ARCHIVE // SZ // 2015

Eswatini

2015 Edition — sovereign

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Communications
Broadcast media [time series]
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 [time series]
.sz
Internet users [time series]
total: 337,300 | percent of population: 23.8% (2014 est.) | country comparison to the world: 137
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: 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)
Telephones - fixed lines [time series]
total subscriptions: 44,400 | subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 3 (2014 est.) | country comparison to the world: 166
Telephones - mobile cellular [time series]
total: 916,800 | subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 65 (2014 est.) | country comparison to the world: 160
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: $1.349 billion | expenditures: $1.406 billion (2014 est.)
Budget surplus (+) or deficit (-) [time series]
-1.5% of GDP (2014 est.) | country comparison to the world: 69
Central bank discount rate [time series]
6.5% (31 December 2010) | 6.5% (31 December 2009) | country comparison to the world: 49
Commercial bank prime lending rate [time series]
8.8% (31 December 2014 est.) | 8.5% (31 December 2013 est.) | country comparison to the world: 103
Current account balance [time series]
$34 million (2014 est.) | $140.8 million (2013 est.) | country comparison to the world: 59
Debt - external [time series]
$568.3 million (31 December 2014 est.) | $488.5 million (31 December 2013 est.) | country comparison to the world: 174
Gini Index coefficient - distribution of family income (Distribution of family income - Gini index) [time series]
50.4 (2001) | country comparison to the world: 18
Economic overview (Economy - overview) [time series]
Surrounded by South Africa, except for a short border with Mozambique, Swaziland depends heavily on South Africa for more than 90% of its imports and for 60% of its exports. Swaziland's currency is pegged to the South African rand, effectively relinquishing Swaziland's monetary policy to South Africa. The government is heavily dependent on customs duties from the Southern African Customs Union, and worker remittances from South Africa supplement domestically earned income. Swaziland’s GDP per capita makes it a lower middle income country, but its income distribution is highly skewed, with an estimated 20% of the population controlling 80% of the nation’s wealth. Subsistence agriculture employs approximately 70% of the population. The manufacturing sector diversified in the 1980s and 1990s, but manufacturing has grown little in the last decade. Sugar and wood pulp had been major foreign exchange earners until the wood pulp producer closed in January 2010, and sugar is now the main export earner. Mining has declined in importance in recent years. Coal, gold, diamond, and quarry stone mines are small-scale, and the only iron ore mine closed in 2014. With an estimated 40% unemployment rate, Swaziland's need to increase the number and size of small and medium enterprises and to attract foreign direct investment is acute. Overgrazing, soil depletion, drought, and floods are persistant problems. On 1 January 2015, Swaziland lost its eligibility for benefits under the African Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA), threatening the remaining 12,000 jobs in the textile and apparel sector, after 3,000 jobs were lost since the 2014 announcement of the loss of AGOA. As of 2013 more than one-quarter of the adult population was infected by HIV/AIDS; Swaziland has the world’s highest HIV prevalence rate.
Exchange rates [time series]
emalangeni per US dollar - | 10.6 (2014 est.) | 9.6442 (2013 est.) | 8.2 (2012 est.) | 7.2597 (2011 est.) | 7.3212 (2010 est.)
Exports [time series]
$2.192 billion (2014 est.) | $2.104 billion (2013 est.) | country comparison to the world: 142
Exports - commodities [time series]
soft drink concentrates, sugar, timber, cotton yarn, refrigerators, citrus and canned fruit
Fiscal year [time series]
1 April - 31 March
GDP (official exchange rate) [time series]
$3.676 billion (2014 est.)
Real GDP (purchasing power parity) (GDP (purchasing power parity)) [time series]
$8.621 billion (2014 est.) | $8.476 billion (2013 est.) | $8.245 billion (2012 est.) | note: data are in 2014 US dollars | country comparison to the world: 161
GDP - composition, by end use [time series]
household consumption: 80.5% | government consumption: 25.3% | investment in fixed capital: 13.5% | investment in inventories: -0.1% | exports of goods and services: 51% | imports of goods and services: -70.2% | (2014 est.)
GDP - composition, by sector of origin [time series]
agriculture: 7.2% | industry: 47.4% | services: 45.4% (2014 est.)
Real GDP per capita (GDP - per capita (PPP)) [time series]
$7,800 (2014 est.) | $7,700 (2013 est.) | $7,500 (2012 est.) | note: data are in 2014 US dollars | country comparison to the world: 147
Real GDP growth rate (GDP - real growth rate) [time series]
1.7% (2014 est.) | 2.8% (2013 est.) | 1.9% (2012 est.) | country comparison to the world: 145
Gross national saving [time series]
12.2% of GDP (2014 est.) | 15.8% of GDP (2013 est.) | 11.8% of GDP (2012 est.) | country comparison to the world: 127
Household income or consumption by percentage share [time series]
lowest 10%: 1.7% | highest 10%: 40.1% (2010 est.)
Imports [time series]
$2.097 billion (2014 est.) | $1.987 billion (2013 est.) | country comparison to the world: 163
Imports - commodities [time series]
motor vehicles, machinery, transport equipment, foodstuffs, petroleum products, chemicals
Industrial production growth rate [time series]
2.1% (2014 est.) | country comparison to the world: 124
Industries [time series]
coal, forestry, sugar, soft drink concentrates, textiles and apparel
Inflation rate (consumer prices) [time series]
5.8% (2014 est.) | 5.6% (2013 est.) | country comparison to the world: 177
Labor force [time series]
435,500 (2012 est.) | country comparison to the world: 158
Labor force - by occupation [time series]
agriculture: 70% | industry: NA% | services: NA%
Market value of publicly traded shares [time series]
$NA | $203.1 million (31 December 2007) | $199.9 million (31 December 2006)
Population below poverty line [time series]
69% (2006 est.)
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold [time series]
$780.9 million (31 December 2014 est.) | $762.5 million (31 December 2013 est.) | country comparison to the world: 141
Stock of broad money [time series]
$1.109 billion (31 December 2014 est.) | $1.068 billion (31 December 2013 est.) | country comparison to the world: 165
Stock of direct foreign investment - abroad [time series]
$NA
Stock of direct foreign investment - at home [time series]
$NA
Stock of domestic credit [time series]
$657 million (31 December 2014 est.) | $643.9 million (31 December 2013 est.) | country comparison to the world: 163
Stock of narrow money [time series]
$453.5 million (31 December 2014 est.) | $419.6 million (31 December 2013 est.) | country comparison to the world: 164
Taxes and other revenues [time series]
35.1% of GDP (2014 est.) | country comparison to the world: 61
Unemployment rate [time series]
40% (2006 est.) | country comparison to the world: 190
Energy
Carbon dioxide emissions (Carbon dioxide emissions from consumption of energy) [time series]
936,900 Mt (2012 est.) | country comparison to the world: 168
Crude oil - exports [time series]
0 bbl/day (2010 est.) | country comparison to the world: 208
Crude oil - imports [time series]
0 bbl/day (2010 est.) | country comparison to the world: 145
Crude oil - production [time series]
0 bbl/day (2013 est.) | country comparison to the world: 146
Crude oil - proved reserves [time series]
0 bbl (1 January 2010 est.) | country comparison to the world: 210
Electricity - consumption [time series]
1.295 billion kWh (2011 est.) | country comparison to the world: 149
Electricity - exports [time series]
0 kWh (2013) | country comparison to the world: 216
Electricity - from fossil fuels [time series]
59.7% of total installed capacity (2011 est.) | country comparison to the world: 136
Electricity - from hydroelectric plants [time series]
40.3% of total installed capacity (2011 est.) | country comparison to the world: 58
Electricity - from nuclear fuels [time series]
0% of total installed capacity (2011 est.) | country comparison to the world: 208
Electricity - from other renewable sources [time series]
0% of total installed capacity (2011 est.) | country comparison to the world: 143
Electricity - imports [time series]
909 million kWh (2011 est.) | country comparison to the world: 68
Electricity - installed generating capacity [time series]
149,000 kW (2011 est.) | country comparison to the world: 165
Electricity - production [time series]
415 million kWh (2011 est.) | country comparison to the world: 165
Natural gas - consumption [time series]
0 cu m (2012 est.) | country comparison to the world: 211
Natural gas - exports [time series]
0 cu m (2012 est.) | country comparison to the world: 210
Natural gas - imports [time series]
0 cu m (2012 est.) | country comparison to the world: 81
Natural gas - production [time series]
0 cu m (2012 est.) | country comparison to the world: 211
Natural gas - proved reserves [time series]
0 cu m (1 January 2014 est.) | country comparison to the world: 210
Refined petroleum products - consumption [time series]
4,520 bbl/day (2013 est.) | country comparison to the world: 171
Refined petroleum products - exports [time series]
0 bbl/day (2010 est.) | country comparison to the world: 146
Refined petroleum products - imports [time series]
4,761 bbl/day (2010 est.) | country comparison to the world: 155
Refined petroleum products - production [time series]
0 bbl/day (2010 est.) | country comparison to the world: 211
Geography
Area [time series]
total: 17,364 sq km | land: 17,204 sq km | water: 160 sq km | country comparison to the world: 159
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, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Ozone Layer Protection | signed, but not ratified: Law of the Sea
Total water withdrawal (Freshwater withdrawal (domestic/industrial/agricultural)) [time series]
total: 1.04 cu km/yr (4%/2%/94%) | per capita: 962.1 cu m/yr (2005)
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]
498.5 sq km (2003)
Land boundaries [time series]
total: 546 km | border countries (2): Mozambique 108 km, South Africa 438 km
Land use [time series]
agricultural land: 68.3% | arable land 9.8%; permanent crops 0.8%; permanent pasture 57.7% | forest: 31.7% | other: 0% (2011 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]
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
Total renewable water resources [time series]
4.51 cu km (2011)
Government
Administrative divisions [time series]
4 districts; Hhohho, Lubombo, Manzini, Shiselweni
Capital [time series]
name: Mbabane; note - Lobamba is the royal and legislative capital | geographic coordinates: 26 19 S, 31 08 E | time difference: UTC+2 (7 hours ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time)
Constitution [time series]
previous 1968, 1978; latest signed by the king 26 July 2005, effective 8 February 2006 (2013)
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 Makila JAMES (since 27 August 2012) | embassy: 7th Floor, Central Bank Building, Mahlokohla St., Mbabane | mailing address: P. O. Box 199, Mbabane | telephone: [268] 404-6441 | FAX: [268] 404-5959
Diplomatic representation in the US [time series]
chief of mission: Ambassador Abednigo Mandla NTSHANGASE (since 19 July 2010) | 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 Barnabas Sibusiso DLAMINI (since 23 October 2008); Deputy Prime Minister Themba Nhlanganiso MASUKU (since 2008) | cabinet: Cabinet recommended by the prime minister, confirmed by the monarch | elections/appointments: the monarchy is hereditary; prime minister appointed by the monarch from among elected members of the House of Assembly
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; 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
Government type [time series]
monarchy
Independence [time series]
6 September 1968 (from the UK)
International law organization participation [time series]
accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction with reservations; non-party state to the ICCt
International organization participation [time series]
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
Judicial branch [time series]
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 | 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 laws (jurisdiction restricted to customary law for Swazi citizens) | note: the national constitution as amended in 2006 shifted judicial power from the monarch and vested it exclusively in the judiciary
Legal system [time series]
mixed legal system of civil, common, and customary law
Legislative branch [time series]
description: bicameral Parliament or Libandla consists of the Senate (30 seats; 20 members appointed by the monarch and 10 indirectly elected by simple majority vote by the House of Assembly; members serve 5-year terms) and the House of Assembly (65 seats; 55 members directly elected in single-seat constituencies by simple majority vote and 10 members appointed by the monarch; members serve 5-year terms) | elections: House of Assembly - last held on 20 September 2013 (next scheduled for September 2018) | 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
National anthem(s) (National anthem) [time series]
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; uses elements of both ethnic Swazi and Western music styles
National holiday [time series]
Independence Day, 6 September (1968)
National symbol(s) [time series]
lion, elephant; national colors: blue, yellow, red
Political parties (Political parties and leaders) [time series]
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] | Ngwane National Liberatory Congress or NNLC [Alvit DLAMINI, president] | People's United Democratic Movement or PUDEMO [Mario MASUKU, president]
Political parties (Political pressure groups and leaders) [time series]
Swaziland Democracy Campaign | Swaziland Federation of Trade Unions | Swaziland Solidarity Network or SSN
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 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.
Military
Manpower available for military service [time series]
males age 16-49: 344,038 (2010 est.)
Manpower fit for military service [time series]
males age 16-49: 201,853 | females age 16-49: 175,477 (2010 est.)
Manpower reaching militarily significant age annually [time series]
male: 16,168 | female: 15,763 (2010 est.)
Military and security forces (Military branches) [time series]
Umbutfo Swaziland Defense Force (USDF): Ground Force (includes Air Wing (no operational aircraft)) (2013)
Military expenditures [time series]
3.17% of GDP (2012) | 3.11% of GDP (2011) | 3.17% of GDP (2010) | country comparison to the world: 18
Military service age and obligation [time series]
18-30 years of age for male and female voluntary military service; no conscription; compulsory HIV testing required, only HIV-negative applicants accepted (2012)
People and Society
Age structure [time series]
0-14 years: 35.99% (male 261,213/female 255,489) | 15-24 years: 22.26% (male 161,626/female 157,990) | 25-54 years: 33.64% (male 249,233/female 233,703) | 55-64 years: 4.26% (male 24,229/female 36,968) | 65 years and over: 3.84% (male 21,582/female 33,580) (2015 est.)
Birth rate [time series]
24.67 births/1,000 population (2015 est.) | country comparison to the world: 54
Child labor - children ages 5-14 [time series]
total number: 28,043 | percentage: 9% (2000 est.)
Children under the age of 5 years underweight [time series]
5.8% (2010) | country comparison to the world: 84
Contraceptive prevalence rate [time series]
65.2% (2010)
Death rate [time series]
13.56 deaths/1,000 population (2015 est.) | country comparison to the world: 11
Dependency ratios [time series]
total dependency ratio: 69.3% | youth dependency ratio: 63.2% | elderly dependency ratio: 6.1% | potential support ratio: 16.5% (2015 est.)
Drinking water source [time series]
urban: 93.6% of population | rural: 68.9% of population | total: 74.1% of population | urban: 6.4% of population | rural: 31.1% of population | total: 25.9% of population (2015 est.)
Education expenditure (Education expenditures) [time series]
7.8% of GDP (2011) | country comparison to the world: 12
Ethnic groups [time series]
African 97%, European 3%
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate [time series]
27.36% (2013 est.) | country comparison to the world: 1
HIV/AIDS - deaths [time series]
4,500 (2013 est.) | country comparison to the world: 40
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS [time series]
204,100 (2013 est.) | country comparison to the world: 27
Health expenditure (Health expenditures) [time series]
8.4% of GDP (2013) | country comparison to the world: 49
Hospital bed density [time series]
2.1 beds/1,000 population (2011)
Infant mortality rate [time series]
total: 52.57 deaths/1,000 live births | male: 56.49 deaths/1,000 live births | female: 48.53 deaths/1,000 live births (2015 est.) | country comparison to the world: 32
Languages [time series]
English (official, used for government business), siSwati (official)
Life expectancy at birth [time series]
total population: 51.05 years | male: 51.6 years | female: 50.5 years (2015 est.) | country comparison to the world: 220
Literacy [time series]
definition: age 15 and over can read and write | total population: 87.5% | male: 87.4% | female: 87.5% (2015 est.)
Major infectious diseases [time series]
degree of risk: intermediate | food or waterborne diseases: bacterial diarrhea, hepatitis A, and typhoid fever | vectorborne disease: malaria | water contact disease: schistosomiasis (2013)
Major urban areas - population [time series]
MBABANE (capital) 66,000 (2014)
Median age [time series]
total: 21 years | male: 20.7 years | female: 21.3 years (2014 est.)
Nationality [time series]
noun: Swazi(s) | adjective: Swazi
Net migration rate [time series]
0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2015 est.) | country comparison to the world: 82
Obesity - adult prevalence rate [time series]
14.8% (2014) | country comparison to the world: 98
Physician density (Physicians density) [time series]
0.17 physicians/1,000 population (2009)
Population [time series]
1,435,613 | 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 (July 2015 est.) | country comparison to the world: 155
Population growth rate [time series]
1.11% (2015 est.) | country comparison to the world: 105
Religions [time series]
Zionist 40% (a blend of Christianity and indigenous ancestral worship), Roman Catholic 20%, Muslim 10%, other 30% (includes Anglican, Baha'i, Methodist, Mormon, Jewish)
Sanitation facility access [time series]
urban: 63.1% of population | rural: 56% of population | total: 57.5% of population | urban: 36.9% of population | rural: 44% of population | total: 42.5% of population (2015 est.)
School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education) [time series]
total: 11 years | male: 12 years | female: 11 years (2011)
Sex ratio [time series]
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: 1.07 male(s)/female | 55-64 years: 0.66 male(s)/female | 65 years and over: 0.64 male(s)/female | total population: 1 male(s)/female (2015 est.)
Total fertility rate [time series]
2.8 children born/woman (2015 est.) | country comparison to the world: 61
Urbanization [time series]
urban population: 21.3% of total population (2015) | rate of urbanization: 1.32% annual rate of change (2010-15 est.)
Transnational Issues
Disputes - international [time series]
in 2006, Swazi king advocated resorting to ICJ to claim parts of Mpumalanga and KwaZulu-Natal from South Africa
Transportation
Airports [time series]
14 (2013) | country comparison to the world: 149
Airports - with paved runways [time series]
total: 2 | over 3,047 m: 1 | 2,438 to 3,047 m: 1 (2013)
Airports - with unpaved runways [time series]
total: 12 | 914 to 1,523 m: 5 | 7 (2013)
Railways [time series]
total: 301 km | narrow gauge: 301 km 1.067-m gauge (2014) | country comparison to the world: 121
Roadways [time series]
total: 3,594 km | paved: 1,078 km | unpaved: 2,516 km (2002) | country comparison to the world: 161