Internet users (Internet Service Providers (ISPs)) [time series]

2 (1999)

Broadcast media (Radio broadcast stations) [time series]

AM 3, FM 4, shortwave 1 (1998)

Radios [time series]

155,000 (1997)

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 - main lines in use) [time series]

20,000 (1996)

Telephones - mobile cellular [time series]

0 (1996)

Broadcast media (Television broadcast stations) [time series]

2 (plus seven repeaters) (1997)

Televisions [time series]

21,000 (1997)

Agricultural products (Agriculture - products) [time series]

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

Budget [time series]

revenues: $400 million expenditures: $450 million, including capital expenditures of $115 million (FY96/97)

Exchange rates (Currency) [time series]

1 lilangeni (E) = 100 cents

Debt - external [time series]

$180 million (1999)

Economic aid (Economic aid - recipient) [time series]

$55 million (1995)

Economic overview (Economy - overview) [time series]

In this small landlocked economy, subsistence agriculture 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 four-fifths of its imports and to which it sends three-fourths 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 - consumption [time series]

1.078 billion kWh (1998)

Electricity - exports [time series]

0 kWh (1998)

Electricity - imports [time series]

687 million kWh note: imports about 60% of its electricity from South Africa (1998)

Electricity - production [time series]

420 million kWh (1998)

Electricity - production by source [time series]

fossil fuel: 48.81% hydro: 51.19% nuclear: 0% other: 0% (1998)

Exchange rates [time series]

emalangeni (E) per US$1 - 6.1237 (January 2000), 6.1087 (1999), 5.4807 (1998), 4.6032 (1997), 4.2706 (1996), 3.6266 (1995); note - the Swazi lilangeni is at par with the South African rand

Exports [time series]

$825 million (f.o.b., 1999)

Exports - commodities [time series]

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

Exports - partners [time series]

South Africa 74%, EU 12%, Mozambique 5%, US, North Korea (1997)

Fiscal year [time series]

1 April - 31 March

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

purchasing power parity - $4.2 billion (1999 est.)

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

agriculture: 10% industry: 48% services: 42% (1997 est.)

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

purchasing power parity - $4,200 (1999 est.)

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

3.1% (1999 est.)

Household income or consumption by percentage share [time series]

lowest 10%: NA% highest 10%: NA%

Imports [time series]

$1.05 billion (f.o.b., 1999)

Imports - commodities [time series]

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

Imports - partners [time series]

South Africa 83%, EU 6%, Japan, UK, Singapore (1997)

Industrial production growth rate [time series]

3.7% (FY95/96)

Industries [time series]

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

Inflation rate (consumer prices) [time series]

6% (1999 est.)

Labor force [time series]

NA

Labor force - by occupation [time series]

private sector about 70%, public sector about 30%

Population below poverty line [time series]

NA%

Unemployment rate [time series]

22% (1995 est.)

Area [time series]

total: 17,363 sq km land: 17,203 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, Endangered Species, 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]

NA

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

Administrative divisions [time series]

4 districts; Hhohho, Lubombo, Manzini, Shiselweni

Capital [time series]

Mbabane; note - Lobamba is the royal and legislative capital

Constitution [time series]

none; constitution of 6 September 1968 was suspended 12 April 1973; a new constitution was promulgated 13 October 1978, but was not formally presented to the people; since then a few more outlines for a constitution have been compiled under the Constitutional Review Commission (CRC), but so far none have been accepted

Country name [time series]

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

Data code [time series]

WZ

Diplomatic representation from the US [time series]

chief of mission: Ambassador Gregory L. JOHNSON embassy: Central Bank Building, Warner Street, Mbabane mailing address: P. O. Box 199, Mbabane telephone: [268] 404-6441 through 404-6445 FAX: [268] 404-5959

Diplomatic representation in the US [time series]

chief of mission: Ambassador Mary Madzandza KANYA chancery: 3400 International Drive NW, Washington, DC 20008 telephone: [1] (202) 362-6683 FAX: [1] (202) 244-8059

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 monarch elections: none; the monarch is hereditary; prime minister appointed by the monarch

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, OPCW, PCA, SACU, SADC, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTrO

Judicial branch [time series]

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

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 (30 seats - 10 appointed by the House of Assembly and 20 appointed by the monarch; members serve five-year terms) and the House of Assembly (65 seats - 10 appointed by the monarch and 55 elected by popular vote; members serve five-year terms) elections: House of Assembly - last held 16 and 24 October 1998 (next to be held NA 2003) 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

National holiday [time series]

Somhlolo (Independence) Day, 6 September (1968)

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

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

Suffrage [time series]

NA years of age

Background [time series]

Autonomy for the Swazis of southern Africa was guaranteed by the British in the late 19th century; independence was granted 1968. Student and labor unrest during the 1990s have pressured the monarchy (one of the oldest on the continent) to grudgingly allow political reform and greater democracy.

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

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

Military expenditures - dollar figure [time series]

$23 million (FY95/96)

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

1.9% (FY95/96)

Military manpower - availability [time series]

males age 15-49: 242,398 (2000 est.)

Military manpower - fit for military service [time series]

males age 15-49: 140,299 (2000 est.)

Age structure [time series]

0-14 years: 46% (male 245,626; female 247,825) 15-64 years: 52% (male 270,308; female 291,884) 65 years and over: 2% (male 11,357; female 16,289) (2000 est.)

Birth rate [time series]

40.64 births/1,000 population (2000 est.)

Death rate [time series]

20.4 deaths/1,000 population (2000 est.)

Ethnic groups [time series]

African 97%, European 3%

Infant mortality rate [time series]

108.95 deaths/1,000 live births (2000 est.)

Languages [time series]

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

Life expectancy at birth [time series]

total population: 40.44 years male: 39.54 years female: 41.37 years (2000 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 (2000 est.)

Population [time series]

1,083,289 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 and death rates, lower population and growth rates, and changes in the distribution of population by age and sex than would otherwise be expected (July 2000 est.)

Population growth rate [time series]

2.02% (2000 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: 0.93 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.7 male(s)/female total population: 0.95 male(s)/female (2000 est.)

Total fertility rate [time series]

5.87 children born/woman (2000 est.)

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 [Country Listing] [ The World Factbook Home]

Airports [time series]

18 (1999 est.)

Airports - with paved runways [time series]

total: 1 2,438 to 3,047 m: 1 (1999 est.)

Airports - with unpaved runways [time series]

total: 17 914 to 1,523 m: 7 under 914 m: 10 (1999 est.)

Roadways (Highways) [time series]

total: 2,896 km (1997 est.) paved: NA km unpaved: NA km

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