View Intelligence Dossier Back to 2006 CSV Excel Print All Years

Communications

Internet country code [time series]

.sz

Internet users (Internet hosts) [time series]

2,472 (2006)

Internet users [time series]

36,000 (2005)

Broadcast media (Radio broadcast stations) [time series]

AM 3, FM 2 plus 4 repeaters, shortwave 3 (2004)

Telecommunication systems (Telephone system) [time series]

general assessment: a somewhat modern but not an advanced system domestic: 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)

Telephones - fixed lines (Telephones - main lines in use) [time series]

35,000 (2005)

Telephones - mobile cellular [time series]

200,000 (2005)

Broadcast media (Television broadcast stations) [time series]

12 (includes 7 relay stations) (2004)

Economy

Agricultural products (Agriculture - products) [time series]

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

Budget [time series]

revenues: $805.6 million expenditures: $957.1 million; including capital expenditures of $147 million (2005 est.)

Exchange rates (Currency (code)) [time series]

lilangeni (SZL)

Current account balance [time series]

$7 million (2005 est.)

Debt - external [time series]

$357 million (2003 est.)

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

$104 million (2001)

Economic overview (Economy - overview) [time series]

In this small, landlocked economy, subsistence agriculture occupies more than 80% of the population. The manufacturing sector has diversified since the mid-1980s. Sugar and wood pulp remain important foreign exchange earners. Mining has declined in importance in recent years with only coal and quarry stone mines remaining active. Surrounded by South Africa, except for a short border with Mozambique, Swaziland is heavily dependent on South Africa from which it receives about nine-tenths of its imports and to which it sends nearly two-thirds of its exports. Customs duties from the Southern African Customs Union and worker remittances from South Africa substantially supplement domestically earned income. The government is trying to improve the atmosphere for foreign investment. Overgrazing, soil depletion, drought, and sometimes floods persist as problems for the future. More than one-fourth of the population needed emergency food aid in 2004-05 because of drought, and nearly two-fifths of the adult population has been infected by HIV/AIDS.

Electricity - consumption [time series]

1.161 billion kWh (2003)

Electricity - exports [time series]

0 kWh (2004)

Electricity - imports [time series]

821.4 million kWh; note - electricity supplied by South Africa (2004)

Electricity - production [time series]

392 million kWh (2003)

Exchange rates [time series]

emalangeni per US dollar - 6.3593 (2005), 6.4597 (2004), 7.5648 (2003), 10.5407 (2002), 8.6092 (2001)

Exports [time series]

$1.991 billion f.o.b. (2005 est.)

Exports - commodities [time series]

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

Exports - partners [time series]

South Africa 59.7%, EU 8.8%, US 8.8%, Mozambique 6.2% (2004)

Fiscal year [time series]

1 April - 31 March

GDP (official exchange rate) [time series]

$2.117 billion (2005 est.)

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

$5.68 billion (2005 est.)

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

agriculture: 11.9% industry: 51.5% services: 36.6% (2005 est.)

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

$5,000 (2005 est.)

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

1.8% (2005 est.)

Household income or consumption by percentage share [time series]

lowest 10%: 1% highest 10%: 50.2% (1995)

Imports [time series]

$2.149 billion f.o.b. (2005 est.)

Imports - commodities [time series]

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

Imports - partners [time series]

South Africa 95.6%, EU 0.9%, Japan 0.9%, Singapore 0.3% (2004)

Industrial production growth rate [time series]

3.7% (FY95/96)

Industries [time series]

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

Inflation rate (consumer prices) [time series]

4% (2005 est.)

Investment (gross fixed) [time series]

10.6% of GDP (2005 est.)

Labor force [time series]

155,700 (2003)

Labor force - by occupation [time series]

agriculture: NA% industry: NA% services: NA%

Natural gas - consumption [time series]

0 cu m (2003 est.)

Natural gas - production [time series]

0 cu m (2003 est.)

Oil - consumption [time series]

3,500 bbl/day (2003 est.)

Oil - exports [time series]

NA bbl/day

Oil - imports [time series]

NA bbl/day

Oil - production [time series]

0 bbl/day (2004 est.)

Population below poverty line [time series]

69% (2005)

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold [time series]

$311 million (2005 est.)

Unemployment rate [time series]

40% (2005 est.)

Geography

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, Desertification, Endangered Species, Ozone Layer Protection signed, but not ratified: 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]

500 sq km (2003)

Land boundaries [time series]

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

Land use [time series]

arable land: 10.25% permanent crops: 0.81% other: 88.94% (2005)

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]

drought

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

Capital [time series]

name: Mbabane geographic coordinates: 26 18 S, 31 06 E time difference: UTC+2 (7 hours ahead of Washington, DC during Standard Time) note: Lobamba (royal and legislative capital)

Constitution [time series]

the first constitution was signed into law in July 2005 and is scheduled to be implemented in January 2006

Country name [time series]

conventional long form: Kingdom of Swaziland conventional short form: Swaziland local long form: Umbuso weSwatini local short form: eSwatini

Diplomatic representation from the US [time series]

chief of mission: Ambassador Lewis LUCKE embassy: Central Bank Building, Mahlokahla 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 Ephraim Mandla HLOPHE chancery: 1712 New Hampshire Avenue, NW, Washington, DC 20009 telephone: [1] (202) 234-5002 FAX: [1] (202) 234-8254

Executive branch [time series]

chief of state: King MSWATI III (since 25 April 1986) head of government: Prime Minister Absolom Themba DLAMINI (since 14 November 2003) 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

Independence [time series]

6 September 1968 (from UK)

International organization participation [time series]

ACP, AfDB, AU, C, COMESA, FAO, G-77, IBRD, ICAO, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, Interpol, IOC, ISO (correspondent), ITU, MIGA, NAM, OPCW, PCA, SACU, SADC, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WCO, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTO

Judicial branch [time series]

High Court; Court of Appeal; judges for both courts 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; accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction, with reservations

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 18 October 2003 (next to be held October 2008) 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]

Independence Day, 6 September (1968)

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

political parties are banned by the government under an emergency decree that will be revoked when the new constitution takes effect (January 2006)- the following are considered political associations; 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 parties (Political pressure groups and leaders) [time series]

Suffrage [time series]

18 years of age

Introduction

Background [time series]

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 the monarchy (one of the oldest on the continent) to grudgingly allow political reform and greater democracy. Swaziland recently surpassed Botswana as the country with the world's highest known rates of HIV/AIDS infection.

Military

Manpower available for military service [time series]

males age 18-49: 227,617 (2005 est.)

Manpower fit for military service [time series]

males age 18-49: 89,609 (2005 est.)

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

Umbutfo Swaziland Defense Force (USDF): Ground Force (includes air wing), Royal Swaziland Police Force (RSPF) (2005)

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

1.4% (2005 est.)

Military service age and obligation [time series]

18-30 years of age for voluntary military service; both sexes are eligible for military service (2005)

People

Age structure [time series]

0-14 years: 40.7% (male 233,169/female 229,103) 15-64 years: 55.8% (male 303,260/female 330,460) 65 years and over: 3.6% (male 16,071/female 24,271) (2006 est.)

Birth rate [time series]

27.41 births/1,000 population (2006 est.)

Death rate [time series]

29.74 deaths/1,000 population (2006 est.)

Ethnic groups [time series]

African 97%, European 3%

HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate [time series]

38.8% (2003 est.)

HIV/AIDS - deaths [time series]

17,000 (2003 est.)

HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS [time series]

220,000 (2003 est.)

Infant mortality rate [time series]

total: 71.85 deaths/1,000 live births male: 75.25 deaths/1,000 live births female: 68.34 deaths/1,000 live births (2006 est.)

Languages [time series]

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

Life expectancy at birth [time series]

total population: 32.62 years male: 32.1 years female: 33.17 years (2006 est.)

Literacy [time series]

definition: age 15 and over can read and write total population: 81.6% male: 82.6% female: 80.8% (2003 est.)

Median age [time series]

total: 18.5 years male: 17.8 years female: 19.2 years (2006 est.)

Nationality [time series]

noun: Swazi(s) adjective: Swazi

Net migration rate [time series]

0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2006 est.)

Population [time series]

1,136,334 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 2006 est.)

Population growth rate [time series]

-0.23% (2006 est.)

Religions [time series]

Zionist 40% (a blend of Christianity and indigenous ancestral worship), Roman Catholic 20%, Muslim 10%, Anglican, Bahai, Methodist, Mormon, Jewish and other 30%

Sex ratio [time series]

at birth: 1.03 male(s)/female under 15 years: 1.02 male(s)/female 15-64 years: 0.92 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.66 male(s)/female total population: 0.95 male(s)/female (2006 est.)

Total fertility rate [time series]

3.53 children born/woman (2006 est.)

Transnational Issues

Disputes - international [time series]

none

Transportation

Airports [time series]

18 (2006)

Airports - with paved runways [time series]

total: 1 2,438 to 3,047 m: 1 (2006)

Airports - with unpaved runways [time series]

total: 17 914 to 1,523 m: 7 under 914 m: 10 (2006)

Railways [time series]

total: 301 km narrow gauge: 301 km 1.067-m gauge (2005)

Roadways [time series]

total: 3,594 km paved: 1,078 km unpaved: 2,516 km (2002)

Eswatini