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Communications

Broadcast media (Radio broadcast stations) [time series]

AM 7, FM 6, shortwave 0

Radios [time series]

129,000 (1992 est.)

Telecommunication systems (Telephone system) [time series]

domestic : system consists of carrier-equipped, open-wire lines and low-capacity, microwave radio relay international: satellite earth station - 1 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean)

Telephones - fixed lines (Telephones) [time series]

30,364 (1993 est.)

Broadcast media (Television broadcast stations) [time series]

Televisions [time series]

12,500 (1992 est.)

Economy

Agricultural products (Agriculture - products) [time series]

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

Budget [time series]

revenues: $397 million expenditures: $413 million, including capital expenditures of $78 million (1995/96)

Exchange rates (Currency) [time series]

1 lilangeni (E) = 100 cents

Debt - external [time series]

$175 million (1995 est.)

Economic aid [time series]

recipient: ODA, $NA

Economic overview (Economy - overview) [time series]

This small landlocked economy is based largely on subsistence agriculture, which occupies more than 60% of the population. Manufacturing features a number of agroprocessing factories. Mining has declined in importance in recent years; high-grade iron ore deposits were depleted by 1978, and health concerns have cut world demand for asbestos. Exports of soft drink concentrate, sugar and wood pulp 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 nearly 90% of its imports and to which it sends more than half of its exports. Remittances from Swazi workers in South African mines supplement domestically earned income by as much as 20%. The government is trying to improve the atmosphere for foreign investment. Overgrazing, soil depletion, and drought persist as problems for the future.

Electricity - capacity [time series]

50,000 kW (1993)

Electricity - consumption per capita [time series]

612 kWh (1993)

Electricity - production [time series]

84 million kWh (1993) note: imports 90% of its electricity from South Africa

Exchange rates [time series]

emalangeni (E) per US$1 - 4.6410 (January 1997), 4.2706 (1996), 3.6266 (1995), 3.5490 (1994), 3.2636 (1993), 2.8497 (1992); note - the Swazi emalangeni are at par with the South African rand

Exports [time series]

total value : $700 million (f.o.b., 1996) commodities: soft drink concentrates, sugar, wood pulp, cotton yarn partners : South Africa 58%, EU 20%, Mozambique 6% (1994)

Fiscal year [time series]

1 April - 31 March

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

purchasing power parity - $3.8 billion (1996 est.)

GDP - composition, by sector of origin (GDP - composition by sector) [time series]

agriculture: 12% industry: 43% services: 45% (1994 est.)

Real GDP per capita (GDP - per capita) [time series]

purchasing power parity - $3,800 (1996 est.)

Real GDP growth rate (GDP - real growth rate) [time series]

2.9% (1996 est.)

Imports [time series]

total value: $831 million (f.o.b., 1996) commodities: motor vehicles, machinery, transport equipment, petroleum products, foodstuffs, chemicals partners : South Africa 88%, Japan, UK, US (FY94/95)

Industrial production growth rate [time series]

4.2% (1993 est.)

Industries [time series]

mining (coal and asbestos), wood pulp, sugar, soft drink concentrates

Inflation rate (consumer prices) (Inflation rate - consumer price index) [time series]

14.7% (1995)

Labor force [time series]

total: 160,355 (1986 est.) by occupation: private sector about 65%, public sector 35%

Unemployment rate [time series]

15% (1992 est.)

Geography

Area [time series]

total: 17,360 sq km land: 17,200 sq km water: 160 sq km

Area - comparative [time series]

slightly smaller than New Jersey

Climate [time series]

varies from tropical to near temperate

Coastline [time series]

0 km (landlocked)

Elevation (Elevation extremes) [time series]

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

Environment - current issues [time series]

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

International environmental agreements (Environment - international agreements) [time series]

party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection signed, but not ratified: Desertification, Law of the Sea

Geographic coordinates [time series]

26 30 S, 31 30 E

Geography - note [time series]

landlocked; almost completely surrounded by South Africa

Irrigated land [time series]

670 sq km (1993 est.)

Land boundaries [time series]

total : 535 km border countries: Mozambique 105 km, South Africa 430 km

Land use [time series]

arable land: 11% permanent crops: 0% permanent pastures: 62% forests and woodland : 7% other: 20% (1993 est.)

Location [time series]

Southern Africa, between Mozambique and South Africa

Map references [time series]

Africa

Maritime claims [time series]

none (landlocked)

Natural hazards [time series]

Natural resources [time series]

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

Terrain [time series]

mostly mountains and hills; some moderately sloping plains

Government

Administrative divisions [time series]

4 districts; Hhohho, Lubombo, Manzini, Shiselweni

Constitution [time series]

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

Country name [time series]

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

Data code [time series]

Diplomatic representation from the US [time series]

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

Diplomatic representation in the US [time series]

chief of mission: Ambassador Mary Madzandza KANYA chancery: Suite 3M, 3400 International Drive NW, Washington, DC 20008 telephone: [1] (202) 362-6683, 6685

Executive branch [time series]

chief of state: King MSWATI III (since 25 April 1986) head of government: Prime Minister Sibusiso Barnabas DLAMINI (since 9 August 1996) cabinet: Cabinet recommended by the prime minister and confirmed by the king elections : none; the king is a hereditary monarch; prime minister appointed by the king

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

[1] (202) 244-8059

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

[268] 45959

Flag (Flag description) [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

Government type [time series]

monarchy; independent member of Commonwealth

Independence [time series]

6 September 1968 (from UK)

International organization participation [time series]

ACP, AfDB, C, CCC, ECA, FAO, G-77, IBRD, ICAO, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, Intelsat, Interpol, IOC, ITU, NAM, OAU, PCA, SACU, SADC, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTrO

Judicial branch [time series]

High Court, judges are appointed by the king; Court of Appeal, judges are appointed by the king

Legal system [time series]

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

Legislative branch [time series]

bicameral Parliament or Libandla, an advisory body, consists of the Senate (20 seats, 10 appointed by the House of Assembly and 10 appointed by the king; members serve five-year terms) and the House of Assembly (65 seats, 10 appointed by the king and 55 elected by secret, popular vote; members serve five-year terms) elections: House of Assembly - last held 26 September and 11 October 1993 (next to be held NA 1998) election results : House of Assembly - balloting is done on a nonparty basis; candidates for election are 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

Capital (National capital) [time series]

Mbabane (administrative); Lobamba (legislative)

National holiday [time series]

Somhlolo (Independence) Day, 6 September (1968)

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

note: political parties are banned by the constitution promulgated on 13 October 1978; illegal parties are prohibited from holding large public gatherings illegal parties: Peoples' United Democratic Movement or PUDEMO [Mario MASUKU]; Swaziland Youth Congress or SWAYOCO (included in PUDEMO); Swaziland Communist Party or SWACOPA [Mphandlana SHONGWE]; Swaziland Liberation Front or FROLISA; Convention for Full Democracy in Swaziland or COFUDESWA [Sabelo DLAMINI]; Swaziland National Front or SWANAFRO; Ngwane Socialist Revolutionary Party or NGWASOREP; Swaziland Democratic Alliance (represents key opposition parties) [Jerry NXUMALO]; Swaziland Federation of Trade Unions or SFTU [Jan SITHOLE]

Suffrage [time series]

NA; note - no suffrage before September 1993; 55 of the 65 seats in the House of Assembly were filled by popular vote in the elections of September and October 1993; of a population of less than 1 million, the electorate numbered 283,693

Military

Military and security forces (Military branches) [time series]

Umbutfo Swaziland Defense Force (Army), Royal Swaziland Police Force

Military expenditures - dollar figure [time series]

$22 million (FY93/94)

Military expenditures (Military expenditures - percent of GDP) [time series]

NA%

Military manpower - availability [time series]

males age 15-49: 228,109 (1997 est.)

Military manpower - fit for military service [time series]

males: 131,872 (1997 est.)

People

Age structure [time series]

0-14 years: 46% (male 234,628; female 236,056) 15-64 years: 52% (male 255,775; female 280,416) 65 years and over: 2% (male 10,291; female 14,434) (July 1997 est.)

Birth rate [time series]

42.71 births/1,000 population (1997 est.)

Death rate [time series]

10.31 deaths/1,000 population (1997 est.)

Ethnic groups [time series]

African 97%, European 3%

Infant mortality rate [time series]

86.1 deaths/1,000 live births (1997 est.)

Languages [time series]

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

Life expectancy at birth [time series]

total population: 57.7 years male: 53.67 years female: 61.84 years (1997 est.)

Literacy [time series]

definition: age 15 and over can read and write total population: 76.7% male : 78% female: 75.6% (1995 est.)

Nationality [time series]

noun: Swazi(s) adjective: Swazi

Net migration rate [time series]

0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1997 est.)

Population [time series]

1,031,600 (July 1997 est.)

Population growth rate [time series]

3.24% (1997 est.)

Religions [time series]

Christian 60%, indigenous beliefs 40%

Sex ratio [time series]

at birth: 1.03 male(s)/female under 15 years: 0.99 male(s)/female 15-64 years: 0.91 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.71 male(s)/female total population : 0.94 male(s)/female (1997 est.)

Total fertility rate [time series]

6.01 children born/woman (1997 est.)

Transnational Issues

Disputes - international [time series]

Swaziland has asked South Africa to open negotiations on reincorporating some nearby South African territories that are populated by ethnic Swazis or that were long ago part of the Swazi Kingdom SWEDEN

Transportation

Airports [time series]

17 (1996 est.)

Airports - with paved runways [time series]

total: 11 2,438 to 3,047 m: 1 under 914 m : 10 (1996 est.)

Airports - with unpaved runways [time series]

total: 6 914 to 1,523 m: 6 (1996 est.)

Roadways (Highways) [time series]

total: 2,885 km paved: 814 km unpaved: 2,071 km (1994 est.)

Ports (Ports and harbors) [time series]

none

Railways [time series]

total: 297 km; note - includes 71 km which are not in use narrow gauge: 297 km 1.067-m gauge

Eswatini