2019 Edition

Background

Autonomy for Eswatini was guaranteed by the British in the late 19th century; independence was granted in 1968. A new constitution came into effect in 2006, which included provisions for a more independent parliament and judiciary, but the legal status of political parties remains unclear. King MSWATI III renamed the country from Swaziland to Eswatini in April 2018. Despite its classification as a lower-middle income country, Eswatini has one of the lowest GDP growth rates in Sub-Saharan Africa and suffers from severe poverty and high unemployment. Eswatini has the world's highest known HIV/AIDS prevalence rate, although recent years have shown marked declines in new infections.

Area

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

Highest Point

Emlembe 1,862 m

Lowest Point

Great Usutu River 21 m

Mean Elevation

305 m

Environment Current Issues

limited supplies of potable water; wildlife populations being depleted because of excessive hunting; population growth, deforestation, and overgrazing lead to soil erosion and soil degradation

Environment International Agreements

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

Border Countries

Mozambique 108 km, South Africa 438 km

Total

546 km

Land Use

Agricultural Land

68.3% (2011 est.)

Agricultural Land Arable Land

9.8% (2011 est.)

Agricultural Land Permanent Crops

0.8% (2011 est.)

Agricultural Land Permanent Pasture

57.7% (2011 est.)

Forest

31.7% (2011 est.)

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

Population Distribution

because of its mountainous terrain, the population distribution is uneven throughout the country, concentrating primarily in valleys and plains

Terrain

mostly mountains and hills; some moderately sloping plains

Age Structure

0 14 Years

34.41% (male 186,747 /female 187,412)

15 24 Years

19.31% (male 99,192 /female 110,770)

25 54 Years

38.22% (male 193,145 /female 222,405)

55 64 Years

4.28% (male 19,915 /female 26,663)

65 Years And Over

3.77% (male 15,470 /female 25,481) (2018 est.)

Birth Rate

25.8 births/1,000 population (2018 est.)

Children Under The Age Of 5 Years Underweight

5.8% (2014)

Contraceptive Prevalence Rate

66.1% (2014)

Current Health Expenditure

7.7% (2016)

Death Rate

10.7 deaths/1,000 population (2018 est.)

Demographic Profile

Eswatini, 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 Eswatini's poverty and subsistence problems. Eswatini'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 Eswatini'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 Eswatini. Much of today’s migration, however, is not work-related but focuses on visits to family and friends, tourism, and shopping.

Dependency Ratios

Elderly Dependency Ratio

5.2 (2015 est.)

Potential Support Ratio

19.1 (2015 est.)

Total Dependency Ratio

68.8 (2015 est.)

Youth Dependency Ratio

63.5 (2015 est.)

Drinking Water Source

Improved Rural

68.9% of population

Improved Total

74.1% of population

Improved Urban

93.6% of population

Unimproved Rural

31.1% of population

Unimproved Total

25.9% of population (2015 est.)

Unimproved Urban

6.4% of population

Education Expenditures

7.1% of GDP (2014)

Ethnic Groups

African 97%, European 3%

HIV/AIDS Adult Prevalence Rate

27.3% (201 est.)

HIV/AIDS Deaths

2,400 (2018 est.)

HIV/AIDS People Living With HIV/AIDS

210,000 (2018 est.)

Hospital Bed Density

2.1 beds/1,000 population (2011)

Infant Mortality Rate

Female

41.7 deaths/1,000 live births

Male

51.4 deaths/1,000 live births

Total

46.6 deaths/1,000 live births (2018 est.)

Languages

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

Life Expectancy at Birth

Female

59.3 years

Male

55.1 years

Total Population

57.2 years (2018)

Literacy

Definition

age 15 and over can read and write

Female

87.5% (2015)

Male

87.4%

Total Population

87.5%

Major Infectious Diseases

Degree Of Risk

intermediate (2016)

Food Or Waterborne Diseases

bacterial diarrhea, hepatitis A, and typhoid fever (2016)

Vectorborne Diseases

malaria (2016)

Water Contact Diseases

schistosomiasis (2016)

Major Urban Areas Population

68,000 MBABANE (capital) (2018)

Maternal Mortality Rate

437 deaths/100,000 live births (2017 est.)

Median Age

Female

24 years

Male

22.2 years

Total

23.2 years (2018 est.)

Nationality

Adjective

Swati; note - former term, Swazi, still used among English speakers

Noun

liSwati (singular), emaSwati (plural); note - former term, Swazi(s), still used among English speakers

Net Migration Rate

-6.9 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2018 est.)

Obesity Adult Prevalence Rate

16.5% (2016)

Physicians Density

0.08 physicians/1,000 population (2016)

Population

1,087,200 (July 2018 est.)

Population Growth Rate

0.82% (2018 est.)

Religions

Christian 90% (Zionist - a blend of Christianity and indigenous ancestral worship - 40%, Roman Catholic 20%, other 30% - includes Anglican, Methodist, Mormon, Jehovah's Witness), Muslim 2%, other 8% (includes Baha'i, Buddhist, Hindu, indigenous, Jewish) (2015 est.)

Sanitation Facility Access

Improved Rural

56% of population (2015 est.)

Improved Total

57.5% of population (2015 est.)

Improved Urban

63.1% of population (2015 est.)

Unimproved Rural

44% of population (2015 est.)

Unimproved Total

42.5% of population (2015 est.)

Unimproved Urban

36.9% of population (2015 est.)

School Life Expectancy Primary To Tertiary Education

Female

11 years (2013)

Male

12 years

Total

11 years

Sex Ratio

0 14 Years

1 male(s)/female

15 24 Years

0.9 male(s)/female

25 54 Years

0.87 male(s)/female

55 64 Years

0.75 male(s)/female

65 Years And Over

0.61 male(s)/female

At Birth

1.03 male(s)/female

Total Population

0.9 male(s)/female (2018 est.)

Total Fertility Rate

2.63 children born/woman (2018 est.)

Unemployment Youth Ages 15 24

Female

50.1% (2016)

Male

44.2%

Total

47.1%

Urbanization

Rate Of Urbanization

2.46% annual rate of change (2015-20 est.)

Urban Population

24% of total population (2019)

Administrative Divisions

4 regions; Hhohho, Lubombo, Manzini, Shiselweni

Capital

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

Citizenship By Birth

no

Citizenship By Descent Only

both parents must be citizens of Eswatini

Dual Citizenship Recognized

no

Residency Requirement For Naturalization

5 years

Constitution

Amendments

proposed at a joint sitting of both houses of Parliament; passage requires majority vote by both houses and/or majority vote in a referendum, and assent of the king; passage of amendments affecting "specially entrenched" constitutional provisions requires at least three-fourths majority vote by both houses, passage by simple majority vote in a referendum, and assent of the king; passage of "entrenched" provisions requires at least two-thirds majority vote of both houses, passage in a referendum, and assent of the king (2017)

History

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

Country Name

Conventional Long Form

Kingdom of Eswatini

Conventional Short Form

Eswatini

Etymology

the country name derives from 19th century King MSWATI II, under whose rule Swati territory was expanded and unified

Former

Swaziland

Local Long Form

Umbuso weSwatini

Local Short Form

eSwatini

Diplomatic Representation From The Us

Chief Of Mission

Ambassador Lisa J. PETERSON (since February 2016)

Embassy

corner of MR 103 and Cultural Center Drive, Ezulwini, P.O. Box 0202,The Gables, H106, Eswatini

Fax

[268] 2416-3344

Mailing Address

P.O. Box D202, The Gables, H106

Telephone

[268] 2417-9000

Diplomatic Representation In The Us

Chancery

1712 New Hampshire Avenue, NW, Washington, DC 20009

Chief Of Mission

Ambassador Njabuliso Busisiwe Sikhulile GWEBU (since 24 April 2017)

Fax

[1] (202) 234-8254

Telephone

[1] (202) 234-5002

Executive Branch

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

Chief Of State

King MSWATI III (since 25 April 1986)

Elections Appointments

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

Head Of Government

Prime Minister Ambrose Mandvulo DLAMINI (since 27 October 2018); Deputy Prime Minister Themba MASUKU (since 6 November 2018)

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

Highest Courts

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

Judge Selection And Term Of Office

justices of the Supreme Court and High Court appointed by the monarch on the advice of the Judicial Service Commission (JSC), a judicial advisory body consisting of the Supreme Court Chief Justice, 4 members appointed by the monarch, and the chairman of the Civil Service Commission; justices of both courts eligible for retirement at age 65 with mandatory retirement at age 75

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

Description

bicameral Parliament (Libandla) consists of: 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) House of Assembly (73 seats; 59 members directly elected in single-seat constituencies or tinkhundla by absolute majority vote in 2 rounds if needed, 10 members appointed by the monarch, 4 women elected by the members if representation of elected women is less than 30%; members serve 5-year terms)

Election Results

Senate - percent of seats by party - NA; seats by party - NA; composition - men 20, women 10, percent of women 33.3% House of Assembly - percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - independent 59; composition - men 60, women 5, percent of women 7.7%; note - total Parliament percent of women 15.8%

Elections

Senate - last held on 23 October 2018 (next to be held - 31 October 2023) House of Assembly - last held on 21 September 2018 (next to be held in 2023)

National Anthem

Lyrics Music

Andrease Enoke Fanyana SIMELANE/David Kenneth RYCROFT

Name

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

National Holiday

Independence Day (Somhlolo Day), 6 September (1968)

National Symbol S

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

Political Parties And Leaders

political parties exist, but conditions for their operations, particularly in elections, are undefined, legally unclear, or culturally restricted; the following are considered political associations: African United Democratic Party or AUDP [Sibusiso DLAMINI] Ngwane National Liberatory Congress or NNLC [Dr. Alvit DLAMINI] People's United Democratic Movement or PUDEMO [Mario MASUKU] Swazi Democratic Party or SWADEPA [Jan SITHOLE]

Suffrage

18 years of age

Agriculture Products

sugarcane, corn, cotton, citrus, pineapples, cattle, goats

Budget

Expenditures

1.639 billion (2017 est.)

Revenues

1.263 billion (2017 est.)

Budget Surplus Or Deficit

-8.5% (of GDP) (2017 est.)

Central Bank Discount Rate

31 December 2015

6.5%

31 December 2016

7.25%

Commercial Bank Prime Lending Rate

31 December 2016

10.25%

31 December 2017

10.75%

Current Account Balance

2016

$642 million

2017

$604 million

Debt External

31 December 2016

$468.9 million

31 December 2017

$526.3 million

Distribution Of Family Income Gini Index

2001

50.4

Economy Overview

A small, landlocked kingdom, Eswatini is bordered in the north, west and south by the Republic of South Africa and by Mozambique in the east. Eswatini depends on South Africa for a majority of its exports and imports. Eswatini's currency is pegged to the South African rand, effectively relinquishing Eswatini's monetary policy to South Africa. The government is dependent on customs duties from the Southern African Customs Union (SACU) for almost half of its revenue. Eswatini is a lower middle income country. As of 2017, more than one-quarter of the adult population was infected by HIV/AIDS; Eswatini has the world’s highest HIV prevalence rate, a financial strain and source of economic instability.The manufacturing sector diversified in the 1980s and 1990s, but manufacturing has grown little in the last decade. Sugar and soft drink concentrate are the largest foreign exchange earners, although a drought in 2015-16 decreased sugar production and exports. Overgrazing, soil depletion, drought, and floods are persistent problems. 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 28% unemployment rate, Eswatini's need to increase the number and size of small and medium enterprises and to attract foreign direct investment is acute.Eswatini's national development strategy, which expires in 2022, prioritizes increases in infrastructure, agriculture production, and economic diversification, while aiming to reduce poverty and government spending. Eswatini's revenue from SACU receipts are likely to continue to decline as South Africa pushes for a new distribution scheme, making it harder for the government to maintain fiscal balance without introducing new sources of revenue.

Exchange Rates

2013

10.8469

2014

12.7581

2015

14.6924

2016

14.6924

2017

14.44

Currency

emalangeni per US dollar -

Exports

2016

$1.577 billion

2017

$1.83 billion

Exports Commodities

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

Exports Partners

South Africa 94% (2017)

Fiscal Year

1 April - 31 March

GDP Composition By End Use

Exports Of Goods And Services

47.9% (2017 est.)

Government Consumption

21.3% (2017 est.)

Household Consumption

64% (2017 est.)

Imports Of Goods And Services

-46.3% (2017 est.)

Investment In Fixed Capital

13.4% (2017 est.)

Investment In Inventories

-0.1% (2017 est.)

GDP Composition By Sector Of Origin

Agriculture

6.5% (2017 est.)

Industry

45% (2017 est.)

Services

48.6% (2017 est.)

GDP Official Exchange Rate

$4.417 billion (2017 est.)

GDP Per Capita Ppp

2015

$10,100

2016

$10,100

2017

$10,100

GDP Purchasing Power Parity

2015

$11.26 billion

2016

$11.41 billion

2017

$11.6 billion

GDP Real Growth Rate

2015

0.4%

2016

1.4%

2017

1.6%

Gross National Saving

2015

23.3% of GDP

2016

29.7% of GDP

2017

25.4% of GDP

Household Income Or Consumption By Percentage Share

Highest 10

40.1% (2010 est.)

Lowest 10

1.7%

Imports

2016

$1.266 billion

2017

$1.451 billion

Imports Commodities

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

Imports Partners

South Africa 81.6%, China 5.2% (2017)

Industrial Production Growth Rate

5.6% (2017 est.)

Industries

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

Inflation Rate Consumer Prices

2016

7.8%

2017

6.2%

Labor Force

427,900 (2016 est.)

Labor Force By Occupation

Agriculture

10.7%

Industry

30.4%

Services

58.9% (2014 est.)

Market Value Of Publicly Traded Shares

31 December 2006

$199.9 million

31 December 2007

$203.1 million

Population Below Poverty Line

63% (2010 est.)

Public Debt

2016

25.5% of GDP

2017

28.4% of GDP

Reserves Of Foreign Exchange And Gold

31 December 2016

$564.4 million

31 December 2017

$563.1 million

Stock Of Broad Money

31 December 2016

$439 million

31 December 2017

$554.3 million

Stock Of Direct Foreign Investment Abroad

NA

Stock Of Direct Foreign Investment at Home

NA

Stock Of Domestic Credit

31 December 2016

$891.3 million

31 December 2017

$1.144 billion

Stock Of Narrow Money

31 December 2016

$439 million

31 December 2017

$554.3 million

Taxes And Other Revenues

28.6% (of GDP) (2017 est.)

Unemployment Rate

2013

28%

2014

28%

Carbon Dioxide Emissions From Consumption Of Energy

1.14 million Mt (2017 est.)

Crude Oil Exports

0 bbl/day (2015 est.)

Crude Oil Imports

0 bbl/day (2015 est.)

Crude Oil Production

0 bbl/day (2018 est.)

Crude Oil Proved Reserves

0 bbl (1 January 2018)

Electricity Access

Electrification Rural Areas

61.2% (2016)

Electrification Total Population

65.8% (2016)

Electrification Urban Areas

82.8% (2016)

Population Without Electricity

900,000 (2017)

Electricity Consumption

1.431 billion kWh (2016 est.)

Electricity Exports

0 kWh (2016)

Electricity From Fossil Fuels

39% of total installed capacity (2016 est.)

Electricity From Hydroelectric Plants

20% of total installed capacity (2017 est.)

Electricity From Nuclear Fuels

0% of total installed capacity (2017 est.)

Electricity From Other Renewable Sources

41% of total installed capacity (2017 est.)

Electricity Imports

1.077 billion kWh (2016 est.)

Electricity Installed Generating Capacity

295,900 kW (2016 est.)

Electricity Production

381 million kWh (2016 est.)

Natural Gas Consumption

0 cu m (2017 est.)

Natural Gas Exports

0 cu m (2017 est.)

Natural Gas Imports

0 cu m (2017 est.)

Natural Gas Production

0 cu m (2017 est.)

Natural Gas Proved Reserves

0 cu m (1 January 2014 est.)

Refined Petroleum Products Consumption

5,300 bbl/day (2016 est.)

Refined Petroleum Products Exports

0 bbl/day (2015 est.)

Refined Petroleum Products Imports

5,279 bbl/day (2015 est.)

Refined Petroleum Products Production

0 bbl/day (2015 est.)

Broadband Fixed Subscriptions

Subscriptions Per 100 Inhabitants

less than 1 (2017 est.)

Total

7,000

Broadcast Media

1 state-owned TV station; satellite dishes are able to access South African providers; state-owned radio network with 3 channels; 1 private radio station (2019)

Internet Country Code

.sz

Internet Users

Percent Of Population

28.6% (July 2016 est.)

Total

414,724

Telephone System

Domestic

Eswatini has 2 mobile-cellular providers; communication infrastructure has a geographic coverage of about 90% and a rising subscriber base; fixed-line stands at 3 per 100 and mobile-cellular teledensity roughly 68 telephones per 100 persons; telephone system consists of carrier-equipped, open-wire lines and low-capacity, microwave radio relay (2018)

General Assessment

earlier government monopoly in telecommunications hindered its growth; new regulatory authority established in 2013 has aided expansion in the telecom sector; 2G, 3G, 4G and LTE services (2018)

International

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

Telephones Fixed Lines

Subscriptions Per 100 Inhabitants

3 (July 2016 est.)

Total Subscriptions

42,000

Telephones Mobile Cellular

Subscriptions Per 100 Inhabitants

68 (July 2016 est.)

Total Subscriptions

995,000

Airports

14 (2013)

Airports With Paved Runways

2 438 To 3 047 M

1

Over 3 047 M

1

Total

2 (2019)

Airports With Unpaved Runways

914 To 1 523 M

5 (2013)

Total

12 (2013)

Under 914 M

7 (2013)

Civil Aircraft Registration Country Code Prefix

3 (2016)

National Air Transport System

Annual Freight Traffic On Registered Air Carriers

0 mt-km (2015)

Annual Passenger Traffic On Registered Air Carriers

89,791 (2015)

Inventory Of Registered Aircraft Operated By Air Carriers

1 (2015)

Number Of Registered Air Carriers

1 (2015)

Railways

Narrow Gauge

301 km 1.067-m gauge (2014)

Total

301 km (2014)

Roadways

3,769 km (2019)

Military And Security Forces

Umbutfo Eswatini Defense Force (UEDF): Ground Force (includes Air Wing (no operational aircraft)) (2019)

Military Expenditures

2014

1.81% of GDP

2015

1.78% of GDP

2016

1.81% of GDP

2017

1.8% of GDP

2018

1.5% of GDP

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