facilities good; domestic radio-relay system; 27,500 telephones (6.3 per 100 popl.); 6 AM, 10 FM, 6 TV stations; 2 Atlantic satellite stations Defense Forces

system consists of carrier-equipped open-wire lines and low capacity radio-relay links; 15,400 telephones (2.3 per 100 popl.); 4 AM, 8 FM, 1 1 TV stations; Atlantic Ocean satellite station Defense Forces

Type

monarchy; independent member of Commonwealth since September 1968