2016 Edition

Background

Autonomy for the Swazis of southern Africa was guaranteed by the British in the late 19th century; independence was granted in 1968. Student and labor unrest during the 1990s pressured King MSWATI III, Africa's last absolute monarch, to grudgingly allow political reform and greater democracy, although he has backslid on these promises in recent years. A constitution came into effect in 2006, but the legal status of political parties was not defined and their status remains unclear. Swaziland has surpassed Botswana as the country with the world's highest known HIV/AIDS prevalence rate.

Area

17,364 sq km 17,204 sq km 160 sq km

land

17,204 sq km

total

17,364 sq km

water

160 sq km

Area - comparative

slightly smaller than New Jersey

Climate

varies from tropical to near temperate

Coastline

0 km (landlocked)

Elevation

305 m lowest point: Great Usutu River 21 m highest point: Emlembe 1,862 m

elevation extremes

lowest point: Great Usutu River 21 m

highest point

Emlembe 1,862 m

mean elevation

305 m

Environment - current issues

limited supplies of potable water; wildlife populations being depleted because of excessive hunting; overgrazing; soil degradation; soil erosion

Environment - international agreements

Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Ozone Layer Protection Law of the Sea

party to

Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Ozone Layer Protection

signed, but not ratified

Law of the Sea

Geographic coordinates

26 30 S, 31 30 E

Geography - note

landlocked; almost completely surrounded by South Africa

Irrigated land

500 sq km (2012)

Land boundaries

546 km Mozambique 108 km, South Africa 438 km

border countries (2)

Mozambique 108 km, South Africa 438 km

total

546 km

Land use

68.3% arable land 9.8%; permanent crops 0.8%; permanent pasture 57.7% 31.7% 0% (2011 est.)

agricultural land

68.3%

forest

31.7%

other

0% (2011 est.)

Location

Southern Africa, between Mozambique and South Africa

Map references

Africa

Maritime claims

none (landlocked)

Natural hazards

drought

Natural resources

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

Terrain

mostly mountains and hills; some moderately sloping plains

Age structure

35.5% (male 260,507/female 254,811) 22.19% (male 162,880/female 159,229) 34.12% (male 256,696/female 238,471) 4.28% (male 24,758/female 37,399) 3.9% (male 21,842/female 34,835) (2016 est.)

0-14 years

35.5% (male 260,507/female 254,811)

15-24 years

22.19% (male 162,880/female 159,229)

25-54 years

34.12% (male 256,696/female 238,471)

55-64 years

4.28% (male 24,758/female 37,399)

65 years and over

3.9% (male 21,842/female 34,835) (2016 est.)

Birth rate

24.3 births/1,000 population (2016 est.)

Children under the age of 5 years underweight

5.8% (2014)

Contraceptive prevalence rate

65.2% (2010)

Death rate

13.4 deaths/1,000 population (2016 est.)

Demographic profile

Swaziland, a small, predominantly rural, landlocked country surrounded by South Africa and Mozambique, suffers from severe poverty and the world’s highest HIV/AIDS prevalence rate. A weak and deteriorating economy, high unemployment, rapid population growth, and an uneven distribution of resources all combine to worsen already persistent poverty and food insecurity, especially in rural areas. Erratic weather (frequent droughts and intermittent heavy rains and flooding), overuse of small plots, the overgrazing of cattle, and outdated agricultural practices reduce crop yields and further degrade the environment, exacerbating Swaziland’s poverty and subsistence problems. Swaziland’s extremely high HIV/AIDS prevalence rate – more than 28% of adults have the disease – compounds these issues. Agricultural production has declined due to HIV/AIDS, as the illness causes households to lose manpower and to sell livestock and other assets to pay for medicine and funerals. Swazis, mainly men from the country’s rural south, have been migrating to South Africa to work in coal, and later gold, mines since the late 19th century. Although the number of miners abroad has never been high in absolute terms because of Swaziland’s small population, the outflow has had important social and economic repercussions. The peak of mining employment in South Africa occurred during the 1980s. Cross-border movement has accelerated since the 1990s, as increasing unemployment has pushed more Swazis to look for work in South Africa (creating a “brain drain” in the health and educational sectors); southern Swazi men have continued to pursue mining, although the industry has downsized. Women now make up an increasing share of migrants and dominate cross-border trading in handicrafts, using the proceeds to purchase goods back in Swaziland. Much of today’s migration, however, is not work-related but focuses on visits to family and friends, tourism, and shopping.

Dependency ratios

69.3% 63.2% 6.1% 16.5% (2015 est.)

elderly dependency ratio

6.1%

potential support ratio

16.5% (2015 est.)

total dependency ratio

69.3%

youth dependency ratio

63.2%

Drinking water source

urban: 93.6% of population rural: 68.9% of population total: 74.1% of population urban: 6.4% of population rural: 31.1% of population total: 25.9% of population (2015 est.)

rural

31.1% of population

total

25.9% of population (2015 est.)

urban

6.4% of population

Education expenditures

8.6% of GDP (2011)

Ethnic groups

African 97%, European 3%

Health expenditures

9.3% of GDP (2014)

HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate

28.8% (2015 est.)

HIV/AIDS - deaths

3,800 (2015 est.)

HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS

218,600 (2015 est.)

Hospital bed density

2.1 beds/1,000 population (2011)

Infant mortality rate

50.4 deaths/1,000 live births 54.4 deaths/1,000 live births 46.4 deaths/1,000 live births (2016 est.)

female

46.4 deaths/1,000 live births (2016 est.)

male

54.4 deaths/1,000 live births

total

50.4 deaths/1,000 live births

Languages

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

Life expectancy at birth

51.6 years 52.2 years 51 years (2016 est.)

female

51 years (2016 est.)

male

52.2 years

total population

51.6 years

Literacy

age 15 and over can read and write 87.5% 87.4% 87.5% (2015 est.)

definition

age 15 and over can read and write

female

87.5% (2015 est.)

male

87.4%

total population

87.5%

Major infectious diseases

intermediate bacterial diarrhea, hepatitis A, and typhoid fever malaria schistosomiasis (2016)

degree of risk

intermediate

food or waterborne diseases

bacterial diarrhea, hepatitis A, and typhoid fever

vectorborne disease

malaria

water contact disease

schistosomiasis (2016)

Major urban areas - population

MBABANE (capital) 66,000 (2014)

Maternal mortality rate

389 deaths/100,000 live births (2015 est.)

Median age

21.4 years 21.2 years 21.7 years (2016 est.)

female

21.7 years (2016 est.)

male

21.2 years

total

21.4 years

Mother's mean age at first birth

19.5 median age at first birth among women 25-29 (2006/07 est.)

note

median age at first birth among women 25-29 (2006/07 est.)

Nationality

Swazi(s) Swazi

adjective

Swazi

noun

Swazi(s)

Net migration rate

0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2016 est.)

Obesity - adult prevalence rate

14.8% (2014)

Physicians density

0.17 physicians/1,000 population (2009)

Population

1,451,428 estimates for this country explicitly take into account the effects of excess mortality due to AIDS; this can result in lower life expectancy, higher infant mortality, higher death rates, lower population growth rates, and changes in the distribution of population by age and sex than would otherwise be expected (July 2016 est.)

note

estimates for this country explicitly take into account the effects of excess mortality due to AIDS; this can result in lower life expectancy, higher infant mortality, higher death rates, lower population growth rates, and changes in the distribution of population by age and sex than would otherwise be expected (July 2016 est.)

Population growth rate

1.1% (2016 est.)

Religions

Zionist 40% (a blend of Christianity and indigenous ancestral worship), Roman Catholic 20%, Muslim 10%, other 30% (includes Anglican, Baha'i, Methodist, Mormon, Jewish)

Sanitation facility access

urban: 63.1% of population rural: 56% of population total: 57.5% of population urban: 36.9% of population rural: 44% of population total: 42.5% of population (2015 est.)

rural

44% of population

total

42.5% of population (2015 est.)

urban

36.9% of population

School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education)

11 years 12 years 11 years (2013)

female

11 years (2013)

male

12 years

total

11 years

Sex ratio

1.03 male(s)/female 1.02 male(s)/female 1.02 male(s)/female 1.08 male(s)/female 0.66 male(s)/female 0.64 male(s)/female 1 male(s)/female (2016 est.)

0-14 years

1.02 male(s)/female

15-24 years

1.02 male(s)/female

25-54 years

1.08 male(s)/female

55-64 years

0.66 male(s)/female

65 years and over

0.64 male(s)/female

at birth

1.03 male(s)/female

total population

1 male(s)/female (2016 est.)

Total fertility rate

2.74 children born/woman (2016 est.)

Urbanization

21.3% of total population (2015) 1.32% annual rate of change (2010-15 est.)

rate of urbanization

1.32% annual rate of change (2010-15 est.)

urban population

21.3% of total population (2015)

Administrative divisions

4 districts; Hhohho, Lubombo, Manzini, Shiselweni

Capital

Mbabane (administrative capital); Lobamba (royal and legislative capital) 26 19 S, 31 08 E UTC+2 (7 hours ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time)

geographic coordinates

26 19 S, 31 08 E

name

Mbabane (administrative capital); Lobamba (royal and legislative capital)

time difference

UTC+2 (7 hours ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time)

Citizenship

no both parents must be citizens of Swaziland no 5 years

citizenship by birth

no

citizenship by descent only

both parents must be citizens of Swaziland

dual citizenship recognized

no

residency requirement for naturalization

5 years

Constitution

previous 1968, 1978; latest signed by the king 26 July 2005, effective 8 February 2006 (2016)

Country name

Kingdom of Swaziland Swaziland Umbuso weSwatini eSwatini "Land of the Swazi" people; the name "Swazi" derives from 19th century King MSWATI II, under whose rule Swazi territory was expanded and unified

conventional long form

Kingdom of Swaziland

conventional short form

Swaziland

etymology

"Land of the Swazi" people; the name "Swazi" derives from 19th century King MSWATI II, under whose rule Swazi territory was expanded and unified

local long form

Umbuso weSwatini

local short form

eSwatini

Diplomatic representation from the US

Ambassador Lisa PETERSON (since January 2016) corner of MR 103 and Cultural Center Drive, Ezulwini P.O. Box D202, The Gables, H106 [268] 2417-9000 [268] 2416-3344

chief of mission

Ambassador Lisa PETERSON (since January 2016)

embassy

corner of MR 103 and Cultural Center Drive, Ezulwini

FAX

[268] 2416-3344

mailing address

P.O. Box D202, The Gables, H106

telephone

[268] 2417-9000

Diplomatic representation in the US

Ambassador Abednigo Mandla NTSHANGASE (since 19 July 2010) 1712 New Hampshire Avenue, NW, Washington, DC 20009 [1] (202) 234-5002 [1] (202) 234-8254

chancery

1712 New Hampshire Avenue, NW, Washington, DC 20009

chief of mission

Ambassador Abednigo Mandla NTSHANGASE (since 19 July 2010)

FAX

[1] (202) 234-8254

telephone

[1] (202) 234-5002

Executive branch

King MSWATI III (since 25 April 1986) Prime Minister Barnabas Sibusiso DLAMINI (since 23 October 2008); Deputy Prime Minister Themba Nhlanganiso MASUKU (since 2008) Cabinet recommended by the prime minister, confirmed by the monarch the monarchy is hereditary; prime minister appointed by the monarch from among elected members of the House of Assembly

cabinet

Cabinet recommended by the prime minister, confirmed by the monarch

chief of state

King MSWATI III (since 25 April 1986)

elections/appointments

the monarchy is hereditary; prime minister appointed by the monarch from among elected members of the House of Assembly

head of government

Prime Minister Barnabas Sibusiso DLAMINI (since 23 October 2008); Deputy Prime Minister Themba Nhlanganiso MASUKU (since 2008)

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

Government type

absolute monarchy

Independence

6 September 1968 (from the UK)

International law organization participation

accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction with reservations; non-party state to the ICCt

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

Judicial branch

the Supreme Court of the Judicature comprising the Supreme Court (consists of the chief justice and at least 5 justices) and the High Court (consists of the chief justice - ex officio - and at least 4 justices); note - the Supreme Court has jurisdiction in all constitutional matters justices of the Supreme Court of the Judicature appointed by the monarch on the advice of the Judicial Service Commission or JCS, a judicial advisory body consisting of the Supreme Court Chief Justice, 4 members appointed by the monarch, and the JCS head; justices of both courts eligible for retirement at age 65 with mandatory retirement at age 75 for Supreme Court justices and at age 70 for High Court justices magistrates' courts; National Swazi Courts for administering customary/traditional laws (jurisdiction restricted to customary law for Swazi citizens) the national constitution as amended in 2006 shifted judicial power from the monarch and vested it exclusively in the judiciary

highest court(s)

the Supreme Court of the Judicature comprising the Supreme Court (consists of the chief justice and at least 5 justices) and the High Court (consists of the chief justice - ex officio - and at least 4 justices); note - the Supreme Court has jurisdiction in all constitutional matters

judge selection and term of office

justices of the Supreme Court of the Judicature appointed by the monarch on the advice of the Judicial Service Commission or JCS, a judicial advisory body consisting of the Supreme Court Chief Justice, 4 members appointed by the monarch, and the JCS head; justices of both courts eligible for retirement at age 65 with mandatory retirement at age 75 for Supreme Court justices and at age 70 for High Court justices

note

the national constitution as amended in 2006 shifted judicial power from the monarch and vested it exclusively in the judiciary

subordinate courts

magistrates' courts; National Swazi Courts for administering customary/traditional laws (jurisdiction restricted to customary law for Swazi citizens)

Legal system

mixed legal system of civil, common, and customary law

Legislative branch

bicameral Parliament or Libandla consists of the 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) and the House of Assembly (65 seats; 55 members directly elected in single-seat constituencies by simple majority vote and 10 members appointed by the monarch; members serve 5-year terms) House of Assembly - last held on 20 September 2013 (next scheduled for September 2018) House of Assembly - no results of the election were released; note - balloting is done on a nonparty basis; for each constituency the three candidates with the most votes in the first round of voting are narrowed to a single winner by a second round

description

bicameral Parliament or Libandla consists of the 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) and the House of Assembly (65 seats; 55 members directly elected in single-seat constituencies by simple majority vote and 10 members appointed by the monarch; members serve 5-year terms)

election results

House of Assembly - no results of the election were released; note - balloting is done on a nonparty basis; for each constituency the three candidates with the most votes in the first round of voting are narrowed to a single winner by a second round

elections

House of Assembly - last held on 20 September 2013 (next scheduled for September 2018)

National anthem

"Nkulunkulu Mnikati wetibusiso temaSwati" (Oh God, Bestower of the Blessings of the Swazi) Andrease Enoke Fanyana SIMELANE/David Kenneth RYCROFT adopted 1968; uses elements of both ethnic Swazi and Western music styles

lyrics/music

Andrease Enoke Fanyana SIMELANE/David Kenneth RYCROFT

name

"Nkulunkulu Mnikati wetibusiso temaSwati" (Oh God, Bestower of the Blessings of the Swazi)

note

adopted 1968; uses elements of both ethnic Swazi and Western music styles

National holiday

Independence Day, 6 September (1968)

National symbol(s)

lion, elephant; national colors: blue, yellow, red

lion, elephant; national colors

blue, yellow, red

Political parties and leaders

the status of political parties, previously banned, is unclear under the 2006 Constitution; the following are considered political associations: African United Democratic Party or AUDP [Stanley MAUNDZISA] Ngwane National Liberatory Congress or NNLC [Alvit DLAMINI] People's United Democratic Movement or PUDEMO [Mario MASUKU] Swaziland Democratic Party ro SWADEPA [Jan SITHOLE]

Political pressure groups and leaders

Swaziland Democracy Campaign Swaziland Federation of Trade Unions Swaziland Solidarity Network or SSN

Suffrage

18 years of age

Agriculture - products

sugarcane, cotton, corn, tobacco, rice, citrus, pineapples, sorghum, peanuts; cattle, goats, sheep

Budget

$1.121 billion $1.387 billion (2015 est.)

expenditures

$1.387 billion (2015 est.)

revenues

$1.121 billion

Budget surplus (+) or deficit (-)

-6.6% of GDP (2015 est.)

Central bank discount rate

6.5% (31 December 2010) 6.5% (31 December 2009)

Commercial bank prime lending rate

9.04% (31 December 2015 est.) 8.63% (31 December 2014 est.)

Current account balance

$20 million (2015 est.) $145 million (2014 est.)

Debt - external

$440.1 million (31 December 2015 est.) $438.4 million (31 December 2014 est.)

Distribution of family income - Gini index

50.4 (2001)

Economy - overview

Surrounded by South Africa, except for a short border with Mozambique, Swaziland depends on South Africa for 60% of its exports and for more than 90% of its imports. Swaziland's currency is pegged to the South African rand, effectively relinquishing Swaziland's monetary policy to South Africa. The government is heavily dependent on customs duties from the Southern African Customs Union (SACU), and worker remittances from South Africa supplement domestically earned income. Swaziland’s GDP per capita makes it a lower middle income country, but its income distribution is highly skewed, with an estimated 20% of the population controlling 80% of the nation’s wealth. As of 2014, more than one-quarter of the adult population was infected by HIV/AIDS; Swaziland has the world’s highest HIV prevalence rate. Subsistence agriculture employs approximately 70% of the population. The manufacturing sector diversified in the 1980s and 1990s, but manufacturing has grown little in the last decade. Sugar and wood pulp had been major foreign exchange earners until the wood pulp producer closed in January 2010, and sugar is now the main export earner. Mining has declined in importance in recent years. Coal, gold, diamond, and quarry stone mines are small scale, and the only iron ore mine closed in 2014. With an estimated 40% unemployment rate, Swaziland's need to increase the number and size of small and medium enterprises and to attract foreign direct investment is acute. Overgrazing, soil depletion, drought, and floods are persistent problems. On 1 January 2015, Swaziland lost its eligibility for benefits under the US African Growth and Opportunity Act, resulting in the loss of thousands of jobs. The IMF forecasted that Swaziland’s economy will grow at a slower pace in 2016/2017 because of a region-wide drought, which is likely to hurt Swaziland’s revenue from sugar exports and other agricultural products, and a decline in the tourism and transport sectors. Swaziland’s revenue from SACU receipts and remittances from Swazi citizens abroad will also decline in 2016/2017, making it harder to maintain fiscal balance.

Exchange rates

emalangeni per US dollar - 12.7581 (2015 est.) 10.8469 (2014 est.) 10.8469 (2013 est.) 8.2 (2012 est.) 7.2597 (2011 est.)

Exports

$1.763 billion (2015 est.) $1.803 billion (2014 est.)

Exports - commodities

soft drink concentrates, sugar, timber, cotton yarn, refrigerators, citrus and canned fruit

Fiscal year

1 April - 31 March

GDP - composition, by end use

79.1% 20.4% 10.3% -0.1% 37.1% -46.9% (2015 est.)

exports of goods and services

37.1%

government consumption

20.4%

household consumption

79.1%

imports of goods and services

-46.9% (2015 est.)

investment in fixed capital

10.3%

investment in inventories

-0.1%

GDP - composition, by sector of origin

6.6% 43.9% 49.6% (2015 est.)

agriculture

6.6%

industry

43.9%

services

49.6% (2015 est.)

GDP - per capita (PPP)

$8,500 (2015 est.) $8,400 (2014 est.) $8,300 (2013 est.) data are in 2015 US dollars

note

data are in 2015 US dollars

GDP - real growth rate

1.7% (2015 est.) 2.5% (2014 est.) 2.9% (2013 est.)

GDP (official exchange rate)

$4.028 billion (2015 est.)

GDP (purchasing power parity)

$10.85 billion (2015 est.) $10.67 billion (2014 est.) $10.41 billion (2013 est.) data are in 2015 US dollars

note

data are in 2015 US dollars

Gross national saving

11.1% of GDP (2015 est.) 10.8% of GDP (2014 est.) 11.3% of GDP (2013 est.)

Household income or consumption by percentage share

1.7% 40.1% (2010 est.)

highest 10%

40.1% (2010 est.)

lowest 10%

1.7%

Imports

$1.603 billion (2015 est.) $1.687 billion (2014 est.)

Imports - commodities

motor vehicles, machinery, transport equipment, foodstuffs, petroleum products, chemicals

Industrial production growth rate

1.1% (2015 est.)

Industries

coal, forestry, sugar, soft drink concentrates, textiles and apparel

Inflation rate (consumer prices)

5% (2015 est.) 5.7% (2014 est.)

Labor force

446,100 (2013 est.)

Labor force - by occupation

70% NA% NA%

agriculture

70%

industry

NA%

services

NA%

Market value of publicly traded shares

$NA $203.1 million (31 December 2007) $199.9 million (31 December 2006)

Population below poverty line

69% (2006 est.)

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold

$548 million (31 December 2015 est.) $690.8 million (31 December 2014 est.)

Stock of broad money

$825.6 million (31 December 2015 est.) $1.008 billion (31 December 2014 est.)

Stock of direct foreign investment - abroad

$NA

Stock of direct foreign investment - at home

$NA

Stock of domestic credit

$557.8 million (31 December 2015 est.) $685 million (31 December 2014 est.)

Stock of narrow money

$304.6 million (31 December 2015 est.) $367.8 million (31 December 2014 est.)

Taxes and other revenues

27.8% of GDP (2015 est.)

Unemployment rate

40% (2006 est.)

Carbon dioxide emissions from consumption of energy

600,000 Mt (2013 est.)

Crude oil - exports

0 bbl/day (2013 est.)

Crude oil - imports

0 bbl/day (2013 est.)

Crude oil - production

0 bbl/day (2015 est.)

Crude oil - proved reserves

0 bbl (1 January 2010 es)

Electricity - consumption

1.5 billion kWh (2014 est.)

Electricity - exports

0 kWh (2013)

Electricity - from fossil fuels

59.7% of total installed capacity (2012 est.)

Electricity - from hydroelectric plants

40.3% of total installed capacity (2012 est.)

Electricity - from nuclear fuels

0% of total installed capacity (2012 est.)

Electricity - from other renewable sources

0% of total installed capacity (2012 est.)

Electricity - imports

900 million kWh (2014 est.)

Electricity - installed generating capacity

200,000 kW (2014 est.)

Electricity - production

700 million kWh (2014 est.)

Electricity access

900,000 27% 40% 24% (2013)

electrification - rural areas

24% (2013)

electrification - total population

27%

electrification - urban areas

40%

population without electricity

900,000

Natural gas - consumption

0 cu m (2013 est.)

Natural gas - exports

0 cu m (2013 est.)

Natural gas - imports

0 cu m (2013 est.)

Natural gas - production

0 cu m (2013 est.)

Natural gas - proved reserves

0 cu m (1 January 2014 es)

Refined petroleum products - consumption

5,000 bbl/day (2014 est.)

Refined petroleum products - exports

0 bbl/day (2013 est.)

Refined petroleum products - imports

5,029 bbl/day (2013 est.)

Refined petroleum products - production

0 bbl/day (2013 est.)

Broadcast media

state-owned TV station; satellite dishes are able to access South African providers; state-owned radio network with 3 channels; 1 private radio station (2007)

Internet country code

.sz

Internet users

436,000 30.4% (July 2015 est.)

percent of population

30.4% (July 2015 est.)

total

436,000

Telephone system

a somewhat modern but not an advanced system single source for mobile-cellular service with a geographic coverage of about 90% and a rising subscribership base; combined fixed-line and mobile cellular teledensity roughly 70 telephones per 100 persons in 2015; telephone system consists of carrier-equipped, open-wire lines and low-capacity, microwave radio relay country code - 268; satellite earth station - 1 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean) (2015)

domestic

single source for mobile-cellular service with a geographic coverage of about 90% and a rising subscribership base; combined fixed-line and mobile cellular teledensity roughly 70 telephones per 100 persons in 2015; telephone system consists of carrier-equipped, open-wire lines and low-capacity, microwave radio relay

general assessment

a somewhat modern but not an advanced system

international

country code - 268; satellite earth station - 1 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean) (2015)

Telephones - fixed lines

43,000 3 (July 2015 est.)

subscriptions per 100 inhabitants

3 (July 2015 est.)

total subscriptions

43,000

Telephones - mobile cellular

941,000 66 (July 2015 est.)

subscriptions per 100 inhabitants

66 (July 2015 est.)

total

941,000

Airports

14 (2013)

Airports - with paved runways

1 (2013)

2,438 to 3,047 m

1 (2013)

over 3,047 m

1

total

2

Airports - with unpaved runways

7 (2013)

914 to 1,523 m

5

total

12

under 914 m

7 (2013)

Civil aircraft registration country code prefix

3D (2016)

National air transport system

89,791 0 mt-km (2015)

annual freight traffic on registered air carriers

0 mt-km (2015)

annual passenger traffic on registered air carriers

89,791

inventory of registered aircraft operated by air carriers

1

number of registered air carriers

1

Railways

301 km 301 km 1.067-m gauge (2014)

narrow gauge

301 km 1.067-m gauge (2014)

total

301 km

Roadways

3,594 km 1,078 km 2,516 km (2002)

paved

1,078 km

total

3,594 km

unpaved

2,516 km (2002)

Military branches

Umbutfo Swaziland Defense Force (USDF): Ground Force (includes Air Wing (no operational aircraft)) (2013)

Umbutfo Swaziland Defense Force (USDF)

Ground Force (includes Air Wing (no operational aircraft)) (2013)

Military expenditures

3.17% of GDP (2012) 3.11% of GDP (2011) 3.17% of GDP (2010)

Military service age and obligation

18-30 years of age for male and female voluntary military service; no conscription; compulsory HIV testing required, only HIV-negative applicants accepted (2012)

Disputes - international

in 2006, Swazi king advocated resorting to ICJ to claim parts of Mpumalanga and KwaZulu-Natal from South Africa