Africa :: Swaziland

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## 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 country comparison to the world: 159 land: 17,204 sq km water: 160 sq km
Area - comparative:
slightly smaller than New Jersey
Land boundaries:
total: 535 km border countries: 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
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:
arable land: 10.08% permanent crops: 0.86% other: 89.06% (2011)
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 (includes Anglican, Baha'i, Methodist, Mormon, Jewish) 30%
Population:
1,403,362 (July 2013 est.) country comparison to the world: 154 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
Age structure:
0-14 years: 36.9% (male 261,954/female 256,144) 15-24 years: 22.4% (male 158,947/female 155,421) 25-54 years: 32.7% (male 234,805/female 224,703) 55-64 years: 4.2% (male 23,287/female 35,900) 65 years and over: 3.7% (male 21,042/female 31,159) (2013 est.) population pyramid:
Median age:
total: 20.7 years male: 20.4 years female: 21.1 years (2013 est.)
Population growth rate:
1.17% (2013 est.) country comparison to the world: 98
Birth rate:
25.68 births/1,000 population (2013 est.) country comparison to the world: 53
Death rate:
13.95 deaths/1,000 population (2013 est.) country comparison to the world: 11
Net migration rate:
0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2013 est.) country comparison to the world: 75
Urbanization:
urban population: 21.2% of total population (2011) rate of urbanization: 1.19% annual rate of change (2010-15 est.)
Major urban areas - population:
MBABANE (capital) 74,000 (2009)
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: 1.03 male(s)/female 55-64 years: 0.65 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.69 male(s)/female total population: 0.99 male(s)/female (2013 est.)
Mother's mean age at first birth:
19.5 (2007 est.)
Maternal mortality rate:
320 deaths/100,000 live births (2010) country comparison to the world: 35
Infant mortality rate:
total: 57.19 deaths/1,000 live births country comparison to the world: 32 male: 61.21 deaths/1,000 live births female: 53.04 deaths/1,000 live births (2013 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:
total population: 50.01 years country comparison to the world: 220 male: 50.44 years female: 49.56 years (2013 est.)
Total fertility rate:
2.96 children born/woman (2013 est.) country comparison to the world: 61
Contraceptive prevalence rate:
65.2% (2010)
Health expenditures:
6.6% of GDP (2010) country comparison to the world: 95
Physicians density:
0.16 physicians/1,000 population (2004)
Hospital bed density:
2.1 beds/1,000 population (2011)
Drinking water source:
improved: urban: 91% of population rural: 65% of population total: 71% of population unimproved: urban: 9% of population rural: 35% of population total: 29% of population (2010 est.)
Sanitation facility access:
improved: urban: 64% of population rural: 55% of population total: 57% of population unimproved: urban: 36% of population rural: 45% of population total: 43% of population (2010 est.)
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:
25.9% (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 1
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:
180,000 (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 28
HIV/AIDS - deaths:
7,000 (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 31
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:
19.7% (2008) country comparison to the world: 98
Children under the age of 5 years underweight:
6.1% (2007) country comparison to the world: 81
Education expenditures:
8.2% of GDP (2011) country comparison to the world: 11
Literacy:
definition: age 15 and over can read and write total population: 81.6% male: 82.6% female: 80.8% (2003 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 geographic coordinates: 26 19 S, 31 08 E time difference: UTC+2 (7 hours ahead of Washington, DC during Standard Time) note: Lobamba (royal and legislative capital)
Administrative divisions:
4 districts; Hhohho, Lubombo, Manzini, Shiselweni
Independence:
6 September 1968 (from the UK)
National holiday:
Independence Day, 6 September (1968)
Constitution:
signed by the King July 2005; went into effect 8 February 2006
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 and confirmed by the monarch (For more information visit the World Leaders website ) elections: none; the monarchy is hereditary; prime minister appointed by the monarch from among the elected members of the House of Assembly
Legislative branch:
bicameral Parliament or Libandla consists of the Senate (30 seats; 10 members elected by the House of Assembly and 20 appointed by the monarch; members to serve five-year terms) and the House of Assembly (65 seats; 10 members appointed by the monarch and 55 elected by popular vote; members to serve five-year terms) elections: House of Assembly - last held on 19 September 2008 (next to be held in September 2013) 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 note - the national constitution as amended in 2006 shifted judicial power from the monarch and vested it exclusively in the judiciary 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 law (jurisdiction restricted to customary law for Swazi citizens)
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] Imbokodvo National Movement or INM Ngwane National Liberatory Congress or NNLC [Obed 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 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 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 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; the anthem 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 from which it receives more than 90% of its imports and to which it sends 60% of its exports. Swaziland's currency is pegged to the South African rand, effectively subsuming 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. Subsistence agriculture employs approximately 70% of the population. The manufacturing sector has diversified since the mid-1980s. Sugar and wood pulp were major foreign exchange earners; however, the wood pulp producer closed in January 2010, and sugar is now the main export earner. Mining has declined in importance in recent years with only coal and quarry stone mines remaining active. Customs revenues plummeted due to the global economic crisis and a drop in South African imports. The resulting decline in revenue has pushed the country into a fiscal crisis. Swaziland is looking to other countries, including South Africa, for assistance, but continues to struggle to meet its monthly payroll and fund government programs. With an estimated 40% unemployment rate, Swaziland''s need to increase the number and size of small and medium enterprises and attract foreign direct investment is acute. Overgrazing, soil depletion, drought, and floods persist as problems for the future. More than one-fourth of the population needed emergency food aid in 2006-07 because of drought, and more than one-quarter of the adult population has been infected by HIV/AIDS.
GDP (purchasing power parity):
$6.345 billion (2012 est.) country comparison to the world: 163 $6.441 billion (2011 est.) $6.424 billion (2010 est.) note: data are in 2012 US dollars
GDP (official exchange rate):
$3.751 billion (2012 est.)
GDP - real growth rate:
-1.5% (2012 est.) country comparison to the world: 204 0.3% (2011 est.) 1.9% (2010 est.)
GDP - per capita (PPP):
$5,900 (2012 est.) country comparison to the world: 151 $6,000 (2011 est.) $6,100 (2010 est.) note: data are in 2012 US dollars
GDP - composition, by sector of origin:
agriculture: 7.8% industry: 45.1% services: 47.2% (2012 est.)
Labor force:
457,900 (2007) country comparison to the world: 156
Labor force - by occupation:
agriculture: 70% industry: NA% services: NA%
Unemployment rate:
40% (2006 est.) country comparison to the world: 187
Population below poverty line:
69% (2006)
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: 20
Investment (gross fixed):
10.3% of GDP (2012 est.) country comparison to the world: 148
Budget:
revenues: $1.451 billion expenditures: $1.438 billion (2012 est.)
Taxes and other revenues:
38.7% of GDP (2012 est.) country comparison to the world: 48
Budget surplus (+) or deficit (-):
0.3% of GDP (2012 est.) country comparison to the world: 40
Inflation rate (consumer prices):
9.4% (2012 est.) country comparison to the world: 195 6.1% (2011 est.)
Central bank discount rate:
6.5% (31 December 2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 45 6.5% (31 December 2009 est.)
Commercial bank prime lending rate:
8.75% (31 December 2012 est.) country comparison to the world: 101 9% (31 December 2011 est.)
Stock of narrow money:
$403.3 million (31 December 2012 est.) country comparison to the world: 162 $355.1 million (31 December 2011 est.)
Stock of broad money:
$1.106 billion (31 December 2012 est.) country comparison to the world: 168 $1.087 billion (31 December 2011 est.)
Stock of domestic credit:
$762.9 million (31 December 2012 est.) country comparison to the world: 165 $948.6 million (31 December 2011 est.)
Market value of publicly traded shares:
$203.1 million (31 December 2007) country comparison to the world: 113 $203.1 million (31 December 2007)
Agriculture - products:
sugarcane, cotton, corn, tobacco, rice, citrus, pineapples, sorghum, peanuts; cattle, goats, sheep
Industries:
coal, wood pulp, sugar, soft drink concentrates, textiles and apparel
Industrial production growth rate:
0.3% (2012 est.) country comparison to the world: 128
Current account balance:
-$3.8 million (2012 est.) country comparison to the world: 58 -$280.9 million (2011 est.)
Exports:
$2.005 billion (2012 est.) country comparison to the world: 141 $2.011 billion (2011 est.)
Exports - commodities:
soft drink concentrates, sugar, wood pulp, cotton yarn, refrigerators, citrus and canned fruit
Imports:
$2.152 billion (2012 est.) country comparison to the world: 164 $2.108 billion (2011 est.)
Imports - commodities:
motor vehicles, machinery, transport equipment, foodstuffs, petroleum products, chemicals
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold:
$741 million (31 December 2012 est.) country comparison to the world: 144 $600.5 million (31 December 2011 est.)
Debt - external:
$609.8 million (31 December 2012 est.) country comparison to the world: 171 $604.5 million (31 December 2011 est.)
Stock of direct foreign investment - at home:
$NA
Stock of direct foreign investment - abroad:
$NA
Exchange rates:
emalangeni per US dollar - 8.2031 (2012 est.) 7.2597 (2011 est.) 7.3212 (2010 est.) 8.42 (2009) 7.75 (2008)
Fiscal year:
1 April - 31 March

## Energy ::Swaziland

Electricity - production:
450 million kWh (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 164
Electricity - consumption:
1.175 billion kWh (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 149
Electricity - exports:
0 kWh (2010) country comparison to the world: 150
Electricity - imports:
597 million kWh (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 73
Electricity - installed generating capacity:
130,000 kW (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 165
Electricity - from fossil fuels:
67.7% of total installed capacity (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 113
Electricity - from nuclear fuels:
0% of total installed capacity (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 206
Electricity - from hydroelectric plants:
32.3% of total installed capacity (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 69
Electricity - from other renewable sources:
0% of total installed capacity (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 206
Crude oil - production:
0 bbl/day (2011 est.) country comparison to the world: 208
Crude oil - exports:
0 bbl/day (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 208
Crude oil - imports:
0 bbl/day (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 144
Crude oil - proved reserves:
0 bbl (1 January 2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 207
Refined petroleum products - production:
0 bbl/day (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 211
Refined petroleum products - consumption:
4,567 bbl/day (2011 est.) country comparison to the world: 172
Refined petroleum products - exports:
0 bbl/day (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 146
Refined petroleum products - imports:
4,898 bbl/day (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 157
Natural gas - production:
0 cu m (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 211
Natural gas - consumption:
0 cu m (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 211
Natural gas - exports:
0 cu m (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 209
Natural gas - imports:
0 cu m (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 81
Natural gas - proved reserves:
0 cu m (1 January 2012 est.) country comparison to the world: 208
Carbon dioxide emissions from consumption of energy:
1.113 million Mt (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 165

## Communications ::Swaziland

Telephones - main lines in use:
75,800 (2011) country comparison to the world: 153
Telephones - mobile cellular:
766,500 (2011) country comparison to the world: 158
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)
Internet country code:
.sz
Internet hosts:
2,744 (2012) country comparison to the world: 158
Internet users:
90,100 (2009) country comparison to the world: 162

## Transportation ::Swaziland

Airports:
15 (2012) country comparison to the world: 146
Airports - with paved runways:
total: 2 over 3,047 m: 1 2,438 to 3,047 m: 1 (2012)
Airports - with unpaved runways:
total: 13 914 to 1,523 m: 6 under 914 m: 7 (2012)
Railways:
total: 301 km country comparison to the world: 120 narrow gauge: 301 km 1.067-m gauge (2008)
Roadways:
total: 3,594 km country comparison to the world: 160 paved: 1,078 km unpaved: 2,516 km (2002)

## Military ::Swaziland

Military branches:
Umbutfo Swaziland Defense Force (USDF): Ground Force (includes Air Wing) (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:
2.6% of GDP (2011) country comparison to the world: 48

## 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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