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Communications

Airports [time series]

total: 23 usable: 21 with permanent-surface runways: 1 with runways over 3,659 m: 0 with runways 2,440-3,659 m: 1 with runways 1,220-2,439 m: 1

Roadways (Highways) [time series]

total: 2,853 km paved: 510 km unpaved: crushed stone, gravel, stabilized earth 1,230 km; improved earth 1,113 km

Railways (Railroads) [time series]

297 km (plus 71 km disused), 1.067-meter gauge, single track

Telecommunication systems (Telecommunications) [time series]

system consists of carrier-equipped open-wire lines and low-capacity microwave links; 17,000 telephones; broadcast stations - 7 AM, 6 FM, 10 TV; 1 Atlantic Ocean INTELSAT earth station

Defense Forces

Military and security forces (Branches) [time series]

Umbutfo Swaziland Defense Force, Royal Swaziland Police Force

Military expenditures (Defense expenditures) [time series]

exchange rate conversion - $22 million, NA% of GDP (FY93/94)

Manpower availability [time series]

males age 15-49 204,608; fit for military service 118,380

Economy

Agricultural products (Agriculture) [time series]

accounts for 23% of GDP and over 60% of labor force; mostly subsistence agriculture; cash crops - sugarcane, cotton, maize, tobacco, rice, citrus fruit, pineapples; other crops and livestock - corn, sorghum, peanuts, cattle, goats, sheep; not self-sufficient in grain

Budget [time series]

revenues: $342 million expenditures: $410 million, including capital expenditures of $130 million (1994 est.)

Exchange rates (Currency) [time series]

1 lilangeni (E) = 100 cents

Economic aid [time series]

recipient: bilateral aid (1991) $35 million of which US disbursements $12 million, UK disbursements $6 million, and Denmark $2 million; multilateral aid (1991) $24 million of which EC disbursements $8 million

Electricity [time series]

capacity: 60,000 kW production: 198 million kWh (1991) consumption per capita: 180 kWh (1991)

Exchange rates [time series]

emalangeni (E) per US$1 -3.4551 (March 1994), 3.2636 (1993), 2.8497 (1992), 2.7563 (1991), 2.5863 (1990), 2.6166 (1989); note - the Swazi emalangeni is at par with the South African rand

Exports [time series]

$632 million (f.o.b., 1993 est.) commodities: sugar, edible concentrates, wood pulp, canned fruit, citrus partners: South Africa 50% (est.), EC countries, Canada

Debt - external (External debt) [time series]

$240 million (1992)

Fiscal year [time series]

1 April - 31 March

Imports [time series]

$734 million (f.o.b., 1993 est.) commodities: motor vehicles, machinery, transport equipment, petroleum products, foodstuffs, chemicals partners: South Africa 90% (est.), Switzerland, UK

Industrial production growth rate (Industrial production) [time series]

growth rate 2.6% (1991); accounts for 40% of GDP (1989)

Industries [time series]

mining (coal and asbestos), wood pulp, sugar

Inflation rate (consumer prices) [time series]

11% (1993 est.)

Real GDP (purchasing power parity) (National product) [time series]

GDP - purchasing power equivalent - $2.3 billion (1993 est.)

Real GDP per capita (National product per capita) [time series]

$2,500 (1993 est.)

Real GDP growth rate (National product real growth rate) [time series]

1% (1993 est.)

Economic overview (Overview) [time series]

The economy is based on subsistence agriculture, which occupies more than 60% of the population and contributes nearly 25% to GDP. Manufacturing, which includes a number of agroprocessing factories, accounts for another quarter of GDP. Mining has declined in importance in recent years; high-grade iron ore deposits were depleted in 1978, and health concerns cut world demand for asbestos. Exports of sugar and forestry products are the main earners of hard currency. Surrounded by South Africa, except for a short border with Mozambique, Swaziland is heavily dependent on South Africa, from which it receives 90% of its imports and to which it sends about half of its exports.

Unemployment rate [time series]

15% (1992 est.)

Geography

Area [time series]

total area: 17,360 sq km land area: 17,200 sq km comparative area: slightly smaller than New Jersey

Climate [time series]

varies from tropical to near temperate

Coastline [time series]

0 km (landlocked)

Environment - current issues (Environment) [time series]

current issues: limited access to safe drinking water presents human health risks; wildlife populations being depleted because of excessive hunting; overgrazing; soil degradation; soil erosion natural hazards: NA international agreements: party to - Nuclear Test Ban; signed, but not ratified - Biodiversity, Climate Change, Law of the Sea

Disputes - international (International disputes) [time series]

Swaziland wants to reincorporate territory along the South African border; Mbabane has asked South Africa to open negotiations on border adjustments

Irrigated land [time series]

620 sq km (1989 est.)

Land boundaries [time series]

total 535 km, Mozambique 105 km, South Africa 430 km

Land use [time series]

arable land: 8% permanent crops: NA% meadows and pastures: 67% forest and woodland: 6% other: NA%

Location [time series]

Southern Africa, between Mozambique and South Africa

Map references [time series]

Africa, Standard Time Zones of the World

Maritime claims [time series]

none; landlocked

Natural resources [time series]

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

Note [time series]

landlocked; almost completely surrounded by South Africa

Terrain [time series]

mostly mountains and hills; some moderately sloping plains

Government

Administrative divisions [time series]

4 districts; Hhohho, Lubombo, Manzini, Shiselweni

Capital [time series]

Mbabane (administrative); Lobamba (legislative)

Constitution [time series]

none; constitution of 6 September 1968 was suspended on 12 April 1973; a new constitution was promulgated 13 October 1978, but has not been formally presented to the people

Digraph [time series]

Diplomatic representation in the US (Diplomatic representation in US) [time series]

chief of mission: Ambassador Absalom Vusani MAMBA chancery: 3400 International Drive NW, Washington, DC 20008 telephone: (202) 362-6683 or 6685

Executive branch [time series]

chief of state: King MSWATI III (since 25 April 1986) head of government: Prime Minister Prince Jameson Mbilini DLAMINI (since 12 November 1993) cabinet: Cabinet; designated by the monarch

Diplomatic representation in the US (FAX) [time series]

(202) 244-8059

Diplomatic representation in the US (FAX) [time series]

[268] 45959

Flag [time series]

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

Independence [time series]

6 September 1968 (from UK)

Judicial branch [time series]

High Court, Court of Appeal

Legal system [time series]

based on South African Roman-Dutch law in statutory courts, Swazi traditional law and custom in traditional courts; has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction

Legislative branch [time series]

bicameral Parliament is advisory and consists of an upper house or Senate and a lower house or House of Assembly; the 30 members of the Senate are appointed - 10 by the House of Assembly and 20 by the king; the members of the House are elected by popular vote; last election held in October 1993

International organization participation (Member of) [time series]

ACP, AfDB, C, CCC, ECA, FAO, G-77, GATT, IBRD, ICAO, ICFTU, IDA, IFAD, IFC, ILO, IMF, INTELSAT, INTERPOL, IOC, ITU, LORCS, NAM, OAU, PCA, SACU, SADC, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WHO, WIPO, WMO

Country name (Names) [time series]

conventional long form: Kingdom of Swaziland conventional short form: Swaziland

National holiday [time series]

Somhlolo (Independence) Day, 6 September (1968)

Political parties (Political parties and leaders) [time series]

none; banned by the Constitution promulgated on 13 October 1978

Suffrage [time series]

none

Government type (Type) [time series]

monarchy; independent member of Commonwealth

Diplomatic representation from the US (US diplomatic representation) [time series]

chief of mission: Ambassador John SPROTT embassy: Central Bank Building, Warner Street, Mbabane mailing address: P. O. Box 199, Mbabane telephone: [268] 46441 through 46445

People

Birth rate [time series]

43.14 births/1,000 population (1994 est.)

Death rate [time series]

11.07 deaths/1,000 population (1994 est.)

Ethnic groups (Ethnic divisions) [time series]

African 97%, European 3%

Infant mortality rate [time series]

93.2 deaths/1,000 live births (1994 est.)

Labor force [time series]

probably less than 100,000 by occupation: private sector about 65%, public sector 35%

Languages [time series]

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

Life expectancy at birth [time series]

total population: 56.39 years male: 52.4 years female: 60.5 years (1994 est.)

Literacy [time series]

age 15 and over can read and write (1986) total population: 67% male: 70% female: 65%

Nationality [time series]

noun: Swazi(s) adjective: Swazi

Net migration rate [time series]

0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1994 est.)

Population [time series]

936,369 (July 1994 est.)

Population growth rate [time series]

3.21% (1994 est.)

Religions [time series]

Christian 60%, indigenous beliefs 40%

Total fertility rate [time series]

6.13 children born/woman (1994 est.)

Eswatini