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Africa :: Swaziland

- ## Introduction :: SWAZILAND

- 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 remains unclear. The African United Democratic Party tried unsuccessfully to register as an official political party in mid-2006. Talks over the constitution broke down between the government and progressive groups in 2007. Swaziland recently surpassed Botswana as the country with the world's highest known HIV/AIDS prevalence rate.

- ## Geography :: SWAZILAND

- Location:
  Southern Africa, between Mozambique and South Africa
  Geographic coordinates:
  26 30 S, 31 30 E
  Map references:
  Africa
  Area:
  total: 17,364 sq km
  land: 17,204 sq km
  water: 160 sq km
  country comparison to the world: 159
  Area - comparative:
  slightly smaller than New Jersey
  Land boundaries:
  total: 546 km
  border countries (2): Mozambique 108 km, South Africa 438 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
  Elevation extremes:
  lowest point: Great Usutu River 21 m
  highest point: Emlembe 1,862 m
  Natural resources:
  asbestos, coal, clay, cassiterite, hydropower, forests, small gold and diamond deposits, quarry stone, and talc
  Land use:
  agricultural land: 68.3%
  arable land 9.8%; permanent crops 0.8%; permanent pasture 57.7%
  forest: 31.7%
  other: 0% (2011 est.)
  Irrigated land:
  498.5 sq km (2003)
  Total renewable water resources:
  4.51 cu km (2011)
  Freshwater withdrawal (domestic/industrial/agricultural):
  total: 1.04 cu km/yr (4%/2%/94%)
  per capita: 962.1 cu m/yr (2005)
  Natural hazards:
  drought
  Environment - current issues:
  limited supplies of potable water; wildlife populations being depleted because of excessive hunting; overgrazing; soil degradation; soil erosion
  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
  Geography - note:
  landlocked; almost completely surrounded by South Africa

- ## People and Society :: SWAZILAND

- Nationality:
  noun: Swazi(s)
  adjective: Swazi
  Ethnic groups:
  African 97%, European 3%
  Languages:
  English (official, used for government business), siSwati (official)
  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)
  Population:
  1,435,613
  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 2015 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 155
  Age structure:
  0-14 years: 35.99% (male 261,213/female 255,489)
  15-24 years: 22.26% (male 161,626/female 157,990)
  25-54 years: 33.64% (male 249,233/female 233,703)
  55-64 years: 4.26% (male 24,229/female 36,968)
  65 years and over: 3.84% (male 21,582/female 33,580) (2015 est.)
  population pyramid:
  Dependency ratios:
  total dependency ratio: 69.3%
  youth dependency ratio: 63.2%
  elderly dependency ratio: 6.1%
  potential support ratio: 16.5% (2015 est.)
  Median age:
  total: 21 years
  male: 20.7 years
  female: 21.3 years (2014 est.)
  Population growth rate:
  1.11% (2015 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 105
  Birth rate:
  24.67 births/1,000 population (2015 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 54
  Death rate:
  13.56 deaths/1,000 population (2015 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 11
  Net migration rate:
  0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2015 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 82
  Urbanization:
  urban population: 21.3% of total population (2015)
  rate of urbanization: 1.32% annual rate of change (2010-15 est.)
  Major urban areas - population:
  MBABANE (capital) 66,000 (2014)
  Sex ratio:
  at birth: 1.03 male(s)/female
  0-14 years: 1.02 male(s)/female
  15-24 years: 1.02 male(s)/female
  25-54 years: 1.07 male(s)/female
  55-64 years: 0.66 male(s)/female
  65 years and over: 0.64 male(s)/female
  total population: 1 male(s)/female (2015 est.)
  Infant mortality rate:
  total: 52.57 deaths/1,000 live births
  male: 56.49 deaths/1,000 live births
  female: 48.53 deaths/1,000 live births (2015 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 32
  Life expectancy at birth:
  total population: 51.05 years
  male: 51.6 years
  female: 50.5 years (2015 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 220
  Total fertility rate:
  2.8 children born/woman (2015 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 61
  Contraceptive prevalence rate:
  65.2% (2010)
  Health expenditures:
  8.4% of GDP (2013)
  country comparison to the world: 49
  Physicians density:
  0.17 physicians/1,000 population (2009)
  Hospital bed density:
  2.1 beds/1,000 population (2011)
  Drinking water source:
  improved:
  urban: 93.6% of population
  rural: 68.9% of population
  total: 74.1% of population
  unimproved:
  urban: 6.4% of population
  rural: 31.1% of population
  total: 25.9% of population (2015 est.)
  Sanitation facility access:
  improved:
  urban: 63.1% of population
  rural: 56% of population
  total: 57.5% of population
  unimproved:
  urban: 36.9% of population
  rural: 44% of population
  total: 42.5% of population (2015 est.)
  HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:
  27.36% (2013 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 1
  HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:
  204,100 (2013 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 27
  HIV/AIDS - deaths:
  4,500 (2013 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 40
  Major infectious diseases:
  degree of risk: intermediate
  food or waterborne diseases: bacterial diarrhea, hepatitis A, and typhoid fever
  vectorborne disease: malaria
  water contact disease: schistosomiasis (2013)
  Obesity - adult prevalence rate:
  14.8% (2014)
  country comparison to the world: 98
  Children under the age of 5 years underweight:
  5.8% (2010)
  country comparison to the world: 84
  Education expenditures:
  7.8% of GDP (2011)
  country comparison to the world: 12
  Literacy:
  definition: age 15 and over can read and write
  total population: 87.5%
  male: 87.4%
  female: 87.5% (2015 est.)
  School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education):
  total: 11 years
  male: 12 years
  female: 11 years (2011)
  Child labor - children ages 5-14:
  total number: 28,043
  percentage: 9% (2000 est.)

- ## Government :: SWAZILAND

- Country name:
  conventional long form: Kingdom of Swaziland
  conventional short form: Swaziland
  local long form: Umbuso weSwatini
  local short form: eSwatini
  Government type:
  monarchy
  Capital:
  name: Mbabane; note - Lobamba is the royal and legislative capital
  geographic coordinates: 26 19 S, 31 08 E
  time difference: UTC+2 (7 hours ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time)
  Administrative divisions:
  4 districts; Hhohho, Lubombo, Manzini, Shiselweni
  Independence:
  6 September 1968 (from the UK)
  National holiday:
  Independence Day, 6 September (1968)
  Constitution:
  previous 1968, 1978; latest signed by the king 26 July 2005, effective 8 February 2006 (2013)
  Legal system:
  mixed legal system of civil, common, and customary law
  International law organization participation:
  accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction with reservations; non-party state to the ICCt
  Suffrage:
  18 years of age
  Executive branch:
  chief of state: King MSWATI III (since 25 April 1986)
  head of government: Prime Minister Barnabas Sibusiso DLAMINI (since 23 October 2008); Deputy Prime Minister Themba Nhlanganiso MASUKU (since 2008)
  cabinet: Cabinet recommended by the prime minister, confirmed by the monarch
  elections/appointments: the monarchy is hereditary; prime minister appointed by the monarch from among elected members of the House of Assembly
  Legislative branch:
  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)
  elections: House of Assembly - last held on 20 September 2013 (next scheduled for September 2018)
  election results: House of Assembly - balloting is done on a nonparty basis; candidates for election nominated by the local council of each constituency and 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
  Judicial branch:
  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 are 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
  subordinate courts: magistrates' courts; National Swazi Courts for administering customary/traditional laws (jurisdiction restricted to customary law for Swazi citizens)
  note: the national constitution as amended in 2006 shifted judicial power from the monarch and vested it exclusively in the judiciary
  Political parties and leaders:
  the status of political parties, previously banned, is unclear under the 2006 Constitution and currently being debated; the following are considered political associations
  African United Democratic Party or AUDP [Stanley MAUNDZISA, president]
  Ngwane National Liberatory Congress or NNLC [Alvit DLAMINI, president]
  People's United Democratic Movement or PUDEMO [Mario MASUKU, president]
  Political pressure groups and leaders:
  Swaziland Democracy Campaign
  Swaziland Federation of Trade Unions
  Swaziland Solidarity Network or SSN
  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
  Diplomatic representation in the US:
  chief of mission: Ambassador Abednigo Mandla NTSHANGASE (since 19 July 2010)
  chancery: 1712 New Hampshire Avenue, NW, Washington, DC 20009
  telephone: [1] (202) 234-5002
  FAX: [1] (202) 234-8254
  Diplomatic representation from the US:
  chief of mission: Ambassador Makila JAMES (since 27 August 2012)
  embassy: 7th Floor, Central Bank Building, Mahlokohla St., Mbabane
  mailing address: P. O. Box 199, Mbabane
  telephone: [268] 404-6441
  FAX: [268] 404-5959
  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
  National symbol(s):
  lion, elephant; national colors: blue, yellow, red
  National anthem:
  name: "Nkulunkulu Mnikati wetibusiso temaSwati" (Oh God, Bestower of the Blessings of the Swazi)
  lyrics/music: Andrease Enoke Fanyana SIMELANE/David Kenneth RYCROFT
  note: adopted 1968; uses elements of both ethnic Swazi and Western music styles

- ## Economy :: SWAZILAND

- Economy - overview:
  Surrounded by South Africa, except for a short border with Mozambique, Swaziland depends heavily on South Africa for more than 90% of its imports and for 60% of its exports. 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, 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. 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 persistant problems. On 1 January 2015, Swaziland lost its eligibility for benefits under the African Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA), threatening the remaining 12,000 jobs in the textile and apparel sector, after 3,000 jobs were lost since the 2014 announcement of the loss of AGOA. As of 2013 more than one-quarter of the adult population was infected by HIV/AIDS; Swaziland has the world’s highest HIV prevalence rate.
  GDP (purchasing power parity):
  $8.621 billion (2014 est.)
  $8.476 billion (2013 est.)
  $8.245 billion (2012 est.)
  note: data are in 2014 US dollars
  country comparison to the world: 161
  GDP (official exchange rate):
  $3.676 billion (2014 est.)
  GDP - real growth rate:
  1.7% (2014 est.)
  2.8% (2013 est.)
  1.9% (2012 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 145
  GDP - per capita (PPP):
  $7,800 (2014 est.)
  $7,700 (2013 est.)
  $7,500 (2012 est.)
  note: data are in 2014 US dollars
  country comparison to the world: 147
  Gross national saving:
  12.2% of GDP (2014 est.)
  15.8% of GDP (2013 est.)
  11.8% of GDP (2012 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 127
  GDP - composition, by end use:
  household consumption: 80.5%
  government consumption: 25.3%
  investment in fixed capital: 13.5%
  investment in inventories: -0.1%
  exports of goods and services: 51%
  imports of goods and services: -70.2%
  (2014 est.)
  GDP - composition, by sector of origin:
  agriculture: 7.2%
  industry: 47.4%
  services: 45.4% (2014 est.)
  Agriculture - products:
  sugarcane, cotton, corn, tobacco, rice, citrus, pineapples, sorghum, peanuts; cattle, goats, sheep
  Industries:
  coal, forestry, sugar, soft drink concentrates, textiles and apparel
  Industrial production growth rate:
  2.1% (2014 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 124
  Labor force:
  435,500 (2012 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 158
  Labor force - by occupation:
  agriculture: 70%
  industry: NA%
  services: NA%
  Unemployment rate:
  40% (2006 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 190
  Population below poverty line:
  69% (2006 est.)
  Household income or consumption by percentage share:
  lowest 10%: 1.7%
  highest 10%: 40.1% (2010 est.)
  Distribution of family income - Gini index:
  50.4 (2001)
  country comparison to the world: 18
  Budget:
  revenues: $1.349 billion
  expenditures: $1.406 billion (2014 est.)
  Taxes and other revenues:
  35.1% of GDP (2014 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 61
  Budget surplus (+) or deficit (-):
  -1.5% of GDP (2014 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 69
  Fiscal year:
  1 April - 31 March
  Inflation rate (consumer prices):
  5.8% (2014 est.)
  5.6% (2013 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 177
  Central bank discount rate:
  6.5% (31 December 2010)
  6.5% (31 December 2009)
  country comparison to the world: 49
  Commercial bank prime lending rate:
  8.8% (31 December 2014 est.)
  8.5% (31 December 2013 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 103
  Stock of narrow money:
  $453.5 million (31 December 2014 est.)
  $419.6 million (31 December 2013 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 164
  Stock of broad money:
  $1.109 billion (31 December 2014 est.)
  $1.068 billion (31 December 2013 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 165
  Stock of domestic credit:
  $657 million (31 December 2014 est.)
  $643.9 million (31 December 2013 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 163
  Market value of publicly traded shares:
  $NA
  $203.1 million (31 December 2007)
  $199.9 million (31 December 2006)
  Current account balance:
  $34 million (2014 est.)
  $140.8 million (2013 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 59
  Exports:
  $2.192 billion (2014 est.)
  $2.104 billion (2013 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 142
  Exports - commodities:
  soft drink concentrates, sugar, timber, cotton yarn, refrigerators, citrus and canned fruit
  Imports:
  $2.097 billion (2014 est.)
  $1.987 billion (2013 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 163
  Imports - commodities:
  motor vehicles, machinery, transport equipment, foodstuffs, petroleum products, chemicals
  Reserves of foreign exchange and gold:
  $780.9 million (31 December 2014 est.)
  $762.5 million (31 December 2013 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 141
  Debt - external:
  $568.3 million (31 December 2014 est.)
  $488.5 million (31 December 2013 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 174
  Stock of direct foreign investment - at home:
  $NA
  Stock of direct foreign investment - abroad:
  $NA
  Exchange rates:
  emalangeni per US dollar -
  10.6 (2014 est.)
  9.6442 (2013 est.)
  8.2 (2012 est.)
  7.2597 (2011 est.)
  7.3212 (2010 est.)

- ## Energy :: SWAZILAND

- Electricity - production:
  415 million kWh (2011 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 165
  Electricity - consumption:
  1.295 billion kWh (2011 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 149
  Electricity - exports:
  0 kWh (2013)
  country comparison to the world: 216
  Electricity - imports:
  909 million kWh (2011 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 68
  Electricity - installed generating capacity:
  149,000 kW (2011 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 165
  Electricity - from fossil fuels:
  59.7% of total installed capacity (2011 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 136
  Electricity - from nuclear fuels:
  0% of total installed capacity (2011 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 208
  Electricity - from hydroelectric plants:
  40.3% of total installed capacity (2011 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 58
  Electricity - from other renewable sources:
  0% of total installed capacity (2011 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 143
  Crude oil - production:
  0 bbl/day (2013 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 146
  Crude oil - exports:
  0 bbl/day (2010 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 208
  Crude oil - imports:
  0 bbl/day (2010 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 145
  Crude oil - proved reserves:
  0 bbl (1 January 2010 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 210
  Refined petroleum products - production:
  0 bbl/day (2010 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 211
  Refined petroleum products - consumption:
  4,520 bbl/day (2013 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 171
  Refined petroleum products - exports:
  0 bbl/day (2010 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 146
  Refined petroleum products - imports:
  4,761 bbl/day (2010 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 155
  Natural gas - production:
  0 cu m (2012 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 211
  Natural gas - consumption:
  0 cu m (2012 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 211
  Natural gas - exports:
  0 cu m (2012 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 210
  Natural gas - imports:
  0 cu m (2012 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 81
  Natural gas - proved reserves:
  0 cu m (1 January 2014 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 210
  Carbon dioxide emissions from consumption of energy:
  936,900 Mt (2012 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 168

- ## Communications :: SWAZILAND

- Telephones - fixed lines:
  total subscriptions: 44,400
  subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 3 (2014 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 166
  Telephones - mobile cellular:
  total: 916,800
  subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 65 (2014 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 160
  Telephone system:
  general assessment: a somewhat modern but not an advanced system
  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 60 telephones per 100 persons in 2011; telephone system consists of carrier-equipped, open-wire lines and low-capacity, microwave radio relay
  international: country code - 268; satellite earth station - 1 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean) (2009)
  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)
  Radio broadcast stations:
  AM 3, FM 2 (plus 4 repeaters), shortwave 3 (2004)
  Television broadcast stations:
  12 (includes 7 relay stations) (2004)
  Internet country code:
  .sz
  Internet users:
  total: 337,300
  percent of population: 23.8% (2014 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 137

- ## Transportation :: SWAZILAND

- Airports:
  14 (2013)
  country comparison to the world: 149
  Airports - with paved runways:
  total: 2
  over 3,047 m: 1
  2,438 to 3,047 m: 1 (2013)
  Airports - with unpaved runways:
  total: 12
  914 to 1,523 m: 5
  under 914 m:
  7 (2013)
  Railways:
  total: 301 km
  narrow gauge: 301 km 1.067-m gauge (2014)
  country comparison to the world: 121
  Roadways:
  total: 3,594 km
  paved: 1,078 km
  unpaved: 2,516 km (2002)
  country comparison to the world: 161

- ## Military :: SWAZILAND

- Military branches:
  Umbutfo Swaziland Defense Force (USDF): Ground Force (includes Air Wing (no operational aircraft)) (2013)
  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)
  Manpower available for military service:
  males age 16-49: 344,038 (2010 est.)
  Manpower fit for military service:
  males age 16-49: 201,853
  females age 16-49: 175,477 (2010 est.)
  Manpower reaching militarily significant age annually:
  male: 16,168
  female: 15,763 (2010 est.)
  Military expenditures:
  3.17% of GDP (2012)
  3.11% of GDP (2011)
  3.17% of GDP (2010)
  country comparison to the world: 18

- ## Transnational Issues :: SWAZILAND

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

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